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[2025 Edition] 20 Recommended Driving Spots Near Obihiro and Tokachi! Full of Stunning Scenery and Food
The Obihiro/Tokachi area has many sunny days, as the phrase "Tokachi sunny day" suggests, making it the perfect area for a drive where you can enjoy nature and food to the fullest. This time, we will introduce some recommended spots for a drive in the Obihiro/Tokachi area.
- "Tokachi Hills (Makubetsu Town)" is a garden where you can fully enjoy Tokachi with the concept of flowers, food, and agriculture.
- You can also enjoy a Segway guided tour at "Tokachi Millennium Forest (Shimizu Town)"
- The nationally known phantom bridge "Old JNR Shihoro Line Taushubetsu River Bridge (Kamishihoro Town)"
- When it comes to Tokachi wine, which is highly acclaimed overseas, the place to go is "Wine Castle (Ikeda Town)"
- "Rokka no Mori" (Nakasatsunai Village) where the flowers depicted on Rokkatei's wrapping paper spread out all over the place
- The lucky "Koufuku-yuki" ticket is popular at "Koufuku Station (Obihiro City)"
- After enjoying the Ban'ei horse racing, you can also visit the neighboring "Tokachimura (Obihiro City)"
- Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden (Otofuke Town) is full of sweets made with the agricultural kingdom of Tokachi.
- Karikachi Kogen Eco Trolley Railway (Shintoku Town) - Enjoy a ride on a trolley on an 800m course
- Manabe Garden (Obihiro City): A magnificent garden with an area of 25,000 tsubo
- Awe-inspiring! You can observe brown bears at Sahoro Resort Bear Mountain (Shintoku Town)
- A view spot with a panoramic view of the Tokachi Plain! "Shihoro Plateau Nupuka no Sato (Shihoro Town)"
- Lake Shikaribetsu (Shikaoi Town), the highest lake in Hokkaido
- The world's only exciting horse race, "Ban'ei Tokachi" (Obihiro City)
- Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum (Shikaoi Town) has a permanent exhibition of works by Hokkaido's leading Western-style painters
- Tokachi Nupuku Garden (Obihiro City) is a multi-purpose spot where you can enjoy horse riding, restaurants, and a dog run.
- Refresh yourself in the natural hot spring at Shihoro Onsen Plaza Ryokufu (Shihoro Town)
- "Tokachi Horokayanto Pit Digging Group (Taiju Town)" - A place to recall the ancient past
- Scenic Cafe Churui (Makubetsu Town): Relax and enjoy the scenery of Southern Tokachi at a cafe
- Gazing at the stars through one of Japan's largest telescopes at the Galaxy Forest Observatory (Rikubetsu Space and Earth Science Museum, Rikubetsu Town)
1. Tokachi Hills (Makubetsu Town): A garden where you can fully enjoy Tokachi with a concept of flowers, food, and agriculture
Located on a small hill, Tokachi Hills offers a luxurious view of Tokachi's cityscape, the Tokachi mountain range, and other natural scenery. In this superb location, the cafe serves gourmet food made with local ingredients, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing time. In addition, at the "Hills Shop & Shop Cafe" located before entering the garden, there are many products that you can only find here, such as handmade goods by Tokachi artists and wonderful garden goods.
■ Business hours: April 19th (Saturday) to October 9:00-17:00 *Garden Cafe Garden (partially open until mid-December 10:00-15:00 ■Closed days: Open throughout the period ■Admission fee: Garden admission: Adults 1,000 yen / Junior high school students 400 yen / Elementary school students and younger free ■Location: Makubetsu-cho Nisshin 13-5 Click here for details and maps of "Tokachi Hills"
2. Tokachi Millennium Forest (Shimizu Town) where you can enjoy Segway guided tours
Tokachi Millennium Forest is a magnificent landscape with a wide expanse of greenery, including natural broadleaf forests and artificial larch forests. It is a space where people can come into contact with nature in a variety of areas, including forests, gardens, art, agriculture, and food. It is known as one of the eight gardens scattered throughout Shimizu Town called the "Hokkaido Garden Highway," and you can enjoy horseback riding and Segway guided tours.
■ Business hours: April 19th (Saturday) to June 9:30 to 17:00 / July to August 9:00 to 17:00 / September to October 13th (Monday) 9:30 to 16:00 *Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time ■Closed: Tuesday, October 14th until the opening of the following year ■Admission fee: High school students and above 1,200 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 600 yen / Free for children under elementary school age ■Location: 10-sen, Uwadai Minami, Shimizu-cho, Kamikawa-gun For more information and maps on "Tokachi Millennium Forest", please click here
3. The nationally known phantom bridge "Taushubetsu River Bridge (Kamishihoro Town) on the former Shihoro Line of the National Railways"
This 130m-long concrete arch bridge is known as the Phantom Bridge. It appears on the frozen lake surface from around January, and as the water level rises around May it begins to sink, eventually sinking to the bottom of the lake in summer. When the bridge begins to sink, its arch is reflected on the lake's surface, looking like spectacles, hence the name "Meganebashi" (Spectacles Bridge). This is the only arch bridge in Japan that appears and disappears depending on the season.
■Location: Nukabira Onsenkyo, Kamishihoro-cho, Kato-gun Click here for details and maps of "Former JNR Shihoro Line Taushubetsu River Bridge"
4. When it comes to Tokachi wine, which is highly acclaimed overseas, it's all about "Ikeda Wine Castle (Ikeda Town)"
A winery with over 50 years of history famous for "Tokachi Wine." It was named Wine Castle because it resembles an old medieval European castle. On the first floor is a shopping area where you can purchase Tokachi wine and other Ikeda Town specialties, and in the underground aging room, many French oak barrels and old vintage wines are quietly sleeping.
■ Business hours: ・Wine Castle 9:00-17:00 ・Restaurant (4th floor) 10:30-17:00 (last orders 16:30) *Only on Saturdays, open until 20:00 (last orders 19:00) ■Closed days ・Wine Castle New Year's Holidays ・Restaurant: Tuesdays, New Year's holidays *Open on Tuesdays that fall on national holidays, but closed the following Wednesday ■ Price: Free ■Address: 83-4 Kiyomi, Ikeda-cho Click here for details and maps of "Ikeda Wine Castle"
5. Rokka no Mori (Nakasatsunai Village) - A field of flowers depicted on Rokkatei's wrapping paper
Rokka Forest is surrounded by rich nature, with century-old elm trees growing against the backdrop of the magnificent Hidaka Mountains and the sound of a babbling brook. You will be greeted by the familiar flowers that appear on the floral wrapping paper of Rokkatei Confectionery, a popular Hokkaido souvenir. The park also contains the Sakamoto Naoyuki Memorial Museum, where you can enjoy exhibits of artwork depicting the mountains of Hokkaido and sketches of flowers.
■Opening hours: April 25th (Friday) to October 26th (Sunday) 10:00-16:00 (9:00- in June and July) *Shop 10:30-16:00 (9:30- in June-July) / Cafe 11:00-16:00 (Lunch last order 15:00, Dessert menu last order 15:30) ■Price: 1,000 yen for adults / 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students ■Address: 249-6 Tokiwa Nishi 3-sen, Nakasatsunai Village, Kasai District Click here for details and map information of "Rokka no Mori"
6. "Koufuku Station (Obihiro City)" - the popular "Koufuku-yuki" (Lucky Yuki) ticket
The station building, named after a name that makes you feel happy just by visiting it, is now known as the "Railway Park" and contains the two diesel cars that were in operation until the line was closed, as well as the platform and station building. The "Koufuku Yuki" tickets, which can be purchased as souvenirs, are still popular today as they are believed to bring good luck.
■Opening hours: Shop Summer 9:00-17:30 / Winter 9:30-15:00 ■ Price: Free ■Location: Obihiro City Koufukucho East 1 Line Click here for details and map information of "Koufuku Station"
7. After enjoying the Ban'ei horse racing, go to the neighboring "Tokachimura (Obihiro City)"
Located on the grounds of Obihiro Racecourse, where the dynamic Ban'ei horse racing takes place, this tourist spot brings together all the charms of Tokachi cuisine. Inside, there is the Kitchen, where you can enjoy dishes made with local ingredients, Sweets & Select, which offers sweets and original goods made with high-quality ingredients, and the Farmers Market, which sells safe and secure agricultural produce and local specialties, making it the perfect place to choose souvenirs unique to Tokachi.
