Hotels in Obihiro
1 hotel
Hotels in Obihiro, Hokkaido — stay near Banei Tokachi Racecourse or the Tokachi Plain farmlands. JR limited express runs from Sapporo in 2.5 hours.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons on Unsplash
About Obihiro
Obihiro: Gateway to the Tokachi Plain
Obihiro sits at the heart of the Tokachi Plain in eastern Hokkaido, roughly 170 km east of Sapporo. Founded as an agricultural settlement in 1883, the city grew into Japan's leading dairy and crop-farming hub. The surrounding flatlands produce azuki beans, potatoes, wheat, and milk on a scale unmatched elsewhere in the country — a fact visible from any vantage point on the open horizon.
Where to Stay and What to Draw Visitors
Travelers arrive for two distinct reasons: food culture and Banei racing, the world's only draft-horse race format, held year-round at Obihiro Racecourse (Banei Tokachi). The city's butadon — sliced pork over rice — originated here in the 1930s and remains the dish most associated with Obihiro. The Tokachi Millennium Forest, 30 km north, draws garden enthusiasts, while the Shichiku Garden and Manabe Garden offer cultivated landscapes within city limits.
Practical Tips
- Getting there: JR Obihiro Station is served by the Tokachi Express from Sapporo (approx. 2.5 hours by limited express).
- Best season: July–August for clear skies and festivals; February for the Obihiro Winter Festival on the frozen Tokachi River.
- Getting around: A rental car is the most practical option — farms and gardens lie outside walkable range from the station.
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