Shot at Bihoro Pass, Hokkaido.
There is still a lot of snow, but the Milky Way has finally begun to appear.
I hope it will show more beautiful contours as it gets warmer.

Here are today's views of Onneto and Yunotaki.
The weather was great, and the location was perfect!

This is the Tokachigawa Onsen Tourist Association in Otofuke, Hokkaido.
Otofuke is pronounced "Otofuke-chō".

We plan to share captivating information about hot springs, sightseeing spots, superb local cuisine, access, and weather through Cool Japan videos!

Please spend a dreamlike time in Otofuke’s Tokachigawa Onsen, where spectacular natural scenery and blissful hot springs soothe the body and mind.

First, an introduction to the hot springs that heal both body and spirit.
Tokachigawa Onsen features a rare spring quality and was designated a Hokkaido Heritage site in 2004, ahead of many other hot spring areas in Hokkaido.
Tokachigawa Onsen is famous in Japan as a rare moor hot spring.
The term "moor" comes from the German word for lignite and refers to springs that flow through lignite layers containing ancient plant-based organic matter; the water has an amber color and a slightly viscous texture.

The hotels and ryokan lining the hot spring town offer carefully designed open-air and indoor baths, letting you fully enjoy the beautifying waters, and some facilities also offer day-use hot springs.

Otofuke’s sightseeing spots brim with charm that makes you lose track of time.
Roadside Station Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen is a treasure trove with a market showcasing local fresh ingredients and specialties, a spa where you can enjoy the Hokkaido Heritage moor hot spring in swimwear, hands-on craft workshops, and four restaurants.

At Tokachi Ranch, which spans vast grounds, a viewing platform offers 360-degree views of Tokachi’s grand landscape.
From mid-January to the end of February, snow exercise for horse health care is open to the public.

At Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden, you can glimpse the production process of a popular confectionery maker and try your hand at making sweets.

Tokachigaoka Park is perfect for families, centered on the large flower clock "Hanakku" with an 18-meter diameter and a 10.10-meter second hand, surrounded by seasonal blooms.

Tokachigawa Onsen in Otofuke hosts many attractive events.
In early summer, the Moor Hot Spring Firefly Viewing enchants visitors with fireflies lighting up the night at Tokachigawa Onsen.
Many tourists come to see the fluttering fireflies, enjoying a special time that feels in harmony with nature.

The winter event Sairinka creates a fantastical space of synchronized sound and light with about 600 illuminated objects, including a 5.4-meter symbol tower.

Otofuke’s Tokachigawa Onsen holds various appealing events throughout the year, including those mentioned above.
Along with the hot springs, sights, and delicious food, we hope you enjoy seasonal events as well.

Access to Tokachigawa Onsen in Otofuke, Hokkaido: about 2 hours by car from New Chitose Airport, about 3 hours by train from JR Sapporo Station, and about 20 minutes by car or taxi from Obihiro Station.

Otofuke’s Tokachigawa Onsen awaits you with beautiful nature, restorative hot springs for body and mind, and inspiring sightseeing spots!

Hello viewers of Cool Japan Videos, this is the Tomakomai Tourism Association.

On this account, we’ll introduce the many attractive tourist spots of Tomakomai City, one of Japan’s leading industrial cities and the largest port town in Hokkaido.

Tomakomai is very easy to reach: about a 90-minute drive from Sapporo City and about a 30-minute drive from New Chitose Airport.
When you visit, rental bicycles are available, so we recommend touring while feeling the great outdoors on your skin.

Now, let us introduce Tomakomai City’s proud sightseeing spots.

■ Mt. Tarumae
Designated a natural monument of Hokkaido, this stratovolcano features a globally famous double rim.
You can drive up to the 7th station, and from there it’s about a 50-minute hike to the summit, making it an easy climb to enjoy sweeping views and alpine plants.

■ Midorigaoka Park
From the observation deck on the hilltop plaza, you can take in panoramic views of Tomakomai City.
With fountains and flowerbeds, plus an athletics stadium and a rugby field, many people use it as an outdoor sports park.

■ Kin-Dainuma Park
Centered on Lake Kin-Dainuma, which has a 1.6-kilometer shoreline, the park is surrounded by pristine nature.
You can enjoy facilities year-round, including Arten, one of Japan’s largest auto campgrounds, a canoe base, a park golf course, and the Yunomi no Yu bathing facility.

