A journey through Hokkaido Heritage sites I

A journey through Hokkaido Heritage sites I

Hokkaido's long winter is finally over ! When the weather is nice, don't you feel like going for a drive? If you're in the mood, why not take a trip to Hokkaido's heritage sites?


What are Hokkaido Heritage sites ?

According to the Hokkaido Heritage official website, Hokkaido Heritage is defined as the selection of tangible and intangible assets that should be handed down to the next generations.


The sites are selected according to several criteria. The selected sites may have an academic or aesthetic value but also an emotional value. Some sites are called “Hokkaido Heritage” because they have been preserved by the locals or will surely be preserved by communities.

次の世代に残したい北海道の宝物 北海道遺産

https://www.hokkaidoisan.org/

次の世代へ引き継ぎたい有形・無形の財産の中から、北海道民全体の宝物として選ばれたのが「北海道遺産」です。

The Asahi Bridge

Asahikawa is known as the "City of Rivers and Bridges", with 130 rivers of all sizes - including the Ishikari River - and over 750 bridges. The symbol of Asahikawa is the Asahi Bridge.

Added to the Hokkaido Heritage list in 2004, the Asahi Bridge is one of Asahikawa's most famous landmarks, and is one of the eight most beautiful sights in Asahikawa.

The bridge was built in 1932 and played an important role as it connected the city to the headquarters of the Army’s 7th Division. Together with the Toyohira Bridge in Sapporo and Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro, it was once known as one of the three most famous bridges in Hokkaido. Now only the Asahi Bridge is remaining.

The Asahi Bridge has also been selected as a Civil Engineering Heritage Site by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers, for its beautiful arched shape. This is one reason of why it has been added in the Hokkaido Heritage list. The other reason is the beautiful scenery you can see from the bridge. You have a great view of the Ishikari River and can see the Daisetsuzan range on the horizon, a beautiful scenery changing with the seasons.

The Uryū-numa Wetland

About 1 hour drive from Asahikawa.

The Uryu-numa Wetland in Uryu-cho is one of Japan's largest mountainous high-altitude marshlands, stretching 4 km from east to west and 2 km from north to south on a plateau at 850 m above sea level.

The wetland is dotted with more than 700 ponds and is home to more than 200 species of alpine plants such as Asian skunk-cabbages, Ezo-kanzou, hare's-tail cottongrasses, Uryu-kohone (a species of water lily), Sawagikyo (species of lobelia) and Ezo-rindou (a species of Japanese gentian).

The Uryu-numa Marsh, with its internationally valuable wetland vegetation, was designated as a natural monument of Hokkaido in 1964, added in the "Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park" in 1990, and registered in the Ramsar Convention on Wetland in 2005.

It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to climb up the mountain from the gate park to see the Uryu-numa Wetland. From the Uryu-numa Wetland entrance a 3.5 km wooden path is installed and allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery and alpine plants while trekking at your own pace.

The Forest railway Steam locomotive, Amamiya No. 21

The forest railway steam locomotive "Amamiya No. 21" was the first 11-ton locomotive made in Japan and was assigned to the Maruseppu Murii forest railway in 1928. The locomotive was used for transporting timber and daily commodities from the national forests, but was discontinued in 1958.

From the locals request, the locomotive was transferred to the town of Maruseppu in 1976 where a forest park called "Maruseppu Forest Park Ikoi-no-Mori Railway" was built, to keep the locomotive running.
Today, this is the only forest railway steam locomotive in Japan still in motion.
Thus, it was added to the Hokkaido Heritage list in 2004.

The forest railway steam locomotive, Amamiya No. 21, in “Maruseppu Forest Park Ikoi-no-Mori Railway” is located in Engaru. It is 2 hours by car away from Asahikawa.

In the park, there is a 2 km long rail track which you can ride on with the steam locomotive Amamiya 21. In the park, there are also, a campsite with fully equipped bungalows, the Maruseppu local history museum, a dog park and a playground. This is the perfect place to enjoy with your family!