■ Business hours: 10:00-21:00 *Varies by store ■Closed on Wednesdays *The facility toilets, car park toilets, kids room, free lounge, and shrine are open. ■Address: Nishi 13-jo Minami 8-chome, Obihiro City Click here for details and map information of "Tokachimura"
8. Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden (Otofuke Town) - Full of sweets made with the best of the agricultural kingdom of Tokachi
Sweetpia Garden is the factory of Ryugetsu, a company that produces Japanese and Western confectionery representative of Tokachi, and the facility includes a tour course, a cafe corner, and a workshop where you can experience making sweets. Among these, the sale of the limited edition "Mipancho Bargain Items" is so popular that people often line up to get in.
■ Business hours ・April 21st (Monday) to November 3rd (Monday): Store 9:00-18:00 / Cafe 9:00-17:00 / Factory tour from store opening time to 16:00 ・November 5th (Wed) - April 20th (Mon): Store 9:00-17:00 / Cafe 9:00-16:30 / Factory tour from store opening time until 16:00 ■Closed on: Café, factory tours January 1st ■ Fee: Free admission and factory tour *Additional fees apply for some experiences and purchases ■Address: 1-1 Natsuzora, Otofuke-cho, Kato-gun Click here for details and maps of "Ryuzuki Sweetpia Garden"
9. Karikachi Kogen Eco Trolley Railway (Shintoku Town) - Enjoy a trolley ride on the 800m course
You can enjoy pedaling your own 800m long course on a track bicycle, which has been modified from a trolley. The course, which was built within the grounds of Shinnai Station on the former Nemuro Main Line, includes railroad crossings and various railway signs, and you can experience what it's like to be a train driver by following the signals.
■ Business hours: April 29th (Tue) - October 9:30-16:30 *Except for August, open only on weekends and holidays, and closed on other days ■Closed on weekdays *Some weekdays in August ■Price ・Pedal trolley: Adults 700 yen / 3 years old and over, junior high school students and under 400 yen ・Battery train: 700 yen for adults (adults only, including those with a regular driver's license) ■Address: 637-1 Shinnai, Shintoku-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Karikachi Plateau Former Shinnai Station Click here for details and maps of "Karukachi Kogen Eco Trolley Railway"
10. Manabe Garden (Obihiro City), a magnificent garden boasting an area of 25,000 tsubo
Manabe Garden, which boasts an area of 25,000 tsubo (82,000 m2), is a stroll-style garden made up of three garden themes. The plant collection, which has been collected from all over the world over the years, includes several thousand species, and is visited daily by wild birds and Hokkaido squirrels. The grounds also include a cafe terrace where you can relax, and a garden center where you can purchase rare and newly cultivated horticultural plants.
■Opening hours: Late April to November Until September: 8:30-17:30 / October: ~16:30 / November: ~15:30 *Last admission is 30 minutes before closing ■Closed: Open throughout the park's operating period ■Price: Adults 1,000 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 200 yen ■Address: 6, Inadacho Higashi 2-sen, Obihiro City Click here for details and maps of Manabe Garden.
11. Impressive! You can observe brown bears at Sahoro Resort Bear Mountain (Shintoku Town)
This is a spot where you can observe brown bears, the largest species that only inhabits Hokkaido, in a natural environment. You can see the brown bears up close from various angles, such as on the "Bear Watching Bus" and on the 5m-high "Promenade", and it is a spectacular sight. There are also original goods with cute bear motifs, so choosing souvenirs is also part of the fun.
