The Official Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide

Discover Sorachi through Cycling, Sculptures and Sake

1-DAY

DIFFICULTY

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GREEN SEASON

  • 1 day

  • Min.15 Max. 25

  • Cycling

    Cycling

HIGHTLIGHTS
  • Cycle through the vast expanses of Hokkaido’s unique countryside
  • Discover the work of world-famous sculptor Kan Yasuda at Arte Piazza Bibai
  • Take a tour of a snow warehouse where rice is stored at 0°C
  • Visit Nishikawa Farm, where the sheep are fed with asparagus, a local specialty
  • Visit Kobayashi Sake Brewery, Hokkaido’s oldest brewery, and taste local sake
LOCATION

Sorachi, Hokkaido

OVERVIEW

Bibai City is located in Sorachi in central Hokkaido, a region with a rich heritage as a prosperous mining region that contributed to the modernization of Japan. Following the closure of the mines, Bibai has transformed itself into a city of art and agriculture. It is also an ideal spot to enjoy the incredible scenery of Hokkaido throughout the seasons, with magnificent views of vast countryside and distant mountain landscapes.

Take a cycling tour of Bibai and discover the area’s history from the heyday of the local mines through to recent revitalization efforts by locals.

Finally, round off the day with a visit to Kobayashi Sake Brewery, the oldest sake brewery in Hokkaido, which has been making sake with Hokkaido rice in the Sorachi area for more than 140 years.

This tour is a unique opportunity to get an insight into how local people are revitalizing their region through agriculture, the arts and an integrated approach to local production.

ITINERARY

Bibai Coal Mine Memorial Park

Hear about the history of Bibai from local people

Kan Yasuda Sculpture Museum – Arte Piazza

Open-air art museum by Kan Yasuda, a world-famous sculptor from Bibai.

The museum’s curator will be on hand to guide you through the pieces

on display. After guided tour, starts cycling from here.you. We will take a few stops until the end of the cycling. (snow warehouse /Nishikawa Farm)

Cycling detail

11.3 km, mainly paved roads, with some gravel sections

Cafe Stoven

Lunch

Kobayashi Sake Brewery

oldest sake brewery in Hokkaido. Here, you’ll hear about the impact of
the coal mine’s closure on the local community, see a brewing
demonstration and have the opportunity to sample some local sake.

LUNCH

At the start of your hike, you’ll receive a boxed lunch of sandwiches with Hokkaido vegetables on bread made from locally grown wheat, which you can enjoy at the terrace or observatory in the wetland. Your pack includes a roast beef and wasabi mayo panini, a prosciutto and cream cheese bagel and a French carrot salad. Wash it down with apple juice from the nearby Iwamizawa.
The meal is produced by a Patisserie Soraka in Iwamizawa, and all ingredients are sourced from trusted local farms. We will provide alternatives for those with dietary restrictions to the greatest extent
possible—for example, rice bread sandwiches are available as a gluten-free option.

Tour Operator / Contact

JTB Corp. HOKKAIDO Branch

Address

Urban Net Sapporo Bldg, 1-2, North 1 West 6, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0001 Japan

TEL

+81 (0)11-221-4800

Email

jtb-mice@jtb.com

Official web site
https://www.jtbgmt.com/luxury

JTB — “Perfect moments, always.”
The JTB Group traces its roots back to 1912 when “Japan Tourist Bureau” was formed to attract international travelers to Japan and assist with their travel needs. While our activities and clientele have expanded greatly since then, the JTB Group remains aligned around a core purpose: bringing people, places and possibilities together. Developing innovative services and solutions that enable our customers to connect more deeply and meaningfully. Contributing to the creation of sustainable communities and a more peaceful and interconnected planet. No matter how the world changes, the JTB Group remains as committed now as 108 years ago to delivering unrivaled excitement, value and satisfaction. At its essence, JTB’s legacy resides in the bonds of trust we have forged with our customers, communities and stakeholders.

The JTB Group is poised to embark on the next exciting chapter in its incredible journey, staying attuned to and aligned with the evolving needs of a new era, maintaining its position as a digital trailblazer, and delivering real value that our customers can feel.

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