GW in Obihiro & Tokachi: 19 Recommended Sightseeing Spots｜From Family-Friendly Activities and Gourmet to Stunning Views + 1-Night, 2-Day Model Course

The Obihiro and Tokachi area in Hokkaido is gaining popularity as a travel destination for Golden Week (GW). From outdoor spots where you can play in vast nature, gardens that soothe you with spring flowers, to Tokachi’s unique gourmet food and sweets, there are many attractive places to visit.

However, when it comes time to plan, many people may find themselves wondering, “Where should I go?” or “How can I get around efficiently?”

So this time, we introduce 19 carefully selected recommended spots by purpose and a 1-night, 2-day model course that is easy to follow even for first-time visitors to Tokachi.

The MATOKA editorial team, which provides tourism information about Obihiro and Tokachi, will clearly guide you in choosing your GW outing destinations.
With this single article, you’ll surely be able to visualize your Tokachi travel plan.

*GW events, experience programs, and business days may change depending on the year. For details, please check the latest information on each facility’s website or social media.*

4 Spots to Enjoy with Children

“When deciding where to go during GW,” these child-friendly spots in Obihiro and Tokachi are easy to visit on a whim. Here are four family-friendly destinations, including a zoo, parks, and indoor facilities.

Obihiro Zoo

“Obihiro Zoo” is the only zoo in Obihiro City, surrounded by Tokachi’s natural beauty. In addition to seeing a variety of animals such as Amur tigers, polar bears, and giraffes, there is also an amusement park, making it a popular spot for families.

On some days, zookeeper-led guided programs are held, giving visitors a chance to learn about the animals’ personalities and habits.

The amusement park area adds another layer of fun beyond animal watching, which children especially love. Rides such as the Ferris wheel and playground attractions cost around 100 to 200 yen per ride. A one-day unlimited ride pass (1,500 yen) is also available if you want to play all day.

*Event details during the GW period may change depending on the animals’ condition and the weather. Please check the latest information before visiting.*

【information│Contact】

Obihiro Children’s Center

“Obihiro Children’s Center” is a place where play and learning come together, with a playroom, science exhibition room, planetarium, and more.

On the second floor, there are plenty of spaces where children can play according to their age, including “Mokkun Hiroba” for preschoolers, a “Wooden Playground” featuring wooden play equipment, and “Iroiro Park” for elementary school children. Activities such as air hockey, table tennis, and bouldering allow kids to move their bodies freely regardless of the weather.

The science exhibition room offers displays that allow both children and adults to enjoy learning scientific principles by seeing and touching. It is packed with surprising exhibits and is so substantial that you could easily spend two to three hours here alone.

The planetarium, renovated in April 2022, lets visitors experience a detailed starry sky and powerful visuals. During the GW period, the number of screenings is increased on some days, making it a lively spot for families.

It is a place where you can spend a full and rewarding day moving your body and learning about science and astronomy. Since junior high school students and younger can enter the planetarium and science exhibition room for free, it is also gentle on the wallet and easy to enjoy without worry.

【information│Contact】

Green Park

“Green Park” is one of Obihiro’s best-known relaxation spots, with a vast lawn of about 8 hectares. The “400-Meter Bench,” completed in 1981, was once listed in the Guinness Book as the world’s longest bench and remains a beloved landmark today.

The children’s park within the grounds is filled with play equipment that sparks children’s adventurous spirit, including a large athletic structure called the Totem Jungle and cave-like tunnels. There are also dedicated areas with toddler and infant play equipment, making it easy for children of all ages to enjoy.

During GW, Midorigaoka Park is also in cherry blossom season. It is known as one of the best cherry blossom spots in Obihiro, with Ezo mountain cherry trees usually reaching their peak from late April to early May.

【information│Contact】

Tokachi Ecology Park

Tokachi Ecology Park is a vast prefectural park that stretches across three towns: Otofuke, Makubetsu, and Ikeda.

