Tomakomai, city in northern Japan on the south coast of Hokkaido Island, in Hokkaido Prefecture on the Pacific Ocean. Tomakomai is an important industrial center. Its pulp and paper mill is the leading producer of paper in Japan and specializes in newsprint. Other industries include oil refineries, aluminum factories, and lumber mills. Tomakomai's harbor is capable of handling large cargo vessels. The city is about 25 km (about 15.5 mi) south of Chitose Airport, the main airport on Hokkaido. It is well connected by road and rail to other cities, including Sapporo to the north. A passenger-ferry service connects Tomakomai to Sendai, Tokyo, and other cities on Honshu Island to the south. It was founded in the late 19th century by government-sponsored settlers (tondenhei) and served as a gateway to the agricultural area of the Ishikari Plain to the north. Population (1999) 172,083.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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