Bihoro

Bihoro (美幌) is an insufferably obscure farming town in Okhotsk, Hokkaido, Japan.

Get in

By plane

Bihoro is a 20-minute bus ride away from Memanbetsu Airport (¥340).

By train

Bihoro is on the JR Sekihoku Line (石北本線) from Asahikawa to Abashiri.

The Okhotsk limited express runs to Bihoro from Sapporo in about 5 hours at a cost of ¥9430.

By road

Bihoro is a major road junction and highways lead from here to Abashiri on the northern coast, to Teshikaga (Akan National Park) and to Asahikawa and Sounkyo Onsen (Daisetsuzan National Park). Buses run along most roads but only very intermittently.

Get around

See

Bihoro Pass (美幌峠 Bihoro-tōge). This is Bihoro's sole claim to fame, affording views over Lake Kussharo in the nearby Akan National Park. The pass was also canonized in the eponymous enka (Japanese folk song), which now plays on repeat in the small service area near the pass.
Bihoro Agricultural Museum (星美幌農業館 Bihoro-nōgyōkan). 9AM-5PM daily. With exhibits like "Modern Agricultural Machines" and "Let's Play With BIBOT", this is best reserved for those really rainy days. ¥300

Do

Tōge-no-Yu Bihoro (峠の湯びほろ), 40 Miyakobashi, +81 152-73-2121. The inevitable hot spring, but a fairly modern and pleasant operation — and yes, that does mean "Pass Hot Water Bihoro". Entry ¥500, entry and shuttle ¥900

Buy

Bihoro's speciality is kumazasa-cha (熊笹茶), a type of herbal tea made from the kumazasa (lit. "bear grass") leaf that grows abundantly in this harsh climate. Steeply priced at ¥840 per bag, but worth a try.

Eat

Gurutto Panorama Bihoro (ぐるっとパノラマ美幌峠). The fancy name of the highway service area at Bihoro Pass ... but in addition to the souvenir and fried-everything-on-a-stick vendors downstairs, there's a decent restaurant upstairs which serves kumazasa tea along with your meal.

Drink

Sleep

Minshuku Tarō-an (民宿太郎庵), +81 1527-3-4310. A tiny minshuku (capacity 7 people). Room with 2 meals ¥5000

Connect

The small tourism office in the train station will be overjoyed at seeing an actual tourist. They can also book accommodation for you.

Go next

Akan National Park — Just across the Bihoro Pass are a number of nice sights.

Bihoro - town in Abashiri district, Hokkaidō, Japan