Obihiro

Obihiro Buta-don

Banei Tokachi

Ikeda Grape & Wine Research Center (Wine Castle)

Koufuku Station

Manabe Garden

Obihiro Buta-don

A Stamina-Building Local Obihiro Favorite

address

Throughout Obihiro

0155-22-8600 (Obihiro Tourist Convention Association)

Official website　http://obikan.jp/

A local dish invented for the pioneers

'Obihiro Buta-don' is a dish of pork glazed with a sweet-and-salty, soy-based sauce and served atop a bowl of rice. This local Obihiro cuisine was invented in 1933. The chef of an inexpensive, local restaurant set his heart to creating a new dish to help the hard-working pioneers build stamina. At first, the chef tried using eel, but this luxury ingredient proved too expensive. Instead, pork became the star, roasted over charcoal, then glazed with a sweet-and-salty sauce, similar to kabayaki-style roast eel. When the chef served this specially-prepared pork as a rice bowl, buta-don was born.

'Pancho', the birthplace of buta-don

Throughout Obihiro, over 200 restaurants serve buta-don. Each offers its own unique flavor and style, for example by using special cuts of pork or unique sauces. Of the many wonderful options, we recommend not to miss 'Ganso Buta-don no Pancho' (Higashi 1-jo Minami 5-chome-13-1, Obihiro). They serve the classic style of buta-don, unchanged since the dish was first conceived. If you have confidence in your appetite, try challenging the large size, which is topped with about eight slices of pork for a surprisingly generous serving.

'Butahage', located within JR Obihiro Station

If you don't have much time to look for a restaurant, you can't go wrong with 'Buta-don no Butahage Honten', conveniently located in Nishi-kan of Obihiro Esta within JR Obihiro Station. (Nishi 2-jo Minami 12-chome, Obihiro). Established in 1934, this time-honored restaurant uses only the best ingredients, painstakingly simmering down their unique sauce according to a generations-old secret recipe -- the perfect complement to fragrant pork roasted slice by slice on the grill. After the first bite, you will find yourself unable to stop until the last morsel is gone. The restaurant is quite small, so we recommend parking any luggage in a locker before you visit.

Banei Tokachi

One-in-the-world Races between Astonishingly Powerful 'Banba' Large Draft Horses

address

Nishi 13-jo Minami 9-chome, Obihiro (Obihiro Racecourse)

0155-34-0825 (Obihiro Racecourse)

Official website　https://banei-keiba.or.jp/

Ikeda Grape & Wine Research Center (Wine Castle)

Ikeda Grape & Wine Research Center (Wine Castle)

Understand, Savor, and Appreciate Tokachi Wine

address

83-4 Aza Kiyomi, Ikeda, Nakagawa District

015-578-7850 (Wine Castle Information Desk)

Official website　https://ikeda-wj.org/

Producing original wines such as the renowned 'Yamasachi'

This winery produces the 'Tokachi Wine' brand. In the early 1950s, when the town of Ikeda faced a financial crisis due to major natural disasters, town government employees turned to winemaking as a way to save the town's economy, creating Tokachi Wine. Ikeda is an extremely cold region, and in general, grapes are not resistant to cold. The winemakers succeeded in developing a proprietary grape variety to suit this climate, which they named 'Yamasachi' (literally, 'mountain happiness'). As an example of growing worldwide attention, in 2020, the Yamasachi varietal was registered in lists maintained by the 'International Organisation of Vine and Wine' based in the prominent wine country of France.

Renovated to promote even greater enjoyment of Tokachi Wine

To make every visit even more enjoyable, Wine Castle was renovated and reopened on June 20, 2020. The first floor includes a shopping area featuring row after row of Tokachi Wine products, as well as a tasting corner where visitors may try paid samples of several dozen Tokachi Wine vintages. Experienced advisors will recommend the perfect wines to suit your taste. Also, don't miss the chance to learn more about the unique history of Tokachi Wine at the 'Corridor Museum', which is split across the second floor and first basement. Foreign language support is available for the enjoyment of tourists.

Savor pairings to match your favorite wine

When you find a new favorite vintage, how about enjoying a wine pairing at the fourth floor restaurant? Prominently featuring local ingredients such as Ikeda Beef, Tokachi Beef, Tokachi Black Pork, and Hokkaido Sika Venison, the menu offers a lineup of options to perfectly complement wine, including steak, pasta, and stew. From the windows, vast panoramas of the Tokachi Plains provide a wonderful backdrop to a memorable meal. For dessert, we recommend the soft-serve ice cream made from Yamasachi grape juice. The subtle fragrance of grape works perfectly with the flavor of milk, creating a flavor unique to Ikeda.

Koufuku Station

An Auspicious Station for Couples to find Happiness

address

Higashi 1-sen-159, Koufuku, Obihiro

0155-22-8600 (Obihiro Tourist Convention Association)

Official website　https://www.koufuku-eki.com/

Manabe Garden

Magnificent Garden Scenes that Energize and Inspire

address

Higashi 2-sen-6, Inadacho, Obihiro

0155-48-2120

Official website　http://www.manabegarden.jp/

Video Gallery

These are some of the destinations in Hokkaido served by AIRDO.
Watch some videos that showcase their appeal.

　A Trip for Enjoying Flowers

　A Trip for Admiring the Moon

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　A Trip with an Ocean View

YouTube Channel

Obihiro

Obihiro Buta-don

A local dish invented for the pioneers

'Pancho', the birthplace of buta-don

'Butahage', located within JR Obihiro Station

Banei Tokachi

Locals and fans from around the country flock to this unique racecourse

'Fureai Zoo', a favorite relaxation spot

Take a break at 'Tokachimura'

Ikeda Grape & Wine Research Center (Wine Castle)

Producing original wines such as the renowned 'Yamasachi'

Renovated to promote even greater enjoyment of Tokachi Wine

Savor pairings to match your favorite wine

Koufuku Station

This popular attraction served as an actual train station until 1987

Can this ticket take you to happiness?

Visit the nearby 'power spots' of love and happiness

Manabe Garden

Japan's largest circuit-style garden

Imported tree species create the ambiance of foreign conifer forests

Take it easy at the adjacent cafe

Video Gallery

Book a Flight

Obihiro Buta-don

A local dish invented for the pioneers

'Pancho', the birthplace of buta-don

'Butahage', located within JR Obihiro Station

Banei Tokachi

Locals and fans from around the country flock to this unique racecourse

'Fureai Zoo', a favorite relaxation spot

Take a break at 'Tokachimura'

Ikeda Grape & Wine Research Center (Wine Castle)

Producing original wines such as the renowned 'Yamasachi'

Renovated to promote even greater enjoyment of Tokachi Wine

Savor pairings to match your favorite wine

Koufuku Station

This popular attraction served as an actual train station until 1987

Can this ticket take you to happiness?

Visit the nearby 'power spots' of love and happiness

Manabe Garden

Japan's largest circuit-style garden

Imported tree species create the ambiance of foreign conifer forests

Take it easy at the adjacent cafe

Video Gallery

Book a Flight

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