Located roughly halfway along National Route 235, which runs along the coastline of the Hidaka region in Southern Hokkaido, is the "Michi-no-Eki Thoroughbred Road Niikappu." With a gift shop, flower shop, restaurant, and more, it serves as a great base for sightseeing. This time, we'll introduce the charms of this roadside station!

The Hidaka region is known as the "birthplace of racehorses," and the Michi-no-Eki Thoroughbred Road Niikappu is lined with various statues and objects related to thoroughbreds.

The "Monster of the Showa Era": The Haiseiko Statue

Haiseiko was a famous horse belovedly nicknamed the "Monster of the Showa Era," who took the Japanese horse racing world by storm in the 1970s. The statue of Haiseiko, built as a symbol of the horse breeding region, exudes the dignity of this "monster."

"Yushun no Hi": A Monument Engraved with the Names of Famous Horses

The "Yushun no Hi" (Monument of Great Horses) was erected to honor horses with brilliant achievements. Some of the famous horses that shot to fame with "Uma Musume Pretty Derby" were also bred in Niikappu Town.

A Horse Shrine!? The "Umaku Ikussho" Corner

This is the "Umaku Ikussho" corner inside the roadside station. It's a play on a Hokkaido dialect phrase meaning "It'll go well." Many offerings are placed in front of the horse, making it look like a shrine. Why not pay a visit and make a wish when you stop by?

When you think of specialty products from the Hidaka region, Hidaka kombu (kelp) comes to mind. Did you know there's a gourmet dish made with this very kelp?

It's a pork bun with a striking pitch-black appearance, named "Araiso Maru." I actually tried it!

It's packed with Hidaka kombu and pork! The aroma of the kombu whets your appetite. You can fill your stomach without getting your hands dirty, making it perfect for a road trip snack!

While Niikappu Town is known as the "Town of Thoroughbreds," it's also the "Town of Bell Peppers," boasting the highest production volume in Hokkaido. At the roadside station, you can find "Bell Pepper Soft Serve," a soft-serve ice cream made with this representative local product. Many tourists seem to buy it out of curiosity, so I decided to try it myself!

Rich milk soft serve infused with the refreshing flavor of bell peppers... It's a combination that might make you hesitate, but once I tried it, I found it to be a light and possibly addictive taste.

The gift shop inside the roadside station is packed with souvenirs, including thoroughbred wood carvings, horseshoes, and Uma Musume goods. There's a full lineup of souvenirs unique to the birthplace of racehorses.

These wood carvings are made from broad-leaved trees grown at the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountains. It's amazing that each one is carefully hand-carved from a single piece of wood by a craftsman! I could feel the artisan's skill in the dynamic depiction of the thoroughbreds.

A corner filled with horse plushies. There are Uma Musume plushies too!

They also sell horseshoes actually used by the horses of Hidaka.

There are many souvenirs unique to the town of thoroughbreds, so be sure to check out the gift shop!

So far, we've introduced the highlights and gourmet food of Michi-no-Eki Thoroughbred Road Niikappu, but the surrounding spots are not to be missed. Nearby, you'll find the "Record Kan," which displays records donated from all over the country, the "Yushun no To" tower with a 360-degree panoramic view, and "Niikappu Kitchen," which houses multiple tenants.

First is the "Record Kan," which houses over a million records donated by music lovers from across Japan.

Record Kan

And at "Yushun no To," the view from the 25-meter-high tower is highly recommended!

View from Yushun no To

Next to the observatory elevator, there is also a panel of "Narita Brian" from Uma Musume Pretty Derby.

"Narita Brian" panel at the Yushun no To observatory

Niikappu Kitchen opened in 2018 after renovating a former supermarket. It houses four tenants: a bakery & cake shop, a greengrocer, a fish shop, and a butcher shop, making it very convenient for shopping.

Niikappu Kitchen

What did you think? Michi-no-Eki Thoroughbred Road Niikappu is recommended for a break during your drive, for shopping, and for sightseeing. Be sure to stop by!

Michi-no-Eki Thoroughbred Road Niikappu

◾️Address: 1-20 Chuo-cho, Niikappu-cho, Niikappu-gun, Hokkaido
◾️Opening Hours
・Golden Week & July-September: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
・November-February: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
・Other periods: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
◾️Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays (December 30 - January 3), every Monday

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