{{Expand Japanese|topic=geo}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Takikawa | official_name = | native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|滝川市}}}}}} | native_name_lang = ja | settlement_type = City | other_name = | image_skyline = Takikawa city hall.JPG | image_caption = Takikawa City Hall | image_flag = Flag of Takikawa, Hokkaido.svg | image_seal = Emblem of Takikawa, Hokkaido.svg | seal_type = Emblem | image_map = Takikawa in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg | map_caption = Location of Takikawa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan | coordinates = {{coord|43|33|N|141|55|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Hokkaido | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Kōkichi Maeda (since April 2011) | leader_title1 = Vice Mayor | leader_name1 = | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = 115.90 | population_total = 41,306 | population_as_of = December 2016 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone1 = JST | utc_offset1 = +09:00 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | blank_name_sec1 = City hall address | blank_info_sec1 = 1-2-15, Ōmachi, Takikawa-shi, Hokkaidō<br />073-8686 | blank_name_sec2 = Climate | blank_info_sec2 = Dfb | website = {{URL|http://www.city.takikawa.hokkaido.jp/}} | module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes | tree = Platanus | flower = Azalea and Cosmos | bird = | butterfly = | fish = }} }}

{{Nihongo|'''Takikawa'''|滝川市|Takikawa-shi}} is a city located in the Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Takikawa City is located in the central area of Hokkaido, it is conveniently located between the cities of Sapporo (biggest city) and Asahikawa (the second biggest city). Takikawa has an inland climate which causes great temperature difference between summer and winter. The average temperature in Takikawa is about 19 degrees Celsius in summer, and –5.9 degrees Celsius (21.4 Fahrenheit) in winter. Takikawa is one of the snowiest locations in Hokkaido, the average amount of snowfall in the past 10 years is 7.77 meters (25 feet, 6 inches).

Takikawa is also the biggest city in northern Sorachi, making it a hub for neighboring towns. Takikawa is situated between the Ishikari River and Sorachi River, about 60 percent of Takikawa is covered in greenery by either forest or agriculture farmland. Takikawa is surrounded by rich nature.

As of December, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 41,306, with 21,561 households. The total area is 115.82&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

== Origin of the name == The name of Takikawa City originates from the Ainu Language Sorapuchi which means "area under the waterfall". Also, along the mid-streams of Sorachi River, there is a difference in level which creates a mini waterfall, so the Ainu people have called it Sorapuchipetsu (Taki no kawa) which translates to Waterfall River, since then, the area has been called Takikawa.

==History== In 1890, under the ordinance of Hokkaido Prefectural Government, Takikawa Village was established to be a transportation hub to support the coal production of the neighbouring towns. *1890 - Takikawa Village opened. *1906 - Takikawa becomes a Second Class Municipality. *1909 - Takikawa becomes a First Class Municipality. Ebeotsu Village splits off. *1910 - Takikawa Village becomes Takikawa Town. *1952 - Ebeotsu Village becomes Ebeotsu Town. *July 1, 1958 - Takikawa Town becomes Takikawa City. *1971 - Ebeotsu Town merged. ==Climate== {{Weather box |width = auto |collapsed = Y |single line = Y |metric first = Y |location = Takikawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) |Jan record high C = 6.4 |Feb record high C = 7.7 |Mar record high C = 13.5 |Apr record high C = 25.3 |May record high C = 32.7 |Jun record high C = 34.1 |Jul record high C = 36.0 |Aug record high C = 35.7 |Sep record high C = 32.1 |Oct record high C = 24.8 |Nov record high C = 20.0 |Dec record high C = 13.9 |Jan record low C = -27.2 |Feb record low C = -27.0 |Mar record low C = -23.1 |Apr record low C = -13.8 |May record low C = -2.3 |Jun record low C = 1.4 |Jul record low C = 7.2 |Aug record low C = 7.7 |Sep record low C = 1.6 |Oct record low C = -3.8 |Nov record low C = -14.7 |Dec record low C = -25.9 |Jan high C = -3.1 |Feb high C = -1.9 |Mar high C = 2.4 |Apr high C = 10.2 |May high C = 17.7 |Jun high C = 21.9 |Jul high C = 25.4 |Aug high C = 26.0 |Sep high C = 22.0 |Oct high C = 15.0 |Nov high C = 6.6 |Dec high C = -0.7 |Jan mean C = -6.9 |Feb mean C = -6.1 |Mar mean C = -1.7 |Apr mean C = 5.0 |May mean C = 11.7 |Jun mean C = 16.2 |Jul mean C = 20.0 |Aug mean C = 20.7 |Sep mean C = 16.3 |Oct mean C = 9.6 |Nov mean C = 2.6 |Dec mean C = -4.0 |Jan low C = -11.7 |Feb low C = -11.5 |Mar low C = -6.5 |Apr low C = -0.1 |May low C = 6.3 |Jun low C = 11.6 |Jul low C = 16.1 |Aug low C = 16.6 |Sep low C = 11.5 |Oct low C = 4.7 |Nov low C = -1.1 |Dec low C = -8.0 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 61.9 |Feb precipitation mm = 53.0 |Mar precipitation mm = 54.1 |Apr precipitation mm = 54.6 |May precipitation mm = 74.2 |Jun precipitation mm = 64.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 128.2 |Aug precipitation mm = 153.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 152.3 |Oct precipitation mm = 131.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 132.4 |Dec precipitation mm = 89.0 |year precipitation mm = 1156.0 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 17.9 |Feb precipitation days = 15.7 |Mar precipitation days = 13.4 |Apr precipitation days = 11.3 |May precipitation days = 10.9 |Jun precipitation days = 8.9 |Jul precipitation days = 10.1 |Aug precipitation days = 10.8 |Sep precipitation days = 12.7 |Oct precipitation days = 15.8 |Nov precipitation days = 19.3 |Dec precipitation days = 20.9 |Jan snow cm = 208 |Feb snow cm = 168 |Mar snow cm = 131 |Apr snow cm = 21 |May snow cm = 0 |Jun snow cm = 0 |Jul snow cm = 0 |Aug snow cm = 0 |Sep snow cm = 0 |Oct snow cm = 2 |Nov snow cm = 90 |Dec snow cm = 228 |year snow cm = 844 |unit snow days = 3 cm |Jan snow days = 20.9 |Feb snow days = 18.8 |Mar snow days = 15.6 |Apr snow days = 3.1 |May snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0.3 |Nov snow days = 7.8 |Dec snow days = 21.4 |Jan sun = 75.6 |Feb sun = 90.2 |Mar sun = 130.0 |Apr sun = 165.6 |May sun = 191.4 |Jun sun = 172.0 |Jul sun = 163.1 |Aug sun = 159.6 |Sep sun = 153.8 |Oct sun = 128.4 |Nov sun = 70.4 |Dec sun = 54.9 |year sun = 1551.6 |source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=15&block_no=0041&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 3, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=15&block_no=0041&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 3, 2022}}</ref>}}

