Autumn 2025 Mt. Io Light-Up & Kawayu Marche In 2025, the autumn event returns to Kawayu Onsen. From Saturday, October 4 to Saturday, November 29, the Atosanupuri (Mt. Io) Light-Up will run, and on Saturday, October 18 the Kawayu Marche—featuring many local vendors—and the Onsen River Night Walk Tour, a nighttime walk along the hot-spring river, are scheduled. Please take this chance to visit Kawayu Onsen in autumn. Atosanupuri (Mt. Io) Light-Up This popular autumn event lights the plumes rising from the mountainside, creating a magical nocturnal landscape. ● Period: 20 days in total, mainly on weekends, between October 4 (Sat) and November 29 (Sat) ● Time: 16:30–19:00 (On event days, the Sulfur Mountain MOKMOK Base will extend business hours until 18:00) ● Free to view ● On some days, a complimentary shuttle taxi will run from four lodging facilities in the Kawayu Onsen area! (Seats for 9 people / reservation required by 16:00 on the day / limited to operating days) *Please check the event calendar for the exact light-up dates and shuttle taxi operation days and times.* *This event is conducted with environmental consideration; dates and times are set in advance and environmental surveys are carried out.* Kawayu Marche A gathering of delicious local foods! Stalls line the hot-spring town, and the lively Kawayu-bayashi drumming will be performed. ● Date and time: Saturday, October 18, 12:00–19:00 Postponed to the following day in case of severe weather ● Location: Kawayu Onsen (next to KKR Kawayu) Onsen River Night Walk Tour The hot-spring river that flows through the town, the Onsen River, rises in steam and carries warm spring water—a miraculous scene. Join a guided night walk along the river to hear explanations and discover its mysteries. The tour covers a short distance at a leisurely pace, so anyone can join. ● Date and time: Saturday, October 18, 17:00–17:45 ● Meeting: 16:45 at the parking lot of Kinki-yu Bettei Suikazura ryokan ● Reservation required by the day before at 070-8985-2599 ● Capacity: 15 people ● Free participation https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/2025_kawayu_autumn/...

🍁Autumn Leaves in Teshikaga🍁 The peak season for autumn colors in Teshikaga generally runs from early October through late October. It is the most comfortable time of year, with relatively stable weather. It’s also perfect for outdoor activities, so come and visit Teshikaga!! 📸🍁🚣🗔️🤩 https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/mountain-climbing-teshikaga-2/...

How is everyone doing? 🌿 It is currently sunny in Otofuke, but heavy rain fell last night. As a result, the Tokachi River is swollen. The rain has eased, but water levels remain high in some areas. Please continue to watch the river conditions closely and stay safe.

Event Notice📣 Tokachi Nakasatsunai Gourmet Ride 2025 takes place on Sunday, September 21! Nakasatsunai Village, blessed with beautiful nature, is a rich agricultural area with abundant food. 😊 The village offers countless picture-perfect landscapes, including views of the Hidaka Mountains, and is a member of the Association of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan. This cycling event lets you savor the village’s charms at your own pace! Ride freely as you visit checkpoints and aid stations around the village. If you stay within the time limit, you may stop to sightsee or visit places you like along the way. The only condition is to finish at Nakasatsunai Village Hall by 2:00 PM. 🎵 Each aid station serves gourmet dishes made with local ingredients so you can enjoy Nakasatsunai’s flavors. 😍 Why not come cheer on cyclists from across the country on the day? Wave flags along the roadside to welcome them (cheering flags will be provided). Register via the QR code on the flyer or here → https://forms.gle/QMEeQC1PTjFBfoPu5... Meeting place: Nakasatsunai Village Hall headquarters Meeting time: 8:30 AM Inquiries Tokachi Nakasatsunai Gourmet Ride Executive Committee TEL: 0155-68-3390 (Secretariat: Nakasatsunai Village Tourism Association)

