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From playing in the snow to relaxing with art, enjoy the great outdoors in Hokkaido

Bibai City, Hokkaido Prefecture

Local stories

Bibai used to be one of Japan’s leading coal towns. The arts were frequently performed here at the time, and Kan Yasuda Sculpture Museum Arte Piazza Bibai, a spot where nature and art intertwine, is beloved by the community today. As the mines closed, Bibai’s population dwindled, and more and more schools were shut down. One Gaku uses one such school to simulate a normal Japanese school day, providing a hands-on demonstration of the world-renowned Japanese education system and sharing both Japanese culture and Bibai’s history with global audiences. While performing arts like the Minenobu-Higashi Umbrella Dance and the Minenobu Lion Dance are struggling to find new practitioners due to the declining birth rate and aging population, One Gaku is helping to pass on their flame by introducing them to inbound tourists. There are also other opportunities and gatherings that showcase Bibai’s hospitality. Amid the hustle and bustle of its coal-town days, Bibai developed a culture of welcoming outsiders. Although foreign languages may not be the community’s strong suit, the people of Bibai are eager to engage with visitors from abroad, welcoming them with local dishes made from wheat, asparagus, and various other produce from Bibai’s fertile fields, teaching them how to make soba noodles, and sharing the joy of making mochi with them.

Local culinary delights

Blessed with fertile soil and abundant water, Bibai’s farms grow a wide range of crops from rice and soy to honeysuckle. The city has also accomplished many Hokkaido firsts, including the cultivation of Oborozuki, a Bibai-original rice cultivar, and propped-up asparagus cultivation, giving rise to a unique food culture. One highlight is Bibai yakitori. Born from the city’s coal-mining roots, these grilled chicken skewers are considered the city’s soul food and can only be enjoyed here. Be sure to get your fill of the local food scene.

Recommended model course

Three days, two nights of learning, food, and encounters: Eating your way through Bibai

Example itinerary

The pioneering spirit of Bibai, a once prosperous coal town, endures to this day. This three-day, two-night itinerary immerses you in the community, from its people to its food and culture, and is jam-packed with encounters and learning opportunities found nowhere else, allowing you to try Bibai yakitori on a home visit, make onigiri rice balls with farmers, and learn about Japanese culture through workshops at a former school.

Schedule

Day One

1:00 p.m. | Arrive at Bibai Station1:10 p.m. | Tour the Bibai City Local History Museum

At the Bibai City Local History Museum, documents and other materials related to themes such as Bibai’s nature, history, and culture are archived, preserved, researched, and displayed for visitors. The permanent exhibits focus on local history, such as the area’s settlement by military settler colonists and Bibai’s prosperous coal-town days. The museum also hosts a ton of other events throughout the year, such as special and themed exhibitions, movie screenings, workshops, and concerts.

2:40 p.m. | Tour Sorachi Jinja4:00 p.m. | Tour Miyajima Marsh (White Data Center during the greater white-fronted goose’s migratory offseason)

The White Data Center is involved in innovative initiatives that use Bibai’s snow to cool servers. Through workshops, discover how this corner of Japan’s snowbelt transformed a nuisance into a valuable resource and listen to untold stories of the project’s launch directly from the researchers themselves. The center also uses the resulting meltwater to help raise eels, offering visitors an enjoyable way to learn about sustainable community development.

6:00 p.m. | Arrive at Pipa-no-Yu Yurinkan

Yurinkan is a hot-spring retreat equipped with medicinal baths featuring local Bibai herbs and expansive open-air baths. Along with refreshing both your body and spirit, it serves dishes featuring local ingredients. Pottery, park golf, and various other activities are available on the grounds, and you can get your fill of Bibai’s nature while cruising around on a rental bicycle.

Day Two

9:00 a.m. | Depart from Pipa-no-Yu Yurinkan9:10 a.m. | Tour Arte Piazza Bibai

Located on the site of a former elementary school, Arte Piazza Bibai is an art space where the works of the renowned Bibai-born sculptor Kan Yasuda are always on display. The sculptures in harmony with nature and the serene setting are two major highlights, soothing the soul amid the beauty of the seasons.

10:00 a.m. | Experience school life at One Gaku3:30 p.m. | Try yakitori and other local fare on a home visit8:00 p.m. | Arrive at Pipa-no-Yu Yurinkan

Day Three

8:00 a.m. | Experience making onigiri rice balls10:10 a.m. | Experience pottery, park golf, and cycling12:30 p.m. | Arrive at Bibai Station

Access

From Sapporo Station to Bibai Station on the JR Hakodate Line Limited Express Train (35 minutes)
From New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station on the JR Chitose Line Rapid Train, then to Bibai Station on the JR Hakodate Line Limited Express Train (1 hour and 20 minutes)
From Asahikawa Airport to Asahikawa Station on the Asahikawa Electric Orbit Asahikawa Airport Bus, then to Bibai Station on the JR Hakodate Line Limited Express Train (1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours)

Contact

Stay Bibai

Recommended Accommodation

Pipa-no-Yu Yurinkan

This hot-spring resort, located on a scenic hill overlooking the Ishikari Plain, is surrounded by lush greenery. The hotel is famed for its buttery-soft hot-spring water and magnificent open-air cave bath, inspired by the Blue Grotto in Capri, Italy. At night, the bath is illuminated in a glorious blue light, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Dinner is traditional kaiseki cuisine with seasonal ingredients.

  • Address :

    Tomei 3-Jo, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)126-64-3800

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    20 minutes from JR Bibai Station on the Shimin Bus (Higashi Line Yurinkan via Yurinkan, Tomei Dori Saki Mawari) to Yurinkan bus stop

  • Check-in :

    3:00–8:00 p.m.

