Higashikawa, Hokkaido

Higashikawa
東川町
Town
Flag of Higashikawa
Official seal of Higashikawa
Location of Higashikawa in Hokkaido (Kamikawa Subprefecture)
Location of Higashikawa in Hokkaido (Kamikawa Subprefecture)
Higashikawa is located in Japan
Higashikawa
Higashikawa
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°42′N 142°31′E / 43.700°N 142.517°E / 43.700; 142.517
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Kamikawa Subprefecture)
DistrictKamikawa (Ishikari)
Area
 • Total247.06 km2 (95.39 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2016)
 • Total8,092
 • Density33/km2 (85/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address071-1492
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.town.higashikawa.hokkaido.jp

Higashikawa (東川町, Higashikawa-chō) is a town located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 8,092, and a density of 33 persons per km2. The total area is 247.06 km2.

Higashikawa declared itself a photo town (写真の町, shashin no machi) in the 1980s and has done much to sponsor photography since, notably the annually awarded Higashikawa Prizes. In recent years, the number of cafes, general stores, wineries, vineyards, sake breweries, etc. has increased due to population growth resulting from increased immigration from all over the country. More young people are visiting as tourists. In terms of population growth in 2021, it ranked first in Hokkaido.