Shikaoi is a town with a population of about 5,500, located in the northwestern part of the Tokachi Plain in Hokkaido, with views of the Daisetsuzan mountain range and the Hidaka Mountains. The town's name comes from the Japanese translation of the Ainu word 'Kutekuushi,' meaning 'a place with a deer-trapping fence.' It has good access from surrounding cities like Obihiro, and on the vast alluvial fan that slopes gently from north to south, a beautiful rural landscape typical of Tokachi, with dairy farming and crop cultivation, stretches as far as the eye can see.

The climate is continental; although the winters are harsh, snowfall is relatively light, and the contrast between the clear blue skies of each season and the magnificent nature fascinates visitors. The entire town, including the southern foot of Daisetsuzan National Park and Lake Shikaribetsu, is designated as the 'Tokachi Shikaoi Geopark,' where you can feel the breath of the Earth.

In terms of industry, the town promotes resource-recycling agriculture with one of the largest biogas plants in Japan and continues to undertake advanced challenges such as cultivating mangoes and raising sturgeons using surplus heat. It also focuses on international education, with initiatives such as sending all high school students on short-term study abroad programs to its sister city in Canada. It is a charming town where unique culture and nature harmonize, featuring a townscape developed under the slogan 'A Town of Flowers and Lawns,' the Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum of Art, and a riding park where you can interact with horses.