insights from frontier Japan

A monitor cycling tour on the frozen surface of Lake Nukabira was held for the first time in the town of Kamishihoro in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido. Lake Nukabira is a special area of the Daisetsuzan National Park, where, in principle, vehicles are not allowed. However, the tour was held with permission from the Ministry of the Environment, which was received in February in anticipation of the demand for outdoor activities. The tour, which will be introduced in earnest next season, allows visitors to ride on the clear ice and view scenic spots, including the group of arches of a former National Railways bridge, during the severe winter season.

On February 4, Otaru Canal Boat, which operates the Otaru Canal Cruise, offered a cruise to view projection mapping on the quay and under bridges after sunset. The passengers enjoyed the views from the boat, as well as vivid images introducing the canal.

Tourists are enjoying the Okhotsk winter as a ‘drift-ice walk,’ in which participants clad in dry suits walk on drift ice, has begun in the Utoro district of the town of Shari in the Shiretoko area of eastern Hokkaido.

Two types of subscription passports (fixed-rate services) planned by the ‘East Hokkaido Road to Natural Beauty DMO’ (Destination Management/Marketing Organization), which can be used for bus rides, meals and nature activities in the eastern Hokkaido area, will be available for use from late January. Both will be sold as electronic passports, with the aim of making transportation in eastern Hokkaido are more convenient in winter, and attracting more visitors to the region.

From January 28 to 30, Lake Shuparo in Yubari will feature an "ice carousel" ride made from cutting a circle shape in the frozen lake surface and spinning it. This fun idea originated in Northern Europe. At night, bon fires will blaze, creating a magical atmosphere. A person involved with the event expressed hope that, "this will grow to be a new winter Yubari event tradition."

Having cycled extensively in the UK, France and the Netherlands, I was pleasantly surprised by the potential for cycling in Hokkaido, when the snow started melting after my first winter here, some thirty-odd years ago. However, it wasn’t long before I realised the real potential for cycling may actually be the winters themselves.

Marukoma Onsen Ryokan, a long-established hot-spring inn on the shores of Lake Shikotsu in the city of Chitose in central Hokkaido, has begun a service in which guests can use a rake to dig in the gravel on the shore of the lake near the hot spring, and enjoy a footbath in the hot spring water, as well as an accommodation plan for campervan users and their dogs. These new products were created based on feedback from the staff and guests, and the aim is to attract new customers by incorporating activity-based elements.　

The ‘Airport Limousine Carriage,’ a horse-drawn carriage ride from Tokachi Obihiro Airport, on which to enjoy the rural scenery of the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido, was operated on a trial basis for the first time on November 21. The participants enjoyed the carriage ride while experiencing the equine culture that played a role in Tokachi’s development.

Tokachi City Design, the managing company of several businesses located in Obihiro City including "Hotel Nupka", will develop new types of sightseeing tours using Tokachi horse culture. A model tour was held from November 6 to 8. It provided a hands-on experience of the history of the Tokachi area as it grew together with the horses that were used in land development and agriculture, and also featured visits to places such as the Obihiro Racecourse to see Banei sled horse racing. This was the first model tour ever to include these features. Tokachi City Design plans to identify points for improvement in the tour and work towards offering it as a commercial tour from the next fiscal year onward.