Announcement of the 32nd Tokachi Aozora Lady appointment😄 Every year, in conjunction with the opening of Banei Tokachi, a certification and handover ceremony for the Tokachi Aozora Lady is held at Obihiro Ban'ei Racecourse.🎵 This year, the certification and handover ceremony took place on April 17 (Friday). The 32nd Tokachi Aozora Ladies are Chihiro Kiyota and Erina Kato. We appreciate your support!🙏 During the ceremony, bouquets were presented to the 31st Tokachi Aozora Ladies, Nozomi Takahashi and Mayuka Ishizaki, in gratitude for their year of activities💐 Thank you for your hard work‼️ As the first task for the 32nd Tokachi Aozora Lady, on that day, we distributed gifts to visitors at the opening of the Obihiro Racecourse, participated in the ceremony, and finally appeared on "Bansta"❗️ Thank you‼️ Banei Tokachi is a competition where draft horses pull heavy iron sleds, competing in speed and strength‼️ It is held every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. On April 26 (Sunday), the 20th Banei Tokachi Odds Park Cup❗️ The day will be filled with events! A collaboration event with "Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji" exclusively for visitors! A prize lottery, and a comedy stage featuring impersonations by Yoshimoto comedians will be available for your enjoyment😍 Additionally, in the evening, a show titled "Hanasaku Banei" featuring 500 drones lighting up the night sky will be held (around 21:15)✨✨ Be sure to come and cheer on the powerful draft horses up close🤗 https://tokachibare.jp/about_tokachi/page-55-2/...

Unlimited rides on Tokachi buses! Information on the value-packed VISIT TOKACHI PASS 😊 This great ticket lets you ride Tokachi route buses and the Tokachi Obihiro Airport shuttle as much as you like 🚌 The pass gives you unlimited boarding and alighting on Tokachi area route buses and the airport shuttle, making it a great value 🎵 Enjoy sightseeing across Tokachi, from distant spots like NukabiraGensenkyo and Lake Shikaribetsu to Obihiro’s Manabe Garden and Obihiro Racecourse (Banei Horse Racing). Use it to plan your trip to the fullest 😍 Sit back on the bus, watch Tokachi’s scenery roll by the window, and take a relaxed tour at your own pace. Spend some time just for yourself and savor it fully 🤗 * Residents within the jurisdiction of the Tokachi Subprefecture are not eligible to use this pass. * Intercity highway buses and each municipality’s community buses are not covered by this pass. Please understand this in advance. 🔶 Online sales are also available; please check the Tokachike link below. https://www.tokaticket.jp//

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, March 22, “One-Ton Weight! Deciding the Strongest Banei Horse!” The 58th Banei Memorial takes place 😊 This is the ultimate Banei showdown, with Banei weights run at the maximum of 1 ton! Among the BG1 races, the most prestigious class in Banei racing, this event sits at the very top 🎵 Also, from Friday, March 20 (national holiday) through Sunday, March 22, the “Banei Memorial” event offers a packed schedule of attractions and activities 😍 🔶 A corner exhibiting four-panel manga by the very popular Mayu Sawada, featured on the official Banei Tokachi LINE 🔶 Gourmet stalls gathering winners from past Banei Kitchen Car Grand Prix and other tasty vendors 🔶 On-site predictions and talk shows by comedians and notable personalities, and more Come for all three days to enjoy the events and cheer on the powerful draft horses up close 🤗 https://www.banei-keiba.or.jp/ed_detail.php?id=1580...

