Release | nobu Kawashima
Going around Hokkaido (22) Kushiro to Toyokoro: Leave Nusamai Bridge in the city and visit around hidden picturesque places in the Tokachi Region

This is a series of articles to introduce my journey to go around the coastline of Hokkaido from Otaru City. In the 22nd article, I will leave Kushiro City, one of the largest cities in the east Hokkaido, and drive to Toyokoro-Cho in the Tokachi Region.
I will enjoy the beautiful view from Kobukariishi Observatory in Urahoro-Cho and delicious ramen from Kiichan Shokudo in Toyokoro-Cho.
Otsu Beach, the final destination of this article, is known for “jewelry ice.” Although jewelry ice is a winter attraction, you can still enjoy fascinating views around the mouth of the Tokachi River.
Let’s leave behind the city with many buildings and shops and visit the town with nature and humanity!

Table of Contents
- About the series: Going around Hokkaido- About the route: Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro City to Otsu Beach in Toyokoro-Cho
- Nusamai Bridge to Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi: Leave the city behind and drive to the fields along the coastline
- Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi to Kobukariishi Observatory: A hidden picturesque place!
- Kobukariishi Observatory to Kiichan Shokudo: Whelk miso ramen made by “Kii-chan”
- Kiichan Shokudo to Otsu Beach: The beach was beautiful without jewelry ices
* I used pictures taken on different days in this article. Therefore, the colors of the sky and weather look different.
About the series: Going around Hokkaido
This is a part of the series of articles to introduce my journey to go around Hokkaido. I will introduce my relaxing trip about visiting cities and towns, enjoying beautiful views, having delicious foods, and encountering fascinating people.Below are the basic rules about the project:
- Basically, drive only National Routes or Hokkaido Roads along coastlines.
- I can use municipal roads near central towns, promontories, etc. However, I try not to use community roads and private roads.
- I only drive the mainland of Hokkaido. (I’m sorry to those live in islands!)
- I drive from the sunrise to the sunset to enjoy the views.
- I divide my journey into a few times according to the coverage schedule.
About the route: Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro City to Otsu Beach in Toyokoro-Cho

Route: Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro City to Otsu Beach in Toyokoro-Cho
Mileage: Approx. 86 kilometers
The time required: Approx. 2 hours (except breaks, time to stop at sightseeing spots, and the detour)
Check the detailed map from the link below!
Going around Hokkaido (19) -
Going around Hokkaido (11) -
Going around Hokkaido (1) - (10)
You can find the previous article of the series here:
Going around Hokkaido (21) Akkeshi to Kushiro: Drive through difficult-to-read place names towards Nusamai Bridge with a beautiful sunset in Kushiro City

Nusamai Bridge to Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi: Leave the city behind and drive to the fields along the coastline
Nusamai Bridge to Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka KoitoiMileage: Approx. 18 kilometers
The time required: Approx. 35 mins
I will start from Nusamai Bridge in Kushiro City. It’s a bridge located near the mouth of the Kushiro River and known for being the best place to view the sunset.

I left the city in the morning. I decided to park the car and take a walk around the bridge before starting today’s journey.

By the way, do you remember “Kuu-chan”?
“Kuu-chan” is a nickname of the sea otter which appeared around this area of Kushiro River in 2009.
Medias featured Kuu-chan at that time, and many people visited the river to see Kuu-chan. Where did it go after that?
Those who want to remember about Kuu-chan, visit Nusamai Tourist Information under Nusamai Bridge. You can have the special resident card of Kuu-chan here.

I left the city after I enjoyed my morning walk around Nusamai Bridge.

I kept driving the area with many shopping and cultural facilities. It then changed to harbor facilities. The view changed from the city to the fields after I passed Otanoshike District.

I arrived at Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi after driving a while in Shiranuka-Cho. The time had not passed that much since I left Kushiro City, but I will take a short break here.
Why? Because there is no Michi-no-Eki along the road on the coastline until I reach the Hidaka Region. There are even only a few convenience stores in Shiranuka-Cho and Hiroo-Cho. I had to stop by a restroom.


Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi to Kobukariishi Observatory: A hidden picturesque place!
Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koitoi to Kobukariishi ObservatoryMileage: Approx. 49 kilometers
The time required: Approx. 55 mins
I used the restroom at Michi-no-Eki and got myself ready to drive towards the next destination.
I passed the town of Shiranuka-Cho, where buildings continued along the road, and landscape with beautiful nature appeared on both sides again. I went down the long hill. The view of the Pacific Ocean appeared on my far left and a pond on my right.
The name of the pond was Pashikuru Pond. Why do “馬主来” reads “pa”? This is quite difficult to read.

