GANKE FES ’24 Confirmed! Ganke rises on the lakeshore of Kuttari Lake, a place where Ainu myths endure. We are excited to announce GANKE FES ’24, set against this spectacular location. Date Saturday, July 6th, 2024 GANKE FES is a festival themed around “sway, dance, play, feel,” offering a variety of experiences including music, art, food, activities, a market, camping, and sauna. Enjoy Hokkaido-style music in multiple settings—on canoes, under shady lawns, or beneath the stars—at GANKE FES. Discounted tickets for local residents are on sale at Shintoku Town Community Center! Hours Weekdays from 8:30 to 17:15 Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

We have a share car! Sahoro Resort Hotel has installed a share car service called Uqey (Yūkī) Rent-a-Car so guests can explore nearby towns from the hotel as a base. It’s convenient as there is no need to book at the counter, it’s available 24 hours, and everything is done by smartphone, so you won’t have to wait. It is also available to visitors who are not staying at the hotel.

Enjoy some time for yourself in Hokkaido! Sahoro Resort Hotel now offers mountain bike rentals and canoe experiences. Feel the fresh breeze as you cycle to Hokkaido-style landscapes near the hotel, such as Karikachi Kogen Park and Poppo no Michi, sights you can best discover by bike. You can also paddle a canoe on Shinnai Pond near Sahoro Bear Mountain. Originally developed by Indigenous people to approach game without being noticed, the canoe is a perfect way to relax and soak up Hokkaido’s great outdoors.

A sheep shearing contest is taking place at Yorkshire Farm in Shintoku Town. The contest judges each sheep on the speed and neatness of its fleece removal. Some sheep stay calm while being shorn, others struggle. Is that luck, or a skill to keep them calm? About 70 spectators came to watch and were captivated by the shearers who could finish a sheep in roughly five minutes.

On Thursday, May 9, a shop selling mountain-dried fish called Miura Shoten, located in front of Shintoku Station, Tokachi, will open a ramen eatery after remodeling part of its premises. It will serve ramen at lunch and operate as a Chinese-style diner in the evening. Please try the signature bowl crafted by the owner, who trained in ramen for six years in Aichi Prefecture.

On Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, the 2024 Japan Shears, the national championship for sheep shearing, will take place at Yorkshar Farm in Shintoku Town—starting at 10:00 on the 11th and running until 15:00 on the 12th. Spectators are welcome, so if you’re interested, please come and watch! Please note that although Yorkshar Farm serves as the venue, the event is organized by a different group, so please refrain from directing inquiries to the venue.

This time of year marks the blooming season for sankayō (skeleton flower, *Diphylleia grayi*), whose white petals turn translucent after rain. I heard someone had spotted the hard-to-find sankayō, so I immediately went to a nearby woodland. It had just stopped raining, and in high spirits I found the plants — there were a few in the area. Unfortunately, perhaps because there hadn't been enough rain or because they were still in bud, their petals had not become translucent. Rain is forecast for next week as well, so I'll try again then.

Notice of the End of Night Cherry Blossom Illumination Thank you to the many visitors who came this year. As of today, Monday, May 6, the night cherry blossom illumination has ended. From now on, Mt. Shintoku will deepen in fresh greenery and be filled with the voices of wildflowers and birds. Please come and enjoy mountain walks such as hiking and birdwatching.

A Golden Week event is being held at the Shintoku Shrine grounds from today through the 5th, every day from 10:00 to 15:00, where petals and leaves of cherry trees mingle. Near the shrine, yellow forsythia, dandelions, and white plum blossoms are in bloom, bringing smiles to visitors.

Thank you for your patience. Bike rentals are now available in front of Shintoku Station. This season, due to popular demand, city bikes and mountain bikes are loaned free of charge. *Electric-assist bicycles are 1,000 yen per day* From Shintoku Station, please fully enjoy Hokkaido’s nature, cuisine, railway heritage, and a wide range of activities! If cycling feels too tough, we also offer rental cars.

