Hamanaka Town, Akkeshi District, Hokkaido. Located about 80km east of Kushiro City and about 50km west of Nemuro City, this town of about 6,300 people is the birthplace of Monkey Punch.

Summer in the Kiritappu Marshland. The vast landscape stretches on and on.

Facing the Pacific Ocean, the town features rolling hills to the north and a plain to the south encompassing the Kiritappu Marsh, covering approximately 3,168 hectares. The water flowing from this vast marsh into the sea is rich in minerals, making it famous for producing high-quality kelp. In this town, where fishing has long been a thriving industry, the sea urchins that feed on this high-quality kelp are also of exceptional quality and are used in famous sushi restaurants in Ginza. Furthermore, the town is suitable for dairy farming due to the frequent occurrence of dense fog in the summer and the relatively low temperatures, resulting in the production of exceptionally high-quality milk in recent years.

Left: Cape Azechi on the Pacific side. It is said that Monkey Punch conceived the idea for Goemon standing at the water's edge here.
Right: Lupin appears on sea urchins from Hamanaka Town!

However, even Hamanaka Town has been unable to resist the tide of the times and is experiencing depopulation. In this context, since 2011, the town has been using Lupin III as a theme for town revitalization. The town is full of various Lupin-themed spots, and original Lupin III merchandise is also sold.

Left: Chanai Station, located within the town. As it is an unmanned station, Inspector Zenigata is in charge of security.
Right: Lupin III Street.

PUB Fujiko and Jigen's BAR are located on Lupin III Street. PUB Fujiko only accepts Lupin, and Jigen's BAR is closed as he is traveling with Lupin.

Every August, the "Lupin III Festival in Hamanaka Town" is held, attracting Lupin fans from all over Japan, not just Hokkaido, and some even from Italy, making it a sacred place for Lupin fans. The Monkey Punch Collection also features a permanent exhibition of Monkey Punch's original storyboards and a collection of Lupin III-themed Zippo lighters. If you're a Lupin fan, you should definitely visit Hamanaka Town at least once.

The Monkey Punch Collection is located in the town. It is also the venue for the Lupin Festival held every August. *The dates for 2016 are yet to be determined.

Lupanissimo in Isetan 2016
□Wednesday, February 3rd - Monday, February 8th (ends at 6:00 PM on the final day)□Main building, 7th floor = Event hall

Interview cooperation: Hamanaka Town Commerce and Tourism Division, Hamanaka Town Chamber of Commerce

inquiry
03-3352-1111 (main representative)