The Regional Guide Mini
HIDAKA Sample Book
1
Introduction
HIDAKA Hemmed in by the beautiful Hidaka Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this sun-kissed region has countless stables and traditional Ainu culture.
JRA Hidaka Training Farm, Urakawa
Area Map RUMOI
Horokanai
Rumoi
Sea of Japan
Uryu-numa Shitsugen
Asahikawa Hokuryu
Fukagawa
Takikawa Shintotsukawa Urausu
Atsuta Tsukigata Shakotan-cho Ishikari Bay (Bikuni)
Ishikari Tobetsu Plain
Ishikari Otaru
Ebetsu
Yoichi
Utashinai
Iwanai Bay Raiden Coast
SHIRIBESHI
Furano
Bibai
Mikasa Iwamizawa
Chitose
Shintoku
Abira (Oiwake)
Shikotsu-ko New Chitose
Suttsu
Rusutsu Kuromatsunai
Nibutani
HIDAKA
N TAI
Tomikawa
Shiraoi
TOKACHI
UN
IBURI
S
Date
Mukawa
MO
Noboribetsu Onsen
Tomakomai
KA
Airport
Shikotsu-Toya Toya-ko National Park
Obihiro Tokachi Plain
Hidaka
HIDA
Yotei-zan
Uchiura Bay (Funka-wan)
Kuriyama
ISHIKARI
Kutchan
Toyoura Oshamanbe
EASTERN HOKKAIDO
Shimukappu
Iwanai Niseko
KAMIKAWA
SORACHI
Yubari SAPPORO
Daisetsuzan National Park
Yubar i
Kamuimisaki
Biei
Akabira
tains
Hamamasu
Sounkyo Onsen
Moun
Ofuyu
Shakotan Peninsula
NORTHERN HOKKAIDO
Shinhidaka (Shizunai)
Muroran
Niikappu
Yakumo
Hiroo Urakawa Apoi-dake
PACIFIC OCEAN
Mori Onuma Park Shin-HakodateHokuto Hokkaido Shinkansen
Kikonai
Samani
OSHIMA
SOUTHERN HOKKAIDO
Erimo Erimo-misaki
Hakodate N
0
50km
Tsugaru Strait 2
2
HIDAKA 日高 Hemmed in by the Hidaka Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this sun-kissed region is Japan’s top racehorse breeding ground with countless stables. The scenic coastal byway runs between Tomakomai and Tokachi, via windy cape of Erimo-misaki. Apoi-dake is a lovely alpine mountain in the Unesco Global Geopark. The region’s main river Saru-gawa winds for Nibutani, one of Hokkaido’s most cultural Ainu villages. Inland mountain town Hidaka makes a pleasant stopover point to Northern Hokkaido.
View from Kannon-yama, Samani
SORACHI
Yubari
Kuriyama Yuni Chitose Line
Shin-Yubari (Momijiyama)
274
KAMIKAWA
Doto Sekisho Expwy Line
Shimukappu
X
274
Eniwa
X
Hidaka ★
Chitose
X Road X Closed
Abira (Oiwake) Inasato Muroran Line
Airport
Tomamu
234
Atsuma
IBURI
★
Tomakomai
Furenai
Chisaka
Nibutani
38
Kofuku
336
Churui Petegari-dake (1736m)
Taiki TOKACHI 236
M OU
Pegasus Road
NS AI NT
★
KamiNobuka
235
Obihiro Airport
Sarabetsu
KA
Shizunaigawa
Shinhidaka (Shizunai)
Makubetsu
Nakasatsunai
DA HI
HIDAKA
Road Closed X X Nijukken X X X X Road Takami-ko X
Atsuga
PACIFIC OCEAN
Memuro Obihiro
TOKACHI
Poroshiri-dake (2052m) Kamuiekuushikaushiyama (1979m)
Taiyo
Hidaka (Monbetsu)
Niikappu
Ikeda
Toyonuka
Nukibetsu
Hidaka Line Tomikawa
Nemuro Line
Otofuke
Hidaka-Sanmyaku Quasi-National Park
237
Biratori
Mukawa
241
Shimizu
Kita-Hidaka-dake (751m)
Tomiuchi
Hayakita Hobetsu Atsuma Mukawa Sarugawa Hama-
Shintoku
237
236
Rakko-dake (1471m)
FunbeJRA Hidaka Mitsuishi Training Farm no-taki Mitsuishi Seaside Park AERU ★ Pinneshiri (958m) Urakawa Samani Toyoni★ Horobetsu ko ★ ApoiFuyushima
Horoman
Erimo KamiUtabetsu
0
40km
336
dake (810m)
Hidaka Yabakei
N
Hiroo The Golden Road Meguro Erimo-Ohgon Tunnel (4941m)
Saruru Mountain Path Hyakuninhama Shoya
Erimo-misaki ★
TOP DESTINATIONS IN HIDAKA ★
Hidaka
Rafting on the clean stream of Saru-gawa or the raging stream of Mu-kawa. ★
Nibutani
Central Hokkaido’s top traditional place of Ainu culture along the Saru-gawa; museums, folk crafts and a spiritual landscape. ★
Shinhidaka (Shizunai)
This town is the base of visit the engaging racehorse stables. Nijukken Road is full of cherry blooms in early to mid May.
