Nishiokoppe Village This is Kurashima of the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Volunteers (in charge of tourism).
Located in the eastern Hokkaido region, it has a population of 1,002 (as of the end of July 2023 (Reiwa 5)), and is surrounded by nature, with forests occupying about 90% of the village's area.
Nishiokoppe Village is also famous as a guitar production area, and currently 20,000 guitar bodies are made every year.
You can enjoy various experiences such as beautiful scenery and delicious gourmet food in Nishiokoppe Village.
We will deliver Nishiokoppe Village events, sightseeing information, and daily scenes, so thank you!
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Shrine Festival
The Kamikoppu area holds its shrine festival on September 7,
and Nishiokoppe Village celebrates its shrine festival on September 11.
It’s the day when people parade through their neighborhood with the portable shrine.
In Kamikoppu, a night-before celebration called yomiya-sai is also held, making for a lively few days.
In Nishiokoppe, an entertainment show takes place on the evening of the festival day, where villagers perform and enjoy drinks together while watching the acts.
People wearing happi coats and children dressed as ochigo (festival pages) add to the festive atmosphere.
Walking through the streets of Kamikoppu, I heard the taiko drums echo off the surrounding mountains and return as a distant rumble.
I’ll post about the entertainment show in a separate entry.
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Shrine Festival
#Autumn
#Mikoshi (portable shrine)
#Procession
#Ochigo (festival child)
#Happi coat
#Mochimaki (rice cake throwing)
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Puppet Theater Pook Performance in Nishiokoppe Village
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Puppet Theater Pook is coming again this year!
Thank you for the many visitors from both inside and outside the village last year.
The program features two works: "Kobozu Zuieten" and "It Might Be an Apple."
Doors open at 6:00 PM
Performance starts at 6:30 PM.
The performance will be held in the large hall of Nishiokoppe Village Community Center.
Advance tickets: 500 yen
Same-day tickets: 600 yen
Children aged two and under: free.
Tickets can be purchased from members of the puppet theater circle Doremi or reserved via the QR code.
A shuttle bus will operate on the day for residents of the Kamiokoppe area. Please feel free to use it.
6:00 PM Kamiokoppe Bus Stop
6:05 PM In front of Kamiokoppe Residents' Center
6:10 PM In front of Kamiokoppe Elementary School
For inquiries about this performance, please contact:
Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education 0158-87-2501
We will prepare a small selection of snacks and look forward to your arrival.
Organizers:
Puppet Theater Circle Doremi / Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Puppet theater
#Puppet Theater Pook
#Performance
#Kobozu Zuieten
#It Might Be an Apple
#Puppet Theater Circle Doremi
#Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education
#September 24
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Autumn Marche and KAMU-Oto
This year’s Autumn Marche
takes place over two days: Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21.
It will be held at Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Flower Garden from 10:00 to 15:00.
On Sunday the 21st, continuing from last year, a small stage event called "KAMU-Oto" will also be held inside the Flower Park.
In the morning, enjoy band performances and singer-songwriter sets,
and in the afternoon, savor readings, koto music, and picture-book storytelling.
Around midday, a guided walk of the Flower Park is scheduled.
Admission to the Flower Park is 200 yen for high school students and older.
Junior high school students and younger, as well as village residents, are free.
We look forward to welcoming you!
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Autumn Marche
#KAMU-Oto
#Roadside Station
#Flower Garden
#Flower Park
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Nishiokoppe Village Variety Show
Thursday, September 11
That variety show that returned last year is back again…!
This year it starts at 6:00 PM
There will also be a time capsule opening ceremony.
A time capsule buried 20 years ago.
Who buried what inside, nobody knows.
Even the person who buried it seems unable to remember what they put in…
The variety show begins at 6:30 PM.
Food stalls and festival booths will be available.
Enjoy performances by village residents and karaoke!
The venue is the Nishiokoppe Village Public Hall large hall.
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Variety show
#Time capsule
#Opening
#100th anniversary of the village founding
#September 11
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Autumn Event Information
Yesterday the Village Revitalization Festival ended.
Thank you to everyone who attended!!
And even though summer is over, events continue.
First, here is the news for September.
September
• Saturday the 6th — Kamiokoppe Evening Festival
Around 6:00 PM in front of Kamiokoppe Shrine.
• Thursday the 11th — Time Capsule Opening Ceremony and Variety Show
Will we open a time capsule buried 20 years ago!?
We’re excited to see what will be unearthed.
This begins at 6:00 PM.
The variety show follows at 6:30 PM.
Enjoy performances by villagers and food stalls.
Both events take place in the public hall’s large auditorium.
• Saturday the 13th — "Turning the Power of Books into the Power to Live"
This project is organized with Shanti International Volunteer Association and people from Myanmar living in Nishiokoppe Village.
Would you like to create translated picture books and send them to Myanmar?
From 10:00 AM at the public hall.
• Saturday the 20th to Sunday the 21st — Autumn Market & KAMU Music
A small market celebrating the autumn harvest.
A live music event will be held on the 21st.
Both days run from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
At Roadside Station Nishiokoppe KAMU.
• Wednesday the 24th — Puppet Theatre Company Pook Performance
Pook Puppet Theatre, active nationwide and internationally, is coming to town!
The program includes two pieces:
"Little Monk Zuiten"
and "It Might Be an Apple."
Doors open at 6:00 PM, curtain at 6:30 PM.
At the public hall’s large auditorium.
• Sunday the 28th — Clear Stream Festival
A festival at the Clear Stream Village.
There will be entertainment and food stalls.
At Seiryu no Sato in Kamiokoppe.
