Beyond the popular cities of Sapporo and Otaru, Hokkaido has much to offer. We venture to the East end to uncover these sights
Photos & text by Pamela Chow
Shiretoko National Park was named after this view, as “shiretoko” means “the end of Earth”.
Other than the oft-visited cities of Sapporo and Otaru, where else does the beauty of Hokkaido linger? With the island opening new bus routes and sprucing up its domestic airports, the far reaches of Hokkaido’s lesser-known regions are emerging into view.
We discover the delicious sights and tastes that East Hokkaido has been hiding.
TOKACHI WINE FESTIVAL
For just two days a year, the field before the Tokachi Wine Castle transforms into the Ikeda Autumn Wine Festival where music, excited chatter and the smell of grilled food fill the air.
At the entrance, collect your festival essentials: A styrofoam box-plate, a plastic cup, chopsticks and a silver foam mat.
Then, get ready to fill them up. The festival offers free-flow of different grades of Ikeda beef and Tokachi wine. Pick a spot on the grass, or gather around a table grill that is constantly stocked with beef slices.
A highlight is the huge whole-cow grill, or mariyaki, in the middle of the fair. This meat has been slow-grilled overnight for eight hours. Admission costs 4,000 yen ($53) per adult, with concession prices for younger visitors.
Nearest airport: Obihiro Airport
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