"Tokapuchi" is the Ainu word for "Tokachi." This vast area, stretching from the center of Tokachi to the Hidaka Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is packed with attractions♪ With its food, hot springs, and winter landscapes, winter is the perfect time to visit Tokapuchi!

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This Drive's Route

Scenic Byway Tokachi - Tokapuchi Grand Space

"Tokapuchi" is the Ainu word for "Tokachi." The central Tokachi area is literally the heart of the Tokachi Plain. It features a grand landscape where the Tokachi River flows through a vast, flat area of farms and dairy ranches, stretching from the Hidaka Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. The region is also attractive for its easy access via the Doto Expressway and Hiroo Expressway. A key feature is the ability to enjoy rich and diverse local ingredients and sweets, as well as Moor hot springs and friendly interactions in the central urban areas.

Let's Head Out on the Drive!

1 Jewelry Ice (Toyokoro Town)

"Jewelry Ice" refers to blocks of beautifully clear ice that wash ashore on the Otsu Coast. When illuminated by sunlight, they sparkle and glitter, creating a must-see spectacle that resembles jewels scattered on the beach! It's a popular spot for tourists and photographers looking to take photogenic shots.
The best time to see it is from mid-January to late February, especially around sunrise or sunset. Please dress warmly for the cold.

Jewelry Ice (Toyokoro Town Tourism Association)

2 Ikeda Town Grape and Wine Research Institute (Wine Castle)

Established in the 1950s as Japan's first municipal winery, the facility commonly known as the "Wine Castle," built in 1974, was renovated in June 2020!
It's packed with things to see, including a tour course, an underground aging cellar, a museum, and a shopping area. We also recommend enjoying Tokachi-produced ingredients and wine on the rooftop terrace or the lawn while watching the sunset, which has been selected as one of Japan's "100 Best Sunsets."

Ikeda Town Grape and Wine Research Institute (Wine Castle)

3 Obihiro Racetrack (Ban'ei Tokachi)

This is the only place in the world that holds Ban'ei draft horse racing year-round.
Watching horses weighing over a ton pull heavy iron sleds is a truly spectacular sight up close!
On the premises, there's a "Fureai Petting Zoo" where you can interact with cute animals, a direct-sales market with a wide variety of Tokachi souvenirs, and restaurants and sweet shops using Tokachi ingredients.
We also recommend the "Horse Museum" and the backyard tours.

Obihiro Racetrack (Ban'ei Tokachi)

4 Basha BAR (HOTEL NUPKA)

After enjoying your drive, why not park the car and head out into the Obihiro night for a drink at the new tourist spot, the "Basha BAR" (Horse-drawn Carriage Bar)?
During the horse's breaks, you can feed it carrots and take commemorative photos. Enjoying a drink while swaying to the unique rhythm of the horse's walk and listening to the sound of hooves on the asphalt is an exceptional experience.
In winter, enjoy a brief escape from the everyday with the illuminations and snowy scenery.

Basha BAR HOTEL NUPKA

5 Ikinuki-dori Kita no Yatai

Located on Ikinuki-dori street in Obihiro, "Kita no Yatai" is a collection of food stalls. Of course, there's yakitori and izakaya-style pubs, but also French, Chinese, Korean, and obanzai (Kyoto-style home cooking), which are rare for food stalls—about 20 stalls in total!
If you can't decide where to go, why not try "hashigo-zake" (bar hopping) for one drink at each place? You can savor the entirety of Tokachi with menus and drinks using local ingredients.
Enjoy a moment unique to food stalls that will warm your body and soul during the cold season.

Ikinuki-dori Kita no Yatai

Summary

What did you think?
This route was designed to let you fully enjoy the beautiful, eye-opening blues of Hokkaido's winter. Armed with information about the delicious natural water from Hokkaido's snow and gourmet tips unique to the area, we hope you'll try this drive.

Hokkaido's long winter is beginning, but please enjoy your drive while taking thorough precautions against infectious diseases.