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.