the coastal areas of Shakotan. Neighboring municipalities Shiribeshi Subprefecture Furubira, Furubira District Kamoenai, Furuu District Neighborhoods Population Shakotan is in a period of significant, ongoing population decline which mirrors that of other areas of rural Japan. Economy The fishing industry remains an important part of the economy of Shakotan. Shakotan is noted for its catch of sea urchin (uni), squid, Olive flounder, cod, and Alaska pollock. Pork, beef, and dairy farms are located on the highland areas of the town, notably northwest of the Bikuni area of Shakotan. Small-scale farm products of the town include potatoes and kabocha, a Japanese winter squash. Tourism is an important part of the economy of Shakotan, with most tourists visiting in the summer. There is a single bank branch in Shakotan, the Bikuni Branch of the Hokkai Shinkin Bank. Culture The Sakura-masu Salmon Sanctuary Center, located near Cape Kamui on the Yobetsu River, is an information center built to explain the ecology of the Oncorhynchus masou, cherry salmon. The center features aquariums of sakuramasu at various stages of its development. The Misaki-no-Ichiba is a traditional open-air Japanese market near Cape Shakotan. Fresh seafood and local vegetables are sold at the market from April through November. Shakotan is noted for its catch of uni, or sea urchins. Festivals The town of Shakotan is home to several annual festivals. The Shakotan Soran Mikaku Festival is held in June in Bikuni. An enormous vat of a local hotpot is prepared throughout the day, followed by fireworks at night. The Fire Festival is held at Bikuni Shrine from July 5 to 6. A massive statue of a tengu is passed through fire as part of a Shinto cleansing ritual. Recreation Shakotan is a popular tourist destination. The three capes, Kamui, Ōgon, and Shakotan, are popular hiking destinations. The peak of Mount Shakotan can be reached via numerous hiking trails, all beginning at Japan National Route 229. The reef areas off the coast of Shakotan, noted for the deep blue color of the water, can be viewed via glass-bottomed boats from Bikuni Harbor. Shakotan has a single primitive campground, the Hokkaido Notsuka Campsite, which is free and maintained by the town of Shakotan. The campsite is open from June through September. Recreational fishing is popular in the town, and a swimming beach is open in the town briefly during the summer from June through August. Government Shakotan is administered