Founded as Hokkaido’s first prison Kabato Shujikan (樺戸集治監) in 1881, this town was named after the first warden Tsukigata Kiyoshi (月形潔). Prisoners carved out the forest and roads of the region. The town is now offers melon and cut flowers.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Location 46km northeast of Sapporo via Tobetsu (21km), 20km northeast of Iwamizawa
Population 3000
Highlights Tsukigata Kabato Museum
Tourist Information Tsukigata Tourism Association (月形町観光協会): Tsukigata Town Hall / tsukigata-kanko.jp
01 LOCAL HISTORY
Tsukigata Kabato Museum
月形樺戸博物館 / 1219 Tsukigata-cho / 9.30am-5pm Apr-Nov / Closed Dec-Mar / ¥300
The old Kabato shujikan prison office near JR Ishikari-Tsukigata Station has been converted into a museum. It showcases with dioramas, photos, items for jailer and prisoner. It is closed from December to March.
02 ONSEN & CAMPING
Kairaku Park
皆楽公園 / Kairaku Koen / Tel 0126-53-2577 / May-Oct
An old oxbow lake of Ishikari-gawa is now a cheerful playground for locals. You can enjoy boating (¥300), park golf (¥400; closed Tue) and camping (¥200 per person). There are also rental bikes (¥100 per 30min).
After a picnic, take a moment to relax at the cozy onsen Yurikago (月形温泉ゆりかご) facing the Park. A Tsukigata–Urausu municipal bus stops here.
TSUKIGATA MAP
GETTING THERE & AROUND
Eight Chuo buses run between Iwamizawa Terminal and Ishikari-Tsukigata Station (45min) via Kitamura Onsen (25min).
From JR Ishikari-Tobetsu Station south gate (石狩当別駅南口), the municipal bus Tobe-ru-go (とべーる号) runs to Tsukigata (月形駅 / 9 daily / 50min / ¥400) on Route 275 via JR Hokkaido-iryo-daigaku Station (北海道医療大学駅).
The municipal bus Kabato-ru-go (かばとーる号) runs from Tsukigata to Urausu Station (浦臼駅 / 5 daily / 30min / ¥400) via Tsukigata Onsen (月形温泉) in Kairaku Park.
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