[Oshamambe Onsen] Day Trip Onsen and Sturgeon Can Be Enjoyed at Forestry Recreation Center Bifuka Onsen

Bifuka Onsen

Bifuka Onsen (美深温泉) is a hot spring place in Bifuka town located between Asahikawa city and Wakkanai city. The distance is around 10km away from the center of the Bifuka, and Forestry Recreation Center Bifuka Onsen (林業保養センター びふか温泉) is built between Nayoro National Route (National Route 40) and Teshio River, and has been famous for seeing sturgeon since a long time ago. Bifuka Island (びふかアイランド) surrounded by oxbow lake is a park complex with a camping ground, an auto camping ground, a park golf course, an athletic ground, an accommodation and Sturgeon's House, and it is adjacent to roadside station "Bifuka (びふか)". Unfortunately, a convenience store is not built around here.

Famous tourist attactions in the Bifuka are Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原), Niupu Nature Forest (仁宇布自然の森), Bifuka Truck Kingdom (美深トロッコ王国) and Mt. Hakodake (函岳). The Niupu district is said to be set in a stage 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 sheep. Sheep Merry's Milk Ice Cream (メリーさんの羊アイス) made from sheep milk is sold, too. By the way, Founders of Sanpachi Ramen (さんぱちラーメン) and Aji-no-Tokeidai (時計台) are from the Bifuka, and it is well-known for a town excited at ramen, too. I ate the ramen at Suzuya Shokudo (すずや食堂) and Inoue Shokudo (井上食堂), and those were tasty. At the Inoue Shokudo, a famous huge soft serve ice cream is sold, too.

Matsuyama Wetland

Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原) in Bifuka town is the northernmost high moor at 797 m above sea level in Japan and is located in the northern part of Asahikawa city. Tourists must climb a mountain trail with 900 m in length to look around. It takes about 30 minutes from a trailhead to the mountaintop. However, it is quite hard to climb the mountain trail. Because a muddy ground is not good condition, Tourists should wear their non-slip shoes. I slipped and fell down once. Article is here

Tenryu Marsh

Tenryu Marsh (天竜沼) is located on the foot of Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原) in Bifuka town. The perimeter of the marsh is about 400 m, and it is the small marsh. Wooden paths are built around the marsh, and tourists can approach the bank of the marsh. When I visited here, the water of the marsh became muddy, but the blue marsh seems to be famous. It takes about 1 minutes from a parking lot to the Tenryu Marsh. The parking lot is free of charge. There are a restroom at the parking lot. By the way, except the parking lot and the restroom, there is not facility at all. Beware of bears, too. Article is here

Mt. Hakodake

Mt. Hakodake (函岳) in Bifuka town is located in the northern part of Asahikawa city. Altitude of the mountain is 1,129 m. A signboard written as "Superb View, Mt. hakodake (絶景函岳)" was built along Japan national route 40, and I reach to the mountaintop when I followed a road. Tourists did not climb the mountain on foot. But I had to drive on the gravel road of one car width for a little less than 30 km. Speed did not rise, and it took about 1 hour from Bifuka to the mountaintop by a car. It was a place that many people did not visit here very much, and nature was very rich. I saw North Fox and Yezo Squirrel on the road several times. Article is here

Inoue Shokudo

Inoue Shokudo (井上食堂) is a long-established restraunt in the Bifuka town between Asahikawa city and Wakkanai city. There is a building along National Highway 40 near supermarket, Arcs Bifuka branch (アークス美深店), and the appearance of 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. Article is here

Suzuya Shokudo

Suzuya Shokudo (すずや食堂) is a long-established ramen restaurant in Bifuka town located in the northern part of Hokkaido and was founded in 1953, and it opens with a traditional atmosphere. Bifuka is famous as a setting of a novel, Wild Sheep Chase written by Mr. Haruki Murakami (村上春樹), and 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 Bifuka, and Bifuka will be a town excited at ramen. All ramen restaurants in Bifuka seem to be tasty. Article is here

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Sheep Merry's Milk Ice Cream of Matsuyama Farm

Sheep Merry's Milk Ice Cream (メリーさんの羊アイス) is an ice cream made from sheep milk that Matsuyama Farm (松山農場) in Bifuka located between Asahikawa city and Wakkanai city sells. Niupu (仁宇布) district that there is the Matsuyama Farm is said to be set in a stage of "A Wild Sheep Chase (羊を巡る冒険)" that famous novelist Haruki Murakami (村上春樹) wrote, and this place is deeply connected with sheep. 3 kinds of sheeps, 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 sheep milk of the Friesland Sheep. Speaking of the ice cream, milk is commonly used, and it is the 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. Article is here