Hello. I’m ”Arafifi Mitsu”（Around 50 Mitsu）.
Obihiro City, located in Hokkaido’s Tokachi region, is an area with a different charm from Sapporo and Hakodate. The Tokachi region has a population of approximately 350,000 and is home to approximately 430,000 cattle, meaning the number of cattle outnumbers the population.
Here’s a two-day, one-night itinerary for Tokachi using public transportation. Travel efficiently around the vast Tokachi region and enjoy the local flavors and tourist spots.
The breakfast at Hokkaido Hotel is amazing!
Hokkaido Hotel is renowned as the most prestigious hotel in Obihiro. With a history spanning over 100 years, it is a hotel beloved by locals.
Although we weren’t able to stay overnight this time, we did enjoy the highly acclaimed breakfast.
The breakfast menu has three options: a Japanese set, a Western set, and a morning curry set. I chose the Western set, which includes freshly baked bread. The Hokkaido Hotel has a bakery attached, so you can enjoy fragrant bread baked on the spot.
One thing worth mentioning is that you can take home any bread you don’t finish. It would be great to have it as a snack during your trip after enjoying a leisurely breakfast.
Later, a friend told me that the afternoon tea at Hokkaido Hotel was amazing! The next time I visit, I would definitely like to stay overnight and enjoy a relaxing afternoon tea.
What is Ban’ei Horse Racing? It’s exciting!
What is Ban’ei horse racing? It’s a spot that even beginners can enjoy. The first thing that surprised me when I arrived at the racecourse was the number of people there with children. Unlike regular racecourses, there was a very homey atmosphere.
The horses that compete in Ban’ei horse racing are called “Ban’ei horses,” and are “heavy breeding horses” bred as farm horses. They can weigh over one ton, about twice the size of a thoroughbred!
At the “Fureai Hiroba” (Interaction Square) inside the racecourse, you can see the Banei horses up close and even feed them. When you see them in front of you, you’ll be overwhelmed by their size.
The sleds used in races weigh over 500 kg. The horses that can pull such a weight are amazing!
As a horse racing novice, a kind man nearby taught me how to buy a betting ticket.
In the end, I lost a little, but I was very satisfied because I got to experience the excitement of the race up close.
Obihiro Curry Indian, Obihiro’s soul food
To conclude our trip to Tokachi, we went to Obihiro curry restaurant “Indian Curry.”
There are several curry specialty restaurants in Obihiro, but Indian is especially beloved by locals. It’s the second-best restaurant in Obihiro (the first being the home-cooked food of a mother and wife, a humorous catchphrase that’s also great!).
The building is stylish.
They offer three types of curry roux, and this time I chose the most popular, Indian roux. The sweet and rich roux has a nostalgic flavor that’s addictive.
What surprised me was the system where you could just buy the curry roux if you brought your own pot. Apparently, it was featured on the TV show “Monday Late Night,” and apparently, Obihiro residents sometimes don’t even have to cook curry themselves, just make Indian curry instead.
The price is reasonable, about 500 yen. If you visit Obihiro, this is a dish you should definitely try.
Summary
With a delicious breakfast, refreshing yoga, the thrilling Ban’ei horse racing, and soul food curry, these were two days of fully enjoying Obihiro.
My only regret is not being able to visit the Rokkatei main store. Next time, I’ll definitely try the Marsei Butter Sandwich there!
It was a very satisfying trip, experiencing Obihiro’s nature, delicious food, and warm people. I headed home, vowing to return.
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