Hokkaido’s Hidden Gem: Tokachi

As more and more visitors discover the beauty of Japan beyond the standard tourist routes, Hokkaido is gradually becoming a must-see winter travel destination, with an increasing number of travelers diving deep into the countryside to experience the local culture for themselves. The sprawling region of Tokachi is still largely unknown to most international travelers, but this portion of eastern Hokkaido is a land of breathtaking natural scenery dotted with small communities, offering postcard-perfect views throughout the year.

In winter, Tokachi transforms into a snowy wonderland where visitors can enjoy the outdoors, embark on fresh local food tours, and get a unique glimpse of authentic Hokkaido culture, far from the crowds of typical tourist hotspots. If you’re ready to escape the big city and reach deeper into Hokkaido’s beautiful countryside, these three Tokachi tour plans will help you embrace winter in Tokachi.

① Journey Into the Roots of Hokkaido Wine

Japan’s domestic wine market has exploded in recent decades, and Hokkaido wineries have grown alongside it, making it an ideal destination for wine-flavored travel. If the thought of traveling the world in search of unique tastings and delicious new pairings appeals to you, then you’ll want to visit the Ikeda Wine Castle (ワイン城). This unique Tokachi spot offers visitors a chance to delve into the region’s winemaking history, learn more about how Hokkaido wine is made, and of course sample some local vintages.

The Story of Wine, As Told by the Wine Castle

The Wine Castle isn’t just a place to sample wines – visitors can also deepen their understanding of Tokachi winemaking by experiencing it for themselves! There are underground caves full of oak barrels and bottled wines, with bottles reaching back to the early days of local production. Winemaking might seem like a recent development in Japan, but the oldest bottle at the Wine Castle dates back to 1969. As long as you weren’t born before that year, you can actually search for wines produced the same year you were born! If you want to purchase one, it’s a fun way to treat yourself, but a bottle of birth-year wine would also make a meaningful gift for your favorite wine aficionado.

The wine cellar has its own enigmatic tasting room, made special with sections from an 8,000-liter barrel hanging from the ceiling. The Ikeda Wine Castle produces wine with a kind of oak barrel known to be difficult to manufacture, making them rare around the world, but these barrels are actually made within the prefecture of Hokkaido. (You can actually purchase oak barrels from the winery, so please feel to ask the staff if you’re interested.)

There are around 20,000 bottles of Tokachi wine stored below the “castle,” and many bottles are covered in a thick layer of dust, proving just how many years they’ve been aging below ground. There’s even a personal wine storage area, so if you purchase a bottle while you’re there, you can actually leave it in Tokachi to age for 6,600 yen per year. It’s not uncommon for locals to buy a bottle when their child is born and retrieve it decades later to celebrate with their grown child on their Coming of Age Day! It’s a thoughtful way to commemorate a special date, or a special trip to Japan!

Lunch With Premium Wine Pairings

Conclude your visit with a luxurious multi-course meal in the VIP dining room – only open on special days. During our visit, the menu showcased Tokachi’s finest ingredients with a potato galette, tuna flan, salmon with a blanc sauce, Ikeda beef, assorted cheeses, and dessert – each course thoughtfully prepared to pair perfectly with Tokachi wines.

Of particular note is the ice wine, known for its concentrated sweetness that comes from being naturally frozen in sub-zero temperatures, resulting in a delightful flavor that appeals even to wine novices. (If you’re interested in ice wine, make sure to join the morning vineyard tour, where you can see the wine production process for yourself.)

Ikeda Wine Castle Tour and Lunch Course
Dates: late December to late February
Time: 10:00 – 14:00
Participants: 4~10 people (adults 20 years and over)
Official Tour Details | Reservations

② Embrace the Winter in Hokkaido

Daisetsuzan Adventures

For a truly unforgettable winter experience, head to the enormous Naitai Highland Farm (ナイタイ高原牧場) for this Snow Safari and Wagyu Beef Glamping Tour. This exclusive program offers private access to restricted areas, allowing for a serene and breathtaking adventure.

