Takinoue Town, Hokkaido: A Compact Town with Immense Tourism Potential Rooted in Flowers, Fragrance, Nature, and Warmth
Located in the heart of the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido, Takinoue Town is a small municipality of approximately 2,200 residents. Despite its size, the town offers immense tourism potential, brimming with the charm of flowers, scents, natural beauty, and heartfelt local hospitality. Takinoue provides unique, hands-on experiences that cannot be found in urban areas, catering to a wide range of travel preferences.
■ Attracting Visitors Through Shibazakura (Moss Phlox)
Takinoue's tourism is best represented by the Shibazakura Takinoue Park, which reaches full bloom from early to late May. Starting from a single box of seedlings, the moss phlox has flourished over more than 60 years into one of the largest moss phlox fields in Japan—covering around 100,000 square meters. The stunning pink-draped hills are a great spot for photography and video content, and are a powerful attraction for spring tourism in Hokkaido.
■ Year-Round Sensory Experiences in the "Town of Fragrance"
Known as the "Town of Fragrance," Takinoue delights the senses with the sweet aroma of shibazakura, the refreshing scent of Japanese mint (the town boasts the highest production in Japan), and the soothing smells of its forests. From June to September, the Herb Garden, home to over 300 herb species, provides a five-sense wellness experience. This makes it an excellent choice for wellness-focused and family-oriented tour programs.
■ Immersive Nature and Scenic Stay-Based Tourism
From summer to fall, visitors can enjoy fly-fishing in the crystal-clear Shokotsu River, or take in the brilliant autumn foliage on walking trails through the scenic Kinsen Gorge in October. The Yoshokuen Natural Landscape Garden—one of the most unique of its kind in Japan—offers seasonal flower tourism. Takinoue is committed to enriching stay-based, experiential tourism and actively works with travel operators to create products and enhance hospitality infrastructure.
■ Promoting Universal Tourism for All
Takinoue is advancing universal tourism, ensuring everyone—including people with visual impairments or the elderly—can enjoy its natural environment through sensory-focused experiences. Programs such as fragrance-themed tours, sound-based nature walks, and tactile activities are being developed. These efforts, combining strong themes with social inclusivity, have been highly praised.
■ Connecting Fragrance, Food, and People
As Japan's top producer of Japanese mint, Takinoue offers a range of specialty goods and gourmet items made from local mint and agricultural products. With rich opportunities for interaction with local residents, the town supports experience-based and consumption-based tour structures.
At our booth, we provide brochures, promotional videos, and information on local dining and reception venues—ideal for travel professionals seeking unique, locally rooted tourism content. We invite you to stop by and explore the untapped potential of Hokkaido's Takinoue Town, where nature, fragrance, and heartfelt hospitality come together.