Livability Report
TomakomaiLivability Score
Hokkaido·Pop. 164,286
Tomakomai lies on the Pacific side of Hokkaido, and its citizens' charter describes it as the Yufutsu Plain at the foot of Mount Tarumae, where waterbirds fly and the Pacific breeze carries the scent of the sea. Members of the Hachioji Sennin Doshin moved to Yufutsu in 1800, and the town grew as a paper town after Oji Paper's Tomakomai mill began operating in 1910. A port and an auto parts plant came later. This article reads daily life here through five axes and the supplementary residency ratio.
Published 2026-10-19 · Data updated 2026-10-09
Where in Japan
Overall Score
48.0
63.0
49.5
38.2
45.1* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.
5-axis scores
Safety48.0Cost63.0Convenience49.5Welfare38.2Economy45.1Basic Information
Population
164,286
Prefecture
Hokkaido
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
From the Paper Mill to the Port and Auto Parts
Yuki
How did Tomakomai get started in the first place?
Alex
Besides paper, what kinds of workplaces does Tomakomai have now?
Kai
The city's chronology says the written name 苫細 was changed to 苫小牧 (Tomakomai) in 1874, and Tomakomai Station opened in 1892 with the Muroran Line. What shaped the town was Oji Paper's Tomakomai mill, which began operating in 1910. After a fire that destroyed about a third of the town's houses, it became a city in 1948.
Reading Safety in an Industrial Port Town by Rate
Alex
When I look for an apartment, what should I check as a safety guide?
Yuki
In a town where people commute in to the port and factories, how should we read this rate?
Kai
A useful guide is the rate based on criminal offenses recognized by the police. According to Hokkaido Police municipal statistics, there were 5.92 recognized criminal offenses per 1,000 residents in 2025, an average level among Japan's major municipalities. Traffic accidents are not included, and the figure covers all offense types together.
Homes and Rents on the Yufutsu Plain
Alex
If I buy a house, how much should I expect to pay for land?
Yuki
What circumstances of the town lie behind its rent level?
Kai
As a guide, the 2026 official land price survey puts the average for residential land at 19,368 yen per square meter, low compared with the median of Japan's major municipalities. It is a simple average of residential survey points, and values vary by point, so check the points near the area you want.
Rail and Ferries, Daily Travel and Shops
Yuki
How has this town traditionally connected with other places?
Alex
How would I get around for commuting and shopping every day?
Yuki
Do people also visit this town as tourists?
Kai
On land, the starting point was the Muroran Line and the opening of Tomakomai Station in 1892. By sea, ferry routes leave Tomakomai Port, and the city's access page lists routes such as East Port to Akita. Routes and travel times can change, so check the city page or the ferry operators.
Medical Care and Schools in a Long East-West City
Alex
When choosing where to see a doctor, how should I read the number of hospitals and clinics?
Yuki
How should we think about the number of schools in relation to the town's size?
Kai
The count is one guide. JaScore divided the hospital and general clinic counts from the 2023 Survey of Medical Institutions by the 2025 census population, giving 6.45 per 10,000 people, low compared with the median of Japan's major municipalities. The count does not show size, departments or waiting times, so check each institution if you need a specific department.
Income and Migration in a Paper and Auto Town
Yuki
In a town with many factories, what does residents' income tend to look like?
Alex
Are more people moving in for work, or moving out?
Yuki
How should we read that gap relative to the town's population?
Kai
You cannot read income directly from the number of factories. The Ministry of Internal Affairs' fiscal 2025 tax survey puts taxable income per taxpayer at 3,227,425 yen, an average level among Japan's major municipalities. Paper, auto parts and port work form the backdrop, but the figure does not show income by occupation.
Share of Registered Residents Actually Living Here
Alex
Can the registered population differ from the number of people actually living here?
Yuki
What does it mean when the two populations are almost the same?
Kai
It can. The residency ratio divides the 2025 census population by the resident registry population as of January 1, 2026, and for Tomakomai it is 100.1%. The census counts where people live at that moment, while the registry counts registered addresses, so it compares two populations taken at different times in different ways.
Who this city suits
Families with children
Average rent is low compared with the median of Japan's major municipalities, which helps when estimating housing costs. Lake Utonai has a Wild Bird Society of Japan nature center with a corner for learning about the lake's nature. One point to watch is the number of medical facilities per capita, so check pediatric clinics and routes in advance.
Young singles
The city says Sapporo is about 90 minutes away by ordinary roads and New Chitose Airport about 30 minutes, useful when planning business trips or visits home by air. One point to watch is that, in the 2020 census, 5.9% of commuters and students used rail or bus. Check routes and service frequency to your workplace before choosing a home.