The journey begins with a thrilling 4WD ride up to a scenic point 800 meters above sea level in Daisetsuzan National Park (surrounding Mt. Daisetsu), an experience playfully called a “snow safari” thanks to the similar feeling of driving through the great outdoors. At the top, enjoy panoramic views of the snow-covered mountains and the picturesque farm, only accessible via limited tour programs.

Snowshoe Trekking & a Snowmobile Ride

Next, immerse yourself in Tokachi’s snowy landscape with a snowshoe experience. Snowshoes help spread your weight so you can easily hike across Naitai Highland Farm, making it a fun way for travelers of all ages to enjoy Hokkaido’s famously fluffy white snow, without all the practice and effort needed for winter sports like skiing. After exploring the landscape for about an hour it’s time to enjoy a little Hokkaido glamping, but the trip to the camping ground is another fun part of this tour. Take an exhilarating ride across the snowy terrain and see the stunning scenery from a new angle, floating atop the snow in a raft pulled by a snowmobile!

Warm Wagyu Beef After a Day in the Cold

Wrap up your adventure with some classic Japanese food: a hearty pot of sukiyaki featuring plenty of Tokachi’s premium wagyu beef. Savor the rich, flavorful meal and feel the cold melt away as you enjoy the scenery on the other side of the cabin window! Nothing tastes better than a hot meal after a day playing in the snow! (Families with antsy kids will be glad to hear this cozy glamping ground also has space for sledding.)

Naitai Highland Farm Snow Safari & Wagyu Glamping Tour
Dates: December 15, 2024 – February 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 – 15:00
Participants: 2~6 people
Official Tour Details | Reservations

③ Take a Bite Out of Hokkaido: Tokachi Miso-Making & Home-Cooked Japanese Meals

If you’re a foodie and your trip to Japan hinges on great food, then we recommend a trip to Tokachi Toyama Farm. Immerse yourself in local culinary traditions and get hands-on with a miso-making workshop and a cooking class focused on Japanese home-cooking, surrounded by the farm’s vast fields and the Hidaka Mountains on the horizon.

Craft Your Own Miso at the Miso-Making Workshop

In recent years chefs around the world have begun to utilize Japanese miso for its unique punch of umami, and at this unique workshop you can make your own one-of-a-kind miso paste to bring home and use in your own kitchen! Mash soaked soybeans into a paste and mix in koji (the fermentation culture used in miso, soy sauce, and even sake) and salt in a 1:1:0.5 ratio, before finally sealing the blend securely in a jar to protect it from the outside air. Since each step is done entirely by hand and fermented with the help of microorganisms, each batch of miso has its own distinct flavor.

The miso needs to be fermented for a year to 18 months (in a cool, dry place) before it’s ready to be opened up and used in soups, stir-frys, or whatever else you want to add a little savory salty flavor to – which means you get an aromatic little reminder of your trip long after you get home from Japan!

Learn Hokkaido Home-Cooking From the Locals

​​The miso workshop will leave you with a special souvenir, but since you can’t eat the miso for another year, you might be craving a real taste of Japanese food by the time it’s over! So next, try your hand at real Japanese home-cooking with this authentic cooking class, taught by Tokachi locals. Our menu included a fresh salad topped with avocado dressing, along with Hokkaido-style potato cakes called “imo dango,” a local specialty! Of course, the meal wouldn’t be complete without some hand-shaped onigiri rice balls. This fun cooking experience feels spending a day as a Tokachi local, helping to prepare lunch at your neighbor’s house!

Tokachi Toyama Farm Miso-Making Experience
Dates: December 1 – February 28
Time: 9:30 – 13:30
Participants: 2~8 people
Official Tour Details | Reservations

Experience Winter in Japan to the Fullest

Tokachi offers a peaceful, picturesque, and friendly alternative to Japan’s crowded tourist destinations, and in the coldest months of the year, there’s no better place to enjoy Hokkaido’s wintery charms. Step away from the ordinary and make your next trip to Japan a visit to the northernmost island – explore Tokachi through these three unique experiences!

▶︎ Find more travel tips and information on Hokkaido here!

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