An update from the “Information Dispatch Bureau” on the Kawayu Onsen website 📝🆙 The Lake Kussharo Trout Fishing Tournament, held on November 15 and 16, took place on the Wakin Peninsula. This report covers how 100 anglers gathered and competed, capturing the excitement of the event. A must-see for fishing enthusiasts! 🎣 Please take a look ✨

Nature Encounter Event This Weekend! On Saturday, December 6th, Professor Nakagawa from Hokkaido University will give a lecture at Kawayu Visitor Center. You can enjoy learning about how volcanic activity has shaped the landscapes and vegetation of Akan-Mashu National Park through engaging research. We hope you will join us!

Teshikaga Hikari Request ended on November 30. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us! ✨ Winners will be announced by shipment. Stay tuned to the official LINE for future event news and lovely updates. ☺️❣️

<Taiki Town urban area, the season’s first snowfall has arrived> Last night’s snow left a light dusting across the town center. This view comes from the newly completed Mt. Moiwa observation deck. You can still drive to the observation deck parking lot, but the forest road is not plowed, so deeper snow will make the site inaccessible by car.

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video—nice to meet you! This is the Mizu No Kamui Kankoken, where pristine nature, protected since ancient times, still breathes. On the official SNS account for this Cool Japan Video, we share the vast landscapes, seasonal changes, and small local charms centered on Akanko, Lake Mashu, and Kushiro Shitsugen, bringing you the sights and timely information unique to Eastern Hokkaido. We aim to post discoveries that spark travel plans and information that lets you feel the atmosphere on site. Please follow us and enjoy the present face of Eastern Hokkaido together!

The Tokachigawa Onsen Kohaku Night and Marche runs at Roadside Station Gardens Spa Tokachigawa Onsen through Sunday, December 7. Centered on the amber color of the mall hot spring, the event features a symbolic tree inspired by Tokachi’s nature, Tokachi sake and snacks, and daily-changing markets and live music. Come and visit us! 😊 Kohaku Night and Marche Period: November 1, 2025 – December 7, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM Admission: Paid from 6:00 PM Adults: ¥1,500; Elementary school children: ¥600

A viewing deck has been completed at Moiwa yama Forest Park. A viewing deck has been completed near the summit of Mowa-yama, located on the northern side of Taiki Town. Because snow removal does not take place during winter, your last chance to enjoy the panoramic views of the Hidaka Mountain Range is before the snowfall begins. Be sure to pay a visit!

Closed days in November. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

This morning the temperature dropped to minus 1°C, and the puddles in the parking lot had frozen over❄ You can now see snow on the Hidaka Mountains, and it looks like real winter is beginning☃ As the season gets colder, come and warm up at TokachigawaOnsen😊

[Notice] From November our hours change to winter hours! Thank you for always visiting Roadside Station Iwanai. We appreciate your support. Our facility will be open from November 1 through April 20 of the following year. Opening hours are 9:00 to 17:00. The facility is closed every Monday. ※If Monday is a public holiday, the following Tuesday will be closed. Please note that the stamp rally stamps will follow the same hours and closed days stated above. We look forward to welcoming you during the winter season 😊 Roadside Station Iwanai🐟

Taiki Town Autumn Foliage Update A maple tree near the gazebo in Hakurin Park is turning brilliant shades, creating a beautiful gradient of color 🍁 The rest of the park is expected to reach peak fall color a little later.

[Forest Park’s Last Open Day Is 100 Yen Again!?] The final open day at Nishiokoppe Village Forest Park is Sunday, October 19. You can play on the playground equipment, have a picnic on the lawn, or pitch a tent and spend the night. Thank you for using the park so much this year. On the last weekend, all playground equipment can be used for 100 yen each! Also, camping that normally costs 500 yen per tent is available for one night at 100 yen! *Overnight stays are also allowed on Sunday the 19th.* Enjoy every last moment while you can. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Park #This season’s last open day #100 Yen Festival #Playground equipment #Tents

The 49th Kashiwabiraki Park Festival took place on September 21. Due to severe weather from the night before, the event was scaled down and moved to the Lifelong Learning Center, and popular attractions such as food vendor booths and the one-tatami-shop were canceled. We sincerely apologize to everyone who had been looking forward to enjoying the event outdoors. Even so, many people attended for the stage events and to buy local specialties such as pears from Soma City and Taiki Wagyu. The prize draw was also a great success! Thank you to everyone who came!