Information about events from October onward will be posted later.
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Autumn
#Events
#September
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Nishiokoppe’s Test of Courage
A night spent in costume isn’t just about the Bon Odori.
In Nishiokoppe, the summer test of courage has recently become an annual tradition.
During summer vacation, the children gather starting in the early afternoon
for strategy meetings, making ghost costumes, a candy party, and bug hunting.
This day also happened to be the day a traveling bookstore from Shimokawa visited.
Pom overflowed with books and children.
In the evening came the long-awaited watermelon-splitting game.
When I was a child, many people used to give false directions so the watermelon wouldn’t get broken,
but the children in Nishiokoppe guided us properly.
After we finished eating, it was finally time to march around.
The people playing ghosts took their positions, and the rest of us
walked toward the elementary school and Forest Park.
They were more funny-costume scare actors than truly scary ghosts.
We strolled through the night town with a few laughs.
Along the way, the owner of Yukimichi Bookshop told a frightening story, but people listening dwindled as the tale went on.
I wonder how terrifying it really was.
When it got chilly, we held a handheld firework finale before saying goodbye!
There were so many fireworks everyone brought that people held them in both hands and tried lighting several sparklers at once.
Adults rekindled their inner child, and it was a delightful night.
Thanks to the kids who organized it!!
Thanks also to the support from teens and adults.
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Summer vacation
#Test of courage
#Summer night
#Watermelon-splitting
#Fireworks
#Travelling Yukimichi Bookshop
#August 18th
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Fun and Camping at Forest Park!
Three Days During Obon
At Forest Park, to mark the 100th anniversary of the village opening
we ran an "Everything 100 Yen" campaign!
Camping was 100 yen per night
and every playground ride cost 100 yen per go!
Hours were extended by two hours,
so for three days visitors could play until 6:30 p.m.
Go-karts kept racing nonstop,
and the batting center never stopped sounding with hits.
Because the event overlapped with Bon dance season,
many people used the campground.
On the third and final day of the 100-yen campaign,
we also held a PET BOTTLE ROCKET event!
Participants assembled PET BOTTLES into rockets,
filled them with water, attached them to the launcher,
pulled the trigger and launched them!
Cheers rose as the rockets flew powerfully through the air.
Even when water splashed on them,
children squealed with delight and had a great time.
Thank you for visiting Forest Park!
The season is still ongoing.
We look forward to your next visit!
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Forest Park
#Summer
#Everything 100 Yen
#Play
#Camping
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
"Mura Okoshi Festival 2025"
This year’s Mura Okoshi Festival
is on Sunday, August 31, 2025!
From 10:00 to 15:00 at the Forest Park
*In case of rain, it will be held at Nishiokoppe Village Indoor Multipurpose Gymnasium*
Celebrating its 42nd edition this year
with a live performance by singer-songwriter Miyako Hansaki!
The event will be emceed by Kana Morino, a personality from HBC Asahikawa Broadcasting Station!
Other highlights include a performance by the junior high school brass band, Nishiokoppe Wenshiri Taiko, and an act by the group Fake' z to liven up the day.
Interactive attractions include the lumberjack race to see who can cut through a log fastest and the Drink-Bang-Bang-Born contest using locally produced milk.
There will also be a big lottery, so please enjoy the event all the way to the end.
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Mura Okoshi Festival
#Summer
#100th Anniversary of Village Founding
#Miyako Hansaki
#Kana Morino
#August 31"
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Bon Odori Alive with Costumes and Food Stalls
Nishiokoppe Village’s Bon Odori takes place each year
in the Kamiokoppe area on August 14 and in the Nishiokoppe area on August 15.
You can enjoy Bon Odori in the village for two days.
Each day features different food stalls,
so deciding what to eat is part of the excitement.
Children’s Bon Odori and the Hokkai Bon Uta
Both have about 30 minutes set aside for dancing.
If you plan to keep dancing, you need a lot of stamina…!
Those in costume especially worked up a sweat.
Thank you for your impressive costumes!
Summer nights are lively and uplifting.
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Bon Odori
#Summer
#Costumes
#Food stalls
Show original text
Nishiokoppe, Hokkaido posted.
Komu Museum of Art’s Wood Play Experience Market
A workshop festival celebrating the village’s 100th anniversary
The “Wood Play Experience Market” was held
at Komu Museum of Art!
Vendors from across Hokkaido gathered
for a hands-on making event using wood and natural materials.
When the museum opened at 10:00, visitors came to the event space without pause.
We offered six experiences.
Make a wooden kaleidoscope
Make a wooden clock
Make BUG BUG from nuts and seeds
Make wooden brooches and keychains
Make a wood shaker
Make mushroom magnets.
@do.mono
@tek_toys
Visitors chose beads and peered into the finished kaleidoscopes,
walked around with insects made from acorns and pipe cleaners,
and shook bean-filled wood shakers.
On the clock faces, participants decorated not only numbers but many other embellishments.
In one corner, poisonous-looking mushrooms and irresistibly cute mushrooms sprouted in abundance.
Animal keychains and brooches, each with its own expression, were adorable.
Many people didn’t stop at just one experience but walked around to multiple booths, which made us very happy 😆
Including the reception staff, the day brought together people skilled in wood education and woodcraft 🏋️🏋️🏋️
Thanks to the staff who watched over and supported the participants, it became a truly lovely time ✨
Thank you very much!!!
#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Komu Museum of Art
#Summer
#Wood Play Experience Market
#Hands-on experience
#Workshop
#Woodworking
#Making things
#Woody Summer School
#August 2
Show original text