One of its appealing points is that admission is free despite the many play options available, making it easy to stop by casually. At the Visitor Center, which serves as the entrance to the park, there is an indoor garden where children can play with playground equipment and toys. It is also nice that you can spend time indoors if the weather turns bad.

The “Fuwafuwa Dome” is a giant white mountain-shaped trampoline attraction and a popular activity where children can jump and bounce to their heart’s content.

There are also picnic areas and rental bicycles, so the whole family can enjoy the park together.

【information│Contact】

6 Garden Spots to Immerse Yourself in Spring Flowers and Gardens

The Obihiro and Tokachi area is home to 6 of the 8 gardens that make up the Hokkaido Garden Path. Here, we introduce places where you can spend a leisurely time while admiring blooming flowers.

Tokachi Hills

Located on a gentle hill in Makubetsu, “Tokachi Hills” is an English-style garden themed around “flowers, agriculture, and food.” With around 1,500 varieties of flowers, plants, and fruit trees to admire, it is popular as a place where visitors can spend time slowly under Tokachi’s wide sky and open scenery.

GW coincides with the garden’s opening season, making it the perfect time to enjoy spring flowers. In most years, “Hanami WEEK” is held, with spring scenery such as rows of Kushiro Yaezakura cherry trees and tulips.

There may also be kid-friendly programs and workshops, making it popular with families as well.

【information│Contact】

Shichiku Garden

Located in the vast countryside of the Tokachi Plain, “Shichiku Garden” is a garden of about 18,000 tsubo created by the late Akiba Shichiku, affectionately known as “Grandma Shichiku,” from her wish to “spend all day playing with flowers.”

Under the theme “Grandma Shichiku’s Happy Garden,” around 2,500 kinds of flowers bloom throughout the seasons, allowing visitors to enjoy a garden landscape in a style close to nature.

The stars of Shichiku Garden during GW are the more than 100 varieties and over 100,000 tulips that color the grounds brilliantly. They fill the “Palette Flower Bed,” creating scenery that makes you want to take photos. It is also a special time of year when you can enjoy spring flowers such as muscari, pansies, and Christmas roses together.

There is also a restaurant on site, and one of the highlights is its reservation-only breakfast buffet featuring plenty of local ingredients and homegrown vegetables.

Another popular treat at Shichiku Garden is the rose-scented soft serve ice cream, a unique sweet that is hard to find elsewhere. Why not try it during your walk?

【information│Contact】

Manabe Garden

Located in Inada-cho, Obihiro, “Manabe Garden” is a garden with over 120 years of history and a vast site of about 25,000 tsubo (approximately 1.7 Tokyo Domes). It is known as Japan’s first conifer garden, centered on evergreen trees, and offers a uniquely distinctive landscape.

From spring to early summer, the expressions of wildflowers and trees are especially beautiful, making it a popular destination during GW as well.

【information│Contact】

2025.07.22

2025.10.02

“A Day in Touch with Nature in the ‘Pale-Blue Forest’ — Start Your Tokachi Flower Tour at Manabe Garden

15 minutes by car from central Obihiro. The moment you pass through the gate, an Ezo squirrel’s tail flicks softly and the tips of conifers fade into ...

Tokachi Millennium Forest

Located at the foot of the Hidaka Mountains in Shimizu, “Tokachi Millennium Forest” is a garden destination where nature and designed landscapes blend across a vast site of about 500 hectares.

The grounds are divided into distinct areas such as the Earth Garden, Forest Garden, Meadow Garden, and Farm Garden, each with its own character, and the scenery changes as you walk. Against the backdrop of wide skies and mountain ranges, you can enjoy flowers, greenery, art, and agricultural landscapes all at once.

The reservation-only Segway guided tour is a popular activity. Riding the intuitive self-balancing electric vehicle lets you experience the sensation of gliding across the vast grasslands.

【information│Contact】

Rokka no Mori

Located in Nakasatsunai Village, “Rokka no Mori” is a garden created by Rokkatei from the wish to “create a forest filled with the flowers illustrated on our floral wrapping paper.”

