With pleasant weather from summer to autumn, it's the perfect season for an outing. Amidst this, the "LOVE LOVE Hokkaido Bingo Stamp Rally" kicked off on August 11, 2022! Collect stamps by visiting spots all over Hokkaido using public transportation. Depending on the number of bingo lines you complete, you can enter a lottery to win various luxurious prizes, including famous Hokkaido products!

Domingo is here to introduce a model itinerary for a fun trip while collecting stamps. Our traveler is "Rabbit Yukine," the pet character of Snow Miku!

This time, we'll introduce a 2-day, 1-night model itinerary: "A Bingo Stamp Rally Trip with Rabbit Yukine: Obihiro & Tokachi Edition." We hope you'll use this as a reference to enjoy your Hokkaido journey more fully and affordably.

The journey begins at Sapporo Station! First, to join the Bingo Stamp Rally, check the notes on the official website, agree to the terms, and press the button that says "Register Here." Find JR Sapporo Station in the "Spot List" and get the first stamp of this trip!

Now, let's use the "HOKKAIDO LOVE! 6-Day Tour Pass" to take the JR Limited Express Ozora No. 1 to JR Obihiro Station. If you buy this pass for ¥12,000, you get 6 days of unlimited rides on non-reserved seats of local, rapid, and limited express trains on JR Hokkaido lines—a fantastic deal! For reference, a regular one-way ticket from Sapporo to Obihiro costs ¥7,260.

[Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes by JR from JR Sapporo Station to JR Obihiro Station]

9:35 AM JR Obihiro Station & Obihiro Bus Terminal (Stamp available)

Once you arrive at JR Obihiro Station, don't forget to get your stamp. First, head to the station's bus terminal and buy a 2-day "VISIT TOKACHI PASS." This is a free pass for tourists visiting the Tokachi area that offers unlimited rides on local buses. There's a 1-day ticket for ¥1,500 and a 2-day ticket for ¥2,500. Please note that to purchase it, you'll need an ID showing a current address outside the Tokachi General Subprefectural Bureau's jurisdiction, as well as your train or plane ticket to Tokachi.

The Obihiro Station Bus Terminal is also a stamp spot. After successfully getting your third stamp, let's use the VISIT TOKACHI PASS right away to take a Tokachi Bus to the Inadabashi bus stop. Normally, the fare is ¥240.

[Approx. 23 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Obihiro Station Bus Terminal" to Tokachi Bus "Inadabashi Bus Stop"]

[1-minute walk from Tokachi Bus "Inadabashi Bus Stop" to "Beet Museum"]

The Beet Museum was opened in 1989 by the Nippon Beet Sugar Manufacturing Co., Ltd. It exhibits a wide range of materials related to sugar beets. The year after it opened, it won the Obihiro City Urban Landscape Award. Indeed, the museum's exterior is picturesque, and the space, with its abundant greenery, feels very comfortable.

Beet Museum

■Location: Minami 8-sen Nishi 14, Inada-cho, Obihiro-shi
■Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
■Admission: General ¥300, University Students ¥200, Elementary/Middle/High School Students ¥100
See details for "Beet Museum" on Domingo

[1-minute walk from "Beet Museum" to "Mugioto Bakery"]

After learning all about sugar beets at the Beet Museum, head next door to the bakery "Mugioto." It's such a famous bakery that almost everyone in Obihiro knows about it. You can eat your bread in the eat-in space or save it for a spot you'll visit later. Everything looks so delicious, you might find yourself buying more than you planned.

From Mugioto, we'll walk to the Nishi 12-jo 34-chome bus stop to catch another Tokachi Bus. Our destination is the Obihiro Zoo! The fare would normally be ¥140, but of course, we'll use our VISIT TOKACHI PASS.

[3-minute walk from "Mugioto Bakery" to Tokachi Bus "Nishi 12-jo 34-chome Bus Stop"]

[Approx. 31 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Nishi 12-jo 34-chome Bus Stop" to Tokachi Bus "Dobutsuen-mae (Zoo) Bus Stop"]

We arrive at Obihiro Zoo just after noon! Let's get our stamp here before we forget. Obihiro Zoo is the second oldest zoo in Hokkaido, after Sapporo's Maruyama Zoo. Take a leisurely stroll through the spacious grounds and be charmed by the various expressions of the animals. However, please be aware that it is closed during the winter season.