== Tourism == === Festivals === *'''Lantern Festival''' - The event was founded by Igarashi Takenobu, an artist born in Takikawa with the goal of giving people the joy of crafting their own piece of artwork. It is an annual event that happens every Winter in Takikawa, and involves the hand crafting of lanterns by attendees *'''Nanohana Festival''' - Nanohana (English: canola flowers) is a local food festival where signature dishes of the region can be tasted. The specialty of Takikawa is Jingisukan, a grilled mutton dish. The festival is held in Spring.

=== Places === *'''Children's Science Museum''' *'''Fureai no Sato-onsen''' - A public outdoor hot spring. *'''Maruka Highlands-Cloud Terrace (Unkai)''' - A hill with scenic views of the city, popular for its panoramas. “Unkai” is the Japanese word for "sea of clouds". *'''Takikawa Art and Natural History Museum''' - The museum contains both local and foreign art and artefacts. *'''Takikawa Regional History Center''' - A museum dedicated to the history of Takikawa. *'''Takikawa Sky Park''' / '''Takikawa Sky Museum''' - Takikawa Sky Park is located along the river bed of Ishikari River.

==Education== ===High schools=== * Hokkaido Takikawa High School * Hokkaido Takikawa Technical High School * Hokkaido Takikawa Nishi High School (Municipal)[http://www.takinishi.ed.jp/]

==Transportation== *Takikawa is 90 minutes away by JR or by car from New Chitose Airport. Takikawa is 50 min away by JR or 75 min by car from Sapporo City. Takikawa is 30 min away by JR or 80 min by car from Asahikawa Airport. Furano is also just 50 min away by car. *Hakodate Main Line : Takikawa - Ebeotsu *Nemuro Main Line : Takikawa - Higashi-Takikawa *Hokkaidō Expressway : Takikawa IC

==Sister cities== *{{flagicon|Japan}} Tochigi, Tochigi<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.city.takikawa.hokkaido.jp/200soumubu/07jouho/02linkf/linkpage1.html |title=Sister cities of Takikawa |access-date=2015-05-19 |archive-date=2015-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204151/http://www.city.takikawa.hokkaido.jp/200soumubu/07jouho/02linkf/linkpage1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> *{{flagicon|Japan}} Nago, Okinawa *{{flagicon|USA}}{{flagicon|Massachusetts}} Springfield, Massachusetts, United States – an American city where basketball was invented. It has 160,000 residents and is known as "The City of Homes" for its architecture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://springfield375.org/?p=126 |title=Firsts &#124; Springfield 375 |access-date=2012-04-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521154926/http://springfield375.org/?p=126 |archive-date=2013-05-21 }}</ref>

== References == <references />

==External links== {{commons category|Takikawa, Hokkaido|Takikawa, Hokkaidō}} * [http://www.city.takikawa.hokkaido.jp/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309110101/http://www.city.takikawa.hokkaido.jp/soumubu/kikaku/kouryu/englishindex.jsp |date=2010-03-09 }} {{in lang|ja}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Takikawa, Hokkaido}} Category:Takikawa, Hokkaido Category:Cities in Hokkaido Category:Populated places on the Ishikari River