Across its vast 100,000-square-meter grounds, seasonal wildflowers including the six flowers of Tokachi bloom throughout the year, making it a beloved spot at the southern end of the Hokkaido Garden Path.

Within the grounds, galleries relocated from old Croatian houses are scattered through a rich natural landscape of clear streams and elm trees. Being able to enjoy art while admiring the flowers familiar from Rokkatei’s wrapping paper is one of the special charms of this place.

The GW period is the perfect season to enjoy the early spring scenery just after the garden opens. Flowers such as katakuri, Ezo marsh marigold, giant white trillium, and glaucidium are at their best.

【information│Contact】

Rokkatei Art Village Nakasatsunai Art Village

Just about 10 minutes by car from Rokka no Mori is “Rokkatei Art Village Nakasatsunai Art Village,” making it a great idea to visit both together.

Within its approximately 145,000-square-meter grounds, there are sleeper-wood walking paths, museums, gardens, and restaurants scattered throughout, making it a beloved place where visitors can encounter the works of various artists while strolling through nature.

If you visit both Rokka no Mori and Nakasatsunai Art Village as a set, it becomes a soothing course where you can enjoy nature and art in a single day.

【information│Contact】

2 Scenic Nature Spots to Refresh Body and Mind

In Obihiro and Tokachi, there are also places where you can relax amid nature while enjoying magnificent scenery. Whether you want to be soothed by a lakeside view or unwind in a forest setting, these are perfect when you want to step away from everyday life and refresh yourself. Here, we introduce two spots where you can fully enjoy nature.

Lake Shikaribetsu

Located in Shikaoi, “Lake Shikaribetsu” is the only natural lake in Daisetsuzan National Park, and because it sits at an elevation of 810 meters, it is also called “the lake in the sky.”

The view of the mountains reflected on the crystal-clear lake surface is breathtaking, and lets visitors feel the grandeur of Hokkaido’s nature.

The scenery of the “railroad disappearing into the lake,” stretching straight out from the lakeshore onto the water, has also become a hot topic on social media for resembling a scene from *Spirited Away*.

The surrounding forests are home to precious wildlife, including the Ezo pika, said to have lived there since the Ice Age, making this a place where not only the lake but also the forest’s natural environment deserves attention.

The Lake Shikaribetsu Nature Center also offers activities such as trekking and canoeing, so be sure to enjoy them.

【information│Contact】

Glamping Resort Feriendorf

“Glamping Resort Feriendorf,” located in Nakasatsunai Village in Tokachi, Hokkaido, is a forest resort inspired by a German holiday village. Within Tokachi’s rural scenery, cottages incorporating traditional German timber-frame architecture are scattered throughout, allowing guests to enjoy a stay with a sense of the extraordinary.

At “Kodomo no Mori,” there are facilities such as zip lines, slacklines, and hammocks where children can play in nature, making it a popular place to stay for families. Since children can move around and play in the forest, it is also a perfect place to stop by during GW.

For accommodation, you can choose from cottages, glamping tents, and more according to your preference. In the evening, one of the unique pleasures of this facility is spending relaxed time with family or friends while enjoying a BBQ featuring local ingredients.

【information│Contact】

2025.08.18

2025.09.03

[Experience Report] Family Trip Enjoyed with a Cottage Stay at “Feriendorf” in Nakasatsunai, Tokachi, Hokkaido

Nakasatsunai Village in Tokachi, Hokkaido. “Feriendorf,” with chic cottages dotted through the woods that evoke a German country town, is a hideaw...

4 Recommended Stopover Sightseeing Spots

Obihiro and Tokachi are also full of places you can stop by during a drive or in between sightseeing. Here, we introduce places where you can enjoy powerful horse racing, facilities packed with Tokachi food and souvenirs, photogenic popular spots, and a convenient stop in a hot spring area.

