Mikasa, Mining heritage city in central Hokkaido, Japan
Mikasa is a city in the Sorachi Subprefecture in Hokkaido, surrounded by mountains on three sides with Lake Katsurazawa on its eastern border. The landscape features rolling hills and valleys with remnants of its industrial past visible throughout the area.
Coal deposits discovered in 1868 transformed the former Ichikishiri village into a major mining center. The first railway in Hokkaido was constructed in 1882 to support coal transportation from the region.
The Hokkai-bon-odori festival in August features traditional dance performances accompanied by the locally created Hokkai-bon-uta song, drawing visitors from across the region. These gatherings reflect how the community celebrates its identity through movement and music.
The city is accessible via the Dō-Ō Expressway, which connects Mikasa to the larger cities of Asahikawa and Sapporo through the Mikasa Interchange. The downtown area and museum are easily reached on foot from main parking areas.
The city museum houses the fossil of Yezosaurus mikasaensis, a prehistoric marine reptile discovered in local geological formations. This specimen demonstrates that the region was once covered by an ancient sea.
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