insights from frontier Japan

Tokachi Nauman Onsen Hotel Arco in the Tokachi region's town of Makubetsu started offering "glamping" accommodations on July 1. Visitors can stay overnight in tents equipped with luxuries including beds, and enjoy a charcoal flame barbeque.

"Otaru Dream Beach" in the Zenibako area of Central Hokkaido's Otaru City opened on June 25, first among all Hokkaido recreational beaches. Following in last year's footsteps, the beach opened with measures in place to prevent novel coronavirus spreading, and children rushed to enjoy summertime beach fun.

Daisetsuzan National Park's Lake Shikaribetsu stretches through the towns of Shikaoi and Kamishihoro in the Tokachi region and is home to the endemic species Miyabe char fish. On June 21, the recreational fishing season opened for the Miyabe char fish there for the summer season. Recreational fishers gathered from both inside and outside of Hokkaido and enjoyed fishing for Miyabe char fish at the lake.

Part of the closed Shiretoko Park Prefectural Highway that leads to the Kamuiwakka Hot-spring Falls, a famous sightseeing spot on the Shiretoko Peninsula in eastern Hokkaido was opened on June 1. In no time, tourists who came to visit the falls were enjoying climbing it, as steam rose from the water that cascaded down amid the fresh greenery.

The city of Tomakomai in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, plans to promote a local camping resort for teleworkers interested in "workations" that combine work and vacations. The municipal office is eyeing a budget of 40 million yen to provide high-speed internet access in the cottages and meeting rooms at Auto Resort Tomakomai Arten, a popular resort owned by the city close to New Chitose airport.

‘Tokapuchi 400’, a cycle route with an excellent riding environment from which the magnificent natural landscapes of the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido can be enjoyed, has been selected as one of Japan’s National Cycle Routes. It is the first route in Hokkaido to be selected as such.

This year’s season for ‘spring rafting’ that involves shooting the snowmelt rapids in a rubber boat has begun on the Shiribetsu River, which flows through the towns of Kutchan and Niseko in central Hokkaido.

A Sapporo company that operates a business that uses mini bonfires developed a system that lets users enjoy mini bonfire at the dining table, and is selling to hotels and tourism companies.

In February, travel companies and hotels facing difficulties due to the novel coronavirus partnered with fruit field farmers in the Toyama area of Minami-ku in the city of Sapporo to offer a monitor tour in which participants get to enjoy activities including making "igloo" huts by piling up bricks of snow and ice.