Autumn Harvest Festival Announcement of the “Umaissho ‘Shintoku’ Heavy Snow Festival”📢 Come taste Shintoku Town’s high-quality local ingredients at this food festival.📢 This year marks the festival’s 50th anniversary! 👏 The event takes place in the Kutsuri district of Shintoku Town. A single free shuttle bus will run that day, so locals and visitors arriving by JR or bus can enjoy a tasty BBQ while taking part in the venue’s events.🍻🍖 There will also be an all-you-can-fill bag of delicious produce grown in Shintoku’s rich natural environment.🥔🥕 Come join this tasty event before winter sets in.🚙🚌🚃 Umaissho “Shintoku” Heavy Snow Festival Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM *Rain or shine Location: Kuttari Park Schedule 10:00 AM – Local produce all-you-can-fill Fruit sales from our sister city Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture BBQ corner *Visitors who purchase meat at the venue will receive free use of grills and charcoal! 10:00 AM – Performance by Shintoku Junior High School Brass Band 11:30 AM – Live: “Ryu with Sato Kawara (Guitar)” / Erina Kato 1:00 PM – Children’s raffle *Raffle tickets distributed to the first 100 attendees 1:30 PM – Grand raffle *Raffle tickets distributed to the first 300 attendees Please note that event details and times may change in case of bad weather. The children’s raffle features book vouchers and sweets, while the grand raffle offers a pair of accommodation vouchers, a Shintoku specialty soba set, and a vegetable set.🎯 We look forward to seeing you! Autumn Harvest Festival Announcement of the “Umaissho Shintoku Heavy Snow Festival” 📢 This is a food festival where you can sample high-quality local ingredients from Shintoku Town. 📢 And this year marks the 50th anniversary of the festival! 👏 The festival will be held in the Kutsuri district of Shintoku Town. There will be only one free shuttle bus available on this day, so locals, as well as those traveling by JR or bus, can enjoy a delicious BBQ while enjoying the event at the venue. 🍻🍖 We'll also be offering a free bag of delicious produce grown in Shintoku Town's lush natural environment. 🥔🥕 Come and enjoy this delicious event before winter sets in. 🚙🚌🚃 Delicious "Shintoku" Heavy Snow Festival Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025 Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM *Will be held rain or shine Location: Kuttari Park The children's raffle will feature book vouchers and sweets, and the fun raffle will feature a pair of accommodation vouchers, a Shintoku specialty soba noodle set, and a vegetable set. 🎯 We look forward to seeing you there! #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #shintoku #festival #harvest festival #bbq #autumn #Heavy Snow Festival #Sato Kawara #Erina Kato #hokkaido #hokkaidotrip #hokkaidotourism #tourism #tokachi #shintoku #welcomeshintoku #discovershintoku

[Yesterday at Tokachigaoka Observatory 🔅] Daytime highs fell below 25°C, and you can slowly feel signs of autumn 🍃 Mornings and evenings drop below 10°C, bringing a chilly feeling As the season changes, please take care of your health ☺️

Event Announcement 📣 The 49th Kashirin Park Festival will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 😊 This autumn industry festival lets you savor the flavors unique to Taiki, a town with both mountains and sea!! This year’s HBC Radio live recording guests are Mariko Nagai and Shinya Kono and Hitoshi Fujio from Oklahoma 🎵 The program is packed with favorites like the annual Wagyu Festival and the Aki-aji (autumn salmon) Grab, food stalls featuring Taiki’s delicious offerings, dairy product sales from Snow Brand Megmilk, which has a factory in Taiki, and a fun raffle 😍 📍Note: Entry to the Aki-aji Grab is by lottery. Lottery tickets will be distributed between 9:00 and 9:30. Also, the event may be canceled depending on fishing conditions. Please understand in advance. There are kid-friendly activities too, including a stamp-art workshop to make a Taiki drawstring bag, a woodworking class, and a bounce dome ✨ Come enjoy Taiki’s seasonal flavors in Kashirin Park, surrounded by the town tree, kashiwa (oak)!! We look forward to seeing you 🤗 📍Date and Time: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM 📍Location: Kashirin Park (held rain or shine) https://visit-taiki.hokkaido.jp/tp_detail.php?id=424...