The view with fields and ocean continues from Pashikuru Pond except for the town of Otobetsu District in Kushiro City. I took a left turn from the National Route no. 38 near the border of Otobetsu District in Kushiro City and Urahoro-Cho in the Tokachi Region.
The number of traffic decreased suddenly, and I could drive smoothly.

There was the Pacific Ocean on my left and the railroad of JR Nemuro Honsen Line on the right. I decided to park the car for a while and take my camera with me to get a view of this landscape.
I could hear the sound of the waves. It was extremely quiet that I could only hear the sound of cars far away.
Then I heard a huge low sound of something. It was different from the sound of the cars that I was hearing.
I looked for the source of the sound and found JR express train running towards me! I took out my camera quickly and captured the train!

I was very lucky to see the train. I started driving the car again. The dynamic views along the coastline continue.


I went into the mountain after getting out of a tunnel. Then, I found a sign of “Kobukariishi Observatory” on the left after a while. I took a left turn here.
This is a narrow, unpaved road with many curves to the uphill. I slowed down and held my handle tightly.
I arrived at “Kobukariishi Observatory” after about 5 minutes from the point where I took a left turn.
Although it’s called an observatory, there are no facilities nor a shop. It’s just a space with parking for a few cars and one signboard. It was enough for me because I could get this panoramic view of nature!

This observatory is great with “nothing.” I can call this a hidden picturesque place where people can get panoramic views of nature.
Kobukariishi Observatory to Kiichan Shokudo: Whelk miso ramen made by “Kii-chan”
Kobukariishi Observatory to Kiichan ShokudoMileage: Approx. 18 kilometers
The time required: Approx. 25 mins
An unpaved road continues for a while from the observatory.


I merged to Hokkaido Road again after a few minutes. Wow, paved roads are easy to drive!
The road got away from the ocean and kept driving around the plain in the inland. I noticed the name of the river and parked the car.

The name “Rakko (sea otter)” caught my eyes, and I parked the car to look at the river.

I left the river soon after. I crossed the wide Tokachi River and entered to Toyokoro-Cho.
I took a left turn at the first traffic light after crossing the river. I will head to Otsu District in Toyokoro-Cho.
My next destination is “Kiichan Shokudo” in Otsu District. This is the only restaurant in Otsu District, and you can enjoy ramen using whelks and surf clams sources in Otsu.


I asked for “whelk miso ramen,” the most recommended menu of the restaurant.

“Would you like some coffee?”
Kii-chan offered me a cup of coffee as a service.
“Thank you very much! Please come again.” Kii-chan told me with a smile. “Thank you for the food; it was really delicious! I will visit again!” I answered like that naturally.
I felt like I had a meal at my home or my families’ home. It was strange that I had some relaxed feeling here. I want to revisit the place!
You may also find this article interesting:
Have whelk miso ramen at “Kiichan Shokudo” in Otsu Toyokoro-Cho, where makes you want to visit again
Kiichan Shokudo to Otsu Beach: The beach was beautiful without jewelry ices
Kiichan Shokudo to Otsu BeachMileage: Approx. 1 kilometer
The time required: Approx. 5 mins
Kiichan Shokudo and Otsu Beach are very close. You will arrive there soon by driving.
Take a left turn at the T-junction near the restaurant.
I noticed a monument on the side of the crossroad. I decided to park for a while and take a look.

During the Meiji Era, this area, which is near the mouth of Tokachi River, was the base of inland development as the center of Tokachi’s administration, using the merit of the river.

Block ices that get washed up on Otsu Beach in mid-winter have become famous as “jewelry ice.” Many people started visiting this beach nationally and internationally.
You may also find this article interesting:
Possibly the only phenomenon in Japan, “Jewelry Ice” in Toyokoro Town
I visited the beach in April.
There was no jewelry ice as it’s not on the season, but still, the open beach with continuing sands looked really lovely!

I will arrive at the mouth of the Tokachi River in two to three minutes from here. This is another hidden place to get a view of the majestic landscape.

The places I introduced in this article are not famous tourist destinations. However, I could still enjoy feeling nature in many moments. It was a great driving route for me to get my mind relaxed.
This is it for today.
In the next article, I will leave Otsu Beach, visit historical sites of Tokachi’s development such as the ruins of Banseisha, and drive to Hiroo Santaland in Hiroo-Cho.
Text, photo/Hokkaido Likers photo writer nobu Kawashima
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