Hello COOL JAPAN VIDEOS viewers!
Nishiokoppe Village This is Kurashima, Regional Revitalization Cooperation Volunteers in charge of tourism.

I would like to deliver the charm of Hokkaido Nishiokoppe Village [tourist information]! Thank you in advance.

Hokkaido Nishiokoppe Village is located inland in the Sea of Okhotsk in the eastern Hokkaido region, has a population of 1,002 (as of the end of July 2023 (Reiwa 5)), and forests account for about 90% of the village's area.
The contrast with forests and snowy landscapes is beautiful, and the walls of major buildings such as public facilities are unified in orange.

The temperature difference in our village is large, and it can be -20 degrees Celsius in winter and over 30 degrees Celsius in summer.
Although it is a harsh natural environment, it is full of hidden areas and sightseeing spots such as rich nature and waterfalls!

Then, Hokkaido Nishiokoppe Village
Here are some of the attractive sightseeing spots.

The "Ice Tunnel" at the foot of the Mt. Uenshiri is a fantastic popular tourist destination where the ice world spreads!
The tunnel created by the water flowing down due to the melting snow in spring is located in a mountain valley, so the ice does not melt even in summer, showing a mysterious world.
It is usually closed due to the risk of collapse, but in July this year, it was opened for one day only for the first time in four years.

"Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Kamu" is a spot where a flower park and Roadside Station are fused!

In the Roadside Station building, there is a wooden contraption organ "Otogibayashi" that plays sound with the power of the wind, which is rare in Japan, and the shop also sells dairy products such as soft-serve ice cream using grass-fed milk from Nishikobu, as well as processed Yezo sika deer products (processed skin products, pet food, etc.).

In the attached flower park, you can enjoy a garden based on the concept of a "natural garden" that reproduces natural plants and flowers that grow according to the climate and climate of the Nishiokoppe Village.

Located about 10 minutes by car from the Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Kamu, the Forest Museum Komu is an art museum based on the concepts of "seeing," "touching," "playing," and "creating."
Not only are about 3,000 wooden toys and works on display, but you can also actually touch and play with large wooden playground equipment.

Among them, the "wooden sandbox" containing 160,000 wooden balls is a popular work! You can enjoy the woodworking bath surrounded by the scent of wood.
In addition to seeing, you can also experience actually making it at the "Woodworking Experience Class"!
Enjoy a luxurious time to experience art in the forest.

The sightseeing spot "Gyoja no Taki" where you can feel the power of nature is a waterfall with a drop of 20 meters.
At the end of the Meiji era, it began to be called Gyono Falls because there was a woman who prayed for the cure of her parents' intractable illness after being struck by the waterfall.
In the upper reaches of Gyoja Falls, there is the beautiful brick-colored riverbed "Akaiwa Falls" and the "Kuroiwa Falls" that flows through the primeval forest of the Ezo spruce, and you can enjoy three waterfalls on one route.

Next, we will introduce campsites where you can enjoy magnificent nature and the outdoors!

The Forest Park will undergo large-scale renovation work over two years, 2022 (Reiwa 4) and five years, and preparations are underway for the renewal and opening of the 2024 (Reiwa 6), including the maintenance of tent sites and the installation of new playground equipment.
In 2023 (Reiwa 5), the tent site is available until October 15, but the playground equipment cannot be used.
In addition, there is a paid log house in the park that can be used all year round, and a BBQ house that can be used for day trips.

Surrounded by primeval forest, "Uenshiri Campground" is a recommended campsite for wild camping because there are no cooking facilities.
Like the Ice Tunnel, it is located in Mt. Uenshiri and offers free access to one bungalow that can accommodate up to 10 people.
In addition, there is a risk of brown bears around the primeval forest, so be careful when using it.

Nishiokoppe Village is also known for the guitar factory "Okhotsk Musical Instrument Industry", where instruments with beautiful tones are born.
Okhotsk Musical Instrument Industry, which was founded in the form of taking over the timber company, currently produces 20,000 guitar bodies a year.
There is also a showroom in the annex of the guitar factory that you can enter for free, so you can feel free to visit it.

Access to the Nishiokoppe Village is
It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Haneda Airport to Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport.
From the Osaka area, from Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport, take New Chitose Airport (about 1 hour 50 minutes), take JR to Asahikawa Station (about 2 hours 10 minutes), transfer to JR Limited Express and get off at Nayoro (about 1 hour), and take a bus to Nishiokoppe Village (about 1 hour).
It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes by bus from Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport to Nishiokoppe Village.

Beautiful scenery such as ice tunnels, delicious food, etc.
You can enjoy a variety of experiences in Nishiokoppe Village.
We will continue to tell you about the charm of Hokkaido Nishiokoppe Village,
Thank you in advance!

Nice to meet everyone who watched the COOL JAPAN VIDEOS!
This is the Okhotsk Ozora Town Tourism Association that disseminates attractive information about Hokkaido Ozora Town.

Ozora Town is a town located in the east of Hokkaido and was formed in 2006 by the merger of Memanbetsu Town and Higashi Mokoto Village.
In this first post, we will introduce the highlights of the Ozora Town. Enjoy!

