insights from frontier Japan

On June 26, bread bakery and sales shop Masuya in Eastern Hokkaido's Obihiro started selling limited quantities of "Minori no Megumi", a high quality bread bursting with Tokachi ingredients. It is made from Tokachi grown flour "Minori no Chikara", and is a high quality product that is softer and more plump than regular bread. This is the first time for the Masuya bakery to try its hand at the high quality bread category since its inception in 1950.

‘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.

　‘Erosion’, an exhibition of work by Umeda Masanori, a contemporary artist that resides in the city of Obihiro in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido, is being held at an outdoor gallery in the Manabe Garden tourist attraction in the city. The installation utilizes garden paths surrounded by countless larch trees.

This summer, the farming corporation Toyonishi Farm located in the Tokachi region city of Obihiro plans to launch the brand beef "Obihiro Beef" (temporary working name), a crossbreed of Japanese black and Holstein cattle.

Tokachi Bus launched a smartphone version of the "Obihiro 1day Ride Ticket" that gives users unlimited bus usage within Obihiro City for one day. It also started a smartphone version of the "Tokachi 2day Ride Ticket" that gives users unlimited bus access within the Tokachi region for two days. By providing an e-ticket option that users can purchase on their smartphones without needing to go to a tickets sales location, the hope is to increase bus usage mainly among local residents.

"Tokapuchi 400" is a cycling route that features amazing views of the grand natural scenery in the Tokachi region. It is the first cycling route in Hokkaido to be nominated as a candidate for National Cycle Route designation by the government as a course with an excellent traveling environment for bicycles. If it is designated, it can be promoted within Japan and internationally as a safe and pleasant course. A review board of experts will soon inspect the area, and may even make a decision by this summer at the earliest.

　The fresh fish department in the basement of the Fujimaru department store in the city of Obihiro reopened after refurbishment on April 1, with a sales counter directly managed by the Obihiro Regional Wholesale Market opening there. The procurement power of the market has been put to good use, with a wide selection of fresh fish from Hokkaido and beyond, and a commemorative bluefin tuna filleting display held at the opening.

The Obihiro Region Wholesale Market (Obihiro) in the Tokachi area plans to strengthen new business from the new fiscal year. Product development using imperfect produce is the business core. This summer, it will sell high quality gelato made from Furano grown melons as a private brand.

Wintertime in Eastern Hokkaido is packed with amazing scenery and experiences not available elsewhere in Japan, like drift ice, art made from snow and ice, and the ice horizon expanse. The "East Hokkaido Express Bus" is a seasonal bus that travels to all sorts of tourist spots in wintertime Eastern Hokkaido. It gives you easy access to famous spots difficult to reach by car. Visit Eastern Hokkaido aboard buses in search of amazing experiences only available there!