【2025–26 Edition】14 Must-See Winter Spots in Obihiro–Tokachi + Model Itineraries | A Journey to Savor Icy Lights, Hot Springs, and Gourmet Delights

Sairinka® | A Fantastical Night Show of Sound and Light

The Otofuke Tokachigawa “Sairinka®” is a light-and-sound show that illuminates winter at Tokachigawa Onsen. Around 600 glowing objects line Tokachigaoka Park, shimmering in time with music.

From the hot-spring town to the venue, you’ll walk through a newly built “Corridor of Light.” The “winter cherry blossoms” blooming with poise along the path are a hit with overseas visitors, making for striking photo spots.

You can also enjoy winter-only activities such as snow rafting and frozen soap-bubble experiences. Venue-exclusive treats add to the fun—this winter night festival is popular with families and couples alike.

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Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan | A Surreal “Ice Village” for Otherworldly Winter Fun

“Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan” is a “phantom village” that appears only in winter on Lake Shikaribetsu in Shikaoi, Hokkaido. Igloos and ice structures made of snow and ice line the site, where you can enjoy open-air ice baths and foot baths on the frozen lake.

Winter-only activities abound—snowmobiles, night watching, an ice bar, and more—so you can fully immerse yourself in this fantastical world of snow and ice.

This “Ice Village” sculpted by nature at Lake Shikaribetsu is truly a one-of-a-kind fantasy experience that Tokachi proudly claims as its own. Relish the snow-covered lake, crystal-clear ice born from bitter cold, and a luminous world that stretches into the silence.

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6 Winter Activities
to Enjoy in Tokachi–Obihiro

During Tokachi–Obihiro’s bitterly cold winter, snow and ice often remain even by day, making it perfect for activities that harness the natural environment. Here are six popular winter-only experiences.

Ice Fishing for Smelt | Classic Winter Fun on a Frozen Lake

Photo courtesy of TOM Tokachi Outdoor Mates

Several lakes in Tokachi freeze solid in the frigid cold. One popular activity is smelt fishing on the ice: drilling through thick ice with an auger and fishing right on the lake surface.

Photo courtesy of TOM Tokachi Outdoor Mates

Join TOM Tokachi Outdoor Mates’ “Lake Sahoro Smelt Fishing Experience Tour” for an easy, guided outing on Lake Sahoro.

Photo courtesy of TOM Tokachi Outdoor Mates

All gear, tents, and heaters are provided, so you can come empty-handed. You can even fry up your catch on the spot. Biting into piping-hot, fragrant smelt in the biting cold warms the body—and the heart.

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Skiing & Snowboarding | Top Resorts Like Sahoro and Tomamu

Tokachi offers ski resorts for every level, from beginners to experts. “Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU” and “Sahoro Resort” are especially popular with international visitors. Both deliver excellent powder snow, but their course layouts and ways to enjoy them differ.

First up, “Sahoro Resort Ski Area,” spread across Mt. Sahoro in Shintoku, Hokkaido, is known for its easy-to-ride “down snow” and high sunny-day rate.

Roughly half of its 21 courses are ungroomed, and skiers love the varied terrain—from a maximum 39-degree pitch to treeline runs. A single gondola brings you near the summit, where the spoke-like course layout makes for smooth laps.

Gentler slopes are also available, making it ideal for beginners and families.

With a dedicated kids’ area and family-friendly services, it’s perfect for those who want to “ski with peace of mind as a family” or “savor winter at a relaxed pace.”

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Photo courtesy of “Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU”

“Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU Ski Area,” located inland in Hokkaido, is a premier snow resort famed for exquisite powder.

With 29 courses, it caters to all levels. At the world-first story-driven slope “Adventure Mountain,” kids naturally improve while playing.

Photo courtesy of “Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU”

Advanced riders can challenge special “experts-only” zones for free riding in ungroomed terrain.

Photo courtesy of “Hoshino Resorts TOMAMU”

With one of Hokkaido’s largest slopestyle parks and dedicated beginner parks, it’s among Japan’s finest resorts for everyone from families to experts.

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Hot-Air Balloon Free Flight | Survey the Silver Plains from the Sky

A winter-morning hot-air balloon flight drifting over snowy fields is an experience found only in this season.

The silver landscape unfurling below feels like the earth itself has become a canvas. In the crystal winter air, as you rise, you’ll see endless horizons you can’t in summer.

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Tokachi Winter River Cruising | A “Silent River Journey” Among Hoarfrost and Swans

Photo courtesy of Samurai Produce Co., Ltd.

Hosted by Samurai Produce, “Tokachi Winter River Cruising” is a hallmark experience of Tokachi’s winter. Glide for about two hours on an “E-boat” along the lower Obihiro River through crisp morning air.

In the clear dawn, hoarfrost-covered trees and migrating swans appear—like stepping into a painting.

