Obihiro: 23 Places to Visit, Sweets, and Dining Facilities

Explore Obihiro, Home to Spectacular Sights

Obihiro, a city in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, is not only an important granary of Hokkaido but also home to many spectacular sights and delicious food.

Discover the best places to visit and local food to try around Obihiro.

Obihiro Travel Guide

Places to Visit and Attractions
1. Kofuku Station
2. Manabe Garden
3. Snow Peak Tokachi Poroshiri Campground
4. Horse-Drawn Carriage Bar
5. Obihiro Horse Racecourse
6. Agricultural Experience at Itadakimasu Company
7. Obihiro Shrine
8. Taisho Shrine
Obihiro Day Trips
9. Mikuni Pass Observatory
10. Lake Shikaribetsu
11. Fukuhara Sanso
12. Tokachi Farm
13. NAITAI TERRACE
Food and Dining in Obihiro
14. Obihiro Hageteng Main Branch
15. Butadon Tonda
16. Kitanoyatai and Tokachi-no-Nagaya
17. Indian Curry
18. Farmhouse Buffet Little Cottage on the Prairie
Obihiro Sweets
19. Rokkatei Main Store
20. Ryugetsu Main Store: Sanporoku
21. Akutsu: Milk Road
22. Farm Designs at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
Hotel in Obihiro
23. HOTEL NUPKA

1. Kofuku Station

One of the most picturesque places in Obihiro is Kofuku Station. Although the line is now defunct and no trains run, the station has been preserved as a tourist attraction because its name, “Kofuku” (Happiness), carries such a joyful connotation.

Buy a “Ticket to Happiness” here as a souvenir of your trip!

2. Manabe Garden

Manabe Garden opened to the public in 1966 and is operated by a local farming family. Covering approx. 82,600 m², it is a stroll-style garden composed of a Japanese garden, a European-style garden, and a landscape garden.

The scenery changes with the seasons, and there are a variety of walking routes—inside this secret-garden-like space, you can easily lose track of time.

3. Snow Peak Tokachi Poroshiri Campground

The world-famous outdoor brand Snow Peak’s only campground in Hokkaido is here.

In addition to clean, well-maintained campsites, you can arrive empty-handed and rent stylish camping gear on site to easily start your camping experience. Once you come here, your perception of camping is sure to change.

4. Horse-Drawn Carriage Bar

On Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights, you can see this horse-drawn carriage bar traveling through the city center.

Wherever it goes, it draws the attention of passersby; people on the carriage wave to pedestrians, and the carriage bar adds a touch of romance to the city.

5. Obihiro Horse Racecourse

Unlike typical horse racing, Obihiro’s races feature Japan’s only ban’ei (draft-horse) racing. The horses are larger than usual and pull a sled as they run.

The racetrack has a 200-meter straight course with two steep ramps; it’s common for horses to slow or stop when climbing the slopes, so the outcome often remains uncertain until the very end—one of the event’s most fascinating aspects.

6. Agricultural Experience at Itadakimasu Company

The Tokachi Plain is a large-scale agricultural area and offers guided farm experiences for visitors. Itadakimasu Company provides a variety of hands-on activities.

We actually tried digging up Japanese yam (yamaimo) and came away with a new appreciation for the farmers’ hard work. Freshly harvested yams are cut and pan-fried on the spot for you to taste—an opportunity to sample Hokkaido’s freshest produce.

7. Obihiro Shrine

Obihiro Shrine is the largest shrine in Obihiro city.

In addition to goshuin (shrine stamps), you can draw cute-shaped omikuji (fortune slips) featuring salmon and chickadees. The shrine grounds are lush and green, offering a peaceful, sacred atmosphere.

8. Taisho Shrine

Taisho Shrine is another important shrine in Obihiro.

In addition to obtaining the goshuin of Taisho Shrine, if you visit the four shrines Aikoku Shrine, Nakasatsunai Shrine, Okuni Shrine, and Kamikambetsu Shrine and receive an exchange ticket, you can also collect the goshuin from those four shrines.

Obihiro Day Trips

You can see many of Hokkaido’s spectacular landscapes in the vicinity of Obihiro. Besides the city center, it’s recommended to drive to these spots.

9. Mikuni Pass Observatory

Located within Daisetsuzan National Park, Mikuni Pass is the highest point on Hokkaido’s national highways. From the viewpoint you can gaze out over vast seas of trees and mountain ranges—an awe-inspiring display of nature’s power that creates this magnificent vista.

10. Lake Shikaribetsu

The famous Lake Shikaribetsu is also in the Tokachi area.