Shrine Festival The Kamikoppu area holds its shrine festival on September 7, and Nishiokoppe Village celebrates its shrine festival on September 11. It’s the day when people parade through their neighborhood with the portable shrine. In Kamikoppu, a night-before celebration called yomiya-sai is also held, making for a lively few days. In Nishiokoppe, an entertainment show takes place on the evening of the festival day, where villagers perform and enjoy drinks together while watching the acts. People wearing happi coats and children dressed as ochigo (festival pages) add to the festive atmosphere. Walking through the streets of Kamikoppu, I heard the taiko drums echo off the surrounding mountains and return as a distant rumble. I’ll post about the entertainment show in a separate entry. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Shrine Festival #Autumn #Mikoshi (portable shrine) #Procession #Ochigo (festival child) #Happi coat #Mochimaki (rice cake throwing)

🚗 “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

[Notice] Iwanai Bar-Hopping Tournament 🍺 Starts Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM Event flow ⇩ ・18:15 — Registration at the plaza in front of the Iwanai Regional Culture Center Exchange your ticket course voucher for the course map ・19:00–20:30 — Bar-hopping starts 🍺 Visit the four venues listed on the course map♪ ・20:30 — "Grand Lottery" A grand lottery will be held at the plaza in front of the Iwanai Regional Culture Center! The grand prize is a shared dining voucher worth 100,000 yen for participating stores❗️❗️ 1st prize is a dining voucher worth 50,000 yen 2nd prize and below will also receive luxurious prizes Advance tickets (4,000 yen) are sold at the following locations ⇩ 1. Participating bar-hopping venues (listed on the flyer) 2. Iwanai Chamber of Commerce 3. Iwanai Tourism Association (Roadside Station Iwanai) 4. Iwanai Rakza 5. Kaneta Yoshida Kamaboko Shop Thank you in advance 🙇 Organizer: Iwanai Restaurant Association

[Notice] Event information♪ ★ Iwanai Lions Club Beer Garden🍺 Two days only: August 9 and 10! At the event plaza in front of Roadside Station Iwanai Lions Festival celebrates in town🦁 Local restaurants will join and support with stalls There will also be events like a shaved-ice eating contest♪ Wondering where to go for the three-day weekend? If so, come to Iwanai-cho! 😊 Event organizer Iwanai Lions Club ★ Bon Festival 2025 August 11 (Mon) to August 16 (Sat) The "Bon Festival" will be held at the event plaza in front of the Roadside Station❗️ *August 11 and 12 are a pre-opening.* August 13–16 18:30–19:15 Children’s Bon dance 19:15–20:00 Hokkaido Bon dance Final day, August 16 From 18:30 Bon dance and costume dance Food stalls available🍴 Free karaoke and surprise guerrilla events too! Make summer holiday memories❗️Make hometown return memories❗️ Organizer: Bon Festival Children’s Festival Executive Committee

[Notice] This year’s lodging fireworks will again take place on August 10th. Launch site: IWANAI RESORT ※There is no parking available. Launch time: 8:30 PM. Postponed in case of severe weather. Organizer: Iwanai-cho Lodging Fireworks Executive Committee Inquiries: 0135-62-2222

Notice] Event Information♪ Kids Iwanai Water Park🏖️ This year it takes place on the same day as the second day of the Dotou Festival! ★ Date and Time ・Sunday, August 3, 10:00–15:00 ★ Venue Iwanai Regional Cultural Center Marine Park Postal Code 045-0003 51-7 Bandai, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai District, Hokkaido ★ Eligibility Up to third-grade elementary school children accompanied by a guardian * Please do not take your eyes off your child. * We cannot take responsibility for accidents that occur without a guardian present. Changing tents will be provided on the day Please bring a change of clothes and a towel We look forward to welcoming everyone♪

[Notice] Event Information♪ The 52nd Iwanai Dotoh Festival!!! A spectacular fireworks show with about 5,000 shells🎇 ★Date and Time ・Saturday, August 2 — from 12:00 ※Fireworks start at 20:00 ※Postponed to the next day in case of rain ・Sunday, August 3 — from 10:00 ★Venue Special outdoor site on the west side of the Iwanai Regional Cultural Center Postal code 045-0003 51-7 Bandai, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai District, Hokkaido For the program and event details, please see the images from the second one onward.