Photo courtesy of Samurai Produce Co., Ltd.

On days colder than −15 °C, water vapor freezes to create dreamlike hoarfrost scenes. Drifting along a silent river while tuning your ears to birdsong and the crunch of snow is unforgettable.

Photo courtesy of Samurai Produce Co., Ltd.

At the end, you’ll receive delicious local sweets as a souvenir—perfect for reliving the cruise after you return.

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Dog Sledding | A Winter Adventure Where You and the Team Run as One

Dog-sled tours (MushingWorks / Shikaoi) are an iconic winter activity in Tokachi.

Take the reins yourself as a musher and dash 10–12 km across the vast Tokachi Plain—an inspiring experience. In the hush broken only by the dogs’ breathing and the sled’s whisper over snow, you’ll feel truly at one with nature.

Tours are fully reserved, private for one group at a time, and include all gear such as cold-weather clothing and boots in the price.

A guide can ride along for support, so even those nervous about steering can relax. After the run, enjoy time with the dogs and a cozy tea break.

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Glamping | Cozy Nights and Starry Skies in a Tokachi Winter

“Feriendorf,” located in Nakasatsunai Village in central Tokachi, is a vacation village lined with German-style cottages. Though the air outside is bracing in winter, inside the cottages you’ll stay warm by heaters and a fireplace for a comfortable visit.

For dinner, savor a BBQ featuring Tokachi bounty like Ezo venison and local chicken on a covered terrace. Surrounded by quiet forest and snowy views, the moment is unforgettable.

Look up at night and the crisp air reveals countless stars glittering as if within reach. Winter’s stillness and starlight leave a deep afterglow.

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4 Recommended
Winter Sights in Obihiro–Tokachi

Winter in Obihiro–Tokachi is the season for breathtaking snow-and-ice vistas and scenes you can’t find elsewhere. Here are four recommended spots where you can feel the life and beauty that thrive in the cold.

“Herding Run” at Tokachi Ranch | The Power of Life Thundering Across Snowfields

A winter hallmark of Tokachi, the “herding run” can be viewed on weekday mornings in January and February at the National Livestock Breeding Center’s “Tokachi Ranch.”

It’s a breathtaking sight as heavy draft horses weighing over a ton charge through the snow.

Held to maintain the health of pregnant mares and pray for safe births, the run showcases raw vitality in the clear winter air. Many visitors come to capture the spectacle of horses galloping freely without reins.

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Jewelry Ice | “Ice Gems” Born of the Tokachi River

At Otsu Beach in Toyokoro, “Jewelry Ice” forms when ice from the Tokachi River flows into the Pacific and is polished by the waves into transparent crystals. Sparkling under the sun like gemstones, it draws many visitors seeking photogenic scenes.

The prime time is around 7:00 a.m. Dawn paints a miraculous tableau of light and ice—soak up the view against the “Tokachi-blue” sky.

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Banei Horse Racing (Obihiro Racecourse) | The World’s Only Race of Power, Speed, and Stamina

In “Banei horse racing,” massive draft horses weighing over a ton pull iron sleds in competition. It’s the only race of its kind in the world—watching them power through the snow, breath steaming white, is truly awe-inspiring.

Witness the courage and strength of the “banba” thundering through the clear winter air up close.

Winter is packed with events—Christmas, New Year’s, and more—so check the official site for special happenings that might coincide with your trip.

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Ikeda Wine Castle | Tokachi’s “Wine Sanctuary” Shining Against Snowy Vistas

Ikeda Wine Castle (Ikeda Town Grape and Wine Research Institute) is a medieval European-style stone building perched on a Tokachi hill. Inside, you can observe wine production and aging; the cellar’s rows of barrels and old vintages create a dreamlike space.

On the first floor shop, you’ll find exclusive wines and grape juice available only here, plus Tokachi cheeses and sweets ideal for gifts. From the fourth-floor restaurant, take in snow-dusted Tokachi Plain while enjoying seasonal flavors.

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雪と太陽が醸す、天空の池田ワイン城で味わう十勝葡萄浪漫物語の旅 – MATOKA

十勝平野を見晴らす丘にそびえる「池田ワイン城」は、豪雪と太陽の季節を超えて葡萄を実らせる北国の奇跡。地下深くで眠るヴィンテージワインから、屋上の大パノラマ、親子で楽しむ無料ツアーや限定グルメまで――五感で“味わい尽くす”体験型ワイナリーです。

Model Itinerary | 3 Days, 2 Nights in Tokachi’s Winter

Tokachi’s winter is a trove of scenery and experiences born only of the cold season: festivals of light and ice, powerful horses racing over snowfields, and moor hot springs that warm to the core. This 3-day, 2-night plan lets you fully immerse yourself in a Tokachi winter.