Today the Roadside Station Otofuke Natsuzora no Furusato reached a total of 5 million visitors, and a commemorative ceremony was held!✨ Thank you to everyone who visited! This Roadside Station offers the bountiful flavors of Tokachi and is full of local charm.🌟 We appreciate your continued support for Roadside Station Otofuke!

Kushiro Tairyo Donpaku was held in on September 13. This year, many customers Fun large fireworks that color the night sky from Guest Room and restaurants. If your stay is a memorable one, it will be a great pleasure for us. All of our staff are looking forward to bringing you a special day next year. The videos are three-shaku balls taken by the 📷 staff

Event Announcement📣 “Sea and Land Festival” and Toyokoro Industry Fair 2025 is coming 😊 Enjoy an autumn in Toyokoro filled with sights, tastes, and fun. This year, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the town’s establishment, the festival will be more lavish than usual, featuring special complimentary items like Toyokoro wagyu diced steak and Toyokoro autumn salmon chanchan-yaki available in limited quantities 😍 Onstage, you can enjoy drum performances by Toyokoro Taiko “Enyukai” and a concert by Toyokoro Junior High School Brass Band, plus a spectacular stage show featuring enka singer Junko Ishihara as a guest! Also returning by popular demand are the annual hits: the Otsu autumn salmon direct-sale event and the autumn salmon grab contest 🎵 There will also be a bounty of activities including a rice cake and sweets toss where you can win local specialties, various local product stalls, and food trucks—plenty to enjoy!! Toyokoro’s bounty is ripe for the picking—now’s the perfect time to taste it! We look forward to seeing you 🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, September 20, 9:40 AM–2:00 PM 📍Venue: JA Toyokoro Multipurpose Plaza https://www.toyokoro.jp/page/6325.html...

[Limited] 10 sets a day! Seasonal Halloween dessert plates will be served 👻 with drinks such as coffee and tea Please enjoy the special marriage of playful Sweets and Aroma drinks only in autumn. Period: Friday, October 24, 2025 ~ Friday, October 31, 2025 Time: 11:30 a.m. M.～5:00P.M. Fee: ¥3,000 Contents: Dessert plate + drink (you can choose from the following) Drink menu: Hakodate Misuzu Coffee, Ronnefeldt (tea), Mari Senjo Hana Ai (Jasmine Tea) Contact: 0154-31-1277 (9:00A. M.～6:00P.M.)

A viewpoint has been installed at the Tarumae Garo Gorge! The site is about 200 meters north along the forest road just past the Tarumae Garo Bridge from the parking lot. Because of the risk of rockfalls, visitors have only been able to look down from the bridge in recent years, but the new viewpoint lets you see Tarumae Garo from close to the riverbed. Out of consideration for environmental conservation, there are no stairs or handrails on the slope up to the viewpoint. Leaves can make the path slippery, so please take care with your footing.

I went to Moerenuma Park. Moerenuma Park is a river (swamp?) I like it because it's wide. The leaves were red in places, and there were many dragonflies flying. I felt that autumn was coming soon.

🚗 “SKY ROAD FESTA” 💫 To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Doto Expressway, an event will take place on Monday, September 15, 2025 (national holiday)! Held to express gratitude to the local communities that regularly use the Doto Expressway, the event will be packed with stage performances and a fun prize draw! We hope everyone comes and enjoys it! Date: Monday, September 15, 2025 (national holiday) Time: 10:00–15:00 Venue: Tokachi Plaza Nishi 4, Minami 13, Obihiro

This delicate little flower is called mizosoba. It belongs to the knotweed family, the same family as buckwheat (soba). You can observe it along the shore of Lake Utonai, around the alder terrace. (Image courtesy of the Lake Utonai Wildlife Conservation Center)

