From Wikitravel

Obihiro (帯広) is a city on the northern island of Hokkaido, It is the capital of Tokachi sub-prefecture on the Tokachi Plain, a major agricultural area.

[edit] Understand

Founded by settlers from Honshu in 1883, and designated as a city in 1933, Obihiro is architecturally undistinguished except for a few kitsch pachinko (pin ball) palaces. To the visitor it appears a city of car dealers and cake shops.

Arranged on a regular north south grid, most of the city lies in the south western quadrant. Two main features lie diagonal to the grid: the railway line with the main JR station and Midorigaoka Park, a green hill where some of the cities main attractions (the museum, zoo etc.) are located.

Most Japanese visitors from the south are attracted to the dairy farms of the Tokachi Plain, however foreign visitors already familiar with cows and wheat fields may be more interested in the high volcanic peaks of Daisetsuzan with its extraordinary alpine flora, or the wildlife in Shiretoko Peninsula. For these major attractions Obihiro is a gateway, conveniently bypassing Sapporo and western Hokkaido.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Tokachi Obihiro Airport (とかち帯広空港) Naka 8-41, Nishi 9-sen, Izumi-cho, Obihiro tel (airport information) 0155 64 4078 (JAL) 0155 64 5681. [1] Located 25 km south of Obihiro City. Flights to/from Tokyo (Haneda), Kansai International Airport and Nagoya.

[edit] By train

JR Obihiro Station tel 0155 23 8176. Obihiro is on the main JR Nemuro line from Sapporo to Kushiro. There are trains to Sapporo (207 km, 2:15 hours), Asahikawa (183 km, 3:30 hours), Hakodate (461 km, 6:30 hours), and Kushiro (120 km, 1:45 hours).

[edit] By bus

Long distance buses from Obihiro to Sapporo and other cities are operated by various bus companies (Chuo Bus tel. 011 231 0600, Obihiro Station Bus tel. 0155 23 3489, Chuo Bus Oyachi tel. 011 891 6388). Buses leave from in front of the JR Obihiro Station.

[edit] Get around

The centre of Obihiro, located between the JR Obihiro Station and Fujimaru Department Store, is small and walkable, though most of the larger shopping areas are outside the centre. The city as a whole is large and spread out, though (relatively) easy to navigate. It is laid out on a grid (similar to the one in Sapporo) and intersections are signed in both Japanese and English (e.g. West 1 South 10 etc.). The north-south axis (which lies close to the city centre) is called Ōdōri.

Public transport is available in the form of buses, though services are less frequent than on the more densely populated island of Honshu.

A car is an ideal means of travel in a part of Japan where all the main attractions are outside the cities [2]. 'Rentacar' companies are represented at Tokachi Obihiro airport: Toyota tel 0155 64 5210, Nippon tel 0155 64 5065, Nissan tel 0155 64 5323, Mazda tel 0155 64 5600, Orix tel 0155 64 5543.

[edit][add listing] See

• Obihiro Racecourse (帯広競馬場) Nishi 13, Minami 9, Obihiro tel 0155 34 0825 [3]. Obihiro has a unique type of draught horse racing called Banei (ばんえい) . The horses drag steel 'sleighs', each weighing around 500 kilograms, along a 200 metre sand track with two humps in the middle of the course. The sport originated in a test of strength for farm animals. Most of the horses are a crossbreed of French Percherons and Bretons and Belgian horses. The 'jockeys' lash the horses repeatedly with the reins - animal lovers be warned!

• Hokkaido Obihiro Museum of Art (北海道立帯広美術館) Midorigaoka-koen, Midorigaoka 2, Obihiro tel 0155 22 6963, fax 0155 22 4233 [4]

• Obihiro Centennial Memorial Hall (帯広百年記念館) Midorigaoka-koen, Midorigaoka 2, Obihiro tel 0155 24 6963 [5] City historical and natural history museum.

• Obihiro Zoo (帯広動物園), Midorigaoka-koen, Midorigaoka 2, Obihiro tel 0155 24 2437, fax 0155 24 2439 [6] Open from 28 April until 4 November.

• Obihiro Wild Flower Garden (帯広市野草園) Midorigaoka-koen, Midorigaoka 2, Obihiro tel 0155 24 2434 [7] Open from May until October.

• Nakasatsunai Bijutsumura (中札内美術村) Nakasatsunai [8] Five art galleries and two restaurants in a daimyo oak (kashiwa) wood. Owned by the Rokkatei Confectionery Company of Obihiro. Open from the end of April until the beginning of November.

[edit][add listing] Do

Obihiro is located close to the Hidaka and Daisetsuzan mountains. There are an impressive range of facilities for outdoor activities: mountain trekking, horse riding, white-water rafting, kayaking, swimming, tennis, 'park golf' etc. during the summer, and skiing, snow boarding, snow shoeing and skating etc. during the winter.

