The windy town of Tomamae (苫前町) is known for the worst bear attack in Japanese history. In 1915, seven setters were eaten by brown bear at the deep forest of Sankebetsu (三毛別). But today higuma (brown bear) is a symbol of the town, bear enthusiasts come here and taking pictures of the unique bear statues.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Location 42km north of Rumoi, 7km south of Haboro on the Ororon Line
Population 3000
Highlights Tomamae Town Museum, Michi-no-eki Fuwatto Tomamae
Tourist Information Michi-no-eki Fuwatto Tomamae (道の駅風Wとままえ): see below
01 MONUMENT
Tomamae-da-Bear
とままえだベアー / 37-1 Asahi
Located in front of the town hall along Route 232 near the Tomamae Yakuba (苫前役場) bus stop, this standing statue of higuma (brown bear) is the town’s iconic landmark.
02 LOCAL HISTORY
Tomamae Town Museum
苫前町郷土資料館 / 393-1421 Tomamae / 10am-5pm May-Oct / Closed Mon except in summer / ¥300
Worth a look is the little town museum in an old town hall. It has a presented the local history, with a full-size model of the bear attack scene (wow!), stuffed higuma (brown bears) and old household implements collected from the area.
You can watch the 50-minute video Kuma-arashi (羆嵐: bear storm) in the old mayor’s office (ask for staff).
It is about 400m east of the Tomamae Yakuba bus stop.
03 ONSEN & SLEEPING
Michi-no-eki Fuwatto Tomamae
道の駅風Wとままえ / 119-1 Tomamae / 7am-10pm / Wi-Fi
This attractive roadside station, overlooking the ocean and two islands, has an onsen (10.30am-10pm, from 11pm in winter; ¥500) and a free ashi-yu (foot bath: open in summer). It is a 4-minute walk from Tomamae-Uemachi (苫前上町) bus stop (intercity buses also stop here).
The restaurant Fu-mu (風夢: 11.30am-3pm & 5-9pm) serves tasty kaisen-don (seafood bowls) and ama-ebi-don (甘えび丼: raw shrimps on rice bowl).
04 BEACH
Yuhigaoka White Beach
夕陽ヶ丘ホワイトビーチ / 55 Sakaehama / Mid Jul-mid Aug / Parking fee FREE
About 700m north from the michi-no-eki, Yuhigaoka’s ocean beach contains white sand obtained from China. There are two shokudo and paid showers. It is walkable from the campsites. The closest bus stop is Sakaehama (栄浜), local buses stop here.
TOMAMAE MAP
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Sights of Central Tomamae
DISTANCE 2km | DURATION 1.5 HOURS | TIMING MAY – OCT
START: Tomamae-da-Bear
↓ 5min walk
02 Tomamae Town Museum
↓ 10min walk
Tomamae-zaki Lighthouse
↓ 10min walk
FINISH: 03 Michi-no-eki Fuwatto Tomamae
GETTING THERE
Local buses run almost hourly between Rumoi-ekimae and Haboro or Toyotomi, stopping at the main attractions on Route 232. There are also intercity buses from Sapporo to Tomamae-Uemachi (苫前上町).
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