#38- Jukai Road Hidaka 樹海ロード日高

After Shimukappu, I traveled a short distance to the Michi no Eki in Hidaka. If you are on your way to either of these spots and looking to collect stamps, I suggest that you swing by the other as well. They are very close, and it can be hard to get out to rural areas without some sort of purpose, so you might as well get one while you are there, especially if you don't live nearby.

The squirrel on the sign is meant to be cute, but I find him unnerving.

Contact Info:
Address: 沙流郡日高町本町東1丁目298番地1 Sarugawa-gun, Hidaka-cho, Honcho Higashi 1 chome, 298 banchi
Telephone: (01457)6-2008 (This number may connect you to the Hidaka town office)
Closings: Please call to ask about New Year's closings.
                Restaurant is closed every Thursday
                Local goods direct sales shop is closed every Wednesday
                Coffee shop is closed every Monday
Hours:
          Shop: 9:00 am ~ 8:00 pm
          Restaurant: 11:00 am ~ 7:00 pm
          Rest Area: 9:00 am ~ 8:00 pm (closes at 6:00 pm on Thursdays)- The stamp rally corner also follows these hours.
          Local goods direct sales shop: 10:00 am ~ 5:00 pm
          Coffee shop: 9:00 am ~ 7:00 pm

Hidaka's country sign

Hidaka's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: 133 cars, 12 van/buses
Restaurant: Yes
Crib/place to put your baby: Yes
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: No
Toilet: 2 stalls and 6 urinals in the men's, 6 stalls in the women's
Coffee: Yes
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No
Electric Car Charging Station: Yes
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 2 parking spots and 1 restroom. There may be another restroom facility for ostomy-related needs
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: Yes
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: No
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: No
Dog Run: No
Telephone: Yes
AED: No
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: No
Shop: Yes
Park: No
Hotel: No
Post Office: Yes

Stuff to Do:
1. Rest

There is a nice rest area with a table and some benches. You can look at the wall-sized map of the area while you plan your drive or have a snack. The map also has some information about famous things in the town. One of the two televisions shows a real-time update of a dangerous section of road in the Nissho Pass. In winter, it is particularly recommended that you use this television to check the road conditions before you continue your drive. 

2. Shop

Like at most Michi no Eki's, there is a little shop corner across the hall from the rest area. This one has a drink cooler and a lot of snacks. You can also get soft ice cream there. They might have a really interesting flavor or something, because I recall the line getting very long in the summer. I only wanted to buy a magnet, but the ice cream was quite popular with other tourists coming through. 

3. Eat/Drink

There is a handmade soba restaurant associated with the Michi no Eki, as well as a coffee shop. I haven't been to either, and I didn't get any pictures, so I can't speak to how good they are.

4. Museum

The Tudor-style building is the Michi no Eki itself. Behind it, you can a strange building with a pointed roof. This is the Hidaka Mountain Museum (日高山脈博物館). Apparently it themes itself around nature, and you can attend a nature seminar there.

The hours are 10:00 am ~ 5:00 pm, although in winter (November ~ March), the museum closes at 3:00. The museum is also closed on Mondays, and for the New Year's holidays from December 28 ~ January 1. 

Admission is 200 yen for adults, and 100 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students. 

More information can be found at the website here.

#67 Shizen Taikan Shimukappu 自然体感しむかっぷ

I drove to a couple of nearby Michi no Eki's this weekend because the weather was nice. The first one was in Shimukappu!

Contact Info:
Address: 勇払郡占冠村字中央 Yufutsu Gun, Shimukappu Mura, Aza Chuo
Telephone: (0167)39-8010
Closings: December 31 ~ January 3
Hours:
          9:00 am ~ 6:00 pm

Shimukappu's country sign

Shimukappu's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: 123 cars and 5 bus/vans
Restaurant: Yes
Crib/place to put your baby: Yes
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: No
Toilet: 6 urinals and 8 stalls in the men's, 9 stalls in the women's
Coffee: No
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No (there is one right across the road, however)
Electric Car Charging Station: Yes
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 2 parking spots, 2 restroom stalls
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: No
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: No
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: Yes
Dog Run: No
Telephone: Yes
AED: Yes
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: No
Shop: Yes
Park: Yes
Hotel: No
Post Office: No

Stuff to Do:
1. Shopping

There is a small souvenir corner in the Shimukappu Michi no Eki. They have a lot of boxed souvenir foods that are appropriate to bring back to your workplace. They also have some honey, dried seafood, and some Furano-area themed souvenirs such as wine. There are lots of cold drinks and some kitschy keychains etc. The people at this particular store have always been very pleasant to me, so try to strike up a conversation!

