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Urakawa (浦河), the small capital of Hidaka Region, is worth a visit for racehorse lovers. One of world’s greatest blood-horse training centers spread out along the Pegasus Road. If you have come from Sapporo by the highway bus, Urakawa is the end point and where JR buses connect to Samani.
Sightseeing
JRA Hidaka Training Farm
JRA日高育成牧場
6.4km north of Hidaka-Horobetsu bus stop
Founded in 1907 as a stallion farm, the 1500-hectare Hidaka training farm is something like ‘Japan’s Newmarket’. You can walk around the Blood-horse Training Area from the BTC south gate information center. A 1.5-hour free guided bus tour (Wed of Jul-Oct & Fri of Jul-Sep) show you to the private facilities. About 400m west of the south gate is the Observation Tower (Apr-Oct) with farm and mountain views. There is also a century-old JRA Memorial Hall (Apr-Oct),
Yushun Village AERU
優駿ビレッジアエル
7km north of Hidaka-Horobetsu bus stop
Located near the JAR Hidaka Training Farm looking out over the mountains, the AERU offer a range of horse riding for beginner in the village to advanced in the grand-scale JRA training farm. You need to making reservations by the day before. The AERU has Hidaka’s most modern resort hotel with a public bath.
Urakawa Town Museum & Horse Museum
浦河町立郷土博物館・馬事資料館
1min walk from Urakawa-kyodo-hakubutsukan bus stop
Housed in an old elementary school, the town museum contains natural specimen, fishing gear and agricultural equipment. Adjoining the Horse Museum focuses on local thoroughbred and harness.
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Hotels
Photo: じゃらんnet
Yushun Village AERU
優駿ビレッジアエル
10min by free shuttle from Urakawa Terminal or Hidaka-Horobetsu bus stop
Hidaka’s most modern resort hotel, this is the best place to admire the thoroughbred, located west side of the JAR training center looking out over the mountains. They offers a free shuttle service from Hidaka-Horobetsu bus stop or Urakawa Terminal.
Photo: じゃらんnet
Urakawa Inn
浦河イン
1min walk from Hidaka-shinkokyoku-mae bus stop
This artistic business hotel is just a short walk from Hidaka Subprefectural Government Office (near Hidaka-shinkokyoku-mae bus stop). Meals include seasonal local seafood such as squid sashimi and salmon.
Photo: じゃらんnet
Urakawa Wellington Hotel