Obihiro Zoo

■Location: Midorigaoka 2, inside Midorigaoka Park, Obihiro-shi
■Hours (2022): April 29 - September 30, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM; October 1 - November 3, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
■Admission: Adults ¥420, Seniors (65+) ¥210, High School Students ¥210
See details for "Obihiro Zoo" on Domingo

[10-minute walk from "Obihiro Zoo" to "Obihiro Centennial City Museum"]

After a fun time at the zoo, let's walk about 10 minutes to the Obihiro Centennial City Museum. This museum features permanent exhibitions on the history, nature, and industry of Obihiro and Tokachi. They also host various special exhibitions and events depending on the season, so it might be a good idea to check in advance. By the way, this is also a stamp spot. That's the fifth stamp, collected!

We also recommend taking a walk through Midorigaoka Park, where the museum is located. The Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art is also in the park, so if you have time, it might be nice to stop by.

Obihiro Centennial City Museum

■Location: Midorigaoka 2, inside Midorigaoka Park, Obihiro-shi
■Hours: Permanent Exhibition Hall 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
■Permanent Exhibition Hall Admission: Adults ¥380, High School Students ¥190, Seniors (65+) ¥190
See details for "Obihiro Centennial City Museum" on Domingo

Midorigaoka Park

■Location: Midorigaoka 2, Obihiro-shi
See details for "Midorigaoka Park" on Domingo

Next, we head to the Midorigaoka 6-chome (Obihiro Museum of Art Entrance) bus stop. From here, we'll return to the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal. The fare would normally be ¥200, but of course, we'll hop on and off smoothly using the VISIT TOKACHI PASS!

[5-minute walk from "Obihiro Centennial City Museum" to "Midorigaoka 6-chome (Obihiro Museum of Art Entrance) Bus Stop"]

[16 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Midorigaoka 6-chome (Obihiro Museum of Art Entrance) Bus Stop" to "Obihiro Station Bus Terminal"]

From the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal, we'll head to Tokachigawa Onsen, where our accommodation for the night is. Needless to say, we'll use the VISIT TOKACHI PASS. The regular fare is ¥500.

[28 minutes from Tokachi Bus "Obihiro Bus Terminal" to Tokachi Bus "Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Bus Stop"]

Get off at the Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen bus stop and walk to the "Tokachi Nature Center." It's about a 5-minute walk.

[5-minute walk from Tokachi Bus "Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Bus Stop" to "Tokachi Nature Center"]

At the Tokachi Nature Center, get the sixth and final stamp of the day. That's all the stamps you can get on this model course. Here, you can get detailed information about the "Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Experience" scheduled for the next morning. It's a limited-time event, and the operating hours change each month, so be sure to check. And with that, a day full of travel comes to an end. Relax and soothe your travel fatigue at Tokachigawa Onsen.

Tokachi Nature Center

■Location: Minami 12-chome 1, Tokachigawa Onsen, Otofuke-cho
■Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
See details for "Tokachi Nature Center" on Domingo

Day 2 begins with, of all things, a journey into the sky! Let's experience an early morning hot air balloon ride at Tokachigaoka Park Hanakku Square, just a short distance from the Tokachigawa Onsen resort area. The tethered flight, which gently rises to an altitude of 30 meters, is surprisingly open to passengers from age two and up. From above, you can see the Tokachi River flowing below and the Hidaka Mountains towering in the distance. The experience lasts only about 5 minutes and will fly by, but it's sure to be an unforgettable one.

Still buzzing with excitement from the hot air balloon ride, we leave Tokachigaoka Park. We walk about 10 minutes to the Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen bus stop. From there, we take a Tokachi Bus to the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal. The fare would normally be ¥500, but since we bought the 2-day VISIT TOKACHI PASS yesterday, it's still valid for day two.

[10-minute walk from "Tokachigaoka Park Hanakku Square" to Tokachi Bus "Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Bus Stop"]

[34 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Bus Stop" to "Obihiro Bus Terminal"]

At 9:35 AM, we take a Tokachi Bus from the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal for a 65-minute ride to the Nakasatsunai Art Museum bus stop. The fare is ¥930, but of course, the VISIT TOKACHI PASS comes in handy here too.

[65 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Obihiro Bus Terminal" to Tokachi Bus "Nakasatsunai Art Museum Bus Stop"]

The "Rokkatei Art Village Nakasatsunai Art Museum" is a vast site of about 145,000 square meters, with art museums and restaurants scattered throughout. Enjoy a wonderful time strolling along the paths surrounded by oak forests and visiting the various art museums. By experiencing both nature and art, you're sure to feel your spirit refreshed and fulfilled. However, its opening season is limited, so be sure to check the operating days and hours before you visit.

