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Kuromatsunai (黒松内) is the gateway for journeys north through Western Shiribeshi if you are coming from Niseko or Oshamanbe. This rustic agricultural town is a nice place to hike the footpaths in the countryside. Slow your pace and take the time to relax.
Sightseeing
Utasai Beech Forest
歌才ブナ林
28min walk or 4min by taxi from Kuromatsunai Station
Utasai is Japan’s northern limit of the beech forest and designated as a natural treasure in 1928. There is a 1.2km-long (1.5 hours return) path surrounded by 200-year-old beech trees in the low mountains. The trailhead is 800m south of the car park on prefectural road 266 (2km southeast of JR Kuromatsunai Station), or 1.5km from Utasai Shizen-no-ie near Kuromatsunai Onsen.
Kuromatsunai Buna Center
黒松内町ブナセンター
40min walk or 5min by taxi from Kuromatsunai Station
About 3km south JR Kuromatsunai Station near Utasai Auto Camp-jo, the Buna Center has small exhibitions of local beech forest, town history and woodworks. Hiking gear rental is available, such as snowshoes and fishing gear. From here, you can hike to Utasai Beech Forest (40 minutes).
Kuromatsunai Onsen Buna-no-mori ♨︎
黒松内温泉ぶなの森
23min walk or 4min by bus from Kuromatsunai Station
Kuromatsunai Onsen is a perfect place for a soak after hiking at the gateway of Utasai Forest Park, with contemporary indoor and open-air baths.
Kuromatsunai Footpaths
黒松内フットパス
Choposhinai Course: 4hr hike
There are four well-signposted footpaths to the picturesque countryside, hills and forest. The town’s best footpath, Choposhinai Course (チョポシナイコース: 10km) begins from the Michi-no-eki Kuromatsunai near JR Neppu Station. Hike along the serene river and beyond the hill, you can reach the top of Higashi-yama (東山: at 190m) overlooking the town. The hike to the town center takes about three hours.
Toit Vert
トワ · ヴェール
50min walk or 6min by taxi from Kuromatsunai Station
About 4km northwest of JR Kuromatsunai Station, this handmade specialities processing center offers high-quality cheese, sausage, ham and ice cream, with views of the scenic hills. It is recommended to visit here by taxi.
Toit Vert II
トワ · ヴェール · ドゥー
10min walk from Neppu Station
Inside the Michi-no-eki Kuromatsunai (道の駅くろまつない) on Route 5, the Toit Vert II has a restaurant, bakery and pizzeria using local dairy products. This is a good place to take a break after long-distance drive or footpath hiking.
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Hotels
Photo: じゃらんnet
Utasai Shizen-no-ie
歌才自然の家
30min walk from Kuromatsunai Station
Utasai Shizen-no-ie (nature house) is an ideal place to unwind surrounded by forest, with clean bedrooms, bathrooms and laundries. You can borrow binoculars, bikes and snowshoes.
Photo: じゃらんnet
Koma Ryokan
小間旅館
2min walk from Kuromatsunai Station
This homely ryokan is conveniently attached to JR Kuromatsunai Station if you hike the footpaths all day. Wi-Fi is available.
Map
Getting There
JR TRAIN
There are a few local trains to Kuromatsunai from Oshamanbe (25min), as well as Otaru (2.5hr) via Kutchan (1hr 20min). Neppu (熱郛) is one stop northeast of Kuromatsunai.
Getting Around
BUS
Most services are operated by Niseko Bus. There are a few buses to Suttsu from Kuromatsunai Onsen (35min) and JR Oshamanbe Station (62min) via JR Kuromatsunai Station (31min) except Sunday and holiday.
TAXI
Kuromatsunai Hire (黒松内ハイヤー) is about 200m south of JR Kuromatsunai Station. Taxis are the best way to get to off-the-beaten-path.
Information
Kuromatsunai Tourist Association
黒松内町観光協会
Inside Kuromatsunai Onsen Buna-no-mori. They can arrange outdoor tours, such as hiking, fishing and harvest experiences with Japanese- and English-speaking guides.
Kuromatsunai Station
黒松内 | 구로마쓰나이
Address：Kuromatsunai-cho, Hokkaido
Distance：20km from Oshamanbe
Elevation：24m