Here’s a recent look at Hanakku (the flower clock)!🌸 Today is September 12th, and since it’s “#Quiz Day,” here’s a Hanakku quiz! Q3. What is the origin of the name of the flower clock “Hanakku”? A. A name combining “hana” (flower) and “clock” B. The name of the river near the park C. The name of the person who made it D. A Tokachi dialect word meaning “big” ~Thinking time~🕒 🎯 The correct answer is… A. A name combining “hana” (flower) and “clock”! The lovely name that combines flowers and a clock has become a symbol of Tokachigaoka Park🌷⏰

Event Announcement 📣 On Thursday, October 30th this year, the Doto Expressway will mark its 30th anniversary since opening, and we will hold a commemorative event for the Tokachi-Shimizu IC to Ikeda IC section 😊 The event will feature stage shows by local groups along the route, character greetings, a photo panel exhibition covering the 30 years since opening, and a grand lottery with prizes for 30 winners, including accommodation vouchers for Tokachigawa Onsen!! 📌Stage Shows by Local Groups Along the Route 📍10:10–10:30 Calligraphy performance by the Calligraphy Club of Obihiro Hakuyo High School 📍10:50–11:20 Local hero show of Obihiro City 📍11:30–11:50 HIP HOP dance show by the JOYFIT Dance Circle 📌Special Guest: Talk Session with Hiroyuki Morisaki 📍13:00–14:00 We invite Hiroyuki Morisaki, a member of the theater unit TEAM NACS, for a talk session themed “30 Years Since Opening: Toward the Future.” 📌Character Greeting 📍NEXCO East Japan’s manners-promotion characters Manaty and Ikanzame will appear, along with Ushikun, the mascot of the Obihiro Tourism & Convention Association, and Onigiri Shian, a local VTuber from Kushiro who also serves as a COOL Kushiro City tourism ambassador. They’ll be visiting—please take photos with them! 🎵 📌Grand Lottery with Luxurious Prizes 📍Among visitors on the day, 30 winners will be chosen by lottery to receive luxurious prizes. 🔸Tokachigawa Onsen accommodation voucher (worth 50,000 JPY) 🔸Tokachigawa Onsen day-use bathing tickets 🔸Pair tickets to see the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (for the game on September 22, 2025) Other regional gourmet items from along the Doto Expressway will also be available 😍 *Lottery participation tickets will be distributed on the day.* 🎵 Date and Time: Monday, September 15, 2025 (public holiday) 10:00–15:00 Venue: Tokachi Plaza, 1st Floor Atrium and Large Assembly Room Please come with your family and friends!! We look forward to seeing you 🤗 https://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/hokkaido/2025/0808/00015203.html...

The cosmos of "Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park Cosmos Garden" is in full bloom and is in Best time to visit! This season, the flowers bloom better than every year, and it is a very beautiful cosmos field. Please come and ♪ see it "Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park Cosmos Garden" Address: Marudai, Engaru Town, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido

The new soba season has begun. Since mid-August, two types of banners have been raised beside the soba fields along National Route 38 to promote the Shin-toku New Soba Festival by the PR campaigns “Soba Road” and “Soba Town Shintoku.” Until the Shin-toku New Soba Festival, the 1.3 km stretch with soba fields buzzes with activity. 🚩 The 2025 harvest of new soba is already being carefully gathered by producers. You can taste the new soba at the Shin-toku New Soba Festival, and local soba restaurants in town will also be serving new soba at this time. If you can’t make it to the festival, want to go early, or find the festival portions aren’t quite enough— please come to Shintoku and visit the soba restaurants. 💁‍♀️ The Shin-toku New Soba Festival takes place on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 10:00 to 14:00. We warmly look forward to your visit. 💁‍♀️ #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Soba #new soba #new soba festival #Soba Road #Welcome to Shintoku #Welcome home to Shintoku #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Shintoku Station #Tokutoku Station-front Complex Facility #tuktuk #tokutoku #hokkaido #hokkaidotrip #hokkaidotourism #tourism #tokachi #shintoku #welcomeshintoku #discovershintoku

