is a town located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It contains the Sarobetsu Plain, which is part of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, and is famous for its hot springs. As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 4,054 and a density of 7.8 persons per km². The total area is 520.69 km². History Origin of the town's name It is derived from the name "Ebekorobetsu" of the region now referred to as the Shimo-Ebekorobetsu River Valley. In Ainu, the name Ebekorobetsu (ipe-kor-pet) means "a river containing fish (food)". Because the area is rich in natural resources such as coal, petroleum, peat, and hot springs, it was named Toyotomi, which is an alternate reading of the Chinese characters for the word houfu (豊富), meaning "rich" or "abundant". Timeline 1869 - Japanese settlement offices open. 1878 - The village of Saru is founded in the location of present-day Toyotomi. 1909 - A government registration office is opened in the village of Horonobe, which included present-day Toyotomi. 1919 - The villages of Horonobe and Saru are incorporated into one village. 1926 - Natural gas and hot springs are discovered during mining at the present-day location of Toyotomi Onsen. 1936 November - The Nissō Coal Mine of Teshio is opened by Nippon Soda Co., Ltd. 1940 September - The village of Horonobe is separated into the villages of Horonobe and Toyotomi 1947 - Mitsubishi Materials begins coal-mining operations in the Toyotomi-Horonobe area. 1948 October - The town is moved from the administration of Rumoi Subprefecture to that of Sōya Subprefecture. 1950 November - The areas of Tenkō and Akebono become part of Wakkanai. 1959 January - Toyotomi is officially designated a township under Japanese municipal laws. 1972 July - Nissō Coal Mine closes. 1974 September - The Sarobetsu Plain is designated a national park. 1991 July - The town becomes the first in the country to proclaim itself a "Bicycle for Health Town". 2002 December - Garbage disposal fees are instituted. 2005 November - The Sarobetsu Plain is designated a Ramsar site. Geography The Sarobetsu Plain covers the coastal side of the Sarobetsu River Valley. The area to the east of Japan National Route 40 is filled with gently sloping hills and mountains, as well as farmland and forests. Toyotomi Onsen is located in the mountainous region to the southeast. Rivers: Sarobetsu River, Shimo-Ebekorobetsu River Lakes: Kabutonuma Marsh, Penkenuma Marsh, Naganuma Marshes