Ōzora

Ōzora (大空) is a town in Okhotsk, Hokkaido.

Understand

Ōzora was formed on 2006 as a result of the merger of the town of Memanbetsu, and the village of Higashimokoto. The name of the town means "Large Sky".

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in

By plane

memanbetsu Airport

• 1 Memanbetsu Airport (女満別空港, MMB), 201-3 Memannbetsu-Chuo, 女満別中央201-3. 

Regular flights are 6 flights from New Chitose, 3 - 6 flights from Haneda and 1 flight from Chūbu per day. There are bus services to/from Abashiri via center of Memanbetsu to fit each flight.

By train

Limited Express Okhotsk in Memannbetsu Station

JR Sekihoku main line runs through Memanbetsu Station from Sapporo to Abashiri. Limited Express Okhotsk runs 4 round trips per day. About 5 hrs from Sapporo to Memanbetsu.

By bus

There are intercity bus services for Memanbetsu and Higashimokoto.

• Dreamint Okhotsk (ドリーミント オホーツク号) - Hokkaido Kitami Bus and Abashiri Bus are operating the service. It runs through Memanbetsu from Sapporo to Abashiri with 9 round trips per day. About 5 hr 30 min from Sapporo to Memanbetsu.
• Eagle Liner (イーグルライナー号) - Hokkaido Chuo Bus and Shari Bus are operating the service. It runs through Higasimokoto from Sapporo to Shari with 2 round trips per day. About 5hrs from Sapporo to Higashimokoto.

Get around

By train

Sekihoku Main Line runs in Memanbetsu area. Local train runs 9 round trips per day between Kitami and Abashiri. There are 2 stations in the town.

• 2 Memanbetsu Station (女満別駅). Limited express stops 
• 3 Nishimemanbetsu Station (西女満別駅). 1.2 km from Memanbetsu Airport. 

By bus

There is a local bus service in each Higashimokoto and Memanbetsu area. Bus services are often between Abashiri and Memanbetsu Airport. But other area is a small number, not suitable for tourism.

By car

Rental car

There are many rental car shops near Memanbetsu Airport.

• Nippon
• Orix
• Times

See

Shibazakura Park

• 1 Shibazakura Park (芝桜公園), 393 Suehiro, Higashimokoto, 東藻琴末広393 (8 km southeast from center of Higashimokoto), ☏ +81 152 66-3111, fax: +81 152 66-3112. Best time to see is mid-May - early-Jun. Moss phlox (Shibazakura) blossoms bloom in the park in spring. ¥500. 

Sunflowers in Asahigaoka Park

• 2 Asahigaoka Park (朝日が丘公園), Asahi, Memanbetsu, 女満別朝日. Park is located on a hill of Memanbetsu. Views of 360° can watch from the observation deck. Sunflowers bloom in summer. Free. 

Sleep

Camp

• 1 Memanbetsu Lakeside Campsite (女満別湖畔野営場), Memanbetsu-Kohan, 女満別湖畔, ☏ +81 152 74-4252. Open July - September yearly. Located beside Lake Abashiri. There is a hot spring nearby. ¥300. 
• 2 Shibazakura Park Campsite (芝桜公園キャンプ場), ☏ +81 152-66-3111, fax: +81 152-66-3112. Period May - Sep. Free site ¥300. Auto camp site ¥1500+. 

Mid-range

• 3 Yumoto Hotel Sansui (湯元ホテル山水), 3-2-3 Memanbetsu-Kohan (5min walk from Memanbetsu station), ☏ +81 152 74-2343, fax: +81 152 74-2997. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. Bath is the hot spring. Located side Lake Abashiri. Stay +2 meals ¥7800+. Only bath ¥390 (11:00 - 23:00). 

Go next

• Kitami
• Abashiri
• Bihoro