Obihiro & Tokachi Campervan Drive Guide | Hanabatake Farm, Kofuku Station & Obihiro Horseracing Complete Guide [2026]

The Obihiro and Tokachi area stretches across the central-eastern agricultural heartland of Hokkaido, where vast crop fields, dairy farms, and long straight farm roads create a quintessentially Hokkaido landscape. It is also a food paradise — pork rice bowls, Tokachi sweets, local cheese and butter — making it an ideal area for a drive-and-eat road trip.

This guide covers access, main attractions, accommodation, and recommended routes for traveling the Obihiro and Tokachi area by campervan. There are rental bases where you can pick up a vehicle directly from Obihiro Airport and start your journey the same day you land.

A quick look at the costs

Vehicle type	Estimated nightly rate	Travel style
Kei camper	approx. ¥13,000–38,000	Up to 2 people · compact travel
Van conversion	approx. ¥20,000–58,000	2–4 people · family-friendly
Cab-over	approx. ¥26,000–94,000	4–6 people · full amenities

A realistic itinerary is 3–5 nights based in Obihiro. For a full cost breakdown of a 3-night, 4-day Hokkaido campervan trip, see the Hokkaido Campervan 3 Nights 4 Days Cost Simulation. Rental bases in the Obihiro and eastern Hokkaido area are listed in Renting a Campervan in Obihiro and Eastern Hokkaido.

How you get to Obihiro depends on where you start

Departure point	Distance to Obihiro city	Estimated travel time
Obihiro Airport (near Obihiro)	approx. 15 km	approx. 25 min
New Chitose Airport	approx. 215 km	approx. 2 h 30 min (Doto Expressway)
Kushiro city	approx. 140 km	approx. 1 h 40 min

Obihiro Airport is just 15 minutes from the city, so you can get moving right after your flight lands. Coming via New Chitose takes about 2.5 hours on the Doto Expressway. If you are planning a loop around eastern Hokkaido, starting from Obihiro Airport is the simplest option.

Departing from New Chitose Airport for Obihiro

If your itinerary starts and ends at New Chitose Airport and takes in Obihiro and eastern Hokkaido, Moving Inn (New Chitose Airport branch) is one option to consider. Based near New Chitose Airport, they offer two types of cab-over campervans.

This setup works well for a 5–7 night trip from New Chitose that loops around eastern Hokkaido via Obihiro, Kushiro, Shiretoko, and Abashiri. Check availability to start planning.

Having a campervan as your accommodation changes how you experience Obihiro

The Obihiro and Tokachi area is a vast agricultural region. The attractions are spread out, and driving between a fixed hotel base takes time. Traveling in a campervan and sleeping near wherever you end up is a much more efficient use of your days.

Great for food lovers

Obihiro has pork rice bowls, Rokkatei, Ryugetsu, Hanabatake Farm, and Tokachi wine — all scattered around the city and its outskirts. A campervan lets you naturally weave in “let’s cook the ingredients we just bought in the van” or “let’s snack our way through the sweets shops as we drive.” With a van conversion or larger vehicle that has a fridge, you can buy cheese and butter at a farm and use them later that same day.

Driving across the plains is the experience itself

The Tokachi Plain farm roads have almost no traffic lights, and straight roads stretch all the way to the horizon. Driving here is sightseeing. In a campervan you can pull over wherever catches your eye, take photos, and then head to a roadside station nearby to sleep — all without any advance planning.

A practical base for an eastern Hokkaido loop

Obihiro is well connected to Kushiro, Shiretoko, Nemuro, and Daisetsuzan, making it a natural stopover for a full eastern Hokkaido loop. You can pick up a campervan at Obihiro Airport and work your way around the region clockwise or counterclockwise. The city’s supermarkets and drugstores are good for stocking up on food and supplies before you head out.

