Are you traveling with kids in Eastern Hokkaido, and looking for family-friendly activities? This one-day itinerary got you covered! Good news, it doesn’t force you to hop around multiple places by car, which your children would hate. The roadside rest area in Onneyu offers everything at one location - an aquarium, a playroom with fun wooden toys, and a local souvenir shop. You can easily spend a couple of hours there, which makes a perfect half-day trip for your family.
Where IS ONNEYU?
The rest area in Onneyu is one hour from Kitami, or 2.5 hours from Abashiri by car. You can also take a bus from JR Rubeshibe Station (20 min) or Kitami Station (one hour 10 min). Onneyu is a small onsen town with a couple of onsen hotels where you can take a dip in a hot spring as a visitor. My go-to place is Oe Honke (900 yen for adults, 400 yen for children). Check it out if you have time!
An iconic cuckoo clock tower in the rest area
One Day Itinerary: Onneyu
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KItano Daichino Aquarium
Although this is a relatively small-sized aquarium, there are some special things about this place. As soon as entering the gate, you will be welcomed by a floor-to-ceiling glass fish tank where you can see how fish live in a strong current under a waterfall. Next to it is a big window to an artificial river situated outside. You can observe the world under a frozen river if you visit here in winter. The exhibits nicely showcase the natural habitat of aquatic life in the region.
Only found in Hokkaido, Ito is the biggest freshwater fish in Japan. This aquarium is home to 20 Ito fish. There is no other place you can see this many Ito at once in the world. There are also cute little fishes jumping and swimming upstream, as well as tropical fishes whose tanks are kept at a perfect warm temperature with local hot spring water. Don’t forget to get a hand spa by Doctor Fish at the end!
Kitano Daichino Aquarium
Hours: April to October, 8.30 am - 5 pm
November to March, 9 am - 4.30 pmFees: 670 yen/ adult, 300 yen/ child
2. Wooden TOy Playroom
After enjoying the beautiful aquarium, we move to a fun playroom in another building next to the aquarium. It’s full of wooden toys - a giant jungle gym, slides, a wooden ball pool, ride-ons, and children’s books. My one-year-old niece's favorite was a fishing pond! There are toys and games of all ages. It’s very budget-friendly as well :)
Kamurin World
Hours: April to October, 8:30 am - 5 pm
November to March, 9 am - 4:30 pmFees: 270 yen/ adult, 130 yen/ child
3. shopping local goodies
Make sure to stop by the souvenir shop in the same building as the playroom before heading out. They have a wide range of local products from snacks to cosmetics. Especially peppermint oil from Kitami (my hometown!) is highly recommended. There are different kinds of products using peppermint oil, such as spray, bath oil, toothpicks, and candies.
The shop sells soft serve ice cream using Shirohana Mame, white runner beans that are locally produced. The flavor of the bean is subtle but adds a nice twist to it. One cone is just 350 yen. Hope you give it a try!
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