2. Food

This hallway off of the shop has a lot of small restaurants that you can choose from. One, which I have eaten at, specializes in curry and is run by a foreign man who seems to live in town. It was delicious! There are several choices, so it's easy to find something for everyone here. They definitely have soft ice cream, although I don't know the flavors you can get.

3. Local Information

This area of the Michi no Eki gives information about the area to travelers. It looked like they were also running a bike rental, so if you plan to be in the Shimukappu area, perhaps for camping, you could take advantage of that. Behind the dark partition in the back are the bathrooms, and also a display of various types of wood native to Shimukappu. The town appears to take pride in their woodworking, so you can view local handicrafts in the glass cases near the white pillar you can see on the left. I believe that some local wooden crafts may also be for sale in the shopping area of the Michi no Eki. 

View from the parking lot

#66- Asahikawa あさひかわ

At long last, we arrived in Asahikawa! Unfortunately, the zoo was closed for cleaning or something. It wasn't a big deal, however, because it was a gross rainy day and walking around the zoo would have been really cold anyway. Instead, we had some ramen, did a little shopping, and went to the Michi no Eki.

View of the Michi no Eki from the parking lot. If you are driving, that yellow and blue sign on the right is a pretty good landmark.

Contact Info:
Address: 旭川市神楽4条6丁目1番12号　Asahikawa-shi, Kagura 4 jo, 6 chome, 1 ban, 12 gou
Telephone: (0166)61-2283
Closings: Closed for the New Year's holidays. For specific dates, please contact the Michi no Eki.
Hours: 
           Shop: 9:00 am ~ 7:00 pm
           Food Court: 11:00 am ~ 8:00 pm (last order at 7:30)
           Bakery: 9:00 am ~ 4:00 pm

Asahikawa's country sign

Asahikawa's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: 115 regular spaces and 6 large spaces*
Restaurant: Yes
Crib/place to put your baby: Yes
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: No
Toilet: 4 stalls and 11 urinals in the men's, 13 stalls in the women's
Coffee: Yes
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No
Electric Car Charging Station: No
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 2 parking spaces and 1 toilet stall. The website has a note that there may be a stall dedicated to ostomy-related needs
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: No
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: Yes
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: Yes
Dog Run: No
Telephone: Yes
AED: No
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: No
Shop: Yes
Park: No
Hotel: No
Post Office: Yes

*The Asahikawa Michi no Eki is more urban than most. If you are a nervous driver, this one could be a little bit more stressful, as the roads around it are city streets. The parking lot is pretty large, but it is usually close to full and there are often people who will help direct you to an open spot, so be prepared to pay attention.

Stuff to Do:
1. Food Court and Bakery

There are a few options for food and a large seating area at the food court, but I have never eaten there. There is a bakery inside the Michi no Eki as well. The bakery is called Dapas. I remember the coffee being a little bit too strong for my tastes, but they also sell nice breads and cake-type foods. If you are hungry or just a little peckish, you have a wide range of choices between the food court and the bakery!

2. Shop

As with pretty much every Michi no Eki, there is a souvenir shop. Asahikawa has a mascot called "Asappy" who is some kind of seal. You can buy Asappy goods or cookies with his face on them. The Asahiyama Zoo is also quite famous, so there are lots of animal-themed plushies and foods. There is a drink cooler and a selection of local foods, including a lavender section. Although Asahikawa isn't super well-known for lavender, it is close enough to the Furano area to get a little bit of credit. Compared to other Michi no Ekis, there is a slightly bigger selection, and a heavier focus on toys instead of handicrafts and food. (Sorry, I thought I took a picture of the shop but I didn't.)

3. Photo opportunity with Asappy

There are now two statues of Assapy in the Michi no Eki. You can stand in front of them and take a picture.

Like this.

I asked a friend, and she explained Asappy's design to me. The zoo is famous for seals, so seal was chosen as the base design (although I think that the ears mean it may be mixed with the equally-famous polar bears that they have there). The strings hanging from his arms represent Asahikawa ramen, and the design on his stomach shows a famous bridge in Asahikawa in front of the Daisetsuzan mountains. He looks a little dopey, but a lot of work went into creating him!

4. Occasional Events

There is a large event hall that sometimes does events. The day I was there, they were having some kind of fair. I didn't go in, but I saw a lot of children with balloons. So you might happen upon a fun adventure if you go. If you hate adventures, they probably advertise the events on the Asahikawa Michi no Eki page, so you can look there as well.

