Obihiro/Tokachi/Sahoro Perfect for a girls’ trip! Sweets and photogenic spots in Tokachi

Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden is a facility attached to Ryugetsu, a confectionary factory famous for their Baumkuchen called Sanporoku, which looks like the wood of a birch tree. The shop sells virtually every single Ryugetsu product. The most popular product is the Bargain Sanporoku (pieces left over from production), which can only be purchased at this shop right next to the factory. The tickets to purchasing the product are distributed 30 minutes before the shop opens. At the factory tour, you can see how Sanporoku is made. The process of pouring the chocolate over the spinning Baumkuchen to create the birch-like pattern is truly amazing to watch!

Rokkatei is one of the most iconic brands for Hokkaido souvenirs. At the main store in Obihiro, you should check out the delicate take-out products recommended to be eaten right away. When you order the Sakusaku Pie, they only fill the pie with custard cream until after you order it to retain the crispy texture. To enjoy the pastry to its full potential, it is recommended that you eat it within three hours after buying it. Yuki Con Cheese is a product consisting of Yuki Yakonko, a biscuit sold by Rokkatei made with black cocoa, filled with a baked cheesecake. The combination of the sweet cheesecake with the bitter biscuit is heavenly. To enjoy the biscuit at its crunchy best, it is recommended that you eat within two hours after purchase. Also, make sure not to miss the Marusei Ice Cream Sandwich, the ice cream version of the popular Marusei Butter Sandwich, made with white chocolate and raisin ice cream sandwiched between two biscuits.

The area from Tokachi to Asahikawa is filled with beautiful gardens, and is known as the Hokkaido Garden Path. One of these, Manabe Garden, located in Obihiro, is the first conifer garden in Japan. The path linking the landscape garden, Japanese garden, and European garden forms a circuit, and you can choose your course based on how much time you want to spend. Also located in the Tokachi area are the Shichiku Garden, Tokachi Millennium Forest, Tokachi Hills, and Rokka Forest, which are all unique in their own way.

Mugioto is the flagship store of the Masuyapan bakery chain, which was founded in Obihiro in 1950. All of the bread sold here is made with 100% Tokachi grown wheat. The store opens at 6:55 A.M. and sells drinks along with their delicious bread. We highly recommend enjoying breakfast in the cafe space that leads out into a large garden.

With an area of approximately 1,700 hectares, Naitai Highland Farm is the largest public ranch in Japan. Around 2,000 cows graze here. The view from Naitai Terrace, near the highest point of the hills, is nothing short of breathtaking. Beyond the massive ranch, the Tokachi Plain extends as far as the eye can see. Visitors to the observation cafe can gaze out at the incredible scenery while enjoying a soft serve, or a hamburger made with Naitai Wagyu beef.

White Birch Tree Avenue is located on Hokkaido Prefectural Road Route 133, as you head towards the National Livestock Breeding Center Tokachi Station. The trees were planted as a windbreak, and they’re beautiful in every season and every time of day, making it a popular spot to take photos. There are places where you can see sheep grazing alongside some sections of Hokkaido Prefectural Road Route 133, and the property also has a road open to the public that leads to an observation deck (closed in winter). To prevent the spread of infectious diseases among the livestock, entry into any fields outside the open area, or any private roads, is prohibited. Please take all the rubbish home with you.