Minato de Hinamatsuri From Thursday, February 5, 2026 to Tuesday, March 17, 2026, about 250 hina dolls will gather inside Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal! Hina dolls no longer needed at home will be displayed in fun, creative ways 🎎 Also, on Sunday, March 1 at 2:30 PM, a "Hinamatsuri Concert" will be held!

The Former Hokkaido Government Office in Sapporo City, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property often called the Former Hokkaido Government Office or the red brick government building, completed a major renovation called the “Reiwa Renovation” last year. The renewed first-floor exhibition room features corners for all of Hokkaido’s municipalities, 179 in total. Of course there is also a corner for Tomakomai, so please try to find it.

Tomakomai in the north. You can't see flowers or fruit outdoors in winter. In central Tomakomai City, the greenhouse Sun Garden at Idemitsu Culture Park keeps greenery through the winter by focusing on evergreen plants and planting species that bloom in winter, plants with scented leaves or flowers, and species not usually seen in the Tomakomai area. You can find rare plants that don’t appear in Tomakomai’s winter, such as camellia japonica and citrus, so come and be soothed by the blooms without worrying about the weather ✨

Good morning. Yesterday, Tomakomai hosted the Tomakomai City Coming-of-Age Celebration for 20-year-olds.✨ Congratulations to the honorees and their families! Tomakomai’s official mascot, Tomachop, also tried on a kimono.👘 If you’d like to see Tomachop in kimono, please visit the Tomakomai Tourist Information Center.

This year marks the 60th Tomakomai Skating Festival. The highlight is shibare-yaki, a jingisukan grilled outdoors below freezing (the Hokkaido dialect word shibareru means "cold"). Grilled on a drum-can grill and enjoyed with beer, the seasoned jingisukan tastes exceptional. A huge ice slide is another favorite with children. Tomakomai’s signature winter event, the Tomakomai Skating Festival, takes place this year on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8, 2026.⛸ We hope you will join us!

Here are the main spots in Tomakomai to watch the first sunrise of the year 🌅 The sunrise is expected at 7:03 AM. Please refrain from idling near private homes or any other behavior that might cause a nuisance. ● Roadside Station Utonai Lake ● Tarumae Shrine ● Midorigaoka Park Observatory ※Temporarily open from 11:00 PM on December 31 to 9:00 AM on January 1 ● the beaches of Itoi and Tarumae ● Yufutsu Marina Waterfront Breakwater and others

A tiny bird even smaller than a sparrow, with round, charming eyes—the subspecies of long-tailed tit known as the shiraneaga (shimaenaga). Found only in Hokkaido, this wild bird is beloved by birdwatchers and nicknamed the "snow fairy." In winter it grows a fluffy, pure-white plumage and looks just like a snowball! It mainly lives in forests and woodlands; with leaves gone in winter it becomes easier to spot, and it is often seen along the Lake Utonai lakeside. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Winter in Tomakomai often makes both sidewalks and roads icy and slippery. Shoes with non-slip soles—such as those with glass fiber reinforcement, built-in spikes, or wraparound spike bands—are essential. Use sand where available and pay attention to how you walk.

Locomotive and VIP coach lit up! ✨🚂✨ This year marks the 30th anniversary since the Oji Light Railway (commonly called the Yamasen Line), which had been on display in Tokyo, returned to Tomakomai. About three thousand LEDs light up the Yamasen Line at Oji Acacia Park. Symbol Street Terrace has also started ✨ Enjoy exploring a variety of unique shops while taking in this special winter light scene ✨

Midorigaoka Park Observatory in Tomakomai City offers views of the city and Mt. Tarumae from 56 meters above sea level. Admission is free. Open hours are 10:00–18:00 in winter and 9:00–21:00 in summer. On the second floor, a multipurpose lounge hosts concerts and workshops, making it a relaxing spot for residents. In the observatory plaza you may also encounter wildlife such as Ezo squirrels and Ezo deer ✨🐿🦌

Recently, part of Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai) froze over. A swan standing on the ice flaps its wings✨🦢 Roadside Station Utonai Lake, which posts many stunning photos on social media, is open in winter from 9:00 to 17:00. It offers plenty of delicious local food and goods, so please stop by for a break during winter road trips. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Tomakomai-made craft beer is now available for purchase at the Tomakomai Tourist Information Center🍺 We are selling five distinctive varieties, including ones made with Tomakomai-grown haskap and others using Tomakomai-grown yachiyanagi instead of hops‼ *Because these items require refrigeration, we offer ice packs and insulated bags for those carrying them for long periods (each available for a fee). At Hokkaido Brewery, the brewpub and beer kitchen in Nishiki-cho 2-chome, Tomakomai City, you can enjoy the full range of craft beers alongside local game such as venison✨ Please give them a try🍺

Early winter at Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai). The swans’ silhouettes stand out against the gradient, making the scene look like a painting. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

The curtain at Tomakomai Civic Auditorium, which will close at the end of March next year, was donated in 1968 by Oji Paper Co., Ltd.'s Tomakomai Factory. The curtain, depicting Mt. Tarumae, Tomakomai Port, and the Oji Paper factory, holds many memories for Tomakomai residents from stage performances, choir contests, and other events.

