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 📣 Tokachi Craft Makers Night will take place on Thursday, March 19. 😊 This one-night event brings together three makers who craft beverages in Tokachi with their own philosophies and participants to discuss the future of Tokachi’s drinking culture. 🎵 Part One is a panel discussion (about 45 minutes) with the three makers leading “new beverage making in Tokachi”: beer, cider, and gin. Part Two is a social gathering (about 60 minutes) where you can enjoy drinks paired with food and freely chat with the three makers. 📍 Date and time: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 18:00–19:45 (reception starts at 17:30) 📍 Venue: LAND, 1st Floor, Tenkodo Building, 12-1, West 2 South 11, Obihiro 📍 Capacity: 40 people (reservation required, first-come, first-served) 📍 Eligibility: Ages 20 and over (alcohol will be served) 📍 Fee: 3,000 yen (drinks from three companies plus pairing dishes from Kobito no Daidokoro in Ashorocho) *Payment in cash on the day* 📍 Registration deadline: Saturday, March 14, 2026 — registration closes once capacity is reached. *Please apply via the QR code on the attached flyer.* 📞 Inquiries: Tokachi Plain Distillery TEL: 0155-65-0479 (We may not be able to answer depending on business conditions. Thank you for your understanding.) https://tokachibare.jp/sake-museum/...

Event Announcement📣 On Saturday, February 14th, Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21 hosts "Wood Candle Night 2026" 😊 The day features wood education workshops such as ogacolor and deer-hide leather craft, plus a wooden toy corner where visitors can touch, play with, and make wooden items 🎵 You can also enjoy a food area, chocolate fondue with toasted marshmallows and strawberries, a collaboration café by Coffee Zamaya and an antique shop, and a mini concert by the duo Liricamente 😍 On this sacred night—Valentine’s Day—come to Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall lit by ice candles and illuminations 🤗 ❤️ At the Youth Section booth of the Town Employees’ Labor Union, donors will receive a complimentary cocoa. https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/news/2026/wood2026.html...

[Notice of Year-End and New Year Business Hours] Thank you for always using Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21. The year-end and New Year business hours for our station are as shown in the attached image. Thank you for visiting us many times this year. We look forward to your continued patronage next year.

The cider “00 L#2 (Ale)” from BLANK HARD CIDER WORKS, operated by Ashoro Hidamari Farm, won the Grand Prize in the taste judging at the Japan Cider Awards 2025. Brewed using ALE yeast commonly used in beer production, its top-fermenting character keeps contact between the liquid surface and air to a minimum, producing a fruity, richly aromatic, and deep flavor. In-bottle secondary fermentation allows the lees’ main component, yeast, to self-breakdown into amino acids and peptides, adding depth and broader taste to the cider. Quoted from the official online store. Our Roadside Station also sells several ciders including the award-winning “00 L#2 (Ale)”, so please pick one up when you stop by. 1 bottle ¥1,100 (tax included) Cider is an alcoholic beverage made from apples. We do not sell to anyone under 20 years old. BLANK HARD CIDER WORKS official website https://blank-hardcider.com// BLANK HARD CIDER WORKS official online store https://blank-hardcider13.stores.jp//

This is Lake Onneto in Ashoro Town that I went to the other day Unfortunately, the Autumn leaves are in the final stages. I was just waiting for the snow. If the wind is light, it will be on the surface of the lake Mt. Akan, female and male Mt. Akan are reflected. It is very beautiful. Mt. Akan on the left is usually It is emitting a plume, Volcanic activity is increasing. Eruption Alert Level 2.

Event Announcement📣 On September 28th, “2025 Onneto Stories” will take place 😊 This event invites you to immerse yourself in Onneto’s primeval forest and enjoy its charms with all five senses. There will be a variety of activities, including campfire and wood-splitting workshops focused on wood learning (mokuiiku), and a nature interaction class where you can enjoy forest bathing while learning about the trees and the mysteries of the Yuno Falls. After refreshing yourself with forest bathing, relax at a forest concert while enjoying delicious local food 🎵 Spend a leisurely autumn day in this richly natural setting 🤗 On the day, a free shuttle bus will run from Roadside Station Ashoro to the Onneto campsite. 📍Outbound: Roadside Station Ashoro departs 8:30 → Onneto Campsite arrives 9:30 📍Return: Onneto Campsite departs 14:00 → Roadside Station Ashoro arrives 15:00 *Please note that due to recent heavy rain, the Onneto lakeshore Yuhodo trail course of the nature interaction class has been canceled.* 📞Inquiries Ashoro Tourism Association Office TEL:0156-25-6131 https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/news/2025/onneto_2025.html...