Karikachi Kogen Park is under light rain, but the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Karikachi Kogen Park #Full bloom of cherry blossoms #Ezo-yamazakura (Ezo cherry) #National Route 38 #Hokkaido Garden Path

The Spring Festival on Mt. Shintoku Shrine drew huge crowds. After a wind ensemble performance, the event continued with a magic show and a lottery. Mt. Shintoku Shrine is in full cherry blossom bloom; if you live nearby, come and visit. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Shintoku Shrine #Full cherry blossoms #Ezo-yamazakura (Ezo mountain cherry) #Spring Festival

Shintoku Shrine Mountain Spring Festival to Be Held On a refreshing morning, with temperatures rising since the day before yesterday, preparations are underway for the Spring Festival at Shintoku Shrine, where the cherry blossoms are nearly in full bloom. The festival will take place on the shrine grounds, which are ablaze with cherry blossoms, from 10:00 to 14:00.

A friend asked me to help collect sap water a bit late in the season. We joked, “Maybe it won’t flow anymore,” but of the two trees, one yielded about 500 ml in an hour. The other gave around 100 ml. I also tried the white birch hammock I’d been curious about for a while. The feedback I got was: “It’s incredibly comfortable!” 👍✨ Would you like to try it too? If there’s enough interest, I’ll consider offering it as a summer experience. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Karikachi Highlands #Karikachi Kogen Park #Route 38 #Hokkaido Garden Path #white birch #white birch sap water #white birch sap water collection experience #hammock #summer event

The illumination starts tomorrow! It’s a bit chilly today, but the cherry blossoms have begun to open and are about 20% in bloom. The cool weather is likely to continue through tomorrow, but clear skies above 20°C are forecast from Friday. By this weekend, some 2,300 Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees are expected to burst into bloom all at once. Also, the roughly 40 forsythia shrubs planted at the Shintoku-yama trailhead are in full yellow bloom, so enjoy spring under the cherry blossoms and forsythia both day and night this weekend.

Nighttime Cherry Blossom Illumination at Shintoku Shrine Hill Begins. From Thursday, April 25 through Wednesday, May 10, about 2,300 Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees on Shintoku Shrine Hill will be illuminated, from the area around the shrine office up the stairway to the precincts and nearby grounds. Since last year, we have used ten LED floodlights to reduce impact and make this nighttime cherry blossom event more environmentally friendly. Please note that the event dates may shift slightly depending on the timing of cherry blossom opening and falling, so check the Tourism Association’s social media before you visit. Also on Sunday, April 28 starting at 10:00, the Shintoku Shrine Hill Spring Festival will feature a wind ensemble performance, magic show, food trucks and stalls from local shops, a candy toss, and a raffle. The festival will go ahead in light rain and be canceled in severe weather. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Shintoku Hill #Shintoku Shrine #cherry blossoms #Ezo-yamazakura #nighttime cherry blossoms #illumination #event #LED floodlights #environmentally friendly

"Shintoku Jinja-yama DE Spring Festival" will be held. On Sunday, April 28th at 10:00 AM, the "Shintoku Jinja-yama DE Spring Festival" will take place on Shintoku Jinja-yama (the event will proceed in light rain and be canceled in severe weather). The day will feature performances by a brass band and a magic show, as well as food trucks, stalls from local shops, a candy toss, and a raffle, so please come and join us. Also, from Thursday, April 25th through Wednesday, May 10th, Shintoku Jinja-yama will host the "Shintoku-yama Jinja Night Cherry Blossom Light-Up," illuminating about 2,300 Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees from around the shrine office up the stairway into the precincts and nearby the shrine. The light-up runs daily from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and we look forward to welcoming many visitors. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Shintoku-yama #Shintoku Shrine #cherry blossoms #Ezo-yamazakura #Shintoku Jinja-yama DE Spring Festival #brass band #magic show #food trucks #stalls #candy toss #raffle #night cherry blossoms #light-up #event

