Tokoro district

Tokoro district is an administrative area in Okhotsk Subprefecture on Hokkaido comprising three towns with about 17,000 residents. The region covers 1,123 square kilometers and forms a sparsely populated area in the northern part of the island.

The district was formally established on July 23, 1879, during the Meiji modernization reforms as part of Hokkaido's administrative restructuring. This founding made the area a defined administrative unit during a period of national reorganization.

The district is known in Japan for its strong connection to curling, shaped by visits from Canadian teams in the 1980s. This relationship led to the establishment of one of the country's first dedicated curling sports facilities.

The area is relatively sparsely populated with good connections between its three towns through local transportation networks. The best time to visit depends on your interests, with winter and autumn offering different activities and landscapes.

Several Olympic athletes from the district competed in Winter Olympics, including five curling athletes at the 1998 Nagano Games. This success shows how a small region became a source of accomplished athletes.

Location: Hokkaido

Inception: July 23, 1879

GPS coordinates: 44.03000,143.83000

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:54