■Opening hours: April 26th (Saturday) to October 19th (Sunday) 9:00-16:00 (last entrance 15:20 / 15:00 in October) ■Closed days ・May 7th (Wednesday), 14th (Wednesday), 22nd (Thursday), 27th (Tuesday) ・June 12th (Thursday), 23rd (Monday) ・September 4th (Tuesday), 17th (Wednesday), 24th (Wednesday) ・October 1st (Wednesday), 9th (Thursday), 15th (Wednesday) *Closing days may change due to facility maintenance, etc. ■Price ・Promenade course: Adults 2,200 yen / 4 years old to elementary school students and over 60 years old 1,650 yen ・Bear watching bus course: Adults 3,300 yen / 4 years old to elementary school students and over 60 years old 2,750 yen ■Location: Karikachi Plateau, Shintoku-cho, Kamikawa-gun Click here for details and maps of "Sahoro Resort Bear Mountain"
12. A view spot where you can get a panoramic view of the Tokachi Plain! "Shihoro Plateau Nupuka no Sato (Shihoro Town)"
After a 20-minute drive from Shihoro city on a gentle slope, you will come to Higashi-Nupukaushi-Nupuri in the Daisetsu mountain range. When you arrive at the destination, captivated by the majestic mountains, you will look back and see the vast panorama of the endless Tokachi Plain before your eyes. It is a luxurious place where you can feel the clear air and breeze with your whole body, and at night you can see the fantastically twinkling stars in the sky.
■ Business hours: April to November 10:00 to 16:00 ■Closed: Every Tuesday (except for public holidays, Golden Week, and the third week of July to August), December to March ■Address: 21-173 Kamiotofuke, Shihoro Town For details and maps of "Shihoro Kogen Nupuka no Sato" please click here
13. Lake Shikaribetsu (Shikaoi Town), the highest lake in Hokkaido
Lake Shikaribetsu, the only natural lake in Yukiyama National Park, is the highest in Hokkaido at 810m above sea level and is approximately 100m deep at its deepest point. It is surrounded by virgin forest and is home to precious wild animals such as the Japanese pika, a living fossil said to have lived there since the Ice Age, as well as white-tailed eagles, black woodpeckers, and grey herons.
■Location: Lake Shikaribetsu, Shikaoi Town, Kato District Click here for details and maps of Lake Shikaribetsu
14. The only exciting horse racing event in the world: Ban'ei Tokachi (Obihiro City)
Ban'ei horse racing, unique in the world, is a sport in which large horses weighing over one ton pull iron sleds loaded with weights on a straight course, competing in strength and speed. It originated as a contest of strength between farm horses during the pioneering days of Hokkaido, and has been passed down as a modern race, inspiring people as a Hokkaido heritage site. After enjoying the Ban'ei horse racing, you can also buy delicious gourmet food and souvenirs from Obihiro and Tokachi at the neighboring "Tokachi Village."
■Opening hours: Race days: Saturday, Sunday, Monday *Please check the official website for race times. *Entry is possible even on non-race days (please inquire about opening times) ■Closed days: Facilities on the premises ・Tokachimura: Wednesday ・Petting Zoo: Tuesday ■Admission fee: (race day) 100 yen ■Location: Obihiro Racecourse, 13-jo Nishi 9-chome, Obihiro City Click here for details and map information on "Ban'ei Tokachi"
15. Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum (Shikaoi Town) - permanent exhibition of works by Hokkaido's leading Western-style painters
Kanda Nissho is one of Hokkaido's leading Western-style painters, known as the model for Yamada Tenyo in the NHK morning drama "Natsuzora." This museum permanently exhibits more than half of the precious masterpieces of Kanda Nissho, who died at the young age of 32 due to illness, much to the regret of his talent. His strikingly realistic style of painting has earned him a reputation for being timeless.
■ Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (last entrance 16:30) ■Closed: Mondays (open on public holidays), days following public holidays, New Year's holidays *There may be other temporary closures ■Admission fee: Adults 530 yen / High school students 320 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 210 yen / Preschoolers free ■Address: 3-2 Higashimachi, Shikaoi-cho, Kato-gun For details and maps of "Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum of Art", please click here.