★
JRA Hidaka Training Farm
Something like ‘Japan’s Newmarket’. ★
Samani
A coastal footpath traces the eight attractive views and sights. ★
Apoi-dake (810m)
Hiking up the flower mountain in the Unesco Global Geopark. ★
Erimo-misaki
Hidaka Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. 4
Thatched Houses, Nibutani
Erimo-misaki
Thoroughbred Ginza, Niikappu
The Golden Road
FOUR-DAY SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1: Nibutani
Day 3: Apoi-dake & Erimo-misaki
Leave Tomakomai and take a late morning bus to the Ainu village of Nibutani, with require a change at Biratori. Return to Tomikawa then continue to Shizunai. ➡ Tomakomai to Shiryokan-mae by bus.
Hiking Apoi-dake (810m) in the Unesco Global Geopark. Take the afternoon bus to Erimo-misaki for one night. ➡ Apoi Sanso to Erimo-misaki by bus.
Day 2: Shizunai & Niikappu
Head north to Hiroo and transfer the bus to Obihiro, the regional capital of Tokachi. You can continue traveling for northern or eastern Hokkaido. ➡ Erimo-misaki to Obihiro via Hiroo by bus.
Tour the stables around Shizunai or Niikappu with your own wheels. Head southeast to Samani or Apoi-dake trailhead. ➡ Shizunai to Samani or Apoi Sanso by bus.
Day 4: For Tokachi & Obihiro
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Hidaka 日高 Fancifully located at the north of Hidaka, this mountain town makes a convenient stopover point on Route 237 between Tomikawa and Asahikawa, and is also the jumping-off point to Tokachi. You can easily enjoy hiking, skiing and rafting around the town.
ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES Hidaka Mountains Museum 日高山脈博物館
Adjoining the roadside station, this museum has interesting exhibition about mountain rocks, mineral, history and nature. It also has an observation deck and climbing maps. ‣ MUSEUM: 1-297-12 Honcho-higashi; 10am-5pm AprOct, to-3pm Nov-Mar; Closed Mon, 29 Dec-5 Jan; ¥200 ‣ www.town.hidaka.hokkaido.jp/site/hmc Hidaka Town Museum 日高町郷土資料館
The town’s small museum contains exhibits on local history, located behind the roadside station’s car park. ‣ MUSEUM: 1-297029 Honcho-higashi; 10am-5pm; Closed Mon; FREE Hidaka Kokusai Ski Area 日高国際スキー場
Hidaka Kokusai ski area, about 1km from the roadside station, looms east of town. The base is Sarugawa Onsen, where there are four chairlifts and 10 scenic runs overlooking the mountains. ‣ SKI AREA: 441-1 Tomioka; 9am-4pm late Dec-mid Mar; 1-day pass ¥3000, 5hrs pass ¥2300 ‣ www.town.hidaka.hokkaido.jp/site/hmc
Route 274
FAST FACTS Population: 1500 Location: 40km northeast of Nibutani, 117km east of Sapporo
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ★ Skiing on the Hidaka Kokusai ★ Climbing Kita-Hidaka-dake ★ Rafting on the Saru-gawa and Mu-kawa ★ Canyoning and Bridge Swing
HOTSPOTS @ Roadside Station Jukai Road Hidaka @ Sarugawa Onsen 6
Samani 様似 Listed as a Unesco Global Geopark in 2015, the small fishing town of Samani has a variety of unusual terrains from the scenic coastlines to the flower mountains. It is worth spending a half day for explore the town.
ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES Samani Coast 様似海岸 The coastal town center can be easily explore on foot from the train station. Samani Hakkei Footpath (10km / 3hrs) traces the eight attractive views and sights. Oyako-iwa Fureai Beach 親子岩ふれあいビーチ
Hidaka’s best sandy beach on the west of the town overlooks the legendary Oyako-iwa (parent-child rocks) glowing in the sunset. On-site campsite (¥600 per person) has free cold showers and a kitchen. Pick up snacks or boxed lunch from a nearby convenience store. ‣ BEACH & CAMPSITE: Nishi-machi; Beach Jul-early Sep, Campsite late Jun-late Sep; Check-in by 5pm; No Wi-Fi Toju-in 等澍院 This temple was established in 1806 by the Edo shogunate, close to the natural harbor. The 1811 small wooden Goma-do was rebuilt in 1965. Today the 2006 new main temple building (hondo) on a hillside is open to the public. Friendly chief priest will guide you inside the temple. ‣ TEMPLE: 11-4 Shiomidai; 9am-5pm; FREE ‣ tojuin.jimdo.com
View from Kannon-yama
FAST FACTS Population: 4400 Location: 140km southeast of Tomakomai
HIGHLIGHTS ★ Climbing Apoi-dake ★ Unusual Geological Sites ★ Samani Coast
HOTSPOTS @ Samani Tourist Information Center @ Mt Apoi Geopark Visitor Center @ Apoi Sanso
LEFT LUGGAGE ✓ Samani Tourist Information Center 7