[Matsuyama Wetland in Bifuka] Northernmost Beautiful High Moor at High Place in Japan

Matsuyama Wetland

Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原) is a marshland at 797 m elevation in Bifuka town located in the northern direction of Asahikawa city, and is the northernmost high moor at a high place in Japan, and has been chosen as one of 500 Most Important Wetlands in the Japan. By the way, the northernmost high moor in the Japan is Meguma-numa Wetland (メグマ沼湿原) in Wakkanai. The high moor does not point to a high place, and point to a wetland formed at higher place than ground-water level. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. A public restroom is built beside the parking lot. Besides the parking lot and the restroom, there is not a sightseeing facility at all. Tenryu Marsh (天竜沼) is nearby the parking lot. A road to the Matsuyama Wetland is closed around from late October to mid June.
Map of Matsuyama Wetland in Japanese

Movie of Matsuyama Wetland

Truck Kingdom (トロッコ王国) is relatively close to here, and a truck round trip for about 10 km can be enjoyed on old tracks. Cheese Studio Hitsujikai (チーズ工房羊飼い) and Shop Koibu (コイブ) are near a station of the Truck Kingdom, and handmade cheeze and an ice cream made from sheep milk are sold at each shops. * Unfortunately, the Cheese Studio Hitsujikai was closed down in 2018. Niuppu district is well-known as a sheep ranch, and it is said that here is the setting of “Wild Sheep Chase” written by Mr. Haruki Murakami (村上春樹), a famous novelist. In addition, the Bifuka is famous as a ramen town, and Founders of Sanpachi Ramen (さんぱちラーメン) and Aji-no-Tokeidai (時計台), famous ramen chains, are from the Bifuka, and the Bifuka will be a town excited at the ramen. Some ramen restaurants open a business in the center of the bifuka. I ate the ramen at Inoue Shokudo (井上食堂) and Suzuya Shokudo (すずや食堂), and those were tasty.

Tenryu Marsh

Tenryu Marsh (天竜沼) is a small marsh at about 600 m elevation in Bifuka town located in the northern direction of Asahikawa city. The perimeter of the marsh is about 400 m. A parking lot for Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原) is nearby here. The marsh is known for beautiful fall foliage, and seems to be famous for looking blue, too. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. A public restroom is built beside the parking lot. Besides the parking lot and the restroom, there is not a sightseeing facility at all. A road to the Tenryu Marsh is closed around from late October to mid June. Beware of brown bears, too. Read More

Inoue Shokudo

Inoue Shokudo (井上食堂) is a long-established restraunt in the Bifuka town between Asahikawa city and Wakkanai city. A building is built along National Route 40 near Arcs Bifuka branch (アークス美深店), a supermarket, and the appearance of the building has an atmosphere of Showa era. When I entered the restraunt, I was surprised more. The interior decoration was old style, and there was small but cozy raised seating place and tatami-room. Read More

Suzuya Shokudo

Suzuya Shokudo (すずや食堂) is a long-established ramen restaurant in Bifuka town located in the northern direction of Hokkaido, and was founded in 1953, and it with a traditional atmosphere opens a business. The Bifuka is famous as the setting of “Wild Sheep Chase” written by Mr. Haruki Murakami (村上春樹), and the Bifuka has Truck Kingdom (トロッコ王国), Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原) and Mt. Hakodake (函岳). Founders of Sanpachi Ramen (さんぱちラーメン) and Aji-no-Tokeidai (時計台) are from the Bifuka, and the Bifuka will be a town excited at ramen. All ramen restaurants in the Bifuka seem to be tasty. Read More

Sheep Merry’s Milk Ice Cream

Sheep Merry’s Milk Ice Cream (メリーさんの羊アイス) is an ice cream made from sheep milk produced by Matsuyama Farm (松山農場) in Niupu (仁宇布), Bifuka located between Asahikawa city and Wakkanai city. It is said that the Niupu district is the setting of “A Wild Sheep Chase (羊を巡る冒険)” written by Mr. Haruki Murakami (村上春樹), a famous novelist, and this place is deeply connected with the sheep. 3 types of the sheep, East Friesian Sheep for milking, Poll Dorset Sheep for meat and Romanov Sheep for leather are bred, and the Sheep Merry’s Milk Ice Cream is made from the sheep milk of the Friesland Sheep. Speaking of the ice cream, cow milk is commonly used, and it is a rare ice cream. Those are sold at roadside station “Bifuka (美深)”, Farm Inn Tonttu (ファームイントント) and Koibu (コイブ) run by the Matsuyama Farm. Read More

Matsuyama Wetland Hiking

Hikers should hike to the Matsuyama Wetland after writing their hiking registrations at a hiking registration box beside the parking lot. Brown bears seem to appear, so the hikers had better bring bear-avoiding bells. The hikers must go up a mountain trail of 900 m length from a trailhead to an entrance of the Matsuyama Wetland. A lookout is on the way, so a view from the mountainside can be enjoyed. The hikers may go a round trip for about 1 and a half hours, and it takes 30-60 minutes to go up and go down the mountain trail in that time. However, it was quite hard to hike the mountain trail. Because a muddy ground was not good condition on that day, visitors had better wear their non-slip shoes. I slipped and fell down once.

A splendid view spreads over in front of visitors’ eyes after overcoming their hard work. The area of the marshland is 25 ha. The sky prevails at a part of just its area. I felt as if the sky was very close to the grounds. Wooden paths are built on the marshland, so it is relatively easy to walk. The wooden path is one-way counter-clockwise because of narrow. The visitors can go a round for about 30 minutes. The marshland has 3 marshes, Yezomatsu Marsh (エゾマツ沼), Tsutsuji Marsh (つつじ沼) and Haimatsu Marsh (ハイマツ沼), and about 120 types of plants grow naturally. Strangely shaped Picea Glehni grow here and there, and the balance of the blue sky and green plants are beautiful. Here is a tourist attraction without a lot of people, so the visitors may have rich nature all to themselves.

Atmosphere of Matsuyama Wetland Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Matsuyama Wetland

List of Activities

Matsuyama Wetland Guided Hiking (松山湿原ガイドトレッキング) is held from June to October. Refer to following websites for the activities. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Bifuka. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Bifuka Onsen

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Bifuka Onsen(びふか温泉)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Bifuka Island Cottage(びふかアイランドログコテージ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Bifuka Island Campsite(びふかアイランドキャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten