Sightseeing
Spots
Ideal base for sightseeing in Hokkaido - Bibai City
Even in the vast land of Hokkaido,Bibai City is geographically centrally located, making it an ideal base for sightseeing throughout the province.
With its excellent accessibility, only an hour's drive from Sapporo and approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport, it is chosen by many travelers as the starting point for sightseeing in Hokkaido.
At the end of a day of touring around Hokkaido, enjoy a special time at Izakaya Kokoro to warm your body and soul. Enjoy dishes made with fresh local ingredients and delicious drinks. "Hospitality." We will do so.
Izakaya Kokoro-Selected!
Bibai City, Hokkaido
Recommended Sightseeing Spots
Izakaya Kokoro is a place where people from all over Japan and abroadMany tourists use this service.
Please visit our restaurant at the end of your sightseeing tour.
With good drinks and food. "Hospitality." We will do so.
Thoughts on Walking with Bibai City
Izakaya Kokoro operates with gratitude and affection for Bibai City.
Through the promotion of local production for local consumption, the dissemination of tourist information, and cooperation with local events, we hope to convey the charms of Bibai to as many people as possible.
It is our hope that together with our customers, we can make Bibai a more vibrant and attractive city.
We look forward to welcoming everyone who loves Bibai and as many people as possible who would like to get to know Bibai.
Below are some of the famous tourist spots in Bibai City.
Art, History & Culture
Image courtesy:Arte Piazza Bibai
Kan Yasuda Sculpture Museum Arte Piazza Bibai
Closed school reborn as a sanctuary for the arts
An open-air sculpture museum exhibiting about 40 works by Kan Yasuda, a world-renowned sculptor from Bibai City.
Centered on the former site of Bibai Sakae Elementary School, which was closed down, the museum is arranged on an area of over 70,000m², and includes large works weighing several tens of tons as well as smaller pieces placed in the old school building.
point worthy of note
- More than 40 marble and bronze sculptures
- Gallery (2nd floor) utilizing a wooden school building
- Art space in renovated former gymnasium
- Hands-on workshop "Studiorte".
| Access | 15 minutes by bus from Bibai Station |
|---|---|
| Hours of operation | 9:00-17:00 (closed Tuesdays) |
| admission fee | free |
Coal Mine Memorial Forest Park
Industrial heritage at the site of the former Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mine facility
Coal Mine Memorial Forest Park is a valuable industrial heritage site that tells the story of the glory and technology of Bibai's coal mining days.
The huge shaft turret, standing in the quiet forest, is an important cultural asset that conveys the memories of the people who once worked here, and is a source of inspiration for many visitors.
The former site of the Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mine, which closed in 1972, was developed into a park to preserve the memory of the coal mine. Today, the shaft turret, the switchyard that managed the power supply, and the original coal pockets remain.
point worthy of note
- Vertical shaft hoist tower
- Two 20-meter-high turrets remain, and are the motif of the Bibai Tourism and Products Association's logo. The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.
- Completed in 1923, it is 170 meters deep and has an upper and lower wind tunnel with a diameter of 6 meters.
- Kamikaze Shaft: Used for exhausting air from the mine, personnel entering and exiting the mine, and materials being brought in.
- Lower wind tunnel: Used for entering the mine and unloading coking coal
| Access | Approximately 25 minutes by car from Bibai Station Approximately 20 minutes from the Bibai IC of the Hokkaido Expressway 10 minutes drive from Arte Piazza Bibai |
|---|
Tomei Park
The best cherry blossom viewing spot in Sorachi
The area is visited by many tourists every year as the most famous cherry blossom viewing spot in the Sorachi region, with approximately 2,000 cherry trees, including Someiyoshino and Ezo-Yamazakura.
point worthy of note
- Cherry blossom seasonEarly to mid-May is the best time to visit.
- azaleaOver 5,000 azaleas at their peak from mid-June
- viewing platformPanoramic view from about 70 meters above sea level
- cherry blossom festival: An annual spring festival held every year
- leaves changing color (colour)Autumn foliage from early October
| Access | Take a bus from Bibai Station and get off at Tomei Koen bus stop. |
|---|---|
| parking lot | Approx. 100 cars (crowded during the Cherry Blossom Festival) |
Bibai Utamai Naked Festival
A major summer event in Bibai
It has been held since 1994,
Songs.