Highlights worth stopping for

Obihiro Racecourse (Banei horse racing)

Obihiro Racecourse is home to banei — the only style of horse racing in the world where powerful draft horses (banba) pull heavy sleds up an obstacle course. The races have a unique rhythm and raw power that draws spectators in. They run mainly on weekends and public holidays year-round, with affordable entry fees that make it welcoming for families too. You can park a campervan and watch from the stands. Check the race schedule on the Banei Tokachi official site.

Kofuku Station & Aikoku Station (Journey to Happiness)

The old JR Hiroo Line stations “Aikoku” (Love Country) and “Kofuku” (Happiness) became a national sensation with the slogan “From the Land of Love to Happiness.” Now preserved as free-to-visit exhibition sites (parking available), you can also buy commemorative tickets. About a 20-minute drive from Obihiro. There is plenty of parking for a campervan.

Hanabatake Farm (Nakasatsunai Village)

A farm run by celebrity Yoshitake Tanaka, famous for its fresh caramels, cheese, and ice cream. The farm has a well-stocked shop and café where you can enjoy sweets made with locally sourced Tokachi dairy. About a 35-minute drive from Obihiro (Nakasatsunai Village). See the Hanabatake Farm official site for details.

Rokkatei Obihiro Main Store & Rokka no Mori

The main store of Rokkatei, one of Hokkaido’s most iconic confectionery brands, is in Obihiro. Known for its Marusei Butter Sandwich, the shop also has a café for eating in. The Rokka no Mori in Shimizu (paid entry) features a garden with scattered galleries and flower fields.

Ryugetsu

Another Obihiro confectionery institution, Ryugetsu is best known for its Sanporo Roku (Mikataroku) — a Baumkuchen inspired by birch bark, made with Tokachi butter and fresh cream. Find their stores on the Ryugetsu official site.

Tokachigawa Onsen

Tokachigawa Onsen is one of the rare “moor hot springs” (mooru onsen) in Japan, containing plant-derived organic matter in the water. The area has day-use bathing facilities, and some spots have adjacent RV parks, making it a great fit for campervan travelers. See the Tokachigawa Onsen Tourism Association for more.

Mikuni Pass (National Route 273)

On Route 273 heading toward Daisetsuzan from Obihiro, this mountain pass at 1,139 m offers sweeping views of the Tokachi Plain and the Daisetsu peaks. Early October foliage here is among the most celebrated in Hokkaido. About 1.5 hours from Obihiro. It fits naturally into an itinerary heading toward Daisetsuzan or Sounkyo.

Tokachi food and campervan travel go hand in hand

Obihiro and Tokachi are known as Hokkaido’s “food base.” The campervan kitchen and fridge open up all kinds of culinary possibilities on the road.

Obihiro pork rice bowl (buta-don)

A local specialty that originated in Obihiro: pork loin grilled in a sweet-savory sauce, served over rice. Straightforward and satisfying, with plenty of specialist shops in the city. “Panchō” and “Hagetenjust” are the well-known stalwarts, but it also shows up at local diners and roadside stations throughout the area.

Tokachi sweets (Rokkatei, Ryugetsu, Cranberry, etc.)

Obihiro city has a concentration of famous sweet shops. The ability to graze your way through Rokkatei, Ryugetsu, Cranberry (sweet potato) and other specialty shops as you drive is one of the genuine pleasures of campervan travel here. Anything you buy can be kept in the fridge and enjoyed at your own pace.

Tokachi cheese, butter, and yogurt

Farm shops around Obihiro sell locally made cheese, butter, and yogurt. Hanabatake Farm (Nakasatsunai), Tokachi Hills, and farm stands near Kamishihoro are among the places conveniently located along driving routes. Pick them up and use them as ingredients the same day — the campervan fridge size works perfectly for that.