Seniors
The average official price of residential land is low compared with the median of Japan's major municipalities, which is useful when weighing the cost of a move. Swans arrive at Lake Utonai to winter around early October. One point to watch is the number of medical facilities per capita, so check routes to the clinics you would want to use.
Remote workers
The city's relocation page offers online consultations, and the city is promoting dual-region living. Ferry routes to Honshu leave from Tomakomai Port. One point to watch is to check the eligibility and conditions of these programs. Check support details on the city page and internet service for each property.
Disaster risk and hazard maps
Tomakomai publishes its hazard maps and a disaster prevention handbook, fully revised in March 2024, on its page about the handbook and hazard maps. For tsunamis, there are district hazard maps covering 17 districts, and the city newsletter reports the designation of new tsunami evacuation buildings. A volcano page gathers information on Mount Tarumae, including a live camera, and the city chronology records the major eruption of 1909. Check flood and landslide areas on the city's hazard map page. When choosing a home, check the official maps and the GSI multi-hazard map down to the street address.
Notes on the data
- ※ The crime rate is the number of criminal offenses recognized by the police per 1,000 residents. It does not include unreported crimes or traffic accidents.
- ※ Indicators come from different years: transport from the 2020 census, establishments from the 2021 Economic Census, medical facilities from the 2023 survey, and rent from the 2023 Housing and Land Survey.
- ※ Land prices are a simple average of residential points in the 2026 official land price survey.
- ※ Eating and drinking establishments per 1,000 people divide the 2021 count by the 2025 census population.
- ※ Japan's major municipalities means municipalities with 50,000 or more people in the 2025 census, and level comparisons are against their median.
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Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 5.92 | 2025 |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | 19,368 | 2026 |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 41,549 | 2023 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 5.9 | 2020 |
| Retail Establishments | 1,118 | 2021 |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 6.81 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments | 787 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 4.79 | 2021 |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | 100.1 | 2025 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | 6.45 | 2023 |
| Hospitals | 13 | 2023 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.79 | 2023 |
| Clinics | 93 | 2023 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 5.66 | 2023 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 43 | 2024 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.262 | 2024 |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | 0.186 | 2024 |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | 3,227,425 | 2025 |
| Net Migration | -242 | 2025 |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | -0.15 | 2025 |
| Total Population | 164,286 | 2025 |
| crime_count | 973 | 2025 |
| crime_count_pref | 24,150 | 2025 |
| crime_rate_pref_per_1000 | 5 | 2025 |
| habitable_area_km2 | 231 | 2024 |
| resident_registry_population | 164,111 | 2026 |
Data sources
| Indicator | Source | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Reported penal code offenses by municipalityHokkaido Prefectural Police | 2025 | Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | 2026 | Residential sites only; simple average of sites |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2023 | Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2020 | To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | 2023 | Hospitals and clinics combined |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2024 | Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km² |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Taxable income per taxpayer |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Resident register population as of January 1, 2026 |
Sources (23)
- Tomakomai City: History of Tomakomai
- Tomakomai City: City symbols
- Tomakomai City: Access
- Tomakomai City: Disaster prevention handbook and hazard maps
- Tomakomai City: Volcano
- Tomakomai City: Relocation
- Tomakomai City: Tourism
- Koho Tomakomai: Tsunami measures
- Wikipedia (Japanese): Tomakomai
- Wild Bird Society of Japan: Utonai-ko Sanctuary
- Toyota Motor Hokkaido
- Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau: Tomakomai Port East Port ex-post evaluation
- 北海道警察 市町村別犯罪発生概況（令和3年〜令和7年、確定値）PDF
- e-Stat 令和7年国勢調査 人口等基本集計（統計表ID 0004065881）
- e-Stat 令和5年住宅・土地統計調査 借家の1か月当たり家賃（統計表ID 0004021452）
- e-Stat 令和2年国勢調査 通勤・通学利用交通手段（統計表ID 0003454513）
- e-Stat 令和3年経済センサス‐活動調査 産業別民営事業所数（統計表ID 0004005684）
- e-Stat 社会・人口統計体系 学校数（学校基本調査、統計表ID 0000020205）
- e-Stat 社会・人口統計体系 医療施設数（医療施設調査、統計表ID 0000020209）
- e-Stat 住民基本台帳人口移動報告 転入超過数（統計表ID 0003419945）
- 国土交通省 国土数値情報 地価公示データ（L01、令和8年）
- 総務省 市町村税課税状況等の調（令和7年度）
- 総務省 住民基本台帳に基づく人口、人口動態及び世帯数調査（令和8年）
Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)
Published 2026-10-19 · Data updated 2026-10-09