Banei Tokachi (Obihiro Racecourse)

Banei horse racing has its roots in the “strength contests” of farm horses that supported Hokkaido’s pioneering days, and it is a unique style of horse racing that can only be seen in Obihiro.

The spectacle of the huge and powerful “banba” horses pulling iron sleds weighing up to one ton around the course is a major highlight. You can feel the horses’ power and the strategic aspects of the race up close. Since the pace of the races is relatively slow, one of the charms is being able to walk alongside and cheer as the horses move.

There is also a free petting zoo where you can see one-ton banba horses up close and feed them carrots for 100 yen. Special events are often planned during the GW period, making it a popular family destination.

【information│Contact】

2026.02.03

2026.02.24

【Beginner-Friendly】A Complete Guide to Enjoying Banei Horse Racing in Obihiro — From Buying Betting Tickets to Watching the Race

“Banei Horse Racing,” held only in Obihiro, Hokkaido, is a unique race where victory is decided by sheer power and strategy. Watching these powerful d...

Tokachimura

“Tokachimura” is a multi-purpose sightseeing facility on the grounds of Obihiro Racecourse where the charm of Tokachi’s food and agriculture comes together. It is a popular spot where visitors can enjoy local flavors and specialties all in one place.

Within the grounds is the “Tokachi Direct Market,” where you can find fresh vegetables, cheese, processed foods, sweets, and more from Tokachi, making it perfect for souvenir shopping. Some products are also available for shipping, making it convenient to send “the taste of Tokachi” directly to loved ones from your trip.

There are also plenty of dining options, with Tokachi-style gourmet dishes such as pizza made with local wheat and pork bowls. It is easy to stop by together with a visit to Banei horse racing, and also makes a great lunch stop while waiting for the races.

At the Horse Museum, you can learn for free about the history of the horses that supported Tokachi’s pioneering days, making a day at the races an even more meaningful experience.

【information│Contact】

2026.01.07

2026.01.21

Gateway to Tokachi Sightseeing “Tokachimura” — A Classic Model Course for Food, Learning, and Excitement

Tokachimura is a sightseeing spot adjacent to Obihiro Racecourse, where you can watch “Banei Horse Racing,” the only one of its kind in the world. It’...

Kofuku Station

“Kofuku Station,” once actually used on the former Japanese National Railways Hiroo Line, is one of Obihiro’s best-known sightseeing spots. It became nationally famous through the catchphrase “From the Land of Love to Happiness,” and thanks to its auspicious name, it is also known as a “Lovers’ Sanctuary.”

After being featured on a television program in 1973, “tickets to Kofuku” became a huge boom and attracted many tourists.

The site was renewed under the concept of “old and new,” and is full of highlights such as the station walls covered with wishes, two orange diesel railcars (KiHa 22), and the “Bell of Happiness.”

Even today, the shop in front of the station sells “tickets to Kofuku,” including classic hard ticket versions and keychain types, making them perfect as travel mementos and souvenirs.

【information│Contact】

Michi-no-Eki Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen

Located in the center of Tokachigawa Onsen, “Michi-no-Eki Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen” is a sightseeing hub themed around “beauty and wellness,” where a spa, restaurants, and market come together. Inside, you can casually enjoy the charms of Tokachi cuisine and moor hot springs.

There is also plenty of gourmet variety, with pizza, pasta, bread, fried local chicken, and more to choose from depending on your mood.

Another recommendation is the free footbath, “Sora no Ashiyu,” where you can casually enjoy moor hot spring water. You can soak your feet slowly while gazing at the peaceful scenery. It is also perfect for stopping by during a drive when you want to take a relaxing break.

【information│Contact】

2025.08.12

2025.09.03

【Complete Conquest】15 Roadside Stations in Tokachi to Enjoy Around Obihiro｜Savor Food, Play, and Hot Springs to the Full

Tokachi is so vast that it’s often said “your sense of distance gets distorted,” with endless dairy farms and rural scenery. Around the Obihiro area, ...

