Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Tokachi lies in southeastern Hokkaido, centered around Obihiro City, and is made up of 16 towns and 2 villages. True to Hokkaido’s vast scale, Tokachi is about the same size as Gifu Prefecture—Japan’s 7th largest prefecture. This fertile land is one of Japan’s leading dairy and agricultural regions, often referred to as the nation’s “food base.” Tokachi’s food self-sufficiency rate is an astonishing About 1,100 percent, enough to feed approximately 4 million people.

Getting to Obihiro is convenient, with several options available. From Sapporo, it's about a 2-hour and 30-minute train ride or a 3-hour drive. If you're coming from Tokyo, you can take a direct flight to Tokachi-Obihiro Airport. Tokachi offers everything you could want in a Hokkaido trip: magnificent scenery, exciting outdoor activities, relaxing hot springs, and fantastic gourmet food. It truly is one of Hokkaido's premier tourist destinations.

From a scenic viewpoint, feast your eyes on Tokachi’s unique panoramic landscapes. Marvel at patchwork-like fields stretching to the horizon, lush green pastures dotted with grazing cattle, and an endless blue sky that seems to meet the earth. This is the quintessential Tokachi view—serene, expansive, and unforgettable.

Experience the grandeur of Tokachi’s nature with activities at the Tokachi Nature Center.

From spring to autumn, start your day with the breathtaking “Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride,” offering a sweeping view of the Tokachi Plain bathed in soft morning light. Enjoy a leisurely “Tokachi River Nature Tour” drifting down the river in a rubber boat, or try river SUP and canoe tours for a closer connection to the water.

In winter, feel the thrill of a snowmobile tour racing through forest trails, or hop aboard a snow raft—an inflatable boat pulled by a snowmobile—gliding and drifting across the snow. These speed-filled, adrenaline-packed activities are among Tokachi’s most exciting seasonal highlights.

Operated by Rokkatei, the beloved confectionery brand founded in Obihiro, Rokka no Mori is a photogenic haven that feels like stepping into a painting. Across the grounds, seasonal mountain and wildflowers bloom in turn, including the “Tokachi Rokka” (Asian fawn lily, White Trillium, Asian Marsh Marigold, Japanese Wood Poppy, Rugosa Rose, and Japanese Gentian). A gentle stream winds through the landscape, adding to the sense of peace and beauty.

Within the garden, you’ll also find art museums created from relocated traditional houses, as well as a charming café where you can savor a freshly made Marusei Butter Sandwich—available only here. It’s a place where you can experience the Rokkatei world with all five senses.

At Sahoro Resort Bear Mountain, you can safely see Hokkaido’s iconic wild animal—the Ezo brown bear—up close in Japan’s very first brown bear safari park.

Stroll along a high-level walkway standing 5 m above the ground and stretching 370 m in length, offering a panoramic view of the bears in their natural habitat. You can also board a specially designed bus, protected by sturdy iron bars, for an immersive observation experience.

In the glass-walled viewing facility at the heart of the park, you might find yourself just 4 cm away from a bear—perfect for a once-in-a-lifetime two-shot photo. Thanks to the all-weather design, you can enjoy the park rain or shine, and stay perfectly dry while riding the observation bus.

Blessed with fertile land and known as one of Japan’s leading breadbaskets, Tokachi is a treasure trove of fresh ingredients. Here are some of the region’s most iconic dishes and treats you won’t want to miss.

Tokachi’s natural environment is strikingly similar to that of Finland, the birthplace of the sauna. In winter, some facilities even offer avanto—a traditional Finnish practice of cutting a hole in a frozen lake and dipping into the icy water as a natural cold bath.

Here, you can enjoy saunas crafted from natural materials unique to Tokachi, such as white birch, bakuhanseki (mineral stone), and repurposed wine barrels. Experience self-löyly, pouring aromatic water over heated sauna stones to create bursts of hot steam, raising the humidity and encouraging deep sweating. Cool down in a cold bath filled with pristine spring water from the Satsunai River, or relax in an open-air bath with sweeping views of the Tokachi River.

Many facilities offer day-use options, making it easy to “sauna-hop” and enjoy multiple styles in a single day.