Dancing.
portable shrine
This is a major event that adds color to Bibai's summer season.
It is well known as one of the largest summer festivals in Bibai, attracting about 10,000 people every year.
point worthy of note
- Band and drum performances
- Yosakoi Soran (Japanese festival in which people dance in unison while chanting or singing along)
- Live performances by local artists
- Bibai Yakitori food and beverage stalls
- Fair food stalls for children
- Local gourmet stalls
- Mikoshi Togyo (portable shrine procession): parade of the portable shrine in all its splendor and valor
- Bon Odori: A large number of people dance in a circle
- Bibai City Kiyari Preservation Society: Ladder Riding and Kama Waving
| Holding period | Early August (Saturday and Sunday) every year |
|---|---|
| venue | Bibai City Hall parking lot and Central Park |
| Number of visitors | Approx. 10,000 |
Gourmet & Local Products
Gourmet & Local Products
Bibai Yakitori
Bibai's famous soul food
Bibai Yakitori is grilled over charcoal with alternating skewers of chicken mots (entrails), skin, and onions.It is a specialty dish that originated in Bibai City.
The most distinctive feature of yakitori is that it differs significantly from ordinary "yakitori" in that it uses internal organ parts rather than chicken meat.
With a simple salt flavor, this soul food is loved by Bibai residents for its grilled savory and juicy taste.
asparagus
In season from May to June
Bibaiasparagus
Harvested from spring to early summer, Bibai's asparagus is characterized by its thick, tender, and sweet flavor,It is known as a typical specialty product of Bibai City.
Asparagus grown in Bibai's climate, with its large temperature difference between day and night, has a high sugar content and is rich in vitamins and other nutrients,It is soft and easy to eat, right down to the root.
Some local restaurants serve dishes made with Bibai asparagus when it is in season.
Asparagus is also a highly nutritious and healthy food, rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
izakaya kokoro
Fresh seafood dishes rare in Bibai
Izakaya where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes such as tuna and raw oysters at low prices, a rarity in Bibai City.
Zangi," which is different from ordinary karaage, is also a specialty of the restaurant.
The restaurant is a perfect place to end your sightseeing tour, as you can also enjoy dishes that make the most of Bibai's specialties.
Please stop by our restaurant after sightseeing.
Recommended Sightseeing Plan
- morningArt at Arte Piazza Bibai
- lunchBibai Yakitori: Fill up on Bibai Yakitori
- afternoonNature Walk in Dongming Park
- eveningBird watching at Miyajima Swamp (seasonal)
- eveningizakaya kokoro for a final drink
Photo Spot
- I-Shin-Ki at Alte Piazza Bibai
- Panorama from Dongmyo Park Observatory
- Bird flight scene at Miyajima Swamp
Bibai is a city where nature and art are in harmony, a charm unique to Hokkaido.
We recommend a day trip from Sapporo, or a relaxing overnight tour.
Efforts to Contribute to Local Communities
In order to make more people aware of the charms of Bibai City, we are making the following efforts.
Promotion of local production for local consumption - Active use of ingredients from Bibai
Dissemination of tourist information - Sightseeing spots in the city
Support for community events - Cooperation in local events such as the Bibai Naked Festival
Dealing with Foreign Tourists - Multilingual Menu Brings Bibai's Attractiveness to the World
Promoting a culture of barhopping - Strengthening cooperation among local restaurants
Together with the Future of Bibai City
We know that local cities face challenges such as population decline and aging, but that is precisely why we want to continue preserving and communicating the charms of Bibai. We are committed to providing heartwarming hospitality so that visitors to Bibai will want to come back again.
We want to make Bibai more exciting with our customers.
Izakaya Kokoro is more than just a restaurant. We want to be a place where people who love Bibai gather, talk, and make new encounters.
We hope that both locals and visitors will feel the warmth of Bibai. Together with you, we would like to make Bibai a more energetic and attractive city. That is our wish.
Image courtesy of
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