3 Gourmet & Sweets Spots to Savor Tokachi

One of the joys of traveling around Obihiro and Tokachi is stopping by for flavors that are unique to the region. Whether you want to fill up on meals made with local ingredients or take a break with popular sweets, there are many ways to enjoy your trip.

Here, we introduce three Tokachi gourmet and sweets spots that are easy to stop by during your journey.

Tokachi Tora Kitchen

Located in the food court of AEON Obihiro, “Tokachi Tora Kitchen” is a casual place where you can enjoy the flavors of Tokachi, with a lineup that includes grilled meat rice bowls, pork rice bowls, curry, ramen, and sweets.

The dishes are served in the restaurant’s unique “Tora-style,” which brings out the best in local ingredients. Without being bound by conventional genres, the menu is designed so that Tokachi ingredients can be enjoyed in many different ways.

For example, Tokachi’s soul food pork rice bowl features pork that has been specially aged in an ice cellar.

For dessert after the meal, the strawberry soft serve made with the rare “Sweety Aman” strawberries from Ashoro is also recommended. It is popular as a sweet treat with a distinct Tokachi local feel.

【information│Contact】

2025.08.12

2025.09.03

【Complete Conquest】15 Roadside Stations in Tokachi to Enjoy Around Obihiro｜Savor Food, Play, and Hot Springs to the Full

Tokachi is so vast that it’s often said “your sense of distance gets distorted,” with endless dairy farms and rural scenery. Around the Obihiro area, ...

Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden

Located about 2 minutes by car from Otofuke-Obihiro IC on the Doto Expressway and next to Michi-no-Eki Otofuke, “Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden” is a facility where you can see, buy, taste, and experience the appeal of Ryugetsu, which creates more than 300 kinds of sweets each year.

There is plenty to enjoy, including a shop offering signature products such as “Sanporoku” and seasonal limited-edition flavors, exclusive sweets available only here, and a café corner with free coffee service.

During the GW period, you may also come across limited-edition or shop-exclusive sweets, making it an irresistible stop for sweet lovers.

Especially popular is the limited-quantity item known as the “Sanporoku ends.” These are the end pieces produced when making Sanporoku, sold at a bargain price. They are so popular that numbered tickets are distributed before opening, and the place gets especially crowded during GW, so arriving early is recommended.

Sweetpia Garden is also more than just a confectionery shop—it is an interactive facility. From the observation corridor on the third floor, you can watch for free how the birch bark pattern is applied to Sanporoku and how “An Butter San” is baked, while also enjoying panel displays and photo spots.

There are also confectionery-making experiences such as cookie decorating and cake decoration, making it a perfect GW outing destination for families and friends alike (advance phone reservation required for experiences).

【information│Contact】

Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store

With a history dating back to 1933, “Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store” is a classic sweets destination that is a must-visit for Obihiro sightseeing. The first floor is lined with Rokkatei’s signature products, while the second floor has a café. It is loved as a place where you can enjoy local treats, gifts, and travel souvenirs.

A major attraction of visiting the Obihiro Main Store is the chance to enjoy original sweets best tasted freshly made. The “Sakusaku Pie,” filled with custard cream after ordering, is a popular menu item known for its crispy texture and short best-before tasting time.

“Yukikon Cheese,” a baked cheesecake sandwiched between cocoa biscuits, is another classic item you will want to enjoy on site.

One thing you should definitely buy here is Rokkatei’s iconic long-selling product, the “Marusei Butter Sandwich.”

Known nationwide as a classic Hokkaido souvenir, it is one of Rokkatei’s signature sweets, made by sandwiching a cream of white chocolate, butter made from 100% Hokkaido milk, and California raisins between biscuits.

The rich butter flavor layered with the sweetness of the raisins creates a deeply satisfying taste in a single bite. It is delicious enjoyed right after purchase, but also recommended to take home and chill before eating.

