Obihiro

Obihiro offers several distinct themes to help you plan your trip: Banei racing, forest and park golf, art in Midorigaoka Park, and a historic building. You can choose the focus of your stay based on whether you are particularly interested in sports, forests, or culture.

Banei Racing at Obihiro Racecourse

The world's only Banei races are held year-round at Obihiro Racecourse. In these races, horses weighing more than one tonne pull iron-weighted sleds along a straight track, testing their strength and speed. The combination of pulling weight, a straight track, and the horses' pace defines this form of racing. If you are planning your trip around Banei racing, check the event schedule in advance for your intended travel date.

Obihiro Forest: Forest, Park Golf, and Activities

Obihiro Forest covers 406.5 hectares, is about 550 meters wide, and extends for 11 kilometers. These figures describe both the area and the extent of the forest. Facilities there include three park golf courses: “Rinkan Course,” “Furusato no Mori,” and “Undō Kōen.” Equipment is available for free rental at the athletics stadium. Its length is approximately twenty times its width.

The Obihiro Forest Hagukuumu facility serves as a center for forest care and use. Among other things, it runs hands-on forestry activities involving thinning, nature observation, woodworking, walks, and wood pellet production. The range of forest activities mentioned therefore extends from observing nature and getting active to working with wood. The various activities offer practical ways to get involved if forest care or crafts are among your interests.

Art and Special Places in Midorigaoka Park

A distinctive bench and a sculpture path offer different cultural points of interest in Midorigaoka Park. The 400-meter bench was once listed in the Guinness Book as the world's longest bench. The sculpture path in the same park was completed in 1973 at the suggestion of sculptor Hongo Shin. Along the path are 21 modern sculptures made from Tokachi Mikage stone and created by 18 artists. The park thus brings together the story of a single, exceptionally long bench and artworks arranged along a path.

Obihiro's Architectural History

Another cultural landmark is the Tokachi Prison Oil Storehouse. Built in 1900, this brick building is a cultural property designated by Obihiro and is considered the city's oldest surviving building. Compared with the sculpture path, whose completion dates to 1973, the building offers a different perspective on Obihiro's cultural heritage: here, the construction date and historical context take center stage, while the path focuses on the creation of modern sculptures. Together, these places offer different ways to explore art and history without telling the same story.

Discover more destinations: Nayoro, Urahoro, Shiraoi District, Kamishihoro, Kamikawa, Koshimizu, Tsurui, Shintoku.

For the broader travel overview: Hokkaido.