Food Valley Tokachi
The Tokachi region of Hokkaido is one of the largest food production areas of Japan. It has an area of about 10,831 km2, with a cultivated land area of over 260,000 hectares.
To further develop and promote the region’s industries of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food, an initiative called “Food Valley Tokachi” is being implemented. This multisector initiative is being carried out by local governments, the private sector, as well as academic and financial institutions.
Food Valley Tokachi is implemented based on the following three main pillars:
- Making agriculture, forestry, and fisheries into growth industries
- Creating new value for food
- Conveying the charm of Tokachi
Through these three main pillars, Food Valley Tokachi aims to create a “Tokachi Food System” with a value chain that links production, processing, distribution, and sales.
The Food Valley Tokachi vision is to make Tokachi into a major hub of food and agriculture not only within Japan but in all of Asia.
Agrotourism in Tokachi
As one of the largest agricultural and food production areas of Japan, Tokachi offers a wide range of opportunities for agrotourism. In addition to farming experiences, farm stays, and farm restaurants, visitors can also experience activities that leverage the region’s landscape, environment, and history. Some of the unique activities you can enjoy include coffee time in the middle of a scenic farm field, or a horse-drawn sleigh ride that relives Tokachi’s pioneering history.
Agrotourism Spots in Tokachi
Tokachi Toyama Farm (Obihiro)
A farm situated at the foot of the Hidaka mountains in Obihiro City, they grow crops like potatoes, beans, and pumpkins. To connect their farm with consumers, they started a lodging and sauna business, and also accept visitors through tour programs.
Itadakimasu Company (Obihiro)
A company that offers guided tours to agricultural sites where visitors cannot normally enter. Their popular Farm Picnic takes you to the middle of a farm field to learn about the crops and their cultivation. You an also enjoy freshly harvested crops as a delicious lunch.
Shichiku Garden (Obihiro)
A flower garden that was started by a lady who wanted to play with flowers all day. The garden is surrounded by farm fields, and blooms with around 2,500 different kinds of flowers from spring to autumn. It also has a restaurant and a gardening shop.
Tokachi Ranch (Otofuke)
A public ranch with an area of 4,092 hectares, it raises horses, sheep, cattle, and other livestock. The site also has an observation deck and an avenue lined with birch trees that have become popular sightseeing spots. In winter, visitors can watch a winter horse exercise in the snow.
Ogasawara Farm (Makubetsu)
An organic farm that grows over 30 different kinds of crops and vegetables. They also operate a cafe that serves healthy meals made with the farm’s organic vegetables. In summer, they offer farm experience programs where visitors can try harvesting vegetables.
North Pole Stable (Makubetsu)
A stable that is home to different kinds of horses, from thoroughbreds to draft horses and ponies. The horses are cared for by stable owner Tooru Hirukawa and his wife Chizuko. They also offer tour programs such as horse-drawn sleigh rides and walking with a pony inside a forest.
Memuro Farmers’ Market Aisaiya (Memuro)
A farmers’ market that sells fresh vegetables and other products delivered directly from various farms in Memuro Town. It also has a bakery and an ice cream shop that is popular with locals. The market regularly holds community events like the Sweet Corn Festival.
Memuro Sansou (Memuro)
A group that offers guided cycling tours around the farms and rural scenery of Memuro Town. You can visit farm fields and experience agricultural work, and savor delicious dishes in local restaurants. They also hold regular events and accept custom-made cycling tours.
Country Home Fukei (Shikaoi)
A cafe operated by a dairy farm, surrounded by the rich nature of Shikaoi Town. They serve meals and sweets made with the farm’s fresh milk. They also make their own products like soft serve, yogurt, and cheese that are sold in many shops and restaurants.
Daisogen no Chiisana Ie (Shikaoi)
A farm restaurant that offers an all-you-can-eat buffet of dishes made with fresh Tokachi ingredients. They also serve soft serve ice cream and cakes for dessert. The farm also has cottages and log cabins where visitors can stay overnight.
Asunaro Farming (Shimizu)
A dairy farm that practices pesticide and chemical-free farming. They produce and sell their own dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and butter. During the summer, they also sell a popular soft serve ice cream that is made without any additives.
Kyodogakusha Shintoku Farm (Shintoku)
A dairy farm surrounded by forests in the foothills of Mt. Shintoku. They use the farm’s milk to produce various kinds of cheese, and operate a cafe that serves soft serve and cheese dishes. They also offer experience programs such as cheese and butter-making.
Naitai Kogen Farm (Kamishihoro)
The largest public ranch in Japan, it is home to over 2,000 cows that graze freely in vast pastures. It has a cafe and observation deck called Naitai Terrace where you can eat soft serve and hamburgers while enjoying a superb view of the Tokachi plain.
Arigatou Farm (Ashoro)
A free-range dairy farm situated in a hilly area of Ashoro Town. You can visit the farm and take a walk with the cows grazing freely in the vast pastures. Nearby, there is the Shiawase Cheese Factory that produces quality cheese made with the farm’s fresh milk.
Farm Restaurant Nojimasanchi (Nakasatsunai)
A farm restaurant located in the middle of farm field. Here you can enjoy delicious dishes made with the farm’s vegetables while admiring the idyllic scenery. It is located near Obihiro Airport, and is a popular lunch spot for tourists and locals alike.
Tokachino Fromage (Nakasatsunai)
A company that manufactures and sells cheese made with the fresh milk and clear waters of Nakasatsunai. Their main products include camembert cheese and cream cheese. They also make soft serve and gelato ice cream that is popular with both locals and tourists.
Kotani Agri (Sarabetsu)
A 160-hectare farm that cultivates crops like wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, and beans. They also grow plants like rapeseed, flax, and perilla to make original oil products. During the summer, many visitors come to see the farm’s beautiful rapeseed and flax flower fields.
