🌾 Hokkaido · 1–2 days
Teshio River Valley Drive: Inland Northern Hokkaido, Asahikawa to Nakagawa
The quiet inland run up northern Hokkaido — north from Asahikawa along the Teshio River through sake-and-limestone Tōma, the picture-book town of Kenbuchi, the sunflower fields of Nayoro and the sturgeon country of Bifuka to Otoineppu and Nakagawa. 6 michi-no-eki.
While the Ororon Line runs up the coast, this is its inland twin: Route 40 following the Teshio River north from Asahikawa through farm towns and forest, one of the emptiest main roads in Japan. It is a slower, quieter north — limestone caves and sake breweries, a town that lives for picture books, sunflower fields and river hot springs.
The drive starts at Tōma near Asahikawa — a limestone cave, the Otokoyama sake museum, and Densuke black watermelon in season — and climbs through Kenbuchi, "the picture-book village," the sunflower-and-mochi town of Nayoro, the sturgeon and hot-spring town of Bifuka, tiny Otoineppu (famous for its jet-black soba), and Nakagawa with its fossils below Mt. Pinneshiri.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Touma 道の駅 とうま · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Touma (道の駅 とうま) is a government-designated roadside station in 上川郡当麻町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 40 cars and 10 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Asahikawa, Higashikawa ( Michikusa Kan ) and Biei ( Oka Nokura ).
Nearby: 🏛Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum (8.4 km) · 📸Toma Limestone Cave (9.9 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Ehon No Sato Kenbuchi 道の駅 絵本の里けんぶち · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Ehon No Sato Kenbuchi (道の駅 絵本の里けんぶち) is a government-designated roadside station in 上川郡剣淵町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2006 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 42 cars and 12 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（5–10月中旬） 9:00–16:00（10月中旬–4月）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Mochi Kome No Sato ☆ Nayoro, Mori To Mizuumi No Sato Horokanai and Touma.
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Mochi Kome No Sato ☆ Nayoro 道の駅 もち米の里☆なよろ · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Mochi Kome No Sato ☆ Nayoro (道の駅 もち米の里☆なよろ) is a government-designated roadside station in 名寄市, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2008 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 65 cars and 13 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Ehon No Sato Kenbuchi, Bifuka and Mori To Mizuumi No Sato Horokanai.
Nearby: 🏛名寄市北国博物館 (7.4 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Bifuka 道の駅 びふか · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Bifuka (道の駅 びふか) is a government-designated roadside station in 中川郡美深町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a local-products shop, a campground and lodging. There is free parking for about 200 cars and 18 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Otoineppu, Mochi Kome No Sato ☆ Nayoro and Nakagawa.
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Otoineppu 道の駅 おといねっぷ · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Otoineppu (道の駅 おといねっぷ) is a government-designated roadside station in 中川郡音威子府村, Hokkaido, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 27 cars and 7 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 売店6:00–22:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Pinneshiri, Nakagawa and Bifuka.
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Nakagawa 道の駅 なかがわ · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Nakagawa (道の駅 なかがわ) is a government-designated roadside station in 中川郡中川町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and a park. There is free parking for about 40 cars and 10 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Pinneshiri, Otoineppu and Fujimi.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Pinneshiri (16.6 km)
Make this route yours — load all 6 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Tōma has a limestone cave and the Otokoyama sake brewery museum; Densuke black watermelon is a summer specialty.
- Nayoro's sunflower fields bloom in August, and it is one of Japan's best places for the winter sun-pillar phenomenon.
- Bifuka has a river hot spring and raises sturgeon for caviar; Otoineppu is known for its jet-black soba.
- This pairs naturally with the Ororon coast route — loop up one and down the other.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Teshio River Valley (Dōhoku)
How many days do you need for the Teshio River Valley (Dōhoku) route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 150 km of driving with 6 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Tōma (near Asahikawa) and ends at Nakagawa. Load all 6 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
May–September (sunflowers at Nayoro in summer; autumn colour up the valley).
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki (camping outside the vehicle is not), and 1 stop on this route has a proper campground next door. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →