[Tenryu Marsh in Bifuka] Small Marsh near Trailhead of Matsuyama Wetland

Tenryu Marsh

Tenryu Marsh (天竜沼) is a small marsh at about 600 m elevation in Bifuka town located in the northern part 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.

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 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.

Matsuyama Wetland

Matsuyama Wetland (松山湿原) is a marshland at 797 m elevation in Bifuka town located in the northern part 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. 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. 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. Article is here

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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 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. Article is here

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. Article is here