Tokachi is an easy, relaxed destination for families. Wide-open spaces, gentle attractions, hearty local food, and plenty of free parks mean children and grandparents can all enjoy the same unhurried trip.
Why Tokachi is great for families
- Spacious scenery and a calm, uncrowded atmosphere
- Kid-friendly food: pork bowls, soft-serve ice cream, and dairy sweets
- Short driving distances between attractions on quiet roads
- Hot-spring hotels for an easy rest at the end of the day
Family attractions worth planning around
Obihiro Zoo
A compact, walkable city zoo that is a favourite with local families — its polar bears, lions, and elephant are the stars, and there is a small amusement corner with gentle rides. It sits inside Midorigaoka Park, so you can combine it with a picnic.
Good to know: Adults ¥420, high-school students and visitors 65+ ¥210, junior-high age and younger free. Summer hours are 9:00–16:30 (29 Apr–30 Sep) and 9:30–16:00 (1 Oct–3 Nov); winter opening is weekends and holidays only. From JR Obihiro Station it is about 20 minutes by Tokachi Bus to the “Dōbutsuen-mae” stop, then a 3-minute walk, or roughly 6 km by car.
Green Park & Midorigaoka
Next to the zoo, Green Park is a huge free lawn — 8 hectares — with room to run, a famous 400-metre bench, and boat rides on a small lake nearby. With the Centennial City Museum and art museum on the same grounds, it is an easy free half-day for all ages, about a 30-minute walk from the station.
Banei Tokachi horse racing (Obihiro)
Found nowhere else in the world, Banei racing pits enormous draft horses against each other as they haul weighted sleds up a sand track. It is slow, dramatic, and easy for children to follow, and the on-site “Banba” area lets you meet the gentle giants up close. Admission is inexpensive and the grounds include food stalls and a farm-produce market.
Tips for family travel in Tokachi
- Rent a car — it keeps young children comfortable and links the spread-out sights.
- Build in free outdoor time (parks, farms) between paid attractions.
- Choose a hot-spring hotel for an easy, restful evening.
- Carry snacks and water; some rural viewpoints have few shops.