Nakasatsunai 中札内村
The surprise is in the meadow
In the Tokachi sub-prefecture, in Hokkaido, the small village of Nakasatsunai has more than one trick up its sleeve to surprise visitors. Far from betting solely on magnificent landscapes, Nakasatsunai captivates, amuses, routs... a whole program!
And in the middle flows a river
In the basin of the Sapporo River, this small town of 4,000 souls is ideally located 35 minutes by car from Obihiro airport (accessible in 1h30 from Tokyo). Etymologically, Nakasatsunai owes its name to the words satsu and nai which respectively mean "dry" and "river" in the Ainu language. These terms refer to the Sapporo-gawa called "dry river" because of the water that flows only underground in winter and summer. The Japanese word naka (middle) specifies the geographical position of the city "in the middle of the dry river" . at the bus station. The less athletic who would prefer an electric bike will have to pay a small fee (100 yen per hour). Whatever your choice, you will take full advantage of the nature that awaits you as soon as you leave Nakasatsunai: fields and forests as far as the eye can see, the Hidaka mountains in the background... the setting is exceptional!
Unusual visits
In Nakasatsunai, among the fields of wheat and potatoes, there are peculiarities… a little confusing! One of them is known throughout the archipelago: the Hanabatake ranch or the flower field ranch. It is directed by a tarento (Japanese star) well known to the public, Yoshitake Tanaka. The singer-songwriter became a businessman thanks to his flourishing activities (dairy production, breeding, agriculture, cheese and confectionery) in his farm-ranch opened in 1994. The sweet caramel produced with a large quantity of crème fraiche ensures the reputation of the place.
As for the Tokachi cheese dairy, another cheese dairy in Nakasatsunai, it produces Brie and Camembert! Near the bus station, the bean museum is there to explain everything there is to know about the cultivation of this legume. And to do this, you enter rooms arranged like the interior of a house; Mr. Bean's. Confusing, we told you!
See also: Furano cheese dairy
Garden, forest and museums
You will be captivated at the Art Village and in the Rokka no Mori garden ; two installations initiated by the confectionery company Rokkatei and awarded with an award from the Architectural Institute of Japan in 2011. The Rokka no Mori garden was created in 2007. The flowers and plants in the garden are identical to the Tokachi Rokka, the flowers drawn by the painter Naoyuki Sakamoto appearing on the wrapping paper of the famous Japanese confectioner. Several museums including the Sakamoto Naoyuki museum and shops are housed in old wooden buildings from Croatia and harmoniously replaced in the garden.
In the middle of the Kashiwa forest, on an area of 145,000 m², the Art Village includes the Aihara Yuichiro Art Museum, the Junko Koizumi Art Museum, the Kita no Daichi Museum, the Masami Mano Gallery, a restaurant and a shop. The place is an opportunity to appreciate Japanese art in peace as the surrounding nature offers a protective and peaceful cocoon .
Address, timetable & access
Address
Phone
+81 (0)155-68-3390 Timetable
From Tokyo's Haneda airport, take a flight to Obihiro (1h30) then the bus to Nakasatsunai (35 minutes). From Sapporo, 2h25 by train to Obihiro, then 35 minutes by bus.Website
http://kankou-nakasatsunai.com/