Conclusion

Sometimes you just want to take your car and go to unknown destinations. But since we got out of the house, going to places where we can feel Hokkaido’s uniqueness may be fun too !

Currently, 67 sites have been registered as Hokkaido Heritage. We don't know how many years it will take, but we will do our best to introduce them all.

Translated from Tora’s article.

この記事のキュレーター

Rin

Hello there!

I am in charge of translating in english some of asatan's articles.
I'm from France and I have been living in Hokkaido for 6 years.
Things I like : drawing, pokemon, online games,
Things I don't like : melon, lags, waking up in the morning

関連するキーワード


Sightseeing driving

関連する投稿


How about a short trip to Obihiro?

How about a short trip to Obihiro?

It's getting warmer and the weather is starting to feel more like spring. Driving in the snow can be a bit scary, but the roads are now free of snow and it's getting easier to drive. Obihiro is about a 3 hour drive from Asahikawa. Let's enjoy a carefree spring drive !


 A journey through Hokkaido Heritage sites II

A journey through Hokkaido Heritage sites II

In this article, we will introduce the second part of our tour of Hokkaido's heritage sites: Nikka Whisky Yoichi’s Distillery, the historical buildings in Mashike, and Ainu place names.


Asahikawa in 8 beautiful sceneries!

Asahikawa in 8 beautiful sceneries!

The "Asahikawa Eight Scenic Spots" were selected based on the citizens opinions in 1997 to represent the city. Each place is a symbol of Asahikawa and a must-see for travellers.


Our nosy tour guide at Asahiyama Zoo (indoor habitats)

Our nosy tour guide at Asahiyama Zoo (indoor habitats)

Don't miss out the fun of the winter zoo (until April 7th) !! Here are our tips to fully enjoy the zoo and some of its many indoor enclosures.


Our nosy tour guide at Asahiyama Zoo (outdoor habitats)

Our nosy tour guide at Asahiyama Zoo (outdoor habitats)

Don't miss out the fun of the winter zoo (until April 7th) !! Here are our tips to fully enjoy the zoo and some of its many outdoor enclosures.


最新の投稿


【旭川市】プレゼントにも!美味しいお菓子が購入できるお店

【旭川市】プレゼントにも!美味しいお菓子が購入できるお店

自分用にはもちろんプレゼントとして渡したくなるお菓子。今回は旭川市内でおすすめのお店をご紹介します。


【旭川市】パスタもデザートも絶品すぎる!デートや友人とのランチにおすすめなお店

【旭川市】パスタもデザートも絶品すぎる!デートや友人とのランチにおすすめなお店

デートや友人とのランチにはおしゃれで美味しい料理とスイーツが食べられるお店に行きたいですよね。今回は旭川市内にある、美味しいパスタとスイーツが食べられるお店をご紹介します。


【旭川市】クリスマス・年末にもぴったりなおすすめグルメ店3選!!

【旭川市】クリスマス・年末にもぴったりなおすすめグルメ店3選!!

今年のクリスマスや年末どこかに行って何か食べようかな~。 どんなものを用意しようかな~。そんな時におすすめの美味しいグルメをご紹介します。


新メニュー多数登場中!ココケッコウのメニューが倍以上にパワーアップしました♪

新メニュー多数登場中!ココケッコウのメニューが倍以上にパワーアップしました♪

旭橋のたもとにあるオムライスが人気のお店『ココケッコウ』。12月からは新メニューも多数加わり、パワーアップしています!!気になる方はぜひ最後まで記事をチェックしてみてください♪


【2025年最新】100円ショップ3社お正月商品紹介!

【2025年最新】100円ショップ3社お正月商品紹介!

もうすぐ2024年が終わり、2025年を迎えます。皆さんお正月の準備はしていますか?100円ショップ各店ではすでにお正月商品を販売中!おすすめ商品をご紹介します。


コープ
旭川を盛り上げよう!キュレーター募集!
カラダ
新店
不動産
本郷美術骨董館'
LINE募集'

人気ランキング


>>総合人気ランキング
a不動産
イズミ
旭川ホテルガイド
旭川を盛り上げよう!キュレーター募集!