Sahoro Lake Campground opens on Wednesday, May 1! Sahoro Lake Campground, which had been closed for the winter, reopens on the same day. The campground is a free-site area on the shore of Sahoro Lake, created by the construction of Sahoro Dam, and it offers facilities such as cooking areas and toilets. You can relax amid vast greenery or enjoy activities on Sahoro Lake like fishing. Maximum number of tents: 500 Fee: Free #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Tourism Association #Campground #Sahoro Lake Campground #Canoe#SUP #Fishing #Nature

Horse trekking begins today at Western Village Sahoro, located in Karikachi Kogen Park along Route 38 that connects Obihiro and Furano. Reservations are required. Owners and staff dressed in Western attire will guide you through woods and alongside streams. From horseback, you may encounter Hokkaido’s vast natural scenery and wildlife such as Ezo deer, Ezo squirrels, red foxes, and woodpeckers. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Tourism Association #Route 38 #Hokkaido Garden Path #Karikachi Kogen Park #Western Village Sahoro #horse riding #experience #Furano #Obihiro

I went to the hugely popular Goshun (五春) in Otofuke! ✨🍜 A large slice of chashu lies over the noodles like a cozy blanket 🥓 The thick, chewy noodles were coated in a rich gyokai-tonkotsu (seafood-and-pork-bone) dipping broth, clinging to every strand — absolutely delicious! ✨😋 I also tried the dry (soupless) tantanmen — it had just the right amount of heat and a pleasant kick of sansho, and I couldn't stop eating until the very end. 🤤 They also serve Taiwan mazesoba (Taiwan-style mixed noodles) and chuka soba (classic ramen). Come and give it a try 💓 [Address] 2-1-8 Kitasuzuran Minami, Otofuke-cho, Kato-gun, Hokkaido, Japan [Hours] 11:00–16:00 [Closed] Sundays - Located in Otofuke in the Tokachi area of Hokkaido, this wildly popular Japanese tsukemen is a must-try ✨🍜 The tsukemen comes topped with a perfectly marbled slice of chashu that looks like a comforter 🥓 The dipping broth is a rich gyokai-tonkotsu (seafood-and-pork-bone) stock; its intensity wraps the thick noodles so that every strand is full of flavour — truly delicious. 😋 I also ordered the dry (soupless) tantanmen; with the perfect amount of spiciness and a noticeable sansho flavour, I couldn't stop taking bite after bite. 🤤 The menu also includes Taiwan-style dry noodles (Taiwan mazesoba) and broth-based ramen — a great reason to visit Tokachi for hot springs and local food! ✨

Tokachi Toteppo Workshop ✨🚃 This popular cafe features a cafe and shop together 🥐☕️ You can enjoy cafe-exclusive menus made generously with ingredients from Tokachi and Hokkaido. 🍓🍰🌸 This time I had a fragrant croissant, a strawberry milk made with 100% Tokachi strawberries, and the signature drinkable cheesecake! Everything was very delicious! 😋 The menu still has many more items, so I will definitely visit again ✨ Please try it yourself too 💓 [Hours] CAFE 10:00–17:00 Last order 16:30 / SHOP 10:00–18:00 [Closed] Irregular holidays; see Tokachi Toteppo Workshop’s website for details - Located in Obihiro in the Tokachi region, Tokachi Toteppo Workshop ✨🚃 It has separate sections for takeout cakes and desserts and for dining in with coffee 🥐☕️ Desserts and drinks are made with ingredients from Tokachi and Hokkaido, and seasonal menus are offered each season 🍓🍰🌸 This time I ordered a croissant, strawberry milk made with 100% Tokachi strawberries, and the shop’s signature cheesecake milkshake — each item was distinctive and delicious 😋 If you visit Obihiro, don’t miss the seasonal limited desserts; it’s highly recommended to stop by! ✨

The birch sap collection experience at Karikachi Kogen Park will end this weekend on the 14th. We received more applications than expected, so it’s been a cycle of preparation, experience, preparation, experience. Since weekend slots are fully booked except for the Sunday afternoon session, we are inviting people who would like to simply observe the birch sap collection. There is no application or participation fee; you can just watch how surprisingly easy the collection process is. If you happen to be nearby, please drop by to observe if you have time. ● Saturday, April 13 Around 10:00–11:00 and around 14:00–15:00 (two sessions) ● Sunday, April 14 Around 10:00–11:00; the 14:00 session will go ahead only if there is a reservation, otherwise it will be canceled. ※We are also recruiting participants for the afternoon session. This is an experience we hope not only residents of Hokkaido but also visitors traveling to Hokkaido will come and see!