Event Announcement📣 The Ashoro Furusato Bon Odori and Ryogoku Fireworks Festival is coming😊 About 8,000 fireworks will light up the night sky at Ashoro’s summer festival🎵 The program is packed with events like costumed Bon Odori, a comedy live show, a kayōkyoku (popular Japanese ballad) performance, and a magic show!! There will also be a beer garden and a children’s festival, making it a fun day for everyone. This year, starting at 10:00, Ashoro High School Brass Band and high school bands will present a music event called “Ashorock.”😍😍 Bring your family and friends and come make summer memories together🎶🎶 📍Date and Time: Friday, August 15, 10:00–21:00 (Fireworks launch time: scheduled 19:30–20:10) 📍Location: Riverbed south of Ryogoku Bridge over the Riberetsu River (fireworks launch site) Green space and parking in front of the Townspeople Center (vendor stalls and Bon Odori event site) https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/event/event-2.html...

From today (July 7) the roadside station shop is selling goods from Nonaka Onsen. About six months have passed since the January 2025 fire, and tireless recovery work is underway. Proceeds from goods sales will support the reconstruction. We appreciate your cooperation. [Goods Prices] Tenugui: ¥2,500 (tax included) Mini towel: ¥1,200 (tax included) Sticker: ¥500 (tax included)

On Sunday, June 1, representatives from Ashoro Town, the Ashoro Tourism Association, the Ashoro Mountain Friends Association, the Ministry of the Environment, the Eastern Forest Management Office, Hokkaido Police and other stakeholders gathered to hold the 2025 MtMeakan Climbing Safety Prayer Ceremony, followed by a prayer climb. We recently shared safety reminders about climbing, and we ask anyone planning a climb to take care to avoid accidents and enjoy ascending MtMeakan again this year.

Harsh cold has come to an end, and Ashoro is gradually entering a more comfortable season. As it warms up, the number of hikers on MtMeakan seems to be increasing, so we would like to remind you once more of precautions for climbing MtMeakan. With the recent rise in hikers, accidents on the trails have increased. Many reports involve hikers experiencing leg pain during descent. Prepare carefully according to your fitness, strength, skills, and experience, and do not push yourself beyond your limits. MtMeakan is relatively accessible even for beginners, but it is a 1,500-meter-class mountain in Hokkaido. Even in summer (around July) temperatures can fall close to 0°C depending on the weather, or rise above 35°C in extreme heat. There are many cases where MtMeakan experiences bad weather while Ashoro town is clear. Weather can change quickly. Because it is an isolated peak, strong winds near the summit can fling small stones. Local people avoid climbing when the trees at the trailhead are already howling in the wind. As an active volcano, check volcanic alerts and be fully aware of its volcanic status before deciding to climb. • Do not climb in light clothing. Proper hiking boots are recommended. Many trail sections have tree roots forming a mesh, which become especially slippery when wet. Near the summit there are no trees and the terrain is stone and sand, making descents particularly slippery. Some people have fallen, hit their heads, and required helicopter evacuation. Given sudden weather and temperature changes and the exposed winds near the treeless summit, rain gear such as a mountaineering rain jacket is essential. When we climb around June, we always bring at least one fleece for warmth. Even in July–August, a day that exceeds 30°C can be followed by a day below 10°C. Insulate against cold and make sure to bring adequate food and drink. Don’t forget a map and compass. • Stay on the trail and do not collect plants or animals. We maintain the trail each year and mark it with pink tape and rock markers so hikers don’t get lost (maintenance for fiscal 2025 is scheduled for May 22). For the protection of plants and animals, do not leave the trail. As this area lies within a national park, collecting plants or animals is strictly prohibited. For other precautions and information, please check the website below. https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/spot/spot-9.html...

The JA Ashoro direct sales shop Yotte Mina, located in the plaza on the grounds of Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21, has opened for this season starting April 16th! Its regular day off is generally every Tuesday. It offers vegetables grown in Ashoro, strawberries from Nukomori Farm called Sweetiaman (red and white), popular strawberry daifuku made with those berries, Rawan-buki products, beef jerky, and a proud lineup from JA Ashoro. When you stop by the roadside station, be sure to visit Yotte Mina!

The Onneto Road, which had been closed for the winter, opened on Friday, April 11! Snow removal has been completed around the campsite and rest shelter, and preparations are steadily underway for the June opening. From this fiscal year, Onneto Rest Shelter and Campsite will be managed and operated by Hotori LLC, a company led mainly by women from Ashoro, together with the tourism association. Come relax at Onneto’s "hotori" and enjoy its untouched nature at a leisurely pace. *The planned opening date for the Onneto National Campsite and Rest Shelter is June 1.*