5. Eat Ramen

Asahikawa is known for their ramen. Apparently the broth for Asahikawa-style ramen is a blend of pork bone, chicken bone, and seafood stock. There is a whole history behind it, but I am not a ramen aficionado so it's a little bit over my head. If you visit Asahikawa, you can choose between a lot of well-known ramen shops at the Asahikawa Ramen Village (Asahikawa Ramen Mura). It is located at 11-4 Nagayama, Asahikawa 079-8421, Hokkaido. There are a bunch of little ramen shops arranged along the outside of a building, so you can view the menus and easily choose before you go in. My friend and I weren't looking for anything in particular, so we went to the one with the most outgoing sales guy. Their website is here.

This ramen was almost as salty as my tears when I found out that the zoo was closed.

This is vegetable ramen in a salt-based broth.

#86 Higashikawa- Michikusakan ひがしかわ 道草館

After we passed through Biei on our way to the Asahiyama Zoo, the next Michi no Eki stop was in Higashikawa. This is a relatively small Michi no Eki on a more-or-less urban street. When my parents came in the summer, we stopped here by chance and there was a street festival going on in the street behind the Michi no Eki, so I have nice memories of stopping here.

Contact Info:
Address: 上川郡東川町東町1丁目1番15号　Kamikawa-gun, Higashikawa-cho, Higashi Machi, 1 chome, 1 ban, 15 gou
Telephone: (0166)68-4777
Closings: December 31 ~ January 4
Hours: April ~ October: 8:30 am ~ 7:00 pm
            November ~ March: 9:00 am ~ 6:00 pm
            Toilets are accessible 24 hours.
             

Higashikawa's country sign

Higashikawa's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: 30 cars and 3 large vans/buses*
Restaurant: No
Crib/place to put your baby: Yes
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: No
Toilet: 5 stalls and 8 urinals in the men's, 11 stalls in the women's
Coffee: No
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No
Electric Car Charging Station: No
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 1 parking spot and 1 toilet stall
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: No
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: No
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: No
Dog Run: No
Telephone: Yes
AED: No
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: No
Shop: Yes
Park: No
Hotel: No
Post Office: No

*Although the website claims to have 30 parking spots, there are only about 5 in front of the Michi no Eki building, and they seem to almost always be full. There is further parking here, at the Mont Bell store next door.

Stuff to Do:

1. Shopping

The Higashikawa Michi no Eki has a somehow more upscale atmosphere than most Michi no Eki shops. I think there is a store in the building that sells fancy outdoor clothes and gear, and there is also the Mont Bell next door which gives this Michi no Eki the sense of being located in a fancy ski resort somewhere. Or maybe it's just me. There is a small selection of fresh vegetables in the store, and lots of teas and coffees for sale. They advertise special bread made with rice flour from the town, and I noticed some cute cookies and snacks there. (Although at least one of these was intended for dogs, so be careful!) I have seen some scarves and bags for sale here, as well as various lotions, postcards, and pottery items. The items in this store overall strike me as a little more expensive than the average, so be advised.

2. Snacks

The Michi no Eki site doesn't list a restaurant or coffee shop, but this little snack window at least has soft ice cream, so you won't die if you are starving. 

3. Mountaineering

Summer view near the foot of Asahi-dake

Higashikawa is near the Daisetsuzan mountain group, which is known for mountains such as Asahi-dake. The mountain group is contained inside of Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan's largest national park, along with two other groups of mountains. There is beautiful scenery and mountain climbing in the summer, and onsens are plentiful in this area due to the volcanic nature of the mountains. In particular, the Sounkyo Hot Spring town holds a "frozen waterfall" festival each winter that is very beautiful and worth seeing if you are in the area at the right time!

On a snow chair at the Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival

# 97 Biei- Oka no Kura びえい 丘のくら

A friend from the US recently came and visited. We were going to go to the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, but it was closed! We still managed to eat ramen and visit some Michi no Ekis, so it wasn't that much of a loss.

Asahikawa is about 2 hours north of Minamifurano. It's an easy and beautiful drive that takes you through all of the Furano area towns (Furano, Nakafurano, and Kamifurano) as well as Biei. Biei is on a list of the "most beautiful towns in Japan," and for good reason! It's famous for nice vistas of agricultural fields on rolling hills, and the area has many flower parks that open up in the spring and summer. If you visit central Hokkaido, I STRONGLY suggest that you go through Biei by car just to see the scenery. There's also a special blue pond called Aoi Ike in Biei. I visited in the summer of 2015, but it was a bit underwhelming. It was exactly the pale blue color that shows up in pictures but... it was a pale blue pond. Ah well. 

Entrance to the Michi no Eki. This building is located in downtown Biei, and can be a little tricky to spot as it blends in with the surrounding buildings.

