Kitahiroshima can be explored through a variety of themes: the history of Hokkaido’s pioneering era, an ecomuseum featuring natural history, forest, and routes for walking and cycling. Es Con Field HOKKAIDO also serves as a focal point for sports. When planning your stay, you can choose between historic sites, exhibitions, and outdoor activities.
Getting your bearings and local history
The tourist information office in Elfin Park is located in the park’s community service area, right next to JR Kitahiroshima Station. It is run by the Hokkaidō Kitahiro Tourism Association and provides comprehensive information about Hokkaidō Ballpark F Village, Kitahiroshima City, and nearby areas. Its wide range of topics makes it a practical place to start if you want to get your bearings. As opening hours may change, check the latest visitor information before your visit.
The Old Shimamatsu Station and Post Station is located in Shimamatsu, within Kitahiroshima City. Established in 1873, it was an important transport and communications hub during Hokkaido’s pioneering era. The single-story wooden building clearly preserves traces of its original appearance. The station was designated a National Historic Site in 1984 and is considered the oldest surviving station of its kind in Hokkaido.
Clark is also associated with the site. When he set off for home in 1877, he said farewell to his students there. He is said to have left them with the words “Boys, be ambitious.” This account of his farewell adds a personal memory to the station’s history of transport and architecture.
The Peace Flame Park offers a different perspective. On September 1, 1996, a flame from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was lit there to commemorate Kitahiroshima’s designation as a city. It was a declaration of the wish for world peace and friendship. The station evokes the pioneering era, while the park recalls a civic commemoration carrying a message of peace.
Natural history and sports
The Ecomuseum Center Chishin no Eki is the central facility of Kitahiroshima City’s ecomuseum. It collects, presents, and exhibits information about the city’s nature, history, and industry. The permanent exhibition covers natural history, including geological strata and fossils discovered in Kitahiroshima City. Those interested in how the landscape developed will find a different perspective here than at the historic station: the focus is on natural evidence and how it is interpreted.
Sports are also part of the local scene: Es Con Field HOKKAIDO is the home stadium of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. Kitahiroshima thus brings together historic memorial sites, nature-related attractions, and a sports destination, without requiring visitors to follow a set itinerary.
Forest and outdoor routes
Kitahiroshima City’s Recreation Forest is classified as a “森林スポーツ林” (forest sports area). It is part of the Nopporo Primeval Forest in the Nopporo Hills, which extend from Ebetsu City to Kitahiroshima City. The forest is therefore part of a broader landscape that encompasses both cities.
The Trim Course is a circular route, five kilometers long, that passes through the Kitahiroshima residential area. It is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists and is suitable for hiking, jogging, and cycling. The Elfin Road offers a different kind of route. This is the name for the section of the cycling route between Sapporo and Kitahiroshima that runs through Kitahiroshima City. This section follows the JR Chitose Line for approximately 8.1 kilometers. The two routes are easy to distinguish by their format: a five-kilometer loop and an approximately 8.1-kilometer section of a cycling route between cities.
Individuals and families can use the Watsutsu course at SNOW WORLD for a snowmobile ride. Seasonal dates and operations may vary depending on snow conditions, so check the details with the operator before visiting. This weather-dependent activity is distinct from the routes described above, whose lengths and intended uses are specified.
Discover more destinations: Makkari, Mombetsu, Shintoku, Wakkanai, Hokuto, Toyotomi, Nemuro, Jozankei.
For the broader travel overview: Hokkaido.