Introducing a One-Day Experience Tour 😄 —The people who raise high-quality meat and those who cook it— A luxurious one-day tour to compare Tokachi meats in Ikeda and Ashoro — Tokachi is a region where livestock farming thrives, taking advantage of its vast land. Beef, pork, and chicken are raised and processed into branded meats in various towns. This nature-rich area is also home to many wild animals used for meat, and venison, the most notable, is enjoyed by many locals as game cuisine. On this tour, you will visit the production sites where these meats are raised, learn the secrets behind what makes them delicious, and then savor meat dishes prepared by professional chefs. Please take your time to enjoy the finest fresh meats. Tour Schedule 10:00 Pick-up from JR Obihiro Station or hotels in town 10:30 Visit Obara Farm to see Akaushi “Ikeda Beef” From birth and fattening to slaughter and processing, everything takes place within Ikeda Town. 11:15 EZO LEATHER WORKS — A talk about deer, store visit, and shopping EZO LEATHER WORKS handles deer capture, butchering, leather production, and meat sales. 12:00 Lunch using Tokachi ingredients 15:15 Kaneko Farm — Enjoy the spectacular views from the Wagyu grazing fields. To raise hardy, healthy cattle, they focus on pasture-based rearing. 17:00 Kobito no Daidokoro — A dinner full of Tokachi meats Using the old Aikappu Station building, Kobito no Daidokoro operates as a delicatessen-style shop. The chef will prepare and serve Obara Farm’s “Ikeda Beef,” EZO LEATHER WORKS’ venison, and Kaneko Farm’s “Unkai Wagyu.” 20:30 Drop-off at JR Obihiro Station or hotels in town, tour ends Operating period: Year-round Time: 10:00–20:30 (approximately 10 hours 30 minutes) Group size: 4–8 people Price: Per person 82,500 JPY *With English interpretation, the price is as follows: Per person 99,000 JPY ■ Please make a reservation at least seven days before your desired date. (We may be unable to accommodate your preferred date due to guide availability or other reasons.) ■ For biosecurity reasons, guests who have been residing overseas within seven days prior to arrival in Japan cannot enter hygiene-controlled areas. Please understand. ■ Depending on the “Status of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreaks Worldwide” as determined by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, participation in the tour may be declined. Thank you for your understanding. Why not meet the producers and take a peek behind the scenes of livestock farming and food? We hope that this one-day experience will bring new discoveries and perspectives, enriching your lifestyle. We would be delighted if you could carve a Tokachi experience into a page of your travel memories. 😄 If you are interested, please visit the official website of our federation at the URL below and see “BEHIND THE GOOD TASTE — A Journey Connecting to the Source of Food in Tokachi.” Contact Knao Publishing Co., Ltd. Slow Travel HOKKAIDO Email: slh@slow-life-hokkaido.com

Notice of Revised Opening Hours for Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21 The above notice states that, from April 1, 2025, the hours will be as follows. Closed: Every Thursday (excluding major holiday periods such as Golden Week) and during the New Year holidays. Opening Hours: Shop Ashoro 10:00–17:00 (until April 25, 2025) 10:00–18:00 (from April 26, 2025 until mid-October) Restaurant Ashoro 11:00–15:00 (last order at 14:30) Takeout Corner 10:00–17:00 (until April 25, 2025) 10:00–18:00 (from April 26, 2025 until mid-October) That is all. Please note that the facility will be closed every Thursday (except during major holiday periods). We appreciate your continued support of Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21.

As some of you may know from newspapers and news reports, Onneto "Yama no Yado Nonaka Onsen," which suffered a fire last month, is currently closed entirely. A rope blocks the entrance to the grounds and a "No Entry" sign is posted. However, trespassing has continued, and some people have come asking, "Is the hot spring open?", while others have committed malicious acts such as entering the baths without permission. Nonaka Onsen is not operating at this time. False information appears to be circulating on social media, so please refrain from visiting out of curiosity. There is currently no timetable for reconstruction; we will announce the reopening when it is decided. Thank you for your understanding.

Currently, the award-winning works of the 2024 Onneto Photo Contest are on display inside Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21. Come see these wonderful photographs that capture the four seasons of beautiful Onneto!

This is a recent (December 20) look at Onneto. Snow covers the lake surface, but brushing it away reveals frozen trees and ice bubbles. As noted previously, walking on a frozen lake is very dangerous. For details on how to reach the lake in winter, please see the link below (tourism association website). https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/spot/onneto_area/spot-13.html...