Contact Info
Address: 上川郡美瑛町本町1丁目9番21号　Kamikawa-gun, Biei-cho, Honcho, 1 chome, 9 ban, 21 gou
Telephone: (0166)92-0920
Closings: December 31~ January 3
Hours: June~August: 9:00 am ~ 6:00 pm
            September~May: 9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm
           Restaurant Hours: opens 11:30, last order at 2:30

Biei's country sign

Biei's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: 39 cars and 2 vans/buses
Restaurant: Yes
Crib/place to put your baby: No
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: Yes
Toilet: 3 stalls and 4 urinals in the men's, 5 stalls in the women's
Coffee: Yes
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No
Electric Car Charging Station: Yes
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 3 parking spots, 1 bathroom stall
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: No
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: No
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: No
Dog Run: No
Telephone: Yes
AED: Yes
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: Yes
Shop: Yes
Park: No
Hotel: Yes
Post Office: No

Things to Do:
1. Shop

There is a small shop section between the entrance and the restaurant. Lots of local foods such as honey, some souvenir snacks (particularly those associated with the blue pond), and lots of artwork and postcards celebrating the scenery are available here.

2. Restaurant.
I didn't get a picture of just the restaurant, sorry! I have eaten there, though. They serve set lunches of various types, and there is also a snack counter for ice creams and lighter fare. When I went, I got something that involved udon with cheese and a curry sauce. It was absolutely delicious, so if you can figure out what I ate, I really recommend it. One caveat is this: If I recall correctly, none of the meals they served were completely without a meat component. If you have meat-related dietary restrictions, you might have to mix and match with a friend.

3. Make local foods.
I haven't seen or done this myself, but according to their website, there is a building called "Fureaikan Lavenir" near the Michi no Eki. You can experience making udon, bread, butter, and other local specialties. The hotel associated with the Michi no Eki also appears to be above this building, and is also called "Lavenir." The hotel has a cafe which serves breakfast made of local foods to the customers.

The hotel's website is here.

#3- Minamifurano 南ふらの

The first Michi no Eki I visited, and the one I visit most often is Minamifurano, because it's close to my house. This is the Michi no Eki in my town!

The design is intended to resemble an overturned canoe.

Contact Info:
Address: 空知郡南富良野町字幾寅687番地  Sorachi-gun, Minamifurano-cho, Aza Ikutora 687 banchi 
Telephone: (0167)52-2100
Closings: December 31- January 2. There is a possibility of extra closings in the fall.
Hours:
             June~September: 9:00 am ~ 7:00 pm
             October~May: 9:00 am ~ 5:00 pm

Minamifurano's country sign

Minamifurano's stamp

Michi no Eki official site facility guide:
Parking: Space for 74 cars and 10 buses
Restaurant: Yes. The Mori no Panya bakery is also across the parking lot.
Crib/place to put your baby: Yes
Campsite: No
Interactive facilities: No
Toilet: 6 stalls and 14 urinals in the men's, 10 stalls in the women's. Some restrooms are located outside, so there is access even when the building is closed.
Coffee: No
Observation Deck: No
Gas Station: No
Electric Car Charging Station: No
Handicapped Parking/Toilets: 2 spaces and 1 toilet stall
Rest Area: Yes
Museum/Art Gallery: No
Place to Shower: No
Credit Card: No
Bidet Toilets: Yes
Information: Yes
Hot Spring Bath: No
Fax: No
Dog Run: Yes
Telephone: Yes
AED: Yes
Sports Facilities: No
Internet: No
Shop: Yes
Park: Yes
Hotel: No
Post Office: Yes

Stuff to do:
1. Shop

There is a shop area to the left as you enter the building. They focus on products made by locals, such as cookies and desserts from the nearby Ningle Cafe, handmade pottery, and tomato juice. There is also a large selection of boxed souvenir foods, with a focus on lavender, potatoes, cheese, and wine. Lavender-scented products, pressed dried flowers, wood carvings, and pictures of famous scenery in the area are also available.

2. Restaurant

The restaurant was closed when I went last. They have set lunches, curry, and noodle dishes if I remember correctly, and the prices are not very steep. The restaurant is to the right as you enter.

3. Itou

Itou is a famous species of fish related to salmon. They are apparently rare, but can be found in the waters of Lake Kanayama. As you enter, you will notice a large fish tank on one wall. Live itou are kept there, and there is information about them posted nearby.

4. Bears

A species of brown bear called higuma lives in Hokkaido, and they are occasionally seen in Minamifurano. There are several taxidermied bears in the entry hall of the Michi no Eki, which makes for a nice photo opportunity.

5. Outdoors

In the summer, several local businesses set up outdoor stalls at the Michi no Eki. Prepared food, with a focus on local soba, deer meat, and various berries is served. You can also buy fresh produce, and of course lavender soft-serve ice cream. 

Lavender also blooms from June to July outside the Michi no Eki, so you can walk in the small park to see the purple flowers.