insights from frontier Japan

On May 29, participants from throughout Hokkaido and beyond enjoyed participating in a monitor ‘SUP yoga’ activity that was held at Toyoura Seaside Park in the Iburi region of central Hokkaido.

National Highway Route 276 Bifue Pass, which connects the Otaki district of the city of Date and the city of Chitose in the Iburi region of Hokkaido, has been closed to traffic since April due to fears of bedrock collapse, impacting access for tourists heading from New Chitose Airport to the foot of Mt. Yotei. At this point in time, there is no indication as to when the road will be reopened, and a major detour remains necessary.

Amid the deep waters of Lake Toya, a rocky outcrop suddenly appears so close you can almost reach it. It is known as ‘Zero Point’ and is located approximately 600 m northeast of Lake Toya’s Nakajima island. It is believed to be the remnants of a volcano that erupted and rose from the earth’s surface 40,000 years ago, just like the Nakajima island itself, opening up a world of mystery just below the surface of the water.

‘Lake Toya Sky Cruising,’ a light-helicopter flight that starts from the Silo Observatory and takes in Lake Toya, Mt. Usu and the like, began this season’s operations as of April. A Hokkaido Shimbun Press reporter took a test flight to experience this convenient and enjoyable aerial adventure.

A total of 1,262 runners from throughout Hokkaido and beyond took part in the 48th Toyako Marathon, which was held for the first time in three years in the town of Toyako in the Iburi region of central Hokkaido on May 15. Blessed with clear skies, the participants ran the lakeside course amid the abundant natural environment.

The travel agency JTB partnered with three local tourist associations to offer a Lake Toya circuit tour course in an "open top bus" from April 28 to the end of May.

"Mt. USU Terrace" boasts an Usuzan Ropeway Lake Toya summit observatory with a panoramic view of the natural environs enjoyable from the comfort of a sofa. The Terrace installed new deck space with sofa seating and held an invite-only pre-opening on April 21. Additional deck space was installed in areas such as to the side of the preexisting deck, and new sofas seating up to 30 people became available on April 23.

The ceiling frame is reflected like a mirror in the Hakucho Oji Ice Arena ice rink, located in Tomakomai in the Central Hokkaido Iburi region. This effect is generated by a "water mirror" that is only viewable once a year due to the rink ice melting process that happens in the spring off-season when the rink is not used for ice hockey matches.

The harvesting of ‘Kentaro’ strawberries, characterized by their rich fruity flavor and sweetness, began on April 20 at the ‘Ichigo Bunko’ facility in the town of Toyoura in the Iburi region of central Hokkaido, where growers continue to be trained. Local Vitalization Cooperators who are aiming to become farmers, carefully picked the large, ripe strawberries by hand. It is also the harvest season for Kentaro strawberries on farms in the town.