Introduction

Memanbetsu Airport is the main gateway to Hokkaido’s Okhotsk region, and the countryside stretching out from it makes for one of the island’s most rewarding short road trips. Within an hour or two of landing, travelers can stand above one of Japan’s largest caldera lakes, sample a bear-shaped local sweet at a roadside station, and browse a brand-new discount superstore in Kitami, all before the stars come out over the farmland in between.

This route works well as a first taste of eastern Hokkaido right after arrival, or as a scenic detour on the way to destinations further along the Okhotsk coast. Renting a car at the airport is the most practical way to link these stops together, since the appeal here lies as much in the open farmland between destinations as in the destinations themselves.

Overview of the Memanbetsu Area

Memanbetsu Airport sits in Ozora, a farming town in the heart of the Okhotsk region, surrounded by the kind of wide, open agricultural land that defines much of eastern Hokkaido. Wheat and other grain fields stretch to the horizon along the roads leading out from the airport, giving even a short drive a strong sense of the region’s rural scale.

From there, routes fan out toward the Akan Mashu National Park to the south, where Bihoro Pass looks out over Lake Kussharo, and toward Kitami to the west, a larger city known regionally for its shopping and dining options. Roadside stations along the way, including Michi-no-eki Aioi in Tsubetsu, add practical stops for food and rest between the bigger sights.

Distances in this part of Hokkaido are larger than they first appear on a map, and the drive itself becomes part of the experience rather than simply a means of getting between destinations. Fields of wheat, potatoes, and sugar beet roll past in every direction, occasionally broken by a lone farmhouse or a stand of trees, giving a clear sense of just how much of the Okhotsk region’s economy still runs on agriculture.

Key Features

• Memanbetsu Airport, the main air gateway to Hokkaido’s Okhotsk region
• Bihoro Pass, a 525-meter viewpoint over Lake Kussharo, Japan’s largest caldera lake
• Kumayaki, a bear-shaped local sweet sold at Michi-no-eki Aioi in nearby Tsubetsu
• Kitami, the region’s largest city, home to a newly opened MEGA Don Quijote
• Wide-open farmland and clear night skies along the roads connecting each stop

Because the region is so rural, distances that look short on a map can take longer to drive than expected, and the open countryside is exactly what gives the route its character. Building extra time into a day here for unplanned stops, whether for a photo of the fields or a clear night sky, tends to make for a more memorable trip than rushing between fixed points.

Best Things to Do Around Memanbetsu

Take In the View from Bihoro Pass

Bihoro Pass sits at 525 meters on the boundary between Bihoro and Teshikaga, within Akan Mashu National Park, and its viewpoint is often described as one of the finest panoramas in Japan. Lake Kussharo spreads out below with its central island, Nakajima, and on clear days the view extends to Mount Io’s steaming vents and the distant Shiretoko mountain range.

A short walk up from the parking area passes a stone monument for the 1986 song ‘Bihoro Pass’ by the singer Misora Hibari, one of Japan’s most celebrated vocalists, before reaching the main observation deck. The roadside station at the summit, Gutto Panorama Bihoro Toge, adds a rest house with local snacks, including a bamboo-grass soft serve, making it an easy stop to linger at rather than a quick photo stop.

Highlights

• A 525-meter viewpoint over Lake Kussharo and its central island
• Distant views of Mount Io and the Shiretoko mountains on clear days
• A stone monument to Misora Hibari’s 1986 song ‘Bihoro Pass’
• A roadside station with local snacks, including bamboo-grass soft serve

Details

• Time required: 45 minutes to 1 hour
• Access: about 40 to 45 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport
• Entry: free of charge, with paid parking at the roadside station
• Notes: winter driving conditions on the approach roads can be difficult; check forecasts before a cold-season visit*

Taste Kumayaki at Michi-no-eki Aioi

Michi-no-eki Aioi sits along Route 240 in the town of Tsubetsu, and its best-known product, Kumayaki, has become one of the Okhotsk region’s most recognizable local sweets since its debut in 2009. Shaped like a small bear and made from Hokkaido wheat flour and house-made soy milk, it comes filled with red bean paste in several variations, from a soy milk cream version to a chilled type layered with fresh cream.

