Obihiro
Discover Obihiro
Obihiro (帯広) is a city on the northern island of Hokkaido, It is the capital of Tokachi sub-prefecture on the Tokachi Plain, a major agricultural area. Founded in 1883 by settlers from Honshu, and designated as a city in 1933, Obihiro is architecturally undistinguished except for a few kitsch pachinko (pin ball) palaces. To the visitor it appears a city of car dealers and cake shops.
Taste of Obihiro...
Beyond Obihiro lie the high volcanic peaks of Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan, and the Kushiro Wetlands National Park. Further afield are Abashiri and Shiretoko National Park.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options42.917902143.2023682 Obihiro station. (updated Sep 2025) is the main station. It is on the Nemuro Main Line between Shintoku, Kushiro and Nemuro. From Sapporo, take either the Ōzora or Tokachi (2h 40min). There are departures roughly once an hour all day. Seat reservations are mandatory and green car is available. Long-distance buses are a good way to get to Obihiro. These buses all leave from in front of JR Obihiro Station. The center of Obihiro, located on the north side of JR Obihiro Station, is small and walkable, though most of the larger shopping areas are outside of this. The city as a whole is large and spread out, though easy to navigate. Similar to Sapporo, it is laid out on a grid, and intersections are signed in both Japanese and English (e.g., West 1 South 10). The north–south axis (which lies close to the city center) is called Ōdōri. City buses exist, though services are less frequent than on the more densely populated island of Honshu....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The center of Obihiro, located on the north side of JR Obihiro Station, is small and walkable, though most of the larger shopping areas are outside of this. The city as a whole is large and spread out, though easy to navigate. Similar to Sapporo, it is laid out on a grid, and intersections are signed in both Japanese and English (e.g., West 1 South 10). The north–south axis (which lies close to the city center) is called Ōdōri. City buses exist, though services are less frequent than on the more densely populated island of Honshu. A car is ideal, since the main attractions are outside the city. There are some rental car companies at the airport. Obihiro is located close to the Hidaka and Daisetsuzan mountains. There are an impressive range of facilities for outdoor activities: mountain trekking, horse riding, white-water rafting, kayaking, swimming, tennis, 'park golf' etc. during the summer, and skiing, snow boarding, snow shoeing and skating etc. during the winter.
Where to Stay
Beyond Obihiro lie the high volcanic peaks of Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan, and the Kushiro Wetlands National Park. Further afield are Abashiri and Shiretoko National Park.
Money & Budget
Beyond Obihiro lie the high volcanic peaks of Japan's largest national park, Daisetsuzan, and the Kushiro Wetlands National Park. Further afield are Abashiri and Shiretoko National Park.