Announcement of the Appointment of the 31st Tokachi Aozora Ladies 😄 Every year, to mark the start of Ban'ei horse racing, we hold the Tokachi Aozora Ladies certification and handover ceremony at Obihiro Racecourse. 🎵 This year, the certification and handover ceremony took place on Friday, April 18. The 31st Tokachi Aozora Ladies are Nozomi Takahashi and Mayuka Ishizaki. We look forward to your support for them. The two 31st Tokachi Aozora Ladies presented bouquets to Machi Fujita and Kaori Noguchi, the 30th Tokachi Aozora Ladies, in thanks for their year of activities. As their first duties, the 31st Tokachi Aozora Ladies handed out gifts to visitors at the opening of Obihiro Racecourse, took part in the ceremony where the Mayor of Obihiro gave greetings, and appeared on BanSta. Thank you very much! Ban'ei horse racing is a sport where draft horses pull heavy iron sleds, testing speed and strength! Race days are Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. From Saturday, April 26 to Monday, April 28, enjoy the anime Baki Hanma × Ban'ei Tokachi collaboration event! During Golden Week from Saturday, May 3 to Monday, May 5, a packed lineup of family-friendly attractions awaits, including stage events, food and merchandise booths, and a kids’ corner. 😍 Come to Obihiro Racecourse to cheer as the powerful Ban'ei horses take strong steps right before your eyes!! Please visit the official Ban'ei Tokachi website at the URL below. https://www.banei-keiba.or.jp//

Announcement of the 57th Banei Kinen📣 On Sunday, March 16, the pinnacle race of Banei horse racing, the Norin-Suisan Daijin Shoten—the 57th Banei Kinen—will be held at Banei Tokachi Obihiro Racecourse to decide the strongest Banei horse!!😄 In this event, massive draft horses weighing about one ton pull one-ton sleds as they compete in speed and strength!! At Obihiro Racecourse, the Banei Kinen events will run from March 14 through March 16. Enjoy three days packed with a variety of activities🎵 This year, Tokachi Aozora Ladies will join the Banei Kinen events. Around 2:00 PM on March 14 they will make on-track predictions together with expert tipsters—please come by and join the fun!! Recently, Tokachi Aozora Ladies promoted the Banei Kinen in Sapporo together with Banei racing officials and Banei Tokachi’s mascot, Ricky. They appeared on FM North Wave, then were interviewed by Hokkaido Shimbun, Sports Nippon, and Sports Hochi. Thank you very much!! Come to Obihiro Racecourse and cheer as these giant horses take each powerful step right before your eyes🎵

Winter tradition Tokachi Ranch Umaoi Exercise Held to relieve winter inactivity and help prevent difficult births in pregnant mares. You can see the horses up close, making it an exhilarating sight! Open to the public only on weekday mornings. ※In 2024 it ended on February 16.

