What kind of place is Ashorocho? Welcome, viewers of Cool Japan Video—let us introduce you in depth to Ashorocho’s charms and sightseeing spots! Ashorocho sits in the northeastern part of Tokachi and is the largest municipality in Japan by area. Forestry and agriculture thrive here, and about 80% of the town’s land is forest. The population is around 6,500. Within the town you mainly travel by car, and driving access from major cities in Hokkaido is as follows. • About 1 hour by car from Obihiro • About 1.5 hours by car from Kushiro • About 1.5 hours by car from Kitami • About 3.5 hours by car from Sapporo • About 3.5 hours by car from Asahikawa One popular sightseeing spot in Ashorocho’s center is Ashoro Ginga Hall 21. Originally built as Ashoro Station on the Hokkaido Chihoku Kogen Railway’s Furusato Ginga Line, it was registered as a Roadside Station in 2004. After the Furusato Ginga Line was closed in 2006, the facility was renewed and reopened in 2011 to become what you see today. Inside the facility, the former platform has been preserved to recreate tracks and trains that were used for 95 years. Ashorocho is also the hometown of singer-songwriter Chiharu Matsuyama, and the facility’s Chiharu Matsuyama Gallery displays his beloved guitar and stage costumes. For those who want to enjoy Ashorocho’s vast natural scenery, we recommend Onneto. Onneto is a 2.5 km-circumference lake west of Akan-Mashu National Park, formed about 2,000 years ago by an eruption of MtMeakan. Because the lake’s colors change with the season, weather, and viewing location, it is also called the Goshikinuma Ponds or the Mystic Lake. ※It takes about 50 minutes by car from Ashoro town center. ※From December through April, the road to the lake is closed and vehicles cannot pass. For details, please see the Ashoro Tourism Association website. Finally, here is a popular event in Ashorocho. The Ashoro Furusato Bon Odori Ryogoku Fireworks Festival, held every August, is the town’s largest event, painting the night sky with some 8,000 fireworks (※in 2022 only the fireworks were launched). When touring Hokkaido, be sure to visit Ashorocho. This largest town in Japan, with untouched nature stretching as far as the eye can see, awaits you with the warmest hospitality.

It is a "city of flowers, tastes and history" in Akkeshi Town. We in Akkeshi Town are located in the east of Hokkaido and are surrounded by Kushiro Town, Hamanaka Town, and Shibecha. The climate is relatively low in Hokkaido, but the snow cover remains even in spring. Akkeshi Town faces the Pacific Ocean, Akkeshi Bay, and Lake Akkeshi, so it boasts fresh seafood. In particular, oysters are a popular gourmet in Akkeshi, and many people come to Akkeshi for oysters for sightseeing. Once you taste Akkeshi's oysters, you will definitely be captivated. In addition, scallops, clams, sanma, sea urchin, squid, bokki, crab, kelp... Popular seafood that cannot be described here is landed in Akkeshi. Please visit Akkeshi Town once and enjoy the fresh seafood! Along with these seafood, "Akkeshi whisky" is popular. The cool climate of Akkeshi is suitable for maturing whisky. Drink Akkeshi whiskey with oysters caught in Akkeshi! This is the perfect combination! We will also introduce recommended spots in Akkeshi other than gourmet. In Akkeshi Town, there are many popular sightseeing spots such as "Akkeshi Waterfowl Observation Museum", "Cape Aikan", "Primeval Hanazono Ayamegahara", "Roadside Station Akkeshi Gourmet Park", "Konohi Park", "Akkeshi Boyodai", and "Bekanbeushi Marshland". In particular, Kushiro Town, "Akkeshi Kiritappu Kombumori Quasi-National Park", which straddles Akkeshi Town, Hamanaka Town, and Shibecha, is a recommended tourist spot, and this park was designated as a quasi-national park by 2021 Reiwa 3. The entire park is almost untouched, and if you go down the river by canoe, you can meet wild Yezo sika deer and sea eagles. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of nature throughout the year because you can see the beautiful scenery of the four seasons. We will continue to send out attractive information such as gourmet, nature, and sightseeing in Akkeshi Town, so don't miss it!

Abashiri Tourist Association. Hokkaido's tourism PR character "Kyun-chan" came to Abashiri! Kyun-chan is an Ezonaki rabbit that lives in Hokkaido and is characterized by its ugly ears and dark eyes. To impress the feelings of what you see and touch with "Kyun" is the origin of Kyun-chan's name. In Abashiri, we boarded the drift ice breaker "Aurora" and enjoyed local gourmet, Abashiri champon, Okhotsukuzangi bowl, drift ice curry, drift ice soft, etc.!

Abashiri Tourist Association. The day after tomorrow, the drift ice breaker "Aurora" will start operation from January 20. The drift ice season has finally arrived! You can enjoy it until early March. Please come to Abashiri, the city of drift ice.

Abashiri Tourist Association. This year as well, the Abashiri winter tradition "Japanese smelt fishing" started on Saturday, January 7. Depending on the freezing conditions of Lake Abashiri, it will be held until Tuesday, March 21. You can also enjoy the Japanese smelt you catch yourself as tempura. Additional charge required Set price: Adults 1,800 yen / Elementary school students 1,400 yen 【Set contents】Recreational fishing fee, rental rod, device, bait, drilling fee, rental chair A deep fryer set including pan, oil, deep frying powder, chopsticks, plates, and electromagnetic stove is available for 1,000 yen. *Reservations are not required. * Please return the rental item by 15:30.

