Article

01231 ／えにわし

Eniwa City

A fan-like shape gave the falls a name.

Hakusen Falls, Eniwa Gorge

Photo by t-konno (CC BY-SA 3.0)

01 ／ Jomon cemetery

Grave goods in the site's Jomon tombs weremainly red-lacquered combs and beads.

Jomon cemetery in Eniwa City — Photo by Prosperosity (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Agency for Cultural Affairs' commentary estimates about 3,000 pit graves across the site, from the late to final Jomon period. Grave goods were basically red-lacquered combs with beads, and lacquered ornaments such as headdresses and waist belts were also unearthed.

National Historic Site (2005)
About 3,000 pit graves (estimate)
Finds: National Important Cultural Property (2006)

02 ／ Satsumon-period graves

Swords in the Nishishimamatsu 5 gravesshow ties with Honshu.

The Nishishimamatsu 5 site yielded many pit and ditch-surrounded graves of the early Satsumon period (about the 7th to 9th centuries). The Agency says gold- and silver-fitted swords made in the Kinai region and warabite swords from northern Tohoku clearly show links between central Hokkaido and Honshu.

Early Satsumon period (about 7th-9th c.)
National Important Cultural Property, 2024
Iron goods stand out in type and quantity

03 ／ Gorge waterfall

A fall whose Ainu name is translated "waterless stream"drops among large trees.

The city describes Rarumanai Falls as a waterfall dropping boldly from among the large trees of Eniwa Gorge. It says Rarumanai is translated from Ainu as "waterless stream", and that one theory takes it to mean a place where both banks are steep and the rapids form a fall.

Ainu name translated "waterless stream" (city)
Best view from the bridge at the viewing plaza

Eniwa City from the sky

Now and 1974–78. Tap a photo to zoom in.

Now1974–78

Wide (about 6 km across)

Close (about 1.5 km across)

Now (shot June 2024)Shot 1974–78

Source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) GSI Tiles（全国最新写真（シームレス）／国土画像情報（第一期：1974〜1978年撮影））

Open in GSI Maps (now)Open in GSI Maps (1974–78)

Living here

From Eniwa Station to City Hall, under 15 minutes on foot.

about 70,000 people

The city's directions say City Hall is under 15 minutes on foot from the west exit of JR Eniwa Station, along the station-front street (updated March 29, 2019). The city overview places Eniwa roughly midway between Sapporo City and New Chitose Airport (updated April 1, 2026).

People living here: 70,331people
Area: 294.65km²
Households: 30,276households
Rent (average for rentals): 45,549yen
Healthcare: 7 hospitals ／ 34 clinics

Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Children waiting for childcare: —9 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy: —
Average annual temperature: —

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

Shape

Borders 4 municipalities.

Eniwa City in Japan42.883°N 141.578°E

Territory of Eniwa City

Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (Administrative Area Data), MLIT. Processed by Machigatari.Lakes: National Land Numerical Information (Lake Data), MLIT. Processed by Machigatari. Prepared with the approval of the Director-General of the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, using its Digital Map 25000 (Spatial Data Framework) and Digital Map 25000 (Place Names and Public Facilities). (承認番号平27情使、第585号)

North to south

21.3km

Chitose City, Sapporo City, Kitahiroshima City, Naganuma Town

Travel times per leg are not published by the municipality, so they are not shown.

Eniwa City isthis kind of town.

01The city gives Hakusen Falls in Eniwa Gorge as 15 m high and 18 m wide, and says it was named because it looks like a pure white fan spread open. It was once ranked sixth in the river gorge and waterfall category of Hokkaido's 100 Scenic Views, and the city calls it the foremost scenic spot of the gorge
02The Karinba Site is a graveyard of the late to final Jomon period and a National Historic Site (designated 2005); finds from its graves are a National Important Cultural Property (designated 2006). The finds from the Nishishimamatsu 5 site, grave goods of the early Satsumon period, are a National Important Cultural Property (designated 2024)
03The city says the name Eniwa is said to derive from an Ainu word for the present Mt. Eniwa, meaning a sharply pointed mountain. The city also introduces the story that Eniwa's "city of flowers" began in the greenhouse of a part-time high school

See the town as it is now.

Source: Wikidata (P2002, P2003, P2013, P2397)

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Eniwa City official site ↗Wikipedia ↗