| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-75-4400 |
| Notes | Toilets on site Parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located bottom left on Lake Toya. 2 minute walk from Hokkai Hotel 168 Tōyakoonsen, Tōyako-chō, Abuta-gun, Hokkaidō 049-5721 |
Views from the park
The Mount usu Eruption Memorial park is a nice stretch of grassland on the south western coast of Lake Toya. It serves as an art park with some fantastic sculptures, plus it also has some information about the Mt Usu eruption, which still shows signs of a fault line that runs through the park. Mt. Usu, which lies a few kilometers to the south is a stratovolcano that has erupted four times since 1900. In the most recent eruption in 2000, a new fault line cut through the road and the park! This fault can still be seen today.
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Beautiful art
The park is a wonderful spot to stroll around, look at the sculptures, take in the gorgeous views of the lake and get some photos. There are about half a dozen sculptures in the park, starting with the carvings of three lionesses, that mark the entrance and the parking area. At the western point of the park , there is a tiny forested outcrop called ‘Chinko Island’ which has a small path running through it. The water around this area is crystal clear and a good spot for a picnic!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0158-29-2227 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | 10 minute walk from Takinoue Park 5 minute walk from the center of town. 〒 999-5614 Takigami-cho, Monbetsu-gun, Sakuru wilderness 33 address |
Various shrines
Takinoue Shrine is a Shinto Shrine that was built in the heart of Takinoue. The location of a shrine is related to the sacred nature of a place where a holy ceremony took place in the past. In 1954 the center of the town was established by the village company, and the shrine was then constructed 1965. It is said that the spirits of the Gods of Japan exist as a sacred object which is enshrined inside the building. Shinto priests and shrine maidens work there all year round and prepare a variety of ceremonies.
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Top of the hill
The shrine has been constructed on a large plot of land, and it offers great views over the town of Takinoue. Taking the steep steps to the top, you can see Takinoue Park , which is especially beautiful in the month of May. Views of the Rainbow Bridge can also be seen making this shrine a fantastic spot to get some photos, not only of the shrine itself, but of the sweeping views over Takinoue. Being in the center of Takinoue, it is easily accessed, and a quick walk to other sightseeing spots. The festival day of the shrine is September 10th.
| Admission | ¥150 |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 16:30 |
| Closed | Mondays, Tuesdays Winter (November 1 to April 30) |
| Contact | 0158-29-3499 |
| Notes | Exhibits information in Japanese |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute drive past Takinoue city Across from Takinoue Valley Hotel Motomachi, Takinoue, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido 099-5604 |
The local wildlife display
The Takinoue City Museum may not look much from the outside, but on the inside, its a hidden treasure trove of Japanese history, antiques, and large dioramas depicting early life in the Takinoue area. The first room has information and dioramas on the local wildlife. It also has information about life in the Hokkaido region from a hundred years ago, and the way people lived. It has clothing from that era, tools used, farming methods and a fantastic Meiji era living room. Although the information is Japanese in only, you can still thoroughly enjoy the exhibitions. There are also a lot of artifacts on the Ainu.
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The days of old
There is another room at the back of the museum, that has an impressive collection of objects and artifacts from the decades past. Pick your way through pieces of history, and peruse at your leisure. Clothing, household items, banners, furniture and photographs can all be found here. The centerpiece of the room is a large vat that was used for brewing Japanese sake. This a truly fascinating room and if you like antiques, this is the place for you! To the side of the building, there is an old steam train carriage with illustrations of trains from the past. While in Takinoue be sure to have a look at the Takinoue City Museum, not only is it very cheap, it’s an interesting place to visit!
| Length | Path along river is 2.7 km one way |
| Notes | Photography spot Wheelchair access |
| Location | 5 minute walk from Keikoku Park. 10 minute walk from Takinoue park |
Fishing spot
Takinoue Gorge (Kinsenkyo) is a hidden gem in the pleasant town of Takinoue and is formed from the Shokotsu River that flows from east to west. The gorge has a fantastic walking track that runs on both sides of the river offering great views down the gorge, and was voted as one of Hokkaido’s top hundred tourist spots for its breathtaking scenery. The path runs for 2.7km one way, starting from the rainbow bridge to the Keikoku Park Camping Ground. This river is a popular spot for fly fishing and was one of the first places in Japan to introduce the catch and release system. If you enjoy fishing this is a great spot to catch some rainbow trout. This river is beautiful in all seasons, especially in the autumn, as the leaves turn.