Nice to meet you! This is the Tokachi Tourism Federation. We are pleased to introduce charming information about Tokachi in Hokkaido, blessed with vast plains and beautiful nature. First, here is some basic information about Tokachi. Tokachi is made up of 19 municipalities, including its center, Obihiro City. "The 19 municipalities of Tokachi" Obihiro City, Otofuke, Shihorocho, Kamishihoro Town, Shikaoicho, Shintoku Town, Shimizu-cho, Memuro Town, Nakasatsunaimura, Sarabetsumura, Taiki Town, Hirocho, Makubetsu, Ikeda Town, Toyokorocho, Hombetsucho, Ashorocho, Rikubetsucho, Urahorocho The name Tokachi for Hokkaido comes from the Ainu word "Tokapuchi," which referred to the Tokachi River used by Hokkaido’s indigenous people. Because Tokachi has a continental climate, spring and summer temperatures are relatively warm compared with other parts of Hokkaido. Winters can get as cold as minus 30 degrees Celsius, but snowfall is light and the region often enjoys clear skies. The main access route to Tokachi is by air via Tokachi Obihiro Airport. Flights to Tokachi Obihiro Airport take about 1.5 hours from HanedaKuukou and about 1 hour 45 minutes from Nagoya Chubu. By train, you can travel from Sapporo to JR Obihiro Station in as little as 2 hours 24 minutes. Tokachi is a treasure trove of nature, and each of its 19 municipalities offers diverse attractions. You will find many scenic spots and opportunities to encounter wildlife. In this post, we introduce a selection of popular sightseeing spots. In Obihiro City, Banei Tokachi at Obihiro Racecourse (Banei Tokachi) is the only racecourse in the world that holds Banei horse racing, where draft horses pull sleds in competition. Banei races test strength, speed, and endurance. The powerful sight of horses running a 200-meter course is a must-see. On-site, a petting zoo lets you interact with ponies, rabbits, and other animals, and it is open even on non-race days. Next is Tokachi Hills in Makubetsu. This hilltop complex combines nature and flowers, with themed gardens focused on "agriculture and food." Roses, herbs, and many other flowers bloom here, so you can enjoy floral displays year-round. The garden café on site serves unique menu items you can only taste there, such as a casket-style sandwich made with roasted loin of Mangalica pork, the world’s only edible national treasure (a Hungarian delicacy). Nearby attractions around Tokachi Hills follow. Happiness Station, about a 20-minute drive from Tokachi Hills, became famous in the 1970s with the slogan "From the Land of Love to Happiness." Known as a lovers’ shrine, Kofuku Station remains a popular spot for couples wishing for happiness. From late April through the end of November, the Kofuku Station Happy Ceremony offers a mock wedding experience. Aikoku Station, which sparked a similar boom, lies about 15 minutes by car from Kofuku Station. Now enjoyed as the Traffic Memorial Hall, the ticket monument marked "bound for Happiness" in front of its station building is a great photo spot. About 25 minutes by car from Tokachi Hills is TokachigawaOnsen, a hot spring resort village on the banks of the Tokachi River. The moor hot springs available at TokachigawaOnsen are recognized as a Hokkaido heritage and are one of Japan’s rare plant-based hot springs. Moor hot springs are said to help with neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, chronic gynecological conditions, and sensitivity to cold. Some nearby hotels offer day-use bathing. Surrounded by beautiful nature, soaking in these hot springs is a great way to refresh and relieve everyday fatigue. The Tokachi area has 15 roadside stations providing local specialties, gourmet food, and tourist information. (As of July 2023) Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21, renovated from a railway station in 2011, still retains railway motifs and represents Ashorocho’s roadside station. The shop and bakery use local specialties such as the world’s largest butterbur, Rawan-buki, in breads, and the restaurant serves local treats such as Rawan-buki soft serve. Don’t miss the local pork bowl at Kumano-ko Regional Exchange and Local Products Center. At roadside stations you can enjoy region-specific foods and other local experiences unique to each area. Be sure to stop by as a memory of your trip. Next, we introduce spots where you can experience Hokkaido’s vast nature. One of Hokkaido’s three secret lakes, Lake Onneto, lies at the western edge of Akan-Mashu National Park. Because the lake surface changes color with the seasons and time of day, it is also called the "Five-Colored Pond." An observation deck offers stunning views of Lake Onneto with MtMeakan and Akan Fuji in the background and is a recommended viewpoint. In Kamishihoro Town, the Taushubetsu River Bridge at Lake Nukabira is a 130-meter-long concrete arch bridge built in 1937. About 60 arch bridges of various sizes, once part of the former National Railway Shihoro Line, are preserved as modern industrial heritage. In spring, as snow melts and water levels rise, the arches reflect on the surface and resemble eyeglasses, which is why the bridge is also called the "Spectacles Bridge." Mikuni Pass (in Kamishihoro Town) inside Daisetsuzan National Park stands at 1,139 meters and is the highest pass in Hokkaido. You will be captivated by natural spectacles such as fresh green seas of trees in spring and vivid autumn foliage. At the Mikuni Pass café on the summit, popular specialty items include hand-drip coffee roasted on-site. Finally, Tokachi Ranch in Otofuke covers an expansive 4,092 hectares. The ranch raises Dosanko horses, sheep, and cattle. A popular spot is the 1.3-kilometer row of birch trees that continues from the ranch entrance. Tokachi hosts various events throughout the year. The Tokachi Port Festival’s Tokachi Port Marine Fireworks, held in Hirocho, is the only fireworks festival in the Tokachi area that takes place at a port. Underwater fireworks that spread across the sea surface are one of the highlights. The 2023 event was scheduled for August 5. The summer Obihiro Plain Festival, autumn Obihiro Chrysanthemum Festival, and winter Obihiro Ice Festival are known as the three major Obihiro festivals and are popular events. The Kachimai Fireworks Festival, held on the Tokachi River riverbed, is known for its highly entertaining program. Enjoy a fireworks show woven together with music, lighting, and pyrotechnics. The 2023 event was scheduled for August 13. Hokkaido Tokachi is a region overflowing with charm, where vast nature, gourmet food, hot springs, and attractions come together in harmony. We will continue to bring you more information on Tokachi’s sightseeing spots, events, and gourmet offerings that we could not cover in this post! Please look forward to future updates!