  • Check-out :

    10:00 a.m.

  • Rates :

    From ¥19,900 per night with 2 meals (per person based on double occupancy)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

  • Bedroom :

    Private room for up to 6 people (with lock); futons and beds

  • Bathroom :

    Guest rooms with private open-air bath are available; large public bath available from check-in to midnight and from 5:00 a.m. to checkout

  • Toilet :

    Western style

  • Meals :

    Dinner and breakfast

  • Wi-Fi :

    Available

Recommended Accommodation

BIBAI

A boutique trailer-stylehouse located on the grounds of Bibai Snowland, Golf 5 Country Bibai Course. This stylish retreat is the perfect base for activities in different seasons, such as snow sports in winter and footgolf in summer. The trailer has a living room with tatami mats and a bedroom, as well as a terrace equipped with benches and a fire pit.

  • Address :

    Bibai Snowland Golf 5 Country, Bibai Course, 250-1 Chashinai, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)126-65-2889 (Bibai Snowland Golf 5 Country Bibai Course)

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese and English

  • Access :

    15-minute drive from JR Bibai Station. Free shuttle bus available.

  • Check-in :

    3:00–8:00 p.m.

  • Check-out :

    10:00 a.m.

  • Rates :

    From ¥30,000 per night with 2 meals (per person based on double occupancy)

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

  • Bedroom :

    Private room for up to 4 people (with lock); Western beds

  • Bathroom :

    Bathtub available from check-in to checkout

  • Toilet :

    Western style

  • Meals :

    Dinner and breakfast

  • Wi-Fi :

    Available

Recommended Restaurant

Yakitori Tatsumi

A historic Bibai yakitori (grilled chicken) restaurant that has been in business for more than 50 years. Enjoy premium Japanese chicken and fresh onions from Bibai, carefully grilled on skewers over charcoal (salt and pepper added). Popular choices include motsu kushi skewers, which include various chicken parts—head, skin, ovaries, and organs—and kashiwa soba (buckwheat noodles). Enjoy Bibai's favorite comfort food!

  • Address :

    1-1-15, Nishi Ichijo Minami, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)126-63-4589

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    3-minute walk from JR Bibai Station

  • Opening Hours :

    11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

  • Closed :

    Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday)

  • Cuisine :

    Yakitori

  • Foreign Language Menu :

    Not available

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    None

Recommended Restaurant

Teppan French OPa

This restaurant is located in a picturesque natural setting that showcases the beauty of each season. Indulge in French cuisine that highlights succulent Yonezawa beef and fresh seasonal ingredients. For lunch, the restaurant offers an à la carte menu, which includes Yonezawa beef tendon curry (¥1,200), and various course menus starting at ¥6,000 (reservations required). For dinner, treat yourself to a French course from ¥12,000 or a teppanyaki course from ¥14,000.

  • Address :

    1-ku, Chashinai-cho, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)126-63-3235

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    5-minute drive from JR Bibai Station

  • Opening Hours :

    11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. (last order at 1:30 p.m.); dinner reservations required one day in advance

  • Closed :

    Open every day

  • Cuisine :

    French cuisine, teppanyaki

  • Foreign Language Menu :

    Not available

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    None

Recommended Experience

Bibai Snowland

With an area covering 1.25 million square meters, Bibai Snowland is one of the largest facilities for snow activities in Japan. Their popular snowmobile tours (from ¥6,000) take place on three different courses ranging from two kilometers (fifteen minutes) to ten kilometers (sixty minutes). Some activities, such as snow rafting and mini-snowmobiles, require an extra fee, but others, such as snow tubing and fat bikes, are included in the admission price. Warm clothing is also available to rent.

  • Address :

    250-1 Chashinai, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)126-65-2889

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese and English

  • Access :

    15-minute drive from JR Bibai Station. Free shuttle bus available.

  • Duration :

    Open from early December to late March, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays from January to March.

  • Fee :

    Admission fee ¥1,000; extra fees (¥1,000–¥1,600) for snow rafting, mini-snowmobile, ATV, and Kids Area (unlimited-ride plans also available for these activities)

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese and English

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

Recommended Experience

Sculpting Class at Kan Yasuda Sculpture Museum: Arte Piazza Bibai

The spacious grounds of this beautiful art plaza are dotted with works by the renowned Bibai-born sculptor Kan Yasuda. The sculpting class, held once a month, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in which participants carve Italian white marble or soft stone in a relaxing, meditative atmosphere. If the sculpture is not completed by the end of the class period, participants may continue working on it the following month or even later. Participation is by application only, and a lottery will be held if there are too many applicants for a session.

  • Address :

    Sakae-machi, Ochiai-cho, Bibai-shi, Hokkaido Prefecture

  • Telephone Number :

    +81 (0)126-63-3137

  • Telephone Languages :

    Japanese

  • Access :

    21 minutes from JR Bibai Station on the Shimin Bus (Higashi Line Yurinkan via Arte Piazza, Asahi Dori Saki Mawari) to Arte Piazza bus stop

  • Duration :

    First Saturday and Sunday of each month from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

  • Fee :

    Initial class—¥10,000 for soft stone, ¥15,000 for white marble; follow-up class—¥1,200

  • Languages Supported :

    Japanese and English

  • Accepted Credit Cards :

    VISA/Mastercard/AMEX/JCB

View other Regions

Hokkaido

Tohoku

Hokuriku/
Shinshu

Kanto

Tokai

Kansai

Chugoku

Shikoku

Kyushu

Okinawa

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