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Rainbow Bridge & Dragon falls
Along the trail there are some nice spots for photos, such as the Rakuyo Falls. There is a small observation point that overlooks the falls, making it a good spot for photos.There are a number of small waterfalls and tributaries and bridges along the path. On the western end of the river, you will find the rainbow bridge. The rainbow bridge name doesn’t come from old Norse mythology, rather that there is a fountain on the downstream side of the bridge and when the fountain is operating, the suns rays form the rainbow. The two tiered bridge is at the junction of the Shokotsu River and the Sakuru River, where they meet and form the ‘Water Dragon Waterfall’. The rainbow bridge offers views over these rivers, as well as Takinoue Park. On the second level of the bridge there is a slide for the kids down to the first level.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 16:30 |
| Closed | November - April |
| Contact | 0158-29-3400 |
| Notes | Fragrance House restaurant Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | 3 and a half hour drive from Sapporo 2 hour drive from Asahikawa 〒099-5600, 19 Kamishokotsugenya, Takinoue, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido 099-5600 |
View from the top of the hill
While in Takinoue, be sure to visit the Kaori no Sato Herb Garden. It is open during the warmer months from June to September. Covering 40,000 square meters, these gardens are filled with subtle fragrances and beautiful colors. An interesting fact about the town of Takinoue is that it’s Japans biggest producer of peppermint, and it is here that it can be found. Besides the peppermint, there are over three hundred kinds of herbs that are grown here! Feel free to wander around, where you can also enjoy the views from the hill.
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A nice spot for lunch
At the top of the gardens, you will find not only the parking, but the Fragrance House restaurant and shop. The building has a very European design to its architecture and it’s a great spot to have some lunch, or relax and enjoy the views while sipping on the many herbal teas sold here. Fragrance House also has a cheese hamburg set, pastas, a herb pizza, fried rice and a delicious homemade herb sausage. During the summer, Fragrance house also has a choice of peppermint or vanilla ice cream. After lunch you can also pop into the adjacent building called the ‘Kew Palace herb craft center’ and make unique herbal goods such as potpourris, wreaths and sachets, to add a little zest to your daily life.
| Lunch menu (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Tea | ¥400 |
| Ice cream | ¥300 |
| Admission Gardens + Farm | ¥1200 Over 16 years old ¥600 Children* ¥1000 Seniors over 60 ¥2400 Annual ticket *up to 5 children can enter free with 1 adult |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 17:00 April - September 9:00 - 16:00 October |
| Closed | November - March |
| Contact | 0123-34-7800 http://www.ecorinvillage.com/ |
| Notes | Farm tour Sheep feeding Sheepdog show Sheep race Souvenir shop |
| Location / Getting There | 40 minute drive from Sapporo station 20 minute drive from New Chitose Airport 〒061-1421 Hokkaido, Eniwa, Makiba, 277−4 |
Great place for kids
Animal Farm, also known as ‘Midori no Makiba’ is located on the huge grounds of Ecorin Village. It is one of the three main attractions at Ecorin Village. The other two being the beautiful Galaxy Gardens , and the Tomato Forest. The name, Ecorin Village, comes from the word “eco” (the connection with the environment of plants and animals) and “rin” (the circle of a small community). The three attractions are all located near each other and you can get around to see all in one day. There are also two delicious restaurants on the grounds, or you can pack your own lunch and have a picnic!
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One of the local residents.
Upon entering the farm gate, you will find a wool souvenir shop on the right. It is here, that they have a wool workshop where you can piece together your own creations. The wool comes from the farms main attraction, that being the numerous sheep that take residence here. Throughout the day, they have various events on. One being the sheepdog show, where you can see the sheep being rounded up in front of you. The other event being the popular sheep racing.
A tour of the farm
Other animals that can be seen are goats, shetland ponies, horses, alpacas, and a Scotland yak! The public are free to wander around the enclosures and see these wooly creatures. Though if you’re tired of walking, then there is a free farm tour available. Tractor drawn carriages that sit up to forty-eight people, will tour through the extensive farm. The guided tour is in Japanese only, but you can get a good look at the farm and a behind the scenes look. At the half way point, and at the far end of the farm, the carriages stop and the passengers are invited to come out and feed the hungry sheep. Good spot for some photos and some fun for the kids.
| Sheepdog Show | 11:00 13:00 15:00 |
| Sheep Race | 11:20 13:20 15:20 |
| Farm Tour | 10:15 11:45 12:30 13:45 14:30 15:45 |
For public transport to get to Ecorin Village, there is a free shuttle bus service from Eniwa Station (JR line) which departs from the west entrance. Travel time is fifteen minutes to Ecorin Village.