The roadside station also sells handmade tofu and buckwheat noodles produced on site, alongside a small railway park built around a preserved former train station, giving visitors a reason to stay for more than just the sweets counter. The tofu in particular has its own local history, made using a recipe that predates the roadside station itself and continues to be produced with the same soy milk used in the Kumayaki batter.

Highlights

• Kumayaki, a bear-shaped sweet filled with red bean paste in several varieties
• Handmade tofu and buckwheat noodles produced on site
• A small railway park built around a preserved former station
• A forested, roadside setting suited to a relaxed break

Details

• Time required: 30 to 45 minutes
• Access: in Tsubetsu, along Route 240 between Kitami and the Akan area
• Hours: roughly 9:00 to 17:00, with the food counter open shorter hours*
• Notes: popular Kumayaki flavors can sell out on busy days

Shop at the New MEGA Don Quijote in Kitami

Kitami, the largest city in the Okhotsk region, gained a MEGA Don Quijote location on June 16, 2026, adding one of Japan’s best-known discount superstore formats to the city’s shopping options. Like other MEGA-format stores, it combines groceries, household goods, and a wide range of general merchandise under one roof, making it a practical stop for both everyday shopping and souvenir hunting.

For travelers passing through after a day in the countryside, the store’s late hours make it a convenient stop in the evening, whether the goal is picking up snacks for the road or simply browsing after dinner.

A newly opened branch of Japan’s well-known discount chain, useful for both practical shopping and a browse through its wide range of goods.

Highlights

• A newly opened MEGA-format store, opened June 16, 2026
• Groceries, household goods, and general merchandise under one roof
• Late operating hours suited to an evening stop
• A convenient last stop before returning toward Memanbetsu Airport

Details

• Time required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
• Access: central Kitami, about 40 to 50 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport
• Notes: hours and exact offerings are subject to change following its recent opening*

Watch the Stars Come Out

Away from Hokkaido’s cities, the farmland around Memanbetsu offers genuinely dark skies on clear nights, and the open, flat terrain leaves little to block the view. No special equipment is needed beyond a bit of patience for your eyes to adjust. A short stop along a quiet stretch of road after dinner can turn into one of the more memorable parts of a visit to the region.

Travel Tips for This Route

Rent a Car at Memanbetsu Airport

Public transportation between these stops is limited, so a rental car picked up directly at the airport is the most practical way to link Bihoro Pass, Tsubetsu, and Kitami in a single day.

Check Weather Before Bihoro Pass

The pass can be clouded over even when Memanbetsu itself is clear, so checking a current forecast helps avoid a wasted trip up the mountain.

Arrive at Bihoro Pass Early in the Day

Morning visits offer the best odds of clear visibility, and on rare occasions a low-lying cloud sea below the summit, most common in spring and autumn.

Bring a Cooler Bag for Kumayaki

Since Kumayaki does not keep for long, a small cooler bag helps if you plan to bring some back later in the day rather than eating it on the spot.

Plan for Genuinely Dark Roads at Night

The same open farmland that makes for good stargazing also means very little roadside lighting, so driving after dark calls for extra caution.

How to Get Around This Route

From Memanbetsu Airport

• By rental car: available directly at the airport terminal, the most flexible option for this route
• To Bihoro Pass: about 40 to 45 minutes by car
• To Michi-no-eki Aioi: about 1 hour by car, continuing south from Bihoro Pass
• To central Kitami: about 40 to 50 minutes by car

Between Stops

• Bihoro Pass to Michi-no-eki Aioi: roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour by car
• Michi-no-eki Aioi to Kitami: roughly 30 to 40 minutes by car
• Kitami back to Memanbetsu Airport: roughly 40 to 50 minutes by car

*Hours, prices, and road conditions are subject to change, particularly in winter. Please check official sources before traveling.

Summary

The countryside around Memanbetsu Airport packs a surprising amount of variety into a single day, from the sweeping caldera views at Bihoro Pass to a bear-shaped sweet at a roadside station and a newly opened superstore in Kitami. None of these stops individually demand a special trip, but strung together along the open roads of the Okhotsk region, they add up to a memorable introduction to eastern Hokkaido.

Since much of this route runs through rural areas with patchy signals, having an eSIM ready before setting out makes it easier to check road conditions and hours between stops.

Whether used as a first stop after landing or a detour on a longer Hokkaido itinerary, this loop out of Memanbetsu rewards travelers willing to spend a day driving through the region’s open countryside.