Nice to meet you! This is the Tokachi Tourism Federation. We are pleased to share information about Tokachi in Hokkaido, blessed with vast lands and beautiful nature. First, here is some basic information about Tokachi. Tokachi comprises 19 municipalities, including its center, Obihiro City. "The 19 municipalities of Tokachi" Obihiro City, Otofukecho, Shihorocho, Kamishihoro Town, Shikaoicho, Shintoku Town, Shimizu-cho, Memuro Town, Nakasatsunaimura, Sarabetsumura, Taiki Town, Hirocho, Makubetsu, Ikedacho, Toyokorocho, Hombetsucho, Ashorocho, Rikubetsucho, Urahorocho The name Tokachi for Hokkaido and Tokachi comes from the Ainu word "Tokapuci," which referred to the Tokachi River used by Hokkaido’s indigenous people. Because Tokachi has a continental climate, spring and summer temperatures are relatively high compared with other parts of Hokkaido. Winters can drop as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, but the area receives less snow and enjoys many sunny days. The main access to Tokachi is by air via Tokachi Obihiro Airport. Tokachi Obihiro Airport is about 1.5 hours from HanedaKuukou and about 1 hour 45 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport. By train, JR Obihiro Station is reachable from Sapporo in as little as 2 hours 24 minutes. Tokachi is a treasure trove of nature, with diverse attractions across its 19 municipalities and numerous sightseeing spots where you can encounter beautiful landscapes and wildlife. In this post, we introduce some of the many popular sightseeing spots. In Obihiro City, Banei Tokachi (Banei Tokachi Obihiro Racecourse) is the only racecourse in the world that holds Banei horse racing, in which draft horses pull heavy sleds. Banei races test strength, speed, and endurance. The powerful spectacle of horses running a 200-meter course is a must-see. The grounds also include a petting zoo where you can interact with ponies and rabbits, and it is open even on non-race days. Next is Tokachi Hills in Makubetsu. This hilltop complex of nature and flowers features themed gardens centered on the themes of agriculture and food. Roses, herbs, and many other flowers bloom here, allowing visitors to enjoy blooms year-round. At the garden café on the grounds you can try unique menu items you can only taste here, such as a caskottu sandwich made with roasts of the world’s only edible national treasure, the Mangalitsa pork from Hungary. Now we introduce sightseeing spots around Tokachi Hills. About a 20-minute drive from Tokachi Hills is Kofuku Station. Known as the lovers’ sanctuary that sparked a craze in the 1970s with the catchphrase "From the Land of Love to Kofuku," Kofuku Station remains a popular spot for couples wishing for happiness. From late April to the end of November, the Kofuku Station Happy Ceremony offers a mock wedding experience. Aikoku Station, which sparked a similar craze, is about a 15-minute drive from Kofuku Station. Now known as the Railway Memorial Museum, the monument of the ticket labeled "For Kofuku" in front of the station building makes a great photo spot. About a 25-minute drive from Tokachi Hills is TokachigawaOnsen, a hot spring resort along the Tokachi River. The "mōru" hot springs available at TokachigawaOnsen are plant-based and have been selected as a Hokkaido heritage; they are a rare type of hot spring in Japan. The mōru 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 helps relieve the fatigue of daily life. The Tokachi area has 15 roadside stations that provide local specialty products, gourmet food, and tourist information. (As of July 2023) Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21, rebuilt from a railway station in 2011, still retains traces of its railroad past in Ashorocho. At the shop and bakery you can try breads made with rawan-buki, the largest butterbur in Japan and a specialty of Ashorocho, and the restaurant offers local items such as rawan-buki soft serve. You must also try the local specialty butadon at the Kumano-ko Regional Exchange Product Center. At roadside stations you can enjoy regional foods made with local specialties and other local experiences. Please stop by to create travel memories. Next, we introduce spots where you can experience Hokkaido’s vast nature. One of Hokkaido’s three secret lakes, Lake Onneto, sits at the western edge of Akan-Mashu National Park and is a famous attraction. Because the lake’s surface changes color by season and time of day, it is also called the "Five-Color Pond." An observation deck with views of Lake Onneto backed by MtMeakan and Akan Fuji 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 arches of various sizes remain from the former Shihoro Line of the national railway and are preserved as modern industrial heritage. In spring, as the snow melts and water levels rise, the arches reflect on the water’s surface in a way that resembles eyeglasses, which is why the bridge is sometimes called the "Megane Bridge." Mikuni Pass in Daisetsuzan National Park (Kamishihoro Town) sits at 1,139 meters and is the highest pass in Hokkaido. You will be captivated by the sea of fresh green trees in spring and the vivid autumn foliage. At the Mikuni Pass café at the summit, popular items include carefully curated menu selections such as hand-drip coffee roasted in-house. Finally, Tokachi Ranch in Otofukecho is a vast ranch covering 4,092 hectares. The ranch raises Dosanko horses, sheep, and cattle. The approximately 1.3-kilometer row of white birch trees stretching from the ranch entrance is a popular spot. Various events are held throughout the year in Tokachi. In Hirocho, the Tokachi Port Festival’s Tokachi Port Sea Fireworks is the only fireworks display in the Tokachi region held at a port. Underwater fireworks that spread across the sea surface are one highlight. The 2023 event was scheduled for August 5. The summer Obihiro Heigen Matsuri, the autumn Obihiro Chrysanthemum Festival, and the winter Obihiro Ice Festival are popular as the three major Obihiro festivals. Also, the Kachimai Fireworks Festival held on the Tokachi River riverbed is known for its highly entertaining program. You can enjoy a fireworks show woven together with music and lighting. In 2023 it was scheduled for August 13. Hokkaido Tokachi is a region overflowing with charm, where vast nature, gourmet food, hot springs, and sightseeing spots harmonize. We will continue to share more Tokachi-area sightseeing spots, events, and gourmet information that we could not cover in this post! Stay tuned for more!