Event Announcement 📣 The "Shimizu Town Digital Stamp Rally" is now underway 😊 Visit Shimizu Town’s food spots (restaurants serving noodles), scenic views, and historic sites to collect stamps, and you could win luxurious local specialties in a lottery 😍 📌 How to Participate 📍Add Shimizu Town’s official LINE account as a friend to display the event participation screen. 📍From the participation screen, scan the QR codes placed at each participating spot to earn stamps! 📍You can enter the prize drawing once you have collected 3, 5, or 10 stamps. Take this chance to explore local food, scenery, and historic sites, and submit your entry. We look forward to many participants 🤗 📞 Contact Shimizu Town Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division TEL: 0156-62-1156 https://www.town.shimizu.hokkaido.jp/section/08/details/post_74.html...

[🗻This winter, head to Higashikawa-cho! JAL Furusato Support Discount starts✈️] Higashikawa-cho in Hokkaido lies about a 10-minute drive from Asahikawa Airport🚗✨ Nestled against Daisetsuzan National Park and Mt. Asahidake, it is a town overflowing with natural beauty. 💧This unusual town has no central waterworks and uses snowmelt water directly in daily life. 🍚The Higashikawa rice grown with this mineral-rich water is a popular branded rice across Japan! ❄️In winter you can enjoy sublime dry powder—the perfect ski paradise🎿 Cafe hopping is also recommended☕️✨ ▼Right now, visit Higashikawa-cho at a great price with the JAL Furusato Support Discount! 👜A subsidy of 7,000 yen per night of accommodation (up to 3 nights) 🎁Plus, the first 100 guests will receive 150 g (one go) of Higashikawa rice! *This subsidy applies only to reservations made through the JAL Furusato Support Discount eligible page. ・ Travel period: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 – Saturday, January 31, 2026 ・ Booking period: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 – Friday, January 30, 2026 🔽Check the QR code for details!

Puppet Theater Pook Performance in Nishiokoppe Village Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Puppet Theater Pook is coming again this year! Thank you for the many visitors from both inside and outside the village last year. The program features two works: "Kobozu Zuieten" and "It Might Be an Apple." Doors open at 6:00 PM Performance starts at 6:30 PM. The performance will be held in the large hall of Nishiokoppe Village Community Center. Advance tickets: 500 yen Same-day tickets: 600 yen Children aged two and under: free. Tickets can be purchased from members of the puppet theater circle Doremi or reserved via the QR code. A shuttle bus will operate on the day for residents of the Kamiokoppe area. Please feel free to use it. 6:00 PM Kamiokoppe Bus Stop 6:05 PM In front of Kamiokoppe Residents' Center 6:10 PM In front of Kamiokoppe Elementary School For inquiries about this performance, please contact: Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education 0158-87-2501 We will prepare a small selection of snacks and look forward to your arrival. Organizers: Puppet Theater Circle Doremi / Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Puppet theater #Puppet Theater Pook #Performance #Kobozu Zuieten #It Might Be an Apple #Puppet Theater Circle Doremi #Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education #September 24

Milk Festa 2025 – Tokachi Main Plant Open Day – will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025. 🌟Highlights galore! ・Tours of the milk and butter factories! ・Sales of the ever-popular soft-serve, pizza and other treats 🍦🍕🧀🥛 ・Back by popular demand: toilet paper exchange event 🧻 ・Plus many other fun activities! This event is held to help people learn more about milk and dairy products and to express our gratitude to the local community. We invite everyone to come and enjoy the event♪ Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 Time: 10:00–15:00 Venue: Yotsuba Milk Products Co., Ltd., Tokachi Main Plant event area (20-3 Shindori, Otofukecho, Kato District, Hokkaido) Inquiries: 0155-42-2121 (Yotsuba Milk Products Co., Ltd., Tokachi Main Plant)

📍Saboriya, a ramen shop in Otofukecho 🍜 You can enjoy delicious ramen at reasonable prices 🔥 The photo shows the kara-miso. Located along National Route 241, it’s a great stop during a drive 🚗