How to choose where to stay

Accommodation	Location	Estimated cost	Notes
Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai	Nakasatsunai Village	Free (overnight parking)	Close to Hanabatake Farm · good facilities
Tokachigawa Onsen Hotel RV Park	Otofuke, Tokachigawa Onsen	¥2,000–4,000/night	Adjacent to hot springs · power hookup available
Obihiro city campsites / RV parks	Obihiro city	¥1,000–3,000/night	Close to city center · convenient for shopping
Michi-no-Eki Pia 21 Shihoro	Shihoro Town	Free (overnight parking)	North of Obihiro · quiet roadside location

Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai is convenient for exploring southern Tokachi, near Hanabatake Farm and the Nakasatsunai Art Village. The Tokachigawa Onsen RV park has power hookups and works well year-round combined with an FF heater.

What to see changes with the seasons

Spring (April–May)

Snow melts from the Tokachi farmland and preparations for the planting season begin. The green barley stretching across the farm roads in May makes for a fresh, invigorating drive. Cherry blossoms peak late April to early May, with weeping cherry trees near Kofuku Station among the most celebrated. Mornings and evenings are still cold (down to 0–5°C some days), so a vehicle with an FF heater gives you peace of mind.

Summer (July–August)

The Tokachi Plain is at its best in summer. The vast fields of wheat, potatoes, and sugar beet come alive with colour, and the farm road drive is at its finest. Hanabatake Farm and Rokka no Mori are also at their most attractive. Banei horseracing has summer evening races you can catch after sunset. This is peak season — book campsites and RV parks early.

Autumn (September–October)

Mikuni Pass peaks in early October. The whole Tokachi Plain turns golden, and the farm roads look like paintings. Potato, adzuki bean, and corn harvests are underway, and farm stands stock up with freshly picked produce. Days are pleasant but evenings turn cold quickly — pack warm layers.

Winter (December–March)

Tokachi has one of the highest rates of clear skies in Hokkaido, so even in winter you get plenty of blue-sky driving days. Snow-covered farm roads show a completely different face. Banei horseracing continues through winter, and there is something special about watching the powerful horses race through the snow. Temperatures can drop to near -20°C, so an FF heater and winter tires are essential — confirm these before booking.

A sample 2-night, 3-day itinerary

Obihiro Airport base: Tokachi food loop, 2 nights 3 days

• Day 1: Arrive Obihiro Airport → pick up campervan → Obihiro city (pork rice bowl, Banei horseracing) → Tokachigawa Onsen RV park
• Day 2: Kofuku Station & Aikoku Station → Hanabatake Farm (Nakasatsunai) → Rokkatei & Ryugetsu (Obihiro) → farm road drive → overnight in Obihiro
• Day 3: Tokachigawa Onsen (morning day bath) → Mikuni Pass (foliage in autumn) or head toward Kushiro → Obihiro Airport (return)

New Chitose base: Eastern Hokkaido loop, 5 nights 6 days (Obihiro as midpoint)

• Day 1: Pick up campervan at New Chitose (Moving Inn etc.) → drive to Obihiro via Doto Expressway (approx. 2.5 h) → Obihiro city (pork rice bowl, Banei horseracing) → overnight in Obihiro
• Day 2: Kofuku Station → Hanabatake Farm (Nakasatsunai) → Tokachigawa Onsen overnight
• Day 3: Head toward Kushiro → Kushiro Wetlands, Lake Akan → overnight in Kushiro
• Day 4: Notsuke Peninsula (Todowara) → Nemuro, Nosappu Cape → overnight in Nemuro
• Day 5: Head toward Shiretoko, Utoro → Shiretoko Five Lakes → overnight in Utoro
• Day 6: Abashiri, Memanbetsu Airport → back to New Chitose (or return vehicle locally)

For the Notsuke Peninsula and Nemuro area, see the Notsuke Peninsula & Nemuro Campervan Drive Guide. For Kushiro and Lake Akan, see the Kushiro & Lake Akan Campervan Drive Guide. For full eastern Hokkaido route planning, the Eastern Hokkaido Campervan Model Route is also helpful.