16. Tokachi Nupuku Garden (Obihiro City) - a multi-purpose spot where you can enjoy horse riding, restaurants and a dog run
A vast, hand-crafted garden covering approximately 4 hectares. The grounds include Western-style gardens, Japanese-style gardens, and natural forests. You can also enjoy horseback riding and feeding rainbow trout, as well as a play area with ponies and rabbits. The sound of the spring water flowing through the river is soothing, and you can see rainbow trout and Nishikigoi swimming in the pond. You can get a panoramic view of the garden from the observation deck above the waterfall.
■Opening hours: April to October 9:00 to 19:00 / November to March 10:00 to 20:00 ■Closed: Open all year round ■Price: Adults 500 yen / Junior high school students and younger free ■Address: 109 Nishi 1-sen, Showa-cho, Obihiro City For details and maps of "Tokachi Nupuku Garden", please click here.
17. Refresh yourself in the natural hot spring at Shihoro Onsen Plaza Ryokufu (Shihoro Town)
This hot spring, unique to Shihoro, is a luxurious hot spring where you can enjoy the moor hot spring, which has been selected as a Hokkaido Heritage Site, in all baths where the water flows directly from the source. In the rich natural surroundings of the deep forest, bathing in the viscous water will leave your skin feeling moisturized and smooth. The facilities include a large public bath, a jacuzzi, and a reclining bath, and at night you can bathe in the open-air rock bath while gazing at the starry sky.
■ Business hours: Day trip bathing 12:00-22:00 (last admission 21:00) *Varies by facility ■Closed: Open everyday *May be closed temporarily for facility maintenance ■Price: Day bathing: Junior high school students and above 700 yen / elementary school students and above 350 yen ■Address: 134, Shimoibe Nishi 2-sen, Shihoro-cho Click here for details and maps of "Shihoro Onsen Plaza Ryokufu"
18. "Tokachi Horokayanto Pit Digging Group (Taiju Town)" - A look back at ancient times
This large indigenous residential settlement stretches about 2km from north to south on the Bansei Coast Terrace, 15m above sea level, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The remains of their pit dwellings are scattered in about 130 places in the surrounding area. What is distinctive about this site is that only a small number of earthenware and stone tools have been unearthed, and only metal tools have been unearthed. It has also attracted attention due to the discovery of Okhotsk-style earthenware. It was registered as a Hokkaido designated historic site in 1966.
■ Location: Taikicho Bansei 1 For more information and maps on the "Tokachi Horokayanto Pit Digging Group," click here.
19. Scenic Cafe Churui (Makubetsu Town) - Enjoy the scenery of Southern Tokachi at your leisure
A cafe terrace located within Churui Kyoei Ranch, which spreads across a small hill. "Scenic" means "beautiful scenery," and the magnificent view from an altitude of 189m and the sight of cows grazing leisurely will help you forget your hectic daily life.
■Opening hours: July to September Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays ■Address: 204, Churui Shirogane-cho, Makubetsu-cho For details and maps of "Scenic Cafe Churui" please click here
20. Gaze at the stars with one of Japan's largest telescopes at the Galaxy Forest Observatory (Rikubetsu Space and Earth Science Museum) (Rikubetsu Town)
This is an observatory open to the public, equipped with a 115cm reflecting telescope, one of the largest in Japan, as well as a 30cm small telescope and a quadruple solar telescope. In the exhibition room, you can experience learning about space using panels displaying the Milky Way Forest, the Northern Lights, and beautiful space, as well as a space exploration computer and a large 70-inch monitor. On the rooftop plaza on the second floor, there is a large telescope dome and a small telescope observation room, where you can enjoy the starry sky.
■Opening hours: April to September 14:00 to 22:30 / October to March 13:00 to 21:30 ■Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the 3rd Monday to the 4th Friday of May, and December 28th to January 3rd of the following year. *However, the museum will be open on Mondays and Tuesdays from May 3rd to 5th and August 14th to 16th. ■Price: Adults 500 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen ■Location: Uenbetsu, Rikubetsu-cho, Ashoro-gun Click here for details and maps of "Galaxy Forest Observatory"
*All information listed is current as of March 2025. *All published information may be subject to change, so please check the official website for details.
