Fukagawa | Travel | HOKKAIDO PLUS

The northernmost city of the Ishikari Plain that has a nickname Rice Land, Fukagawa (深川) is a jumping-off point for Rumoi, Horokanai and Hokuryu. The city has a variety of orchards, cycle paths, trails and soba restaurants.

Sightseeing

Art Hall Toshukan

アートホール東州館

1min walk from Fukagawa Station

If you just wait for a bus in the city center, stop by this gallery on the 2nd floor of the keizai center building, immediately to the left as you exit to JR Fukagawa Station. It has a collection of local-born calligrapher Ogawa Toshu and oil painter Matsushima Masayuki.

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Michi-no-eki Riceland Fukagawa

道の駅ライスランドふかがわ

3.5km south of Fukagawa Station / 1min walk from Otoe-bunkiten bus stop

If you are driving, drop in this popular roadside station at the corner of Route 12 and Route 233, about 3.5km east of the city center. It has an excellent speciality shop, cafe, restaurant and tourist information office.

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Totoro Pass

戸外炉峠

6.4km south of Fukagawa Station / 35min walk from Neiparu Fukagawa bus stop

This scenic hillside pass is the same name as a Studio Ghibli’s famous movie My Neighbor Totoro, with a cat bus (!) and great rice field view. It is about 1.4km ahead of the Agri Kobo Ma-bu.

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Hotels

Fukagawa has a spread of budget inns near the train station.

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La Campagne Hotel Fukagawa

ラ・カンパーニュホテル深川

5min walk from Fukagawa Station

Fukagawa’s only hotel is located 450m west of the train station. Renovated rooms are Western-style. Breakfast is using local rice and vegetables.

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Irumu-no-oka Youth Hostel

イルムの丘ユースホステル

12min walk from Otoe bus stop / 17min walk from Neiparu Fukagawa bus stop

This charming hillside log hostel is far from the train station, but it has an attractive apple orchard and a private cottage. It is approximately 1km east of Otoe bus stop.

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Photo: じゃらんnet

Agri Kobo Ma-bu

アグリ工房まあぶ

20min walk from Otoe bus stop / 15min walk from Neiparu Fukagawa bus stop

This hillside onsen complex is a good place to rest after a hike, opposite the Yama-no-eki Otoe. There are eight cottages.

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Getting There

JR TRAIN

All the limited express trains connects Fukagawa with Sapporo (1hr) and Asahikawa (20min) on the JR Hakodate Line. Local trains run from Iwamizawa (1hr) and Asahikawa (25min).

BUS

Operated by Chuo Bus, the highway bus Kosoku Rumoi-go (高速るもい号) via Fukagawa (深川経由) stops at Neiparu Fukagawa (ネイパル深川) in Otone near the interchange, Fukagawa-shiritsu-byoin-mae (深川市立病院前), and Fukagawa-jujigai (深川十字街) near JR Fukagawa Station.

Central Fukagawa has three main bus stops:

● Fukagawa Station (深川駅): in front of the train station. JR Bus runs to Horokanai (70min) continue to Nayoro (名寄) via Shumarinai (朱鞠内). Japan and Hokkaido rail passes are available.

● Fukagawa-jujigai (深川十字街): about 200m down the main street from JR Fukagawa Station. Engan Bus, Chuo Bus (highway bus) and Sorachi Chuo Bus (local bus) stop here. There is a waiting room facing the crossroads, inside the old bank building. See also Getting Around.

● Fukagawa-shiritsu-byoin-mae (深川市立病院前): Chuo Bus’s main bus stop located in front of the city hospital, about 800m southwest of JR Fukagawa Station. All the Sorachi Chuo Bus departs from here, and it sells a ticket at the hospital kiosk.

Getting Around

BICYCLE

There is a limited number of rental bikes at Fukagawa Tourist Information Center inside JR Fukagawa Station. Apr-Oct.

BUS

From Fukagawa-jujigai (深川十字街), there are local buses to the following destinations:

● Asahikawa (旭川) via Kamuikotan (神居古潭). Operated by Sorachi Chuo Bus (via Osamunai) and Engan Bus (via Otoe-bunkiten in front of the michi-no-eki).

● Hokuryu-onsen (北竜温泉) via Moseushi (妹背牛). Operated by Sorachi Chuo Bus.

● Numata (沼田) via Chippubetsu (秩父別). Operated by Sorachi Chuo Bus.

● Rumoi (留萌) via Chippubetsu (秩父別). Operated by Engan Bus.

● Takikawa (滝川) via Otoe (音江) stopping at Otoe-bunkiten (音江分岐点) in front of the michi-no-eki, or via Uryu (雨竜). Operated by Sorachi Chuo Bus.

Information

Fukagawa Tourist Information Center
深川観光案内所
Inside JR Fukagawa Station. It stocks a lot of maps and brochures of Kita-Sorachi region.

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