It is the morning of Saturday, November 8th in front of tomakomai station. Please make sure to bring studless winter tires for your drive.

Many of the autumn leaves around the city fell in the storm on November 1st, but today, November 2nd, is bright and clear! The second photo shows a dusky thrush bathing. It looks so comfortable. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai-ko)

The 12th floor, the top floor of Tomakomai City Hall, has an observation corridor. This photo was taken from the 12th floor on October 21st. The red-and-white smokestack visible on the left belongs to the Oji Paper Tomakomai Plant. It stands an astonishing 200 meters tall! Mt. Tarumae, visible in the distance, becomes completely covered in white snow in winter.

The end of the season is just around the corner! Let's enjoy the last Mt. Tarumae of the year! Mt. Mt. Tarumae, which is popular as a mountain that is easy to climb even for beginners, ends its season in early November every year. Before the end of the season, Enjoy the contrast between the bright red fiery Autumn leaves of Mt. Mt. Tarumae and the sparkling water surface of Lake Shikotsu! Breathe in the clear air and refresh your mood! We look forward to seeing you there!

Lake Utonai in mid-October. Swans, geese and other autumn migratory birds are gathering here one after another. In particular, the communal dawn flight to nearby feeding grounds, known as the "negradachi" roost flight, is a must-see. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

The woodland garden Ikoro no Mori, where the leaves are beginning to change color, is spectacularly adorned with dahlias and roses. Ikoro no Mori will close for the winter season from November 1st, so you can enjoy the autumn garden only through October. Won’t you come and visit?

The flower chozu at Tarumae Shrine, dressed in seasonal blooms year-round. White lilies and a colorful array of chrysanthemums and orchids create a beautiful autumn display ✨

Barbecue at the foot of the majestic Mt. Tarumae! The 2025 Tarumae Sun Festival began at 10:00 on Saturday, September 27✨ The forecast high is 24°C! It's a perfectly sunny day for barbecue✨ The festival runs for two days on Saturday and Sunday, September 27–28🍗

A viewpoint has been installed at the Tarumae Garo Gorge! The site is about 200 meters north along the forest road just past the Tarumae Garo Bridge from the parking lot. Because of the risk of rockfalls, visitors have only been able to look down from the bridge in recent years, but the new viewpoint lets you see Tarumae Garo from close to the riverbed. Out of consideration for environmental conservation, there are no stairs or handrails on the slope up to the viewpoint. Leaves can make the path slippery, so please take care with your footing.

This delicate little flower is called mizosoba. It belongs to the knotweed family, the same family as buckwheat (soba). You can observe it along the shore of Lake Utonai, around the alder terrace. (Image courtesy of the Lake Utonai Wildlife Conservation Center)

Did you know that a light railway once known affectionately as the "Yamasen" ran along the cycling road connecting Tomakomai and Lake Shikotsu? In its early years, from 1908, it hauled materials and construction crews for a hydroelectric plant upstream on the Chitose River; in its middle years it carried logs; and in its later years it transported tourists to Lake Shikotsu, serving the area for 43 years until 1951. On September 6, 2025, the YAMASEN30th event will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Yamasen being exhibited at its current location ✨

Lake Utonai on a clear, calm August day ✨ Enjoy the spectacular view from the Lake Utonai observation facility! (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Lake Utonai)

Tomatoh Area, commonly called “Tomatoh,” is one of Japan’s largest industrial regions🏭 We are seeking photographic works that evoke Tomatoh’s factories, machinery, vehicles, people, and ships, or images that capture Tomatoh living in harmony with its rich natural surroundings. For more details, try searching for "Tomatoh Photo Contest 2025"📷

From August 1st to August 3rd, the 70th Tomakomai Port Festival is taking place over three days✨ In time for the Port Festival, the sailing ship Nippon Maru is docked at the sub-venue, Kirakira Park! At night, it shows a beautifully lit silhouette✨ (The lighting remains through the night of the 4th.)

Special Exhibition “The Artist Who Draws: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko” (July 12, 2025–August 31, 2025) A major exhibition in Tomakomai dives into the appeal of anime and manga legend Yoshikazu Yasuhiko—the largest show of his work to date! Dates: Saturday, July 12, 2025–Sunday, August 31, 2025 Closed: Mondays (open Monday, July 21 and Monday, August 11 [national holiday]; closed Tuesday, July 22 and Tuesday, August 12) Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. On Saturday, July 26 and Tuesday–Saturday, August 26–30, the museum is open until 8:00 p.m. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Venue: Tomakomai City Museum of Art and Natural History, Exhibition Rooms 1–3 Admission: Adults 600 yen (500 yen), university and high school students 400 yen (300 yen), elementary and junior high school students free ※ Prices in parentheses apply to advance tickets and groups of 10 or more. ※ Present your annual pass to enter for 300 yen for adults and 200 yen for university and high school students. ※ For exemption applications, please inquire. ※ The courtyard exhibition and the permanent collection are also included. ※ Admission fees are accepted in cash only. Combined ticket (common pass for Tomakomai City Museum of Art and Kushiro City Museum of Art): 1,300 yen

A Ezo deer wading in Lake Utonai. It appears to be eating aquatic plants.✨ It looks cool and refreshing. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)