■ Northern Horse Park
A popular spot where visitors can interact with horses.
You can experience horseback riding, guided pony rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, sleigh rides, riding lessons, the Happy Pony Show, and horse trekking.

Next, we’ll introduce some of the popular local gourmet treats that are one of the pleasures of visiting Tomakomai.

Tomakomai City boasts the largest catch of surf clams (hokkigai) in Japan, often called the king of shellfish.
While they’re known as a premium sushi topping, in Tomakomai you can buy them casually.
As a port town, there’s also plenty of seafood like salmon and atka mackerel, plus local specialties such as haskap berries, Tomakomai ramen, haskap-based sweets called yoitomake, Tarumae jingisukan (grilled mutton), and hokki curry—popular flavors you should try when sightseeing.

We’ll continue to share many more recommended Tomakomai attractions that we couldn’t fit into this post, so please look forward to them!

Hello!🙋‍♀️
This is the Shintoku Town Tourism Association.

Next weekend on Sunday, April 30th, the Shintoku Shrine Mountain Cherry Blossom Festival, which was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, returns for the first time in four years.

On the day, starting in the morning🌄 at the precincts of Shintoku Shrine⛩, there will be a brass band performance🎷 and a demonstration of the Shintoku Ondo dance, along with a karaoke contest🎤 that includes daring dives, and from midday a thrilling prize raffle🎊.

Around 2,300 Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees🌸 spread across Mt. Shintoku, centered near the shrine grounds, making it one of Hokkaido’s top cherry blossom spots✨. Today the trees are only about 20% in bloom, with some blossoms already open. They may reach peak bloom around the end of the month.

This year, please come and enjoy the mountain cherry blossoms of Shintoku as part of the festival 👀♪♪♪

#Hokkaido
#Tokachi
#Shintoku Town
#Shintoku Town Tourism Association
#Shintoku Shrine
#Ezo-yamazakura
#Peak bloom
#Cherry Blossom Festival
#Food stalls
#Karaoke
#Barbecue
#Prize raffle

Yubari City, Hokkaido is located in the central Hokkaido region of central Hokkaido and is a city with many attractive sightseeing spots interwoven with nature and history.

When many people hear the name "Yubari City", the words "Yubari Melon" and "Financially Bankrupt City" may come to mind.

Yubari City also once prospered due to the coal industry, one of the main industries of the Japan.
However, as time changed and the demand for coal decreased, Yubari City was affected by it, and by 1990, all the coal mines were closed and the city was in a difficult situation.
After that, it experienced financial collapse in 2007, but now measures are being taken to revitalize the city.

Yubari City has such a history, but it is about 60 minutes from New Chitose Airport, the northern gateway, and about 90 minutes from Sapporo, making it a popular tourist destination.
At the Yubari City Coal Museum, you can learn about the history of the coal industry in Yubari City and learn about the development of Yubari City.
Dynamic exhibitions that utilize actual coal mining sites as tourism resources are popular and have become a place visited by many tourists.

Yubari City is rich in nature as well as from the summit of Mt. Yubari at an altitude of 1,668 meters, and a 360-degree panoramic view spreads out, and you can see the beautiful scenery of the four seasons.
In addition, with the completion of the Yubari Shuparo Dam in 2015, you can enjoy aquatic activities such as canoeing at Lake Shuparo, which has become the fourth largest water reservoir in the Japan.
At the waterfall top park, colorful flowers and trees grow over, and you can feel the four seasons of Yubari City closely.
The "Chidoriga Falls" in the park is a superb view of countless large and small waterfalls and strangely shaped rocks.

If you come to Yubari City for sightseeing, please enjoy gourmet food and masterpieces.
Speaking of Yubari City, Yubari Melon! Why not taste the sweet and juicy Yubari melon in summer?
Yubari potatoes and canned beans are also popular gourmets.

The population was 116,000 in 1960, when coal mining flourished, but today it is less than 7,000.
Yubari City is sometimes compared to a ghost town, but if you actually visit, you can learn about the history of Japan industry and enjoy nature and gourmet food.

After about 16 years since 2007, Yubari City has reached the goal of paying off its debt in four years.
In order for citizens and tourists to come back to Yubari City after paying off their debts, we would like to introduce the attractions such as sightseeing spots and history of Yubari City in the Cool Japan Video!