Kotan Hachiman Shrine

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Kotan Hachiman Shrine was founded in 1856 and was officially named a township shrine in 1875. It was listed as a local shrine on the 28th of April 1911. The purpose of the shrine is to follow the great principles of the deity, Hondawake no Mikoto. Hondawake no Mikoto is also more commonly known as the Emporer Ōjin. Read More ....

Otaru Canal Museum & Information Center

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Otaru City General Museum Canal Museum has an extensive collection that introduces the history of Otaru City including information on the natural environment. The exhibition includes 20,000 objects and materials in its collection. The museum is located by Otaru Canal and can be found in the 'former Otaru warehouse'. Read More ....

Tokai Lavender Fields

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On the Tokai Sapporo School campus the grounds really comes alive with lavender. It is said that the south district of Sapporo, where the campus is located, is known as the birthplace of lavender cultivation in Japan. Read More ....

Urahoro Shrine

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During the Meiji Era, as the town of Urahoro (on the south east coast of Hokkaido) was being developed, the pioneers called for the construction of a shrine to serve as a spiritual centre. On August 15, 1896, a small shrine was erected, enshrining Amaterasu (goddess of the sun and the universe). Read More ....

Onnenai Visitor Center

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, also known as the Kushiro Marshland is a sprawling national park to the north of Kushiro. There are half a dozen observation decks, museums, and walking paths that surround the park. The Onnenai Visitor Center is one of these museums and can be found on the western side of the marshland. Read More ....

Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National park (better known as the Kushiro Marshland) is a national park, located to the north of Kushiro on the eastern side of Hokkaido. The park is known for its wetlands ecosystems. 'Shitsugen' translates to wetlands in English. It was designated as a national park on 31 July 1987. The massive park covers an area of 268.61 square kilometres on the Kushiro plain and is well known for its wildlife and vegetation. Read More ....

Kushiro Marsh Observatory

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Perched at the top of a large hill, overlooking Kushiro Marsh, you can find the Kushiro Marsh Observatory. This is one of the most interesting buildings in Hokkaido. The exterior, and especially the interior, has a strange and unique design and is reminiscent of a cool sci-fi movie. The central hall of the museum is definitely a place to get some photos. Read More ....

Obihiro Shrine

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In 1881, a man named Benzo Yoda and others from Shizuoka Prefecture organized a pioneer group called the "Bansei-sha". This group and settled inShimo-Obihiro Village and started pioneering. During this time, they started holding festivals and later built a small shrine, though the connection with the current Obihiro Shrine is still not well known. Read More ....

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Kaori no Sato Herb Garden

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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.