Concerts and recitals etc. are sometimes given at the Obihiro Shimin Bunka Hall (帯広市民文化ホール) Nishi ５, Minami 11, Obihiro tel 0155 238111, located about 5 minutes by foot from the JR Obihiro station.

[edit] Festivals

• Ice Festival, including ice sculptures (late January)
• Heigen Festival, including bon dances (mid August)
• Chrysanthemum Festival (early November)

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Fujimaru Department Store (藤丸) Nishi 2, Minami 8-1, Obihiro tel 0155 24 2101 10.00 to 19.00 [9]. Nine floor department store in the centre of the city. Food on the basement floor.

• Hokkaido Chizu (Hokkaido Maps) 5th floor Sompo Japan Building. Higashi 1, Minami 10-21, Obihiro Monday to Friday 09.00 to 18.00. This is the place to buy trekking maps of Hokkaido at 1:25,000 and 1:50,000.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Japanese

• Sushi Masa (寿司正) Nishi 2, Minami 19, Obihiro tel. 0155 23 4561 [10] Traditional sushi restaurant with a quiet atmosphere.
• Tatsumi-zushi (辰巳寿司) Nishi 1, Minami 7, Obihiro tel 0155 24 6665 Quality sushi in an unpretentious restaurant.
• Umi-e (海へ) Alta 2F, Nishi 1, Minami 9-17-2, Obihiro A seafood izakaya in the city centre. Large menu.
• Matsuhisaen (松久園) Bisei 1-20, Memuro-cho, Kasai-gun, Hokkaido tel 0155 65 2321 [11]. Historic trout farm, restaurant and garden. About 30 minutes by car from Obihiro.

[edit] Hokkaido Soup Curry

• The Soup Nishi 3, Minami 11-1, Obihiro tel. 0155 28 7171

[edit] Chinese

• Michinro (Chinese:Meizhenlou Xijia) (美珍楼西家) Nishi 19, Minami 2-25-9 tel 0155 33 0030 Straightforwrd, Cantonese-inclined food. Large menu and reasonable quantities.

[edit] French

• L'Orange (オランジュ) Nishi 3, Minami 9-2, Obihiro tel 0155 67 7878 [12]
• Chez Maeda (シェ・マエダ) Nishi 2, Minami 10-2, Obihiro tel 0155 27 6206
• Le Bordeaux (ル・ボルドー) [13]

[edit] Italian

• Osteria Alpesca (オステリア アルペスカ) Nishi 1, Minami 12-2-7, Obihiro tel 0155 28 5663 [14]

[edit] 'Herb restaurant'

• Pennylane (ペニーレーン) Nishi 21, Minami 5, Obihiro tel 0155 36 2300 [15] Mainly pasta, good bread.

[edit] Seafood

• Byplane (Fukui Hotel) (バイプレーン) Nishi 1, Minami 11, Obihiro tel 0155 25 1717 [16] Pasta, seafood and vegetarian food - also good cheese.

[edit] Cake shops

• Rokkatei (六花亭) Nishi 2, Minami 9-6, Obihiro [17]. The main branch of a nationally famous confectionery company, that is also an important patron of the arts (see Nakasatsunai Bijutsumura above).

• Ryugetsu (柳月) Ōdōri, Minami 8-15, Obihiro 0155 23 2101 or 0120 669 669 [18]. Rivals to Rokkatei.

• Uetliberg (ユトリベルグ) Nishi 17, Minami 4-15-7, Obihiro tel 0155 33 0134 and 0120 01 3470. Open from 09.30 to 19.30. [19] Flying the Swiss flag, this cake shop specializes in purin, the Japanese custard pudding.

• Cranberry (クランベリ) Nishi 2, Minami 6, Obihiro tel 0155 22 6656 [20]

• Asahiya (あさひや) Nishi 19, Minami 4-24-3, Obihiro tel 0155 38 2606

• Akutsu (あくつ) Honmachi 3-9, Taisho, Obihiro tel 0155 64 5438

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit] Micro breweries

• Tokachi Beer (十勝ビール) Nishi 1, Minami 9-6, Obihiro Tel. 0155 26 4141 [21]. Not to be confused with the Tokachi Brewery (below), this microbrewery and restaurant, notable for its pizzas and giant tropical plants, is located in the centre of the city.

• Tokachi Brewery and Natural Garden. Higashi 3, Minami 13-2, Obihiro tel 0155 24 3717

• Rancho El Paso (エルパソ) Nishi 16-13-20, Minami 6, Obihiro tel 0155 34 3418 or 0120 33 8683 [22] (near Midorigaoka Park). Restaurant specializing in sausages, ham and bacon.

[edit] Pubs

• The Galway Nishi 2, Minami 10-20-5, Obihiro tel 0155 20 5211 Irish pub with Guinness and Kilkenny ale.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

[edit] Campsites

• Poroshiri Nature Park Campsites (ポロシリ自然公園) (Site A, no electricity 1,500 per night; Site B, with electricity 2,500) Dai 2 Kisen 2-7, Takuseicho, Obihiro tel 0155 60 2000 [23] Open June to September, near Tokachi Obihiro airport, south of the city.

