10 Things to Do in Kitami City

10 Things to Do in Kitami City

Kitami (北見市) is a city in the Okhotsk Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. It is the most populous city in the subprefecture. Before its development, the place didn’t have an Ainu name. The city’s name consists of the kanji's combinations of characters 北 (north) 見 (see) and 市 (city), which means "City of the North View".


For those planning to visit the town of Kitami City to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Kitami City:

Kitami City manhole covers

1. Take a picture of the manhole cover of Kitami City. So far, I have seen 2 unique manhole covers. It is commonly seen around the city.

Kitami Pokemon manhole cover

2. Take a picture of the Kitami Pokemon manhole cover. It is one of the 5 new Pokemon manhole covers installed in Hokkaido in 2023. You can find it at the main entrance of the roadside station. The Kitami Pokemon manhole cover features Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix sitting behind three curling stones.

Kitami Shrine

3. Visit the Kitami Shrine (北見神社). It’s the main shrine of the city of Kitami. You can pay your respects and offer prayers here any time of the day. Don’t forget to avail of the shrine’s goshuin if you are collecting them.

Kitami Museum of Science, History, and Art 

4. Visit the Kitami Museum of Science, History, and Art (北網圏北見文化センター) is a science and history museum, public hall, and planetarium rolled into one. It has numerous displays about the history of Kitami and also good to know science stuff. The entrance is 660 yen and if you want to include the planetarium it would be 1100 yen.

Kitami Fox Farm / Northern Fox Farm

5. Check out the cute foxes at Kitami Fox Farm or Northern Fox Farm (北きつね牧場). This is one of the places where you can safely watch foxes (sometimes up close) as it is discouraged to go near wild foxes due to the chances that they are rabid or that you can get infected with Echinococcus. Aside from foxes, there are raccoon dogs here too.

Kitami Mint Memorial Museum

6. Visit the Kitami Mint Memorial Museum (北見ハッカ記念館). This museum has numerous displays showcasing the once-vibrant mint production industry of Kitami.

Kitamigoka Observation Deck

7. Visit the Kitamigoka Observation Deck (北見ヶ丘展望台). This observation deck has a picturesque view of Kitami City. It’s a great place to see the nighttime view of the city.

Kitami City Honzawa Farm Observation Deck

8. Head up to the Kitami City Honzawa Farm Observation Deck (北見市営本沢牧場展望台). From the parking lot, the observatory is a good 200 – 300 meter hike. Regardless, once you reach the top, you will be blessed with an amazing view of the hills and farms of Kitami.

Northern Daichi Aquarium

9. Check out the Northern Daichi Aquarium (北の大地の水族館). This aquarium houses only freshwater fish. Aside from that, this aquarium boasts Japan’s first “Waterfall Aquarium”.

Kitami Roadside Station / Roadside Rest Area "Onneyu-Onsen”

10. Visit Kitami Roadside Station, formally called Roadside Rest Area "Onneyu-Onsen” (道の駅 おんねゆ温泉). This roadside station is like a one-stop shop for tourists. You can buy produce and souvenirs harvested or made in Kitami. One of Kitami's special products, the onion, is also sold in big bags at a very cheap price. If you collect roadside station stamps then this place is a must-visit. You will also see the Northern Daichi Aquarium and the Karakuri Cuckoo Clock Tower nearby.


I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Kitami City gave you an idea and inspiration to visit this city in the eastern part of Hokkaido.

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Japan Diaries 4: Summary