Otofukecho pairs perfectly with dusk 🌄 The wide sky and endless fields make it a truly charming town 🍃 It’s also nice to stop by during a leisurely drive 🚗

August 9th "Mugikansai" festival celebrates the wheat harvest! 🌾 In Otofukecho, the town with Japan’s highest wheat production, the wheat harvest thanksgiving festival "Mugikansai" will take place. The festival runs simultaneously at three venues: Roadside Station Otofuke, the wheat fields of Miura Farm, and Roadside Station Garden Spa. You can touch, see, taste, and enjoy wheat in many hands-on experiences. A stamp rally will also be held! Please come and join us 😊

Notice of the 34th Rekifune River Clear-Stream Festival Alongside the annual PET bottle rocket contest, the Perpune Fire Festival and fireworks display, this year we will also present the Kimi to Idol Precure♪ character show and a live paint session where an artist paints a giant "TAIKI" sign on-site! Come and join Taiki Town’s big summer event!

📍Susoaidaira (Susoaidaira) | Hokkaido – Daisetsuzan Range A breathtaking scene of short-lived summer flowers you can see only in summer. From the trailhead at Sugatami Pond, the path leads you as if into a heavenly flower garden. Above 1,600 meters in elevation, at the foot of Asahidake where snow still lingers, alpine plants like chinguruma carpet the slopes in a miraculous display. It felt like a quiet, gentle moment that lifted my spirits. 🌿 👉These photos were taken yesterday. The beauty truly took my breath away.

Notice: Iwanai Shrine Annual Festival This year too, the Iwanai Shrine Annual Festival will take place over three days from July 7th to July 9th. Please be aware that some roads will be closed during the festival, so take care when coming to the area. Come and join the “Iwanai Festival.”😌 *The schedule was referenced from the Iwanai Shrine website.

“Hanakku and Hana Road” started on June 28! Beautiful flowers are in full bloom in front of the Guide Center, at Hanakku, and at the Garden Spa Roadside Station 🌷 Come by and enjoy the colorful flowers 🌸 Event period: Saturday, June 28 – Sunday, July 27

Tokachigawa Onsen district has welcomed its fifth winery in the area, Tokachigaoka Winery, which opened on April 18th. Each grape cluster is tended carefully over time, grown organically while daily efforts keep pests under control. Basked in sunlight, the grapes develop high sugar levels and a perfect balance of acidity. Inside the shop, paid tastings of Otopuke Roman are available (with cheese snacks), so be sure to give them a try.😊 We also sell cheeses that pair well with wine, Aizawa Winery’s Sacherella and Ryunosuke, Memuro Winery’s Yorokobu, Tokachi Wine’s Jewel of Tokachi, and Tokachi Makiba no Ie Winery’s Yusui. Please stop by when you visit Tokachigawa Onsen.🤗 ● Access: about 20 minutes by car from Obihiro Station About 30 minutes by bus from Obihiro Station Bus Terminal (get off at Michi-no-Eki Garden Spa and walk about 5 minutes) ● Inquiries: Tokachigaoka Winery TEL: 0155-67-1981

~Nakasatsunai Pyotan Falls~ The 10-meter drop pours down with thrilling force, delivering a spectacular sight.💯 It shimmered emerald green.✨ Originally used as a dam, it became a waterfall after being buried by a flood.🌊 A campsite nearby lets you fully experience the great outdoors.🌿 Be sure to visit!

Bansei Natural Flower Garden — Flowering Update Hiougi iris (ヒオウギアヤメ) and Ezo daylilies (エゾカンゾウ) have begun to bloom at Bansei Natural Flower Garden, mainly around the Horokayanto pit-dwelling cluster.

Hello, everyone! Here is an event announcement!! The 3rd Higashikawa-cho Kids Bike Race ● Date: Sunday, August 24th, 2025 ● Registration deadline: Friday, August 1st, 2025 Please see the flyer for details. Contact: Kitoushi Kids Bike Race Executive Committee (mail:kitoushitaikai@kazokuryokoumura.jp) https://www.kazokuryokoumura.jp/kidsbike20250824/...