We will introduce how to access Hokkaido Ozora Town.
【Access by plane】
◯ Tokyo Haneda Airport 〜 Memanbetsu Airport ... Approx. 1 hour 50 minutes
◯ Sapporo New Chitose Airport 〜 Memanbetsu Airport ... Approx. 50 minutes
◯ Osaka・Kansai International Airport 〜 Memanbetsu Airport ... Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes

【Access by train】
◯ JR Sapporo Station 〜 JR Memanbetsu Station ... About 5 hours 30 minutes by "Limited Express Okhotsk" / JR Asahikawa Station ~ JR Memanbetsu Station...About 3 hours 30 minutes by "Limited Express Oyuki"
◯ Sapporo 〜 Memanbetsu ... Approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes by intercity bus "Dreamint Okhotsk" (reservation required)

Hokkaido Ozora Town has a climate with a large temperature difference, so it is recommended to check the weather forecast when planning a trip.
Since there is little precipitation throughout the year, there are many sunny days, making it perfect for sightseeing!
In summer, the average temperature is around 20°C, making it a comfortable climate.
Snowfall in winter is from late October to late April. The minimum temperature can be -27°C, and the cold is severe in the region.

A Ozora Town where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons!
From here, we will introduce the sightseeing spots.
With the arrival of warm spring, the Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park (Higashimokoto moss phlox Park), where the beautiful pink carpet of the moss phlox spreads, is a popular moss phlox spot.
The park has an observatory, a pink torii gate, and a sightseeing wheel.
The picturesque scenery in the vast park is a must-see! (Flowering time around May ~ early June)

In summer, the vast sunflower field is in full bloom, and yellow flowers spread out like the sun.
"Tomap River Park" is the earliest sunflower field in the Ozora Town.
It is located about 10 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport and has good access. (Flowering time: mid ~ late July)

Asahigaoka Park, which is famous for enjoying sunflowers for a long time, is a popular spot for the superb view from the observatory.
From the observatory, you can overlook Lake Abashiri, Mt. Shari, and the Shiretoko mountain range. (Flowering time: late July ~ mid-September)

The sunflower field next to Memanbetsu Airport is a hot place in social media where you can take pictures of airplanes and sunflowers!
You can enjoy about 400,000 sunflowers. (Flowering time: early ~ late August)
Since it is located next to Memanbetsu Airport, you can take pictures as if an airplane is taking off and landing in a sunflower field.

"Roadside Station NonkyLand Higashimokoto" with a hotel is also a popular spot!
At the shop, you can enjoy local flavors such as souvenirs, local specialties, "juicy meat buns" of Hokkaido beef and long potatoes.
It is also possible to stay at "Hotel Higashimokoto" in the Roadside Station. You can choose from twin, DLX twin, and Japanese-style rooms. There are no hot springs in the hotel, but there is a hot spring facility "Fureai Center Phlox" about 2 minutes by car from the hotel or about 9 minutes on foot, equipped with a whirlpool bath and sauna. You can slowly heal the fatigue of traveling.

Located about 10 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport, "Meruhen no Oka" is also a popular tourist destination that cannot be missed.
It is a famous spot for its fairytale scenery lined with seven larches.
The vast countryside spreads out and you can enjoy the picturesque scenery.
One of the highlights is the nearby Roadside Station "Meruhen no Oka Memanbetsu"!
There is a corner selling freshly caught locally and a local product corner, and you can enjoy gourmet food using local ingredients such as "Ozora pork shabu long modon" at the on-site restaurant.
There is also a free "dog run" where dogs can easily play.

Mt. Mokoto, where you can enjoy the rich nature, is also a recommended tourist destination.
It has been selected as one of the national "Nature 100 Selections". The altitude is about 1000m, so you can easily enjoy trekking!
One of the highlights is the spring water near the 8th station, the famous water "Ginrei Water".

Next, we will introduce the hot spring facilities in Ozora Town.
If you want to enjoy hot springs in Ozora Town, we recommend the town-run public bath facility "Memanbetsu Agricultural Structure Improvement Center Himawari Onsen"!
You can easily enjoy the hot springs flowing directly from the source with a day trip bath.
The hot water is abundant and the spring quality is sodium bicarbonate chloride spring, which has effects such as neuralgia, sensitivity to cold, and recovery from fatigue.

We deliver essential gourmet information for your trip to Ozora Town!
Ozora Town's proud local gourmet "Ozora pork shabu long modon" is a must-eat! At Nagashimaya, you can enjoy a bowl with an original kimchi-flavored sauce based on the return of soba sauce.

Ozora Town's two major summer events ♬♬ are "Memanbetsu Sightseeing Summer Festival" and "Nonkeyland Furusato Festival"
This year, the Tourism Summer Festival was held from July 29 (Sat) to 30 (Sun), 2023.
The summer festival, which was held for the first time in four years, was a great success with fireworks on the water!
The Hometown Festival was also held for the first time in four years. The race to roll large grass rolls and compete was a great success.

In Hokkaido Ozora Town, there is still plenty of recommended information such as beautiful nature, sightseeing spots, and fresh seafood gourmet.
We will continue to introduce the charm of Hokkaido Ozora Town, so thank you!