Handa Farm (Taiki)
A farm that has operated since the pioneering days of Tokachi. They use their own milk to produce and sell various kinds of cheese as well as yogurt. The farm also has a stylish cafe where you can enjoy soft serve and other dishes.
Inkarushipe Shirakaba (Taiki)
A cottage surrounded by a forest of white birch trees. You can enjoy an outdoor cauldron bath or try activities like firewood chopping and farming experiences. The site also has a restaurant that serves delicious dishes cooked with white birch water.
Suzuki Farm (Hiroo)
A dairy farm in the coastal town of Hiroo, with around 120 cows freely roaming its pastures. The farm seeks to live in harmony with the environment, and practices sustainable dairy farming. They welcome visitors and regularly hold events like farm tours and salt-making experiences.
Kikuchi Farm (Hiroo)
A free-range dairy farm that strives to provide a stress-free environment to their cows. They opened a cafe in 2018 to make dairy farming more accessible to consumers. Here you can enjoy hamburgers and gelato ice cream while watching the cows grazing outside.
Kombu Harvesting (Hiroo)
Kombu kelp harvesting takes place during the summer months in Hokkaido. In Hiroo Town, you can experience part of the kombu production process, such as laying out the kombu on drying fields, or cutting the dried kombu to make into bundles.
Tashiro-no-Mori (Hiroo)
A private forest garden singlehandedly made by Yukihiro Izumi. Natural springs flow throughout the forest, and various flowers bloom from spring to autumn. You can go on a tour of the forest with Izumi-san, then enjoy some sweets and coffee while admiring the view.
Farm Inn Bofurin (Hiroo)
A spacious and cozy log cottage surrounded by farm fields and windbreak trees, it is available for rent as a whole unit. You can enjoy the rural scenery that changes with the seasons. Lodging guests can also try various activities such as fishing or surfing.
Recommended Sightseeing Routes
3D2N Tokachi Sakura & Local Food Spring Tour (early May)
Day 1
AM
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
Shimizu Park sakura viewing
Asunaro Farming soft serve
Shimizu Town restaurant lunch
PM
Shintoku Shrine visit, sakura viewing
Kyodogakusha Shintoku Farm butter-making experience
Yuyado Kuttari Onsen Lake Inn dinner, overnight stay
Day 2
AM
Depart from Yuyado Kuttari Onsen Lake Inn
Shikaribetsu River sakura viewing
Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum of Art
Daisogen no Chiisana na Ie lunch
PM
Roadside Station Urimaku shopping
Country Home Fukei soft serve
Lake Shikaribetsu boat ride
Nukabira Onsen Nakamuraya dinner, overnight stay
Day 3
AM
Depart from Nukabira Onsen Nakamuraya
Higashitaisetsu Nature Center
Naitai Kogen Farm
Roadside Station Kamishihoro lunch, shopping
PM
Ban’ei Tokachi horse racing
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
3D2N Southern Tokachi Farm and Garden Summer Tour (Jul to Aug)
Day 1
AM
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
Shichiku Garden
Tokachi Toyama Farm earthing experience
Tokachi Toyama Farm lunch
PM
Roadside Station Nakasatsunai bicycle rental
Rokka-no-Mori garden walk
Tokachino Fromage gelato ice cream
Feriendorf dinner, overnight stay
Day 2
AM
Depart from Feriendorf
Kotani Agri flax flower field
Handa Farm lunch
午後
Tashiro-no-Mori walk
Suzuki Farm visit
Farm Inn Bofurin BBQ dinner, overnight stay
Day 3
AM
Depart from Farm Inn Bofurin
Hiroo Town kombu harvesting experience
Kikuchi Farm Cafe lunch
PM
Hiroo Santaland
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
3D2N Tokachi Harvest and Autumn Colors Tour (Sep to Oct)
Day 1
AM
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
Iwanai Senkyo Gorge
Pyoutan Waterfall
Farm Restaurant Nojimasanchi lunch
PM
Kofuku Station
Manabe Garden
Obihiro City restaurant dinner
Obihiro City hotel overnight stay
Day 2
AM
Depart from Obihiro City hotel
Ogasawara Farm agricultural experience
Ogasawara Farm cafe lunch
PM
Arigatou Farm visit, cheesemaking experience
Tokachigawa Onsen dinner, overnight stay
Day 3
AM
Depart from Tokachigawa Onsen
Memuro Sansou cycling tour
Memuro Farmers’ Market Aisaiya lunch, shopping
PM
Memuro Shin-Arashiyama Sky Park
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
3D2N Tokachi Winter Life and Scenery Tour (Jan to Feb)
Day 1
AM
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station
Horokayanto Marsh wakasagi ice fishing
Bansei Onsen lunch, hot spring bath
PM
North Pole Stable horse-drawn sleigh ride
Roadside Station Churui snack
Taiki Town restaurant dinner
Inkarushipe Shirakaba overnight stay
Day 2
AM
Depart from Inkarushipe Shirakaba
Sarabetsu Village rime viewing point
Tokachi Ranch winter horse exercise
Tokachi Ranch white birch avenue
Shikaoi Town restaurant lunch
PM
Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan (ice village)
Tokachigawa Onsen dinner
Tokachigawa Onsen Sairinka
Tokachigawa Onsen overnight stay
Day 3
AM
Depart from Tokachigawa Onsen
Tokachi Nature Center hot air balloon ride
Tokoyoro Town Jewelry Ice
Tokoyoro Town Harunire-no-Ki elm tree
Obihiro City restaurant lunch
PM
Ban’ei Tokachi horse racing
Obihiro Airport or JR Obihiro Station