Kamishihoro

Kamishihoro (上士幌) is a town in Tokachi, in the far north of Hokkaido, Japan. South area of the town is located on Tokachi Plain, where the town center resides. North and Central area of the town is in the mountains of Daisetsu. Forestry was prosperous in the past, but it has declined by now. More northerly area from Nukabira has become nearly abandoned.

Understand

Tourist Information Site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

The Roadside Station Kamishihoro (see Buy below) has another good Japanese-only guide site, Kamishihoro Navi.

Get in

By bus

Bus service from Obihiro to Kamishihoro (center of town) with 16 round trips each weekday. There is another Highway bus from Obihiro to Asahikawa with 2 round trips.

By car

National Route 241 passes through the city on its way from Obihiro to Ashoro. National Route 273 runs from the center of town to Asahikawa.

Get around

By bus

Bus service from Kamishihoro (center of town) to Nukabira with 4 round trips per day.

See

• 1 Taushubetsu River Bridge (タウシュベツ川橋梁). Arch bridge of the old JR Shihoro line, crossing a river near Lake Nukabira (an artificial lake). The bridge emerges when the water level falls in autumn, come into full view in winter, and go submerged in early summer next year - exact dates depend on the amount of precipitation that year. Forest road leading to the bridge is usually closed - you can go up to the foot of the bridge on a guided tour. 

View from Mikuni pass

• 2 Mikuni Pass (三国峠) (30 km from Nukabira). The highest point on National Routes in Hokkaido. Majestic views from the parking at the pass, along National Route 273. 
• 3 Lupines in Mitsumata (三股のルピナス), Mitsumata. Once a village resident planted lupine, that has increased by native mosquitoes after the village was abandoned. Wooden walkway is provided. Best season to see is July. Free. 
• 4 Naitai Kōgen Bokujō (ナイタイ高原牧場). 07:00-19:00. The largest public ranch in Japan. There are a observation deck and a resthouse near the top. Free entrance.. 

Do

• 1 Nukabira Ski Area (ぬかびら源泉郷スキー場), Nukabira-gensenkyo, ☏ +81 1564 4-2201, fax: +81 1564 4-2203, ski@nukabirakan.com. 09:00 - sunset. 

Hot springs

Outdoor bath of Yumotokan

• 2 Nukabira Onsen (ぬかびら源泉郷), Nukabira-gensenkyo. Hot spring town with many inns, offering various bathing experience. Recommended are outdoor baths along the valley at "Yumotokan" (湯元館) and bath in the cave at "Sankosō" (山湖荘). bathing only \400 - 700. 
• 3 Horoka Onsen Kanoya (幌加温泉鹿の谷), Horoka (15 km from Nukabira). An isolated inn in the mountains. Mixed bathing. Bathing ¥ 500. 
• 4 Iwama Onsen (岩間温泉) (15 km runs gravel road from Mitsumata bridge on National Route 273). Free outdoor hot spring in the mountains. Free. 

Climb

Southeast area of the Mountains of Daisetsu

• Mt.Ishikari
• Mt. Otofuke
• Mt. Nipesotsu

Buy

• Roadside Station Kamishihoro (道の駅かみしほろ). (updated Apr 2024)

Sleep

Youth Hostel

• 1 Higashidaisetsu Nukabira Youth Hostel (東大雪ぬかびらユースホステル), Nukabira-gensenkyo, ☏ +81 1564 4-2004, fax: +81 1564 4-2005, nukabira@d1.dion.ne.jp. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Bath room is small but it's a hot spring. Domitory room stay ¥ 3500 (non YH member + ¥ 600), Breakfast ¥ 650, Dinner ¥ 1200. 

Camp

• 2 Kamishihoro Air Park Campsite (上士幌航空公園キャンプ場), 241 Kamishihoro-Kisen (字上士幌基線241). 2 km away from center of town. Open from mid April to early October. ¥ 500. 
• 3 Nukabira Campsite (国設ぬかびら野営場), Nukabira-gensenkyo. Beside Lake Nukabira. Open from 25th June to 24th September. 

Go next

• Shihoro
• Shikaoi
• Ashoro
• Kamikawa - Sounkyo Onsen