7 Popular Spots to Visit in Tomakomai on Your First Day of Sightseeing in Hokkaido

If you are planning a trip to Tomakomai, summer is recommended for its cool and comfortable weather.
That said, Lake Utonai is also known as a famous spot for autumn leaves, where you can enjoy the beautiful combination of the lake and colorful foliage, or stroll along lakeside paths surrounded by autumn colors, making fall another great season to visit.
The autumn foliage on Mt. Tarumae is also beautiful, with crimson and golden trees spreading out like a carpet.

To get to Tomakomai, taking a ferry to places such as Tomakomai Port is one option, but flying is generally recommended.
Since New Chitose Airport also handles international flights, access from Taiwan and China on direct flights is convenient as well.
From Tokyo to Tomakomai, it takes Approx. 2 hours and 45 minutes by plane and train. From Osaka, it similarly takes Approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes by plane and train.
You can also reach Tomakomai by train from Sapporo, Hokkaido’s largest city, as well as from popular sightseeing destinations such as Hakodate and Otaru.
Please refer to the table below for travel times.

If you are sightseeing in Tomakomai, buses will be your main form of transportation.
However, if you are traveling longer distances, consider using trains as well.
If you want more flexibility and efficiency, renting a car is recommended.
Some nature-rich spots in Tomakomai, such as Mt. Tarumae, are difficult to access by public transportation.

This hands-on theme park is operated by Northern Farm, known for raising many famous racehorses, and offers experiences with nature and horses.
About 80 horses live in the park, including retired racehorses and ponies.
You can deepen your understanding of horses through activities such as guided horse rides, sightseeing carriage rides, horseback riding lessons, pony entertainment shows, exhibitions at the museum and gallery, and tours of the stables.

Mt. Tarumae, an active volcano with an elevation of 1,041 meters, can be reached in Approx. 1 hour from New Chitose Airport, the gateway to Hokkaido.
It is known for its distinctive lava dome shaped like a pudding and is said to be a rare triple volcano even within Japan.
Located in southwestern Hokkaido within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, also called a “living museum of volcanoes,” it is also a popular spot for serious hiking.

Located Approx. 25 minutes by car from central Tomakomai, this freshwater lake has a circumference of 9 km, an area of 275 hectares, and an average depth of 0.6 meters.
Fed by the Bibi River, Yufutsu River, and Otarumappu River, the lakeside is surrounded by rich natural environments such as wilderness and wetlands.
It is especially famous as a mecca for birdwatching. In 1981, it became Japan’s first bird sanctuary, and in 1982, it was designated the Utonai Special Wildlife Protection Area by the national government.

Ikoro means “treasure” in Ainu. It is a place where you can experience the beauty of nature, one of Hokkaido’s true treasures.
There are 11 gardens, each with its own theme. From the Woodland Garden surrounded by trees to the Rose Garden featuring cold-hardy varieties, each area offers a different atmosphere.

In Tomakomai, Hokkaido, there is a place where you can take in beautiful scenery shaped by nature.
It is Tarumae Garo, a gorge in the forest at the foot of Mt. Tarumae, designated as a Tomakomai Natural Environment Conservation Area in 1979.
You can enjoy beautiful seasonal scenery throughout the year, but June, when fresh greenery fills the area, is especially exceptional.

A large comprehensive park surrounded by magnificent nature, located at the tip of the Tarumae Hills.
The park, developed around Nishiki Onuma and Nishiki Konuma, covers a vast total area of 236 hectares and includes a lawn plaza, arboretum, and iris garden.
There are also hot spring bathing facilities and an auto campsite, along with plenty of outdoor recreation options such as canoeing, park golf, and athletic playground equipment.

A park loved by locals in Tomakomai, Hokkaido’s largest port city.
Blessed with abundant nature, it offers a wide range of activities.
Its wide grassy open spaces make it the kind of place where you’ll want to relax with a picnic.
There is also a pond where many birds live, and you can enjoy it by boat.

Lake Utonai is registered under the Ramsar Convention, the international treaty on wetlands of international importance as habitats for waterbirds. On its lakeshore stands Roadside Station Lake Utonai.
In addition to an observation deck and restaurant, it also has an antenna shop with a wide selection of goods featuring the adorable Shima-enaga, a small white round wild bird that has recently gained many fans, especially on social media. Since this bird lives only in Hokkaido, you might even spot one during your trip.

A long-established sweets shop founded in 1898. It mainly offers sweets made with haskap, a berry similar to blueberry with a refreshing tartness, along with a wide variety of original products made with local ingredients such as Hokkaido butter and wheat. It is the perfect place to pick up souvenirs from your trip.

At Umi no Eki Puratto Minato Market, located near Tomakomai Port, Hokkaido’s sea gateway, rows of fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, and fruit are on display.
With its old-fashioned local atmosphere, this market supports the daily food life of local residents.
There are also eat-in restaurants. At Wagama Don Tomakomai Shokudo, the popular Wagama Don lets you create your own seafood rice bowl just the way you like it.
Top it with your favorite seafood, such as melt-in-your-mouth salmon, plump sweet shrimp, and popping salmon roe, and make your own original bowl.