Its mountain-ringed beauty is captivating, but in the depths of winter, when the lake freezes over, a man-made village called Shikaribetsu-ko Village appears on the ice—like a scene from a fairy tale—and it has become a popular topic online both in Japan and abroad.

11. Fukuhara Sanso

Fukuhara Sanso in Shikaoi Town, only open during the autumn foliage season, is a famous spot for autumn leaves in the Tokachi area. There is no admission fee or parking charge, which is one of the reasons many people are happy to visit.

12. Tokachi Farm

The row of white birch trees at Tokachi Farm is a well-known attraction here and was used as a filming location for the TV series “Asei and Eri.”

From the farm’s observatory, you can also see the Daisetsuzan mountain range, the Hidaka range, and the wide Tokachi Plain—well worth a visit.

13. NAITAI TERRACE

Located within NAITAI Farm, Japan’s largest public ranch, the tourist facility NAITAI TERRACE features floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy unobstructed views of the expansive pastures.

Buy an ice cream cone or a glass of fresh milk here and take in the beautiful northern landscape!

14. Obihiro Hageteng Main Branch

Obihiro is a must-visit for food! Whether savory or sweet, it’s sure to satisfy your appetite.

Located in the city, Obihiro Hageteng Main Branch is the originator of the butadon (pork rice bowl).

We ordered the six-slice butadon—the sauce looks rich but is actually savory with a hint of sweetness. The hearty slices of meat over white rice will definitely fill you up until your next meal.

15. Butadon Tonda

Butadon Tonda is another butadon restaurant highly recommended by locals.

Locals suggest ordering the pork belly butadon with a sprinkle of garlic chili powder—the perfect fat marbling combined with the spicy powder explains why long lines form as early as half an hour before opening.

16. Kitanoyatai and Tokachi-no-Nagaya

There are two yatai (food stall) villages in Obihiro: Kitanoyatai and Tokachi-no-Nagaya. These are popular spots for tourists and local office workers to grab a drink after work.

You’ll find a wide variety of options here—from kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) to Korean dishes to bars.

17. Indian Curry

“Indian Curry” is called the spiritual comfort food of Obihiro. Its affordable prices lead local housewives to even bring pots to take home curry sauce, so locals jokingly refer to this curry as “mom’s flavor.”

The most recommended way to enjoy it is Indian curry topped with a fried pork cutlet—a surprisingly filling combination.

18. Farmhouse Buffet Little Cottage on the Prairie

Located in Shikaoi, the farmhouse buffet “Little Cottage on the Prairie” uses locally produced crops to prepare homestyle dishes. The buffet style lets you eat as much as you like. After your meal, you can enjoy fresh milk and fresh milk ice cream produced on the farm—great value.

19. Rokkatei Main Store

Because so many high-quality ingredients are produced in the Tokachi region, Obihiro has become known as the “Kingdom of Sweets,” and prices are affordable—dessert lovers shouldn’t miss it!

One of the souvenir brands many visitors buy in Hokkaido, Rokkatei’s main store is located in Obihiro city.

The first floor sells souvenirs, and the second-floor café offers desserts that are not only reasonably priced but immediately reveal the freshness of their ingredients with every bite.

20. Ryugetsu Main Store

Ryugetsu, the maker of Hokkaido’s famous confection Sanporoku, also has its main store in Obihiro city.

Sanporoku is a tree-ring-style Baumkuchen cake modeled after birch firewood, and it has received gold awards at the Monde Selection.

21. Akutsu

Akutsu, though not well known to foreign tourists, is a beloved local patisserie.

Their specialty, Milk Road, features castella sponge topped with a thin slice of white chocolate that keeps you coming back for more; they also offer a wide variety of other desserts, so pastry lovers shouldn’t miss it.

22. Farm Designs at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

Obihiro’s only four-year university is Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, and the on-campus shop Farm Designs is open to the public.

Here you can enjoy sundaes and beverages made with milk produced by the university. If I were a student at this school, I’d definitely stop by every day after class.

23. Recommended Lodging: HOTEL NUPKA

HOTEL NUPKA is a stylish renovation of an old ryokan and is just a 5-minute walk from Obihiro Station.

It offers a full range of room types—from dormitory-style rooms for backpackers to single and double rooms—and the surrounding area has plenty of dining options, making it an excellent base for exploring Obihiro.

As a side note, their rental bicycles are the well-known TOKYO BIKE; it’s only 200 yen per hour—definitely give one a try!

Book a room at HOTEL NUPKA

Enjoy Exploring Obihiro

When you visit Obihiro in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, besides the many scenic spots, you can enjoy the local cuisine and desserts.

Because public transportation is limited here, driving is recommended so you can make the most of this northern landscape.