[edit] Youth Hostels

• Toipirka Youth Hostel (トイピルカ北帯広YH) (8 bedrooms, 3,200 for YH members, 4,200 for non-member) Higashi 52-8, Kita 4-sen, Shimo-Shihoro, Otofuke-cho, Kato-gun tel 0155 30 4165 [24] Located outside the city, near Tokachigawa Onsen.

[edit] Hotels and ryokan

• Hot spring Hotel Boston (50 rooms, singles from 4,500, twins from 8,400) Nishi 1, Minami 3-15, Obihiro tel 0155 23 7015 fax 0155 21 3555 [25] Located north of the centre, near the Ōdōri bridge.

• Satonoya Ryokan (さとのや旅館) (12 rooms, per person from 3,000 without meals) Higashi 1, Kita 3-16, Obihiro [26] tel/fax 0155 22 0017 Email: satonoya@wave.plala.or.jp

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Business hotels in the JR Obihiro Station area

• Tokachi Gardens Hotel (130 rooms singles from 8,400, doubles from 14,700) tel 0155 26 5555, fax 0155 21 0500. Nishi 2, Minami 11-6, Obihro [27]

• Obihro Washington Hotel (帯広ワシントンホテル) (215 rooms, singles from 7,140, doubles from 12,705) tel 0155 23 5111, fax 0155 23 5112. Nishi 1, Minami 12-8, Obihiro [28]

• Hotel Paco Obihiro (ホテルパコ帯広) (high season: singles from 7,000, doubles from 9,000), Nishi 1, Minami 11, Obihiro tel 0155 23 8585 (Paco 1), tel 0155 21 8585 (Paco 2), tel 0155 22 8585 (Paco 3), fax 0155 23 0085, [29]

• Obihiro Tokyu Inn (帯広東急イン) (171 rooms, high season: singles from 6,825, doubles from 12600) Nishi 1, Minami 11-2, Obihiro tel 0155 27 0109, fax 0155 27 1016 [30]

• Hotel Hero (ホテルヒーロー) (137 rooms, singles from 6,300, doubles from 11,550) Nishi 3, Minami 12-6, Obihro tel 0155 26 3161, fax 0155 26 0642 [31] Internet connection in rooms. Pronounced Hiro. Hero is a misspelling.

• Fukui Hotel (ふく井ホテル) (June to October singles from 5,900, doubles from 9,500) Nishi 1, Minami 11, Obihiro tel 0155 25 1717, fax 0155 25 1746 [32]

• Toyoko Inn (東横イン) (high season: singles from 5,800, doubles from 7,800) Nishi 4, Minami 11-4, Obihiro tel 0155 27 1045 [33]

• Hotel Route Inn (ホテルルートイン) (180 rooms, high season: singles from 5,400, doubles from 9,450) Nishi 3, Minami 11-8, Obihiro tel 0155 28 7200, fax 0155 28 5770 [34]

[edit] Business hotels outside the JR Obihiro Station area

• Obihiro Grand Hotel (64 rooms, singles from 5,250, twins from 9,450) Nishi 2, Minami 3-20, Obihiro tel 0155 22 4181, fax 0155 22 1818

[edit] Splurge

• Hokkaido Hotel (北海道ホテル) Nishi 7, Minami 1-19, Obihiro tel. 0155 21 0001 Fax 0155 21 0002 [35] Email: info@hokkaidohotel.co.jp. Obihiro's premier hotel.

• Hotel Nikko Northland Obihiro (171 rooms, singles from 13,000, doubles from 19,000) Nishi 2, Minami 13-1, Obihro tel 0155 24 1234, fax 0155 28 3553 [36] Located next to the station.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Information

• Tokachi Tourist Information Esta Shopping Mall, JR Obihiro Station. Mainly Japanese, but they have a number of pamplets and maps in English.

• Obihiro City Library (帯広市図書館) Nishi 2, Minami 14-3-1, Obihiro tel. 0155 22 4700 [37] Obihiro's main library, located next to the JR station, has English-language newspapers, internet connections etc.

• International and Domestic Relations Department (帯広市 親善交流課) 3rd Floor, Obihiro City Hall, Nishi 5, Minami 7-1, Obihiro 080-0867 tel 0155 65 4133 [38] Email: international@city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp Information in English for foreign residents.

• Tokachi International Relations Center (森の交流館・十勝) Nishi 20, Minami ６, Obihiro tel 0155 34 0122 [39] Library and resource centre etc. Facility run by the International and Domestic Relations Department (above).

[edit] Get out

Beyond Obihiro lie the high volcanic peaks of Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan, and the Kushiro Wetlands National Park. Further afield are Abashiri and Shiretoko National Park.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!