Even in the midst of nature, thorough infection prevention measures are in place. A report on the current situation in Tokachi and Obihiro.

Tourists are returning to the area around JR Obihiro Station, with queues forming at popular restaurants

JR Obihiro Station is located in the center of Tokachi, Hokkaido, about 40 minutes by shuttle bus from Tokachi Obihiro Airport. The area in front of the station was quiet until the summer, but it looked a little different during the long holiday. Perhaps due to the Go To Travel campaign, there were groups of women carrying paper bags with gifts and people carrying suitcases around the station. On the roads, there were many cars with license plates from Honshu and Hokkaido, and it seemed that the number of tourists had increased significantly.

Furthermore, in the city, there was a sight that had not been seen until this summer. At "Indian Curry" on Nishi 2-jo Street leading from JR Obihiro Station, and at "Fujimori", the original creator of Indian curry, there was a line of people waiting to enter the store. Furthermore, on the last day of the holidays, a famous pork bowl restaurant inside the station had a line that stretched outside, and the city of Obihiro is gradually returning to its former bustle.

The current state of Obihiro Zoo, the second oldest zoo in Hokkaido

Obihiro Zoo is the second oldest zoo in Hokkaido after Sapporo Maruyama Zoo. It is the first zoo in Japan to have established a cold-resistant breeding method and has a track record of raising tropical animals such as elephants and giraffes.

The first thing that catches your eye when you enter the park is the cute Ferris wheel. Other attractions, such as the merry-go-round and teacup-shaped attractions, have a Showa-era retro feel that is also popular. Although the day of the interview was a weekday, there were many children on school trips, as well as couples, friends, and other general visitors to the park.

"Right now, we ask children to disinfect the soles of their feet with a mat and their hands with alcohol when they enter the nursery, and we ask them to wear masks as a precaution," said the nursery school's director, Kazutoshi Yuhara.

Obihiro Zoo is primarily made up of outdoor areas, but as many children visit, thorough infection prevention measures are being implemented. Indoor exhibits that were temporarily closed have been reopened with alcohol disinfectant installed.

"In the future, we would like to continue improving the facility, such as by improving the garden paths, rest areas, and nursing rooms, and create a friendly environment for everyone, including families with small children and elderly people."

On the official Twitter account, the zookeepers take photos of the animals and post them. Just looking at the animals' lively behavior is soothing. Behind the scenes, you can imagine the zookeepers working hard every day to care for the animals.

Obihiro Zoo aims to create a friendly environment for not only the animals, but also all visitors. Why not visit the zoo and experience that passion for yourself?

Obihiro Zoo

Manabe Garden: A place to avoid the 3 Cs.

Manabe Garden is located just a few minutes by car from JR Obihiro Station, but boasts an area of 250 million tsubo, or about 1.7 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. It is Japan's first conifer garden (a garden mainly made up of conifers), and was also the location for the morning drama series "Natsuzora" that aired last year.

The day of the visit was a weekday with intermittent light rain, but couples and locals who had come by rental car were enjoying the scenery.

Unlike urban atriums and greenhouses, the garden is large enough that even if 3,000 people enter, it will not be crowded. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, botanical gardens were included in the national request for closure, so this garden, as well as all the gardens in the surrounding area, were closed. Manabe Kentaro, the third generation owner of Manabe Garden, told us about the situation at that time.

"After the winter holidays, we were preparing to reopen in late April this year, but then COVID-19 hit us hard. We were forced to close for about three weeks, and finally opened in May. After the closure, we thoroughly disinfected the free spaces where the admission reception, shop, and cafe were located. We also rented three outdoor portable toilets and disinfected them with sprayers, so that customers could feel safe spending time there."

Currently, various measures are being taken, such as installing plastic sheeting at the reception counter and disinfecting handles and handrails that customers may come into contact with, as well as the boots and umbrellas that are provided for customers to borrow when they stroll around.

After the state of emergency was lifted, the number of cars with Hokkaido license plates gradually increased, and rental cars became common during the summer holidays. Now, the focus is once again on promoting the area and improving the facilities within the park for people with disabilities and the elderly.

"We built pathways and introduced off-road wheelchairs with assistance so that people with disabilities and the elderly can enjoy the park."

Off-road wheelchairs used on American beaches have thick wheels that don't get stuck in the chips or gravel on roads, making them convenient for caregivers.

"A garden is meant to be experienced with all five senses. We receive wonderful feedback, such as the expressions of the disabled people who visit the garden softening, and seeing them smile, which is something they rarely do in everyday life. The scent of the trees, the birds singing, the squirrels and foxes roaming freely - it really brings home the great power that nature has to offer."

