Discover Kitahiroshima

Kitahiroshima brings together several themes that may play a role when planning a stay: Hokkaido’s history, civic remembrance, natural history, and cycling. If you are looking for a hotel in Kitahiroshima, you can consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. For orientation, the Tourist Information Center is located in Elfin Park, right next to JR Kitahiroshima Station.

Getting Your Bearings and the City’s History

The Tourist Information Center is located in the civic service area there and is operated by the Hokkaido Kitahiro Tourism Association. It provides comprehensive information about Hokkaido Ballpark F Village, Kitahiroshima City, and nearby areas. Check the current opening hours before visiting.

A notable historic site is the Old Shimamatsu Station and Post Station in Shimamatsu, Kitahiroshima City. Established in 1873, it was an important hub for traffic and transportation during Hokkaido’s pioneering era. The single-story wooden building retains clear traces of its original appearance. In 1984, the station was designated a national historic site; it is the oldest surviving station of its kind in Hokkaido.

Clark is also associated with the site. When he set out to return to his homeland in 1877, he said farewell to his students there. He is said to have left them with the words Boys, be ambitious. The story adds a personal episode from the pioneering era to the station’s transportation history.

A different form of remembrance can be found at Peace Flame Park. On September 1, 1996, a flame from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was lit there to mark Kitahiroshima City’s elevation to city status. The flame expressed a wish for world peace and friendship.

Natural History and Forests

The Ecomuseum Center Chishin no Eki is the central facility of Kitahiroshima City’s ecomuseum. It collects, shares, and displays information about the city’s nature, history, and industry. The permanent exhibition covers natural history, including geological layers and fossils discovered in Kitahiroshima City. It offers a different way to explore the past than the historic sites: the focus here is on geological evidence and natural history.

Kitahiroshima Recreation Forest is another distinct aspect of the landscape. It is classified as “森林スポーツ林” (forest sports area) and forms part of the Nopporo Primeval Forest in the Nopporo Hills. These hills extend from Ebetsu City to Kitahiroshima City. The forest’s designation and the extent of the hills describe different scales: the classification of a forest area and the broader landscape context.

Cycling Routes and Sporting Interests

For planning a trip by bicycle or on foot, two routes can be easily distinguished by their descriptions. The Trim Course is a five-kilometer loop through the Kitahiroshima residential area. It is reserved exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists and is suitable for walking, jogging, and cycling.

By contrast, Elfin Road refers to the section of the cycling route between Sapporo and Kitahiroshima that passes through Kitahiroshima City. This section follows the JR Chitose Line and is about 8.1 kilometers long. The five kilometers of the Trim Course therefore describe a loop; the approximately 8.1 kilometers refer to the Elfin Road section, not the entire route between Sapporo and Kitahiroshima. This lets you compare the two figures without treating a loop and a route section as the same thing.

Baseball and winter sports are also among the sports-related attractions. Es Con Field HOKKAIDO is the home stadium of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. At SNOW WORLD’s Watsutsu course, individuals and families can ride snowmobiles. Seasonal dates and operations may depend on snow conditions; check both with the operator before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Tokachi District, Fukuyama, Tsurui, Hokuto, Odori, Hakodate, Saroma, Pippu.

For the broader travel overview: Hokkaido.