Autumn Marche and KAMU-Oto This year’s Autumn Marche takes place over two days: Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. It will be held at Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Flower Garden from 10:00 to 15:00. On Sunday the 21st, continuing from last year, a small stage event called "KAMU-Oto" will also be held inside the Flower Park. In the morning, enjoy band performances and singer-songwriter sets, and in the afternoon, savor readings, koto music, and picture-book storytelling. Around midday, a guided walk of the Flower Park is scheduled. Admission to the Flower Park is 200 yen for high school students and older. Junior high school students and younger, as well as village residents, are free. We look forward to welcoming you! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Autumn Marche #KAMU-Oto #Roadside Station #Flower Garden #Flower Park

Did you know that a light railway once known affectionately as the "Yamasen" ran along the cycling road connecting Tomakomai and Lake Shikotsu? In its early years, from 1908, it hauled materials and construction crews for a hydroelectric plant upstream on the Chitose River; in its middle years it carried logs; and in its later years it transported tourists to Lake Shikotsu, serving the area for 43 years until 1951. On September 6, 2025, the YAMASEN30th event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Yamasen being exhibited at its current location ✨

Nishiokoppe Village Variety Show Thursday, September 11 That variety show that returned last year is back again…! This year it starts at 6:00 PM There will also be a time capsule opening ceremony. A time capsule buried 20 years ago. Who buried what inside, nobody knows. Even the person who buried it seems unable to remember what they put in… The variety show begins at 6:30 PM. Food stalls and festival booths will be available. Enjoy performances by village residents and karaoke! The venue is the Nishiokoppe Village Public Hall large hall. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Variety show #Time capsule #Opening #100th anniversary of the village founding #September 11

11th Akaezomatsu Summit 🌲 Starting tomorrow and continuing for two days (September 6–7), the Akaezomatsu Summit will take place at Kawayu Onsen ✨ Day one will be held at Kawayu Furusato-kan, and day two at Kawayu Visitor Center, where participants will dive into the theme “Forest × Food.” At CAFE SOFTWOOD on the second floor of Kawayu Visitor Center, we will offer Akaezomatsu herbal tea (limited quantity, ¥690)! You can enjoy a special Akaezomatsu herbal tea that you don’t usually get the chance to taste ☕️✨ Talk, learn, inhale the scent, and savor… Come experience the deep charm of Akaezomatsu 🌲 ❣️

Join us for a walk! Higashi Hokkaido Trail & Train Monitor Tour Trail & Train along the Senmo Main Line is a long-trail program that lets you enjoy trails—paths that wind through nature. On the outbound journey, stroll slowly and soak in the scenery; on the return, relax on the train. It’s a fresh travel style that adults and children can both enjoy. Single-day participation is very welcome! If you wish to join for just one day, choose your desired course and write the date you want to participate in the “Concerns” field. Organizer: JR Senmo Main Line Maintenance and Revitalization Steering Committee Secretariat: Hokkaido Takarajima Travel Co., Ltd., Travel Sales Department, Contact: Ameike, Suzuki (Kaori) Mail at-info@hokkaido-takarajima.com Tel 011-252-2115 Networking Event Information We have also planned a networking event to coincide with this monitor tour for local residents. The East Hokkaido Trail connects three national parks and towns across a 410 km walking route. It opened in October 2024 and is exploring ways to build local fans and create tourism that brings happiness to communities. If you’re interested in the trail, want to try walking it, work in tourism, or are nurturing a collaboration idea, come and talk with us. Inquiries: Doto Trail Club (General Incorporated Association) Mail admin@dototrail.com Tel 080-2128-7689

Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Experience I recently joined an early morning hot air balloon experience! It was sadly cloudy that day, but the extraordinary scenery—something you rarely get to see—made for a special time. The moment the balloon gently lifted off felt fresh and thrilling. The early morning hot air balloon experience runs through September 30. During the winter season, bookings are generally accepted for groups only, so if you want to take part as an individual, be sure to go this month. For more details, contact the Tokachi Nature Center! Contact Tokachi Nature Center 0155-32-6116