The Backpack Adventures

10 Things to Do in Tomakomai City Tomakomai ( 苫小牧市 ) is a bustling port city in the Iburi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . It is the fourth largest city in Hokkaido. The place gets its name from the Ainu words " to " and " makomai ", meaning "marsh" and "river which goes into the depths of the mountain", respectively. For those planning to visit the city to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Tomakomai City : Tomakomai City manhole covers 1. Take a picture of the manhole cover of Tomakomai City . So far, I have seen 1 unique manhole cover. It is commonly seen around the town. There is a colored version of it located near the Tomakomai City Hall  but Mother Nature has removed most of its color already.  Tomakomai City Pokemon manhole cover 2. Take a picture of the Tomakomai City Pokemon manhole cover at Idemitsu Culture Park . It features Vulpix and Ninetales. Tarumaezan Shrine 3. Visit the Tarumaezan Shrine ( 苫小牧総鎮守 樽前

Lake Utonai Roadside Station ( 道の駅 ウトナイ湖 ) is one of the 128 roadside stations of Hokkaido. It is located at the western banks of Lake Utonai at 156-30 Uenae, Tomakomai City in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan .  Lake Utonai Roadside Station Lake Utonai Roadside Station details Lake Utonai Roadside Station , strategically situated along National Route 36, the central Hokkaido region's main thoroughfare, enjoys convenient proximity to both the "New Chitose Airport" and the "Tomakomai Ferry Terminal," establishing easy accessibility not only within Hokkaido but also from various parts of Japan and abroad. Officially registered as a roadside station on July 31, 2009, it proudly bears the registration number 108. Lake Utonai Roadside Station - Tomakomai City, Hokkaido Prefecture Nestled within the embrace of Lake Utonai, a nationally designated wildlife sanctuary, and Ramsar Convention-listed wetland, the Lake Utonai Roadside Station is an idyllic destination for tho

10 Things to Do in Abira Abira ( 安平町 ) is a town in the Iburi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan . The place gets its name from the Ainu language. It is believed to have either been " ar-pira-pet " (pronounced arapirape in Japanese) which means surface of a cliff’s river or "ar-pira" (pronounced arapira in Japanese) which means one side of a cliff. Abira is an agricultural town known for its dairy cattle. It’s also known for its horse breeding industry.    For those planning to visit the town of Abira to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Abira: Abira manhole covers 1.  Take a picture of the manhole covers of Abira . So far, I have seen 5 unique manhole covers. It is commonly seen around the town but 2 colored versions of these are displayed and also installed at the Abira Roadside Station grounds while three are displayed inside the Abira Town Hall.  Oiwake Hachiman Shrine 2. Visit the Oiwake Hachiman Shrine ( 追分八幡神社 ). It’s one of the mai

Oiwake Hachiman Shrine ( 追分八幡神社 ) is one of the main shrines of the town of Abira. It was once the main shrine of the town of Oiwake before it was merged with the town of Hayakita to form current-day Abira town. The shrine is located at 47 Oiwake Kashiwagaoka in the town of Abira in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan . Oiwake Hachiman Shrine Oiwake Hachiman Shrine details In 1891, the pioneering settlers established a modest shrine as a sacred abode for the guardian deity of Oiwake development. Seventeen years later, in 1908, the village's esteemed founders— Kisuke Onodera , Kotoshi Matsuura , Yaichi Ishigami , Tetsuzo Shinbo , Yuzo Kamo , and others—erected a more elaborate shrine on present-day Kashiwagaoka. This shrine, overlooking Oiwake Town, became the new repository for the sacred seal transferred from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine . Oiwake Hachiman Shrine - Abira town, Hokkaido Prefecture On November 15th of that same year, Morio Sato , the head priest of Muroran Hachimangu Shrine