This is the scene at Onneto this morning, Friday, December 6. The temperature is relatively mild, and many hot-water pits toward the back of the lake have prevented the ice from forming there. The ice seems to be repeatedly freezing and thawing, making it extremely dangerous, so please exercise great caution when approaching the lake surface. Also, as I have reported several times recently, the Onneto Line road from Nonaka Onsen to the lake is closed today and is now closed to vehicles for the winter. If you walk to the lake, be sure to take proper snow and cold-weather precautions and avoid accidents. Onneto is now heading into full winter❄️

This is the state of Lake Onneto as of Monday, December 2. Parts of the lake’s surface are frozen, but the ice remains thin in many areas. In recent years, more visitors have come to see the ice bubbles, but places where natural gas escapes have very weak ice strength, and some spots may never freeze solid even in full winter. For that reason, walking on the lake is extremely dangerous and is not recommended by the local tourism association. As previously announced, Road 949 leading to Onneto (the gate in front of the hot spring) is scheduled to close on December 6. When you visit, please take thorough snow and cold-weather precautions, and enjoy Onneto in winter safely.

This is the view of Onneto today (November 25). The road from the national highway into Onneto is packed snow and ice. Please take great care when traveling. The surface of Onneto has a thin layer of ice only along the shore. It will still take some time before the lake freezes solid. The Onneto Line road leading to the lake will be closed beyond Nonaka Onsen at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, and will be closed to vehicles for the winter (until April 11 next year). The road from the national highway to the hot spring will remain open, but you will not be able to drive past that point to the lake, so please be aware of this.

At Ashoro’s cider brewery, Brunk Hard Cider Works, the production of next year’s hard cider has begun! The apples picked at Hidamari Farm have already been processed, and today we are pressing apples from Kitami. Sounds exciting. Brunk Hard Cider※ is available at the Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21 shop, the official online store, and other outlets. Be sure to give it a try! ※A sparkling alcoholic drink made from apples.

It’s autumn at Onneto. The fall colors have mostly faded, and the lake stands quietly as winter approaches. I haven’t posted in a while, but I plan to share updates little by little from now on!

【Tokachi Ashoro・Lake Akiiro Lake Onneto】 An attractive scenery that you want to visit even if you get up early, is the autumn leaves at their peak this week?! Lake Where Time Stops Lake Onneto Lake Onneto Lake Onneto is a beautiful lake with a circumference of 2.5 km located at the westernmost point of Akan Mashu National Park and at the foot of Mt. Meakan. It attracts many tourists with its beauty and native charm. It is a mysterious lake that changes color to clear blue, emerald green, and dark blue depending on the season, weather, and viewing angle. There is a wooden observation deck on the west side of the lakeside where you can overlook the Lake Onneto with Mt. Meakan and Akan Fuji in the background. There are walking paths around the lakeside, and you can enjoy the untouched nature surrounded by primeval forest. In the surrounding area, there are Onneto Yunotaki Falls Meakan Hot Springs and a national campsite from June ~ the end of October that is also the starting point for mountain climbing. @NPO Ashoro Tourism Association

Ashoro Furusato Rawan-buki Festival 2023 On Sunday, June 25, starting at 9:45 a.m., the Ashoro Furusato Rawan-buki Festival will take place at the event plaza in front of Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21. The festival will feature sales of rawan-buki, food and drink booths, and stage shows. Each food booth plans to offer dishes made with fresh, in-season rawan-buki. The stage program includes a performance by the town’s student brass band and games using rawan-buki. Due to the impact of COVID-19, this event could not be held since 2020, but this year marks its first on-site edition, so we warmly invite everyone to attend. A special festival page has been set up on the Ashoro Tourism Association website, so please check it out as well!

On Sunday, June 4, we held the 2023 safety prayer ceremony for MtMeakan. This year about 30 people attended, including related organizations and members of the public, and everyone prayed for safety on the mountain. After the ceremony, we led a mountain climb with those who had registered in advance. Light rain fell at times and very strong winds blew near the summit, so the weather was not favorable, but participants appeared to enjoy the climb in their own ways.

From today, June 1st, the Onneto National Campsite and UPI Onneto open for this fiscal year. Come and visit us!

On May 31st, together with related organizations, we carried out trail maintenance on MtMeakan. Many people have already been hiking there, but when you visit please make thorough preparations and gather information, and climb with awareness that it is an active volcano. For precautions and other information, please see our association’s website.

Introducing the post of the official account of "NPO Ashoro Tourism Association"! Ashoro is a town full of nature located in the northeastern part of Tokachi. Lake Onneto is a popular tourist attraction in Ashoro. In addition, about 1.5 km walk from the Lake Onneto, Onneto Yunotaki Falls Lake Onneto Yunotaki was previously used as a secret hot spring. It is also designated as a national natural monument because it is a valuable place where manganese deposits are formed on the seabed and their effects can be confirmed on the ground. ◆Onneto Yunotaki Falls◆ 【Address】Hokkaido Ashoro Shigeru Ashoro National Forest 【Tel】0156-25-2141 Forestry, Commerce and Tourism Office, Ashoro Economic Division 【Access】 From JR Kushiro Station, take the Akan Bus bound for Akanko Bus Terminal→ get off at the last stop, about 20 minutes by car about 2 hours 20 minutes in total

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