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.

Golden Week second half begins! Route 38 is full of license plates from outside the prefecture and other regions, and roadside tourist spots are bustling with many visitors. 《A Little Detour in Shintoku》 ★Karikachi Pass There is a bit of wind today, but you can enjoy a sweeping view of the Tokachi Plain from the observation deck. ★The Big Curve Remains of the old Karikachi Line track visible from the parking area at the 5th station of Karikachi Pass. ★Karikachi Kogen Park The Karikachi Kogen Eco Trolley Railway and horseback riding attract families, and cherry blossoms are still enjoyable while the ume trees in the plum grove are beginning to bloom. ★Bear Mountain You can see brown bears in a setting close to their natural habitat, and a bear-watching bus runs close to the bears. ★Ozasagawa Bridge A bridge of the old Karikachi Line over the Ozasagawa River, which runs beside Nomura Curry. ★Yorkshire Farm From the road you can see sheep grazing or lying down. ★Soba Hall You can savor Shintoku soba, the town’s specialty. ★Village 432 In addition to dining, you can enjoy a tranquil scene of horses grazing. ★SL Square A D51 locomotive that ran on the old Karikachi Line is displayed here, and you can walk along the former track. ★Shintoku Shrine A few Ezo yama-zakura cherry trees remain, and spring flowers such as forsythia, Japanese plum, and dandelions welcome visitors. Until the 5th, food trucks and stalls are set up on the shrine grounds and the area is lit up at night.

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

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.

I attended a preview of Takutetsu Kinokotan, which opens on Saturday, April 6. Takutetsu Kinokotan is a facility run by Hokkaido Takutetsu Bus that offers hands-on harvesting experiences for shiitake mushrooms grown on logs in Shintoku. This site once hosted Minami-Shintoku Station of the Hokkaido Takushoku Railway, the predecessor of Takutetsu Bus, which ran between Shintoku, Shikaoi and Kamishihoro until its closure in 1968 (Showa 43). The Takushoku Railway also carried timber and other goods, which reportedly led to the start of log-grown shiitake here. For that reason, the facility includes a corner exhibiting photos, equipment and materials from its railway days. Located one minute from National Route 38 and about 1.5 km from JR Shintoku Station, it’s a roughly five-minute ride if you use the free rental bicycles available in front of the station, so please stop by. Also, the cute stationmaster Kinokotan will be waiting to welcome you! #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Tourism Association #Takutetsu Kinokotan #Stationmaster Kinokotan #harvest experience #log-grown shiitake #mushrooms #Hokkaido Takushoku Bus #Hokkaido Takushoku Railway

Notice of Temporary Closure of Todaisetsu-so for Maintenance (April 1–7) Tomuraushi Onsen Todaisetsu-so will be closed for maintenance during the following dates. Overnight stays and day-use bathing will not be available. Closure Period • Seven days: Monday, April 1, 2024–Sunday, April 7, 2024 #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Tourism Association #Tomuraushi Onsen #Tomuraushi Onsen Todaisetsu-so #Daisetsuzan National Park #remote area #hidden hot spring #single-inn lodging #closed days

As the Nemuro Main Line segment between Shintoku and Furano nears closure, Shintoku Station has been getting busier. Since early this month, the station has hosted a "Thank You, Nemuro Main Line" panel exhibition; visitors stop to view the photos and take their own pictures. In the nearby waiting area, a few customers can be seen enjoying station bento boxes made by local restaurants. According to staff at Stella Station, the station kiosk, Wednesdays feature Shintoku jidori rice (Shintoku free-range chicken rice bento), while other days offer a Tokachi yakiniku bento. Both are very popular. If you're visiting Shintoku Station, please take a moment to create a page of memories of the Nemuro Main Line while savoring the flavors of Shintoku and Tokachi.

One of Hokkaido’s spring treats is birch sap water. A faint sweetness and a hint of the forest fragrance spread across your mouth. Birch sap water can only be collected during the thaw from early to mid-April (Kamuiwakka, the water of the gods). This event is offered on a long-running schedule with reservations accepted until the day before so visitors to Tokachi can experience it during their trip; feel free to join us. Event period: Friday, April 5, 2024 – Sunday, April 14, 2024, 10 days ① 10:00– ② 14:00– *Two sessions per day *Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes – About 2 hours Venue: Karikachi Kogen Park *Meet on site. Experience details: ① Birch sap water collection ② Wood splitting (optional) ③ Bonfire ④ Tasting of birch sap water ⑤ Tasting of birch sap coffee Participation fee: Adult 2,000 yen Elementary school student 1,000 yen Infants and toddlers free Other: ① Please join in warm clothing. ② If you wish to take some home, bring a washed 500 ml PET bottle, one to two bottles. Inquiries and applications Shintoku Town Tourism Association (general incorporated association) 〔TEL: 0156-64-0522〕 Reservations accepted until 3:00 PM the day before. *Reception is available on weekdays only.

The “Thank You Nemuro Main Line” panel exhibition is now on display! A panel exhibition reflecting on the history of the Furano–Shintoku section, which will close on March 31, has opened inside Shintoku Station. The panels include a timeline tracing the line’s history from the 1900 opening of the Asahikawa–Shimofurano section, which marked the starting point for eastern Hokkaido, together with about 40 historical photos showing the railway and local scenery. Shintoku Station, which will be decommissioned at the end of this month, has drawn many railfans, and it was striking to see visitors studying the panels today.

Since the start of this month, Shintoku has unexpectedly enjoyed many springlike days, yet yesterday the town saw 45 cm of snow fall continuously. In an instant the town turned into a silver-white landscape. Also, Shintoku Ski Resort, which had been closed for lack of snow since February 14, will reopen from tomorrow. Look forward to it! #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #a springlike day #snow #a silver-white landscape #ski resort #Shintoku Mountain Ski Resort #reopening

The view from the fifth kilometer marker on National Route 38, where the snow has thinned, looking toward the great curve of the former Karikachi Line. This sweeping bend is an indispensable historical legacy for understanding Hokkaido’s railway construction history.

The steam sauna at Tomuraushi Onsen Higashi-Taisetsu-so was featured in a YouTube video by sauna comedian Mag Manpei. Enjoy the views from the outdoor bath, famed for its saunas and hot springs! Search YouTube for "Mag Manpei Tomuraushi Onsen" to watch the video.

“Takutetsu Kinokotan,” a log-grown shiitake cultivation and agri-tourism farm slated to open this spring in Shintoku, will be exhibited tomorrow, Saturday, February 10, at “INTERNATIONAL FESTA in TOKACHI 2024” held at Obihiro’s Mori no Koryukan and the JACA Hokkaido Center (Obihiro). At the venue, visitors can sample and experience foods, music, and costumes from around the world, and enjoy experiences that let you feel the world right here in Tokachi. Please come and support Takutetsu Kinokotan as it embarks this spring on a new journey into cultivation and tourism!