【information│Contact】

Model Course｜A 1-Night, 2-Day Trip to Enjoy Obihiro & Tokachi During GW

During GW in Obihiro and Tokachi, there are many kinds of outing destinations, from places where children can play freely to spots where adults can slowly enjoy flowers, scenery, and hot springs. Here, we introduce two types of 1-night, 2-day model courses that are easy to choose according to how you want to spend your time.

Plan 1. A 1-Night, 2-Day Course to Enjoy Nature with Children

This course lets you spend plenty of time playing at the zoo and parks before staying overnight at an accommodation surrounded by nature. It focuses on spots where children can move around and have fun, while maintaining a comfortable and manageable flow.

【Day 1】

10:00 Obihiro Zoo
Spend a relaxed time with your family while seeing various animals such as Amur tigers, polar bears, and giraffes, and enjoying the amusement park area.

12:30 Green Park
It is also recommended to spread out a picnic sheet on the wide lawn and enjoy a picnic-like atmosphere. There is play equipment as well, so children can move around freely.

14:00 Obihiro Children’s Center
With indoor play areas, a science exhibition room, and a planetarium, this is a place where you can spend time without worrying about the weather.

16:00 Glamping Resort Feriendorf
Head from central Obihiro toward Nakasatsunai and arrive at a forest resort. At “Kodomo no Mori” on the grounds, children can enjoy activities such as zip lines, slacklines, and hammocks, making the stay itself part of the fun of the trip.

18:00 Check-in / Dinner
Relax in a cottage or glamping tent while enjoying a BBQ made with local ingredients.

【Day 2】

9:30 Feriendorf
Check out slowly while enjoying the fresh air of the morning forest.

10:30 Kofuku Station
Take commemorative travel photos and look at the “tickets to happiness” while enjoying one of Obihiro’s iconic stopover spots.

12:00 Lunch at Tokachimura
Spend time leisurely enjoying Tokachi gourmet food and looking for souvenirs at the direct market.

13:00 Banei Tokachi (Obihiro Racecourse)
Watch the dynamic Banei horse races. You can also enjoy the petting zoo and a stroll around the grounds.

Plan 2. A Relaxing 1-Night, 2-Day Adult Course for Flowers and Hot Springs

This is a course for adults who want to enjoy gardens and scenery while relaxing in hot springs. You can savor a calm and restorative time while admiring spring flowers and enjoying Tokachi-style sweets and gourmet food.

【Day 1】

10:00 Tokachi Hills
Take a leisurely stroll while admiring flowers and gardens under the wide sky. It is also recommended to stop by the café and shop within the grounds.

12:00 Manabe Garden
Enjoy the scenery of spring while walking through gardens with different expressions, including Japanese, Western-style, and landscape gardens.

13:30 Lunch in Obihiro City
Take a lunch or café break in the city in between garden visits.

15:00 Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store
At one of Obihiro’s representative sweets spots, it is also recommended to pick out souvenirs or enjoy desserts in the café.

16:30 Tokachigawa Onsen
Head to the hot spring town and relax at your accommodation. Soak in the moor hot springs and ease away the fatigue of your trip.

【Day 2】

10:00 Michi-no-Eki Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen
Enjoy the footbath, the shops, and the cafés while spending time unique to a hot spring town.

11:30 Shichiku Garden
Stroll through gardens colored by spring flowers. It is perfect for walking slowly while taking photos.

13:00 Lunch in Obihiro City
Enjoy lunch at an easy pace according to your schedule for the day.

15:00 Kofuku Station
A popular stop that is easy to visit at the end of your trip. Enjoy scenery characteristic of Obihiro while looking around the former station building and railcars.

Let’s Create a GW Plan That Feels Like You with MATOKA

If you choose Obihiro and Tokachi as your GW destination, a fulfilling time awaits you, with fun, gourmet food, and spectacular scenery all to enjoy. You may find it hard to choose because there are so many places you want to visit, but the time spent thinking about how to combine the spots is also part of the fun.

Using the spots and model courses introduced by MATOKA, the tourism media for Obihiro and Tokachi, as your reference, try planning a GW trip that feels like your own.