As Manabe-san said, you can also spot adorable Hokkaido squirrels in the garden. Why not visit this garden and experience the nature of Obihiro firsthand?

Manabe Garden

Infection prevention measures at a yakiniku restaurant serving Tokachi cuisine

Tokachigawa Onsen is home to a rare "moor hot spring" (a hot spring containing organic matter from plants). "Daichi no Takumi" is a popular yakiniku restaurant in Tokachi, located in a corner of the hot spring town. In addition to "Mirai Memuroushi" and "Tokachi Wagyu" that are fattened on feed that is non-GMO, antibiotic-free, and pesticide-free after harvest, the restaurant serves seasonal vegetables grown by some of the best farmers in the Tokachi region.

Before COVID-19, the restaurant was visited by many people from both within Japan and overseas due to its high-quality ingredients and location in a hot spring town. We spoke to manager Toshie Sawa about the restaurant's status from spring to the present.

"Since we opened in 2016, this was the first time we'd ever experienced such a lack of customers. But we had no choice but to do what we could. We tried to think flexibly and stay positive."

The coronavirus pandemic was a new experience for the restaurant. First, they implemented thorough infection prevention measures such as wearing masks and using alcohol disinfectant, and expanded their takeout menu. They also reviewed the in-store menu, renewing all of their menu items in September. They further emphasized their concept of serving safe and secure beef with a focus on vegetables.

In addition to these efforts, the facilities that were already installed in the store also helped to give customers a sense of security.

"Our restaurant has many private rooms, and each grill at each table has a separate large ventilation system, so we can constantly change the air in the restaurant. Thanks to this environment, our regular customers now say, 'I feel safe here.'"

Currently, a large ventilation system is activated as soon as customers enter the store, and air is drawn in and out through a large duct near the ceiling on the main floor. Each private room is spacious, so it is possible to maintain sufficient distance from other people.

"It seems that the effects of the Go To Travel Campaign and Douminwari are starting to be felt throughout the hot spring town," says Sawa. As expected, a restaurant that offers a carefully selected menu is also well-known for its peace of mind in implementing infection control measures. On the day of the interview, a group of customers were enjoying lunch.

Seasonal vegetables and grilled meat "Daichi no Takumi"

The ever-popular Tokachi specialty "Basha Bar"

Horse breeding and Ban'ei horse racing. Horse history and culture remain strong in Tokachi, Hokkaido. A current hot topic in this area is the "Horse Carriage Bar" pulled by Musashikoma, a former Ban'ei racehorse. Hotel Nupka started operating it with the idea of "bringing closer to the history of pioneering the wilderness with horses and that culture."

Advance reservations are required for the carriage bar, and tickets can be purchased on the day of the reservation on the first floor of the hotel. On the day of the photo shoot, we took the 6pm flight, but both the first and second floors were full. When the time came, the Musashikoma slowly began to walk away, signaled by the clanging of a bell. I was sitting on the second floor with a family who had come from Sapporo.

When I asked her about it, she said, "I just love horses and I always come to the Ban'ei Horse Racing, but today was my first time at the Horse-Drawn Bar. I'm really glad it was running (because it wasn't raining)."

At your seat, you can enjoy snacks such as Tokachi potatoes and cheese, as well as beer. The beer is "The Beginning of the Journey Beer," made by Hotel Nupka "for those who visit here," and the barley used is also produced in Hokkaido.

Even at the carriage bar, thorough infection prevention measures were being taken. Shields were installed at the concierge and cafe bar on the first floor of the hotel, and alcohol disinfectant and disposable mask cases were provided in the lounge. The windows on the first floor of the carriage were open for ventilation, and surfaces that people touch, such as tables, were disinfected with alcohol after each customer.

Furthermore, in order to allow people to feel the Tokachi atmosphere even when they are apart amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the hotel also held an online toast event at the Horse-Drawn Bar, as well as VR experiences of "dog sledding" and "ice skating." Hotel Nupka manager Kotomi Sakaguchi had this to say about these initiatives:

"Our role is not just to provide accommodation, but to coordinate travel. We want to be the gateway to your trip, and we feel strongly that we want you to come back whenever you like. So right now, I'm doing everything I can. I intend to keep on working without giving up."

Sakaguchi says he wants to continue creating ways to let people experience the charms of Tokachi. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Hotel Nupka and the Carriage Bar.

HOTEL NUPKA

The Tokachi and Obihiro areas of Hokkaido are overflowing with nature. To begin with, the vast areas are places where it is difficult to get too close together, but each area is taking further precautions to prevent infection and waiting for customers. We, the travelers visiting Hokkaido, would also like to take precautions and enjoy the great outdoors of Hokkaido.

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