Nakasatsunai Art Museum

■Location: Sakae Higashi 5-sen, Nakasatsunai-mura, Kasai-gun
See details for "Nakasatsunai Art Museum" on Domingo

Once your soul is filled with nature and art, it's time to fill your stomach. At "Restaurant Poroshiri," located on the same grounds, you can enjoy home-style cooking made with seasonal ingredients. A meal in such a wonderful environment is sure to be exceptional. Their most popular classic dish is said to be the Poroshiri Curry, made with beef slow-cooked for hours.

Feeling enriched, we leave the Rokkatei Art Village Nakasatsunai Art Museum and take a Tokachi Bus from the Nakasatsunai Art Museum bus stop to the Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai bus stop. We'll use the VISIT TOKACHI PASS, but the regular fare would be ¥320.

[3 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Nakasatsunai Art Museum Bus Stop" to Tokachi Bus "Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai Bus Stop"]

Once you arrive at the Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai bus stop, it's a 15-minute walk to "Rokka no Mori Forest."

[15-minute walk from "Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai Bus Stop" to "Rokka no Mori Forest"]

Anyone who has ever shopped at Rokkatei will surely remember their iconic floral wrapping paper. Rokka no Mori Forest was born from the wish to create a real forest filled with the wildflowers depicted on that paper. On this vast 100,000-square-meter land, seasonal wildflowers bloom in profusion. The park is also dotted with galleries housed in relocated old Croatian farmhouses, offering plenty to see. Please note that it is closed during the winter.

Rokka no Mori Forest

■Location: Tokiwa Nishi 3-sen 249-6, Nakasatsunai-mura, Kasai-gun
■Opening Period (2022): April 29 - October 10
■Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
■Admission (Single Ticket): Adults ¥1,000, Elementary/Middle School Students ¥500
See details for "Rokka no Mori Forest" on Domingo

After enjoying the lovely wildflowers and art, including the original drawings for the floral wrapping paper, at Rokka no Mori, we'll walk back to the Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai bus stop.

[15-minute walk from "Rokka no Mori Forest" to Tokachi Bus "Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai Bus Stop"]

The bus stop and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) are right next to each other. There's some time before the next bus, so it might be a good idea to look for souvenirs at Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai.

Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai

■Location: Odori Minami 7-chome 146, Nakasatsunai-mura, Kasai-gun
See details for "Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai" on Domingo

From the Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai bus stop, we take a Tokachi Bus back to the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal. It's about a 1-hour journey, and the regular fare is ¥750. In the end, by using the VISIT TOKACHI PASS, we saved ¥1,080 over the two days. Plus, not having to prepare small change each time is very convenient.

[65 minutes by bus from Tokachi Bus "Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai Bus Stop" to "Obihiro Station Bus Terminal"]

[6-minute walk from "Obihiro Station Bus Terminal" to "Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store"]

The "Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store" is a 6-minute walk from the Obihiro Station Bus Terminal. It's a great place to buy souvenirs, but you might be tempted to buy something for yourself too. Rokkatei's sweets are always so appealing.

[6-minute walk from "Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store" to "Panchou"]

And when you think of Obihiro, you have to try the butadon (pork bowl), which has recently become famous nationwide! Let's savor this local delicacy at the renowned restaurant "Panchou," located in front of JR Obihiro Station, just a 6-minute walk from the Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store. In fact, this very restaurant is said to be the birthplace of Obihiro's butadon. It has a can't-miss deliciousness that people of all ages are sure to love.

[2-minute walk from "Panchou" to "JR Obihiro Station"]

7:20 PM JR Obihiro Station

With souvenirs bought and Obihiro's unique cuisine savored, the journey is finally coming to an end. Using the HOKKAIDO LOVE! 6-Day Tour Pass we bought at the beginning, we'll head from JR Obihiro Station back to JR Sapporo Station. A regular ticket would cost ¥7,260, same as the outbound trip, so you've saved ¥2,520 on the round trip. That's a big saving!

[Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes from "JR Obihiro Station" to "JR Sapporo Station"]

Arriving late at night at JR Sapporo Station marks the end of our 2-day, 1-night model course. How was it? From visiting the zoo and riding a hot air balloon to experiencing art, it was quite a packed trip, wasn't it? What's more, by participating in the Bingo Stamp Rally, the fun continues even after you get home. Be sure to apply with the stamps you've collected and try to win some of those luxurious prizes!