One of the New Year's games is kite flying. There was a kite flying competition at the Haebaru event, so I made an original kite and participated. A kite flying high into the sky, relying on the power of the wind, is very pleasant to watch. I was able to fly it easily even with HAERUN ☆

A Ryukyu kasuri kimono of the traditional craft of Haebaru. Since I participated in the New Year's party, the hair ornament is set with a water draw accent more gorgeously than usual ☆

I made a Christmas wreath using Haebaru specialty luffa and tears of Ryukyu kasuri, which is a traditional craft. The luffa is dried and bleached. It was cut off from the luffa and cute☆

I used Haebaru's specialty luffa to make a New Year's shimenawa. luffa DIY. If you cut the dried luffa and bleach it, you can decorate it so beautifully ☆

Located in Haebaru Shinkawa, there are vending machines for [Wagyu beef broiled sushi] and [horse sashimi] in the environmental forest fureai facility. Since it is handed over frozen, it is nice to be able to carry it to your home in a cold state.

Haebaru, we will introduce vending machines. Egg vending machine ^o^ at the entrance of Churatama Poultry Farm and Castle Store Chicken eggs raised at our own poultry farm have a dark yolk color and are fresh ☆ And sweets using those eggs are also recommended! My favorite is the caramel pound cake! You can purchase from this vending machine ☆☆

Eisa of the Tsukayama Youth Association, who is active in Haebaru, was fascinated by the very powerful performance. Eisa also had a lot of self-restraint periods, and I was very impressed by the live performance for the first time in a long time.

Ryukyu kasuri is a traditional craft of Haebaru. The golden kimono is neatly accented with Strelitzia flowers, a specialty of Haebaru. Each pattern on a kimono has its own meaning, and when you understand it, you will become even more attached to it. Haebaru Ryukyu Kasuri Kaikan also rents kimonos. Why don't you visit ^o^ us?

It is a new kimono of Ryukyu kasuri, a traditional craft of Haebaru. The purple color is unusual and very cute. I also enjoy styling my hair with purple accessories to match my kimono.

A new kimono of Ryukyu kasuri, a Haebaru traditional craft. The light blue color is vivid, and the kasuri pattern is further enhanced. Haebaru Ryukyu Kasuri Kaikan also rents kimonos. How about wearing a kasuri kimono and strolling along Kasuri Road?

The 33rd Kasuri Queen Contest was held in Haebaru. I was fascinated by the colorful kasuri kimono. And three people have been selected as the queen of kasuri, and I am looking forward to working as the queen of kasuri for the next two years to promote Haebaru in and out of the town and to promote kasuri.

Ryukyu kasuri is a traditional craft of Haebaru HAEBARU. [Kasuri Road] named after Kasuri is located in the area called the headquarters in the town. In a village lined with many textile workshops, I found beautiful butterflies. The building in the back is the Oshiro Koshiro Textile Workshop.

I found it when I was walking around Haebaru. Can you see the stars in the flowers?

It's in Haebaru HAEBARU, Yu-i Factry. We process the exterminated hubs to make original products. And in the store, you can experience making keychains and other things. You can ☺ easily make it with Haeru town image character.

At the Ryukyu Kasuri Kaikan in Haebaru, you can experience weaving ☆ From elementary school children to local characters, you can easily experience coaster making, so please ♡ This time, I made a pattern called [Yakasa].

Haebaru in Habaru, I would like to introduce the mapo luffa of Kinmen Hanten. Mapo luffa, which uses Haebaru specialty luffa instead of eggplant, is exquisite☆ There are many figurines and decorations in the store that make you feel China☆ There are many other Chinese dishes, so go eat ☆☆☆

The yellow one is the luffa flower ❀ The luffa flowers spreading all over were very cute. Together with the back of the image character Haerun of Haebaru Habaru.

Located in Haebaru, it is the room of the Ryukyu Kasuri Kaikan. You can see a glimpse of the loom behind you. If you make a reservation, you can experience making a coaster with a kasuri weave ☆

A star fruit tree grown by a farmer in Haebaru. Many star fruits grow from one tree. It was sparkling like a star in the summer sun ☆

Haeren and Kanna. In Haebaru, there is a town road No. 29 called "Kanna Street". Since it is a slope, it is good to see while going down, and it is a good canna spot to see while going up.

"Kasuri Road" Haebaru is a town where the traditional craft of Ryukyu kasuri is thriving. And there is a Kasuri Road with kasuri patterns here and there in the town. While passing by the textile workshop of Ryukyu Kasuri, you can enjoy the textile town.

Star Fruit I visited a farmer's field in Haebaru and took a picture. It's really in the shape of a star ☆

It is a luffa that is grown in Haebaru fields. In Okinawa, luffa is eaten as a vegetable! Please try luffa dishes.

Haebaru image character Haerun and Himawari

It is a sunflower field near the Golden Forest.