How do you do! Obihiro Tourism and Convention Association. We will introduce plenty of the charms of Obihiro City, Hokkaido, so thank you! Obihiro City, Hokkaido is a city with a population of about 170,000 located in the center of the Tokachi Plain in central Hokkaido. In this area rich in nature created by the rich land and climate, you can enjoy the beautiful nature of each season, such as fresh greenery in spring, cool summer, beautiful autumn leaves in autumn, and pure white snowscape in winter. First of all, we will introduce popular sightseeing spots that you should never miss when you visit Obihiro City for sightseeing! At Banei Tokachi Obihiro Racecourse, located about a 7-minute drive from Obihiro Station, you can enjoy the world's only Banei Horse Race, where horses weighing more than 1 ton compete for power, speed, and endurance by pulling a heavy iron sled. In the Meiji period, when horses were indispensable for transportation and transportation in Hokkaido, "Banei horse racing" began by comparing power as the value of agricultural horses. The historic and powerful race has been certified as a Hokkaido Heritage Site and is a popular tourist spot in modern times. Please watch the powerful run for yourself and experience the feeling of elation and unity! In addition, it is conveniently located 15 minutes by bus from Obihiro Station, and you can see about 70 kinds of animals at Obihiro Zoo, the second long-established zoo built in Hokkaido. You can also play with large playground equipment such as a Ferris wheel and a merry-go-round, so it is a popular tourist spot that everyone from children to adults can enjoy. Next, we will introduce two sightseeing spots where you can enjoy the flowers and trees of the four seasons of Obihiro. A 15-minute drive from Obihiro Station, Manabe Garden is located in Obihiro City. It is a historic park boasting a vast site of 25,000 tsubo, and the strolling garden where you can see three types of gardens at once, such as a Japanese garden, a Western-style garden, and a landscape garden, is popular. Visitors say "It's like coming to a fairyland!" Next, at the Shichiku Garden, a 15,000-tsubo flower garden that spreads out on the vast grounds of the Tokachi Plain, which is 35 minutes by car from Obihiro Station, about 2,500 kinds of flowers and trees are in full bloom, and you can enjoy them throughout each of the four seasons. At the restaurant in the park, you can enjoy dishes using pesticide-free vegetables grown in the garden and fresh ingredients from Tokachi. It is also recommended to start the day of sightseeing with a breakfast buffet where you can feel the refreshing breeze! Next, we will introduce popular gourmet foods that you should definitely try when sightseeing in Obihiro. Obihiro City's most popular local gourmet and specialty dish "Pork Bowl" is grilled pork marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce and placed on rice. This exquisite cuisine has become a specialty gourmet loved not only by Obihiro citizens but also by tourists. In addition, Tokachi is the largest dairy kingdom in Japan in terms of raw milk production, and many cheese artisans make their own cheese from this fresh raw milk. Please heal your fatigue when sightseeing in Obihiro at the hot spring. Obihiro City has many hot springs, and you can enjoy them at about 20 unique facilities. There are also many day-trip hot spring facilities, and there are also facilities where you can soak in the hot springs and see the scenery of nature. Find your favorite hot spring spot and spend time relaxing while taking a break. Obihiro City full of highlights! Once you visit, you are sure to be drawn in by its charm. We will regularly send out information on nature, sightseeing spots, gourmet food, and other attractions of Obihiro City, so thank you!