It feels like the warm spring-like days up to yesterday were a lie. The town is covered in snow and the pass has snowfall. But I definitely found signs of spring along Poppo Road. Five days ago the Asian skunk cabbage had only a few leaves, and now it carpets the entire marsh. The forecast says the weather will clear from tomorrow. If you happen to pass nearby, try looking for the skunk cabbage along Poppo Road.

On the third day of the white birch sap harvesting experience, preparations are complete to begin. Yesterday the Tokachi Mainichi Newspaper ran an article with scenes from the experience, and new applications came in. The event runs daily through next Sunday. Please come to Karikachi Kogen Park to join or observe. Note: The activity may not always be in session, so visitors who wish to observe should contact the tourism association in advance at 0155-64-0522.

It's the third day of the white birch sap-collection experience, and we're ready to begin. Yesterday the Tokachi Mainichi Newspaper featured scenes from the event, and we received new sign-ups. The event will run daily through next Sunday. We invite everyone to Karikachi Highland Park to participate or observe. * Please note the event may not be held on some days; if you plan to observe, contact the Tourism Association at 0155-64-0522 in advance.

Third day of the white birch sap water collection experience. Preparations are complete for the start. Yesterday the Tokachi Mainichi Newspaper featured the experience in an article, and we received new applications. The event runs daily through next Sunday. Please join us or come visit the Karikachi Kogen Park to observe. *Note: There may be times when the event is not taking place, so visitors wishing to observe should contact the tourist association in advance at 0156-64-0522.

It has been warm for the past few days. Wondering how the Asian skunk cabbage (mizubashō) was doing, I went down to the marshes along the Poppo Road, the former Karikachi Line trackbed. It seemed a little early, but nearby adonis (fukujusō) were blooming with delicate flowers. Soon the mizubashō will bloom as well...

On-site final check of the flow for the birch sap harvesting experience rehearsal starting the day after tomorrow. I was worried because it snowed the day before yesterday, but thanks to the warm weather today I could relax as sap oozed out when we drilled into the birch. It still seemed a little early for full-scale harvesting—the sap collected about 50 ml in one hour. With daytime temperatures forecast to exceed 10°C through the coming weekend, I expect the yield will stabilize. The birch sap harvesting experience runs from Friday the 5th through Sunday the 14th of this month, and reservations are possible even the day before. If you’re interested, please join us. Visitors who only want to observe are also welcome. Please note that the event will not be held if there are no participants, so contact the tourism association in advance. For details, contact Shintoku Town Tourism Association at 0156-64-0522.

The Nemuro Main Line (between Furano and Shintoku), which has long contributed greatly to the town’s revitalization and economic development, ran its final service today. Surrounded by many railway enthusiasts, a “Thank You Nemuro Main Line (Furano–Shintoku) Farewell Ceremony” was held in front of Shintoku Station. The occasional lingering snowflakes that fell during the event seemed to stage both a farewell and a send-off.

Today marks the end of March. Spring is finally arriving in Tokachi.🍀 On clear days, the ridgeline of the Hidaka Mountains is sharply visible from Tokachigaoka Observation Deck. The Hidaka Mountains are scheduled to become a national park around this summer, and if designated it will be Hokkaido’s seventh and the largest national park in Japan by area.😮 Why not enjoy the majestic Hidaka Mountains from Tokachigaoka Observation Deck? The views of the Tokachi River and the Tokachi Plain are wonderful too.😊 The observation deck is about a 5-minute drive from the Tokachi River hot spring district.