When you arrive in Hokkaido by Shinkansen, the first stop is JR Kikonai Station in Kikonai Town. With the opening of the Shinkansen, Kikonai has become a new gateway to Hokkaido, and in the past year, it has been bustling with many tourists.

A popular tourist spot for visitors is "Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai." This facility, which serves as an antenna shop for Kikonai, allows visitors to eat dishes made with Kikonai's famous seafood and Hakodate Wagyu beef, a brand of beef, and to purchase souvenirs.

Another must-see new spot is the "Donan Torokko Railway," which uses the tracks of the JR Esashi Line, which was discontinued in 2014.

So, this time, I'd like to introduce "Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai" and the "Donan Torokko Train."

<Table of Contents>
1. What kind of place is Kikonai Town?
2. Kikonai Station, a transportation hub in southern Hokkaido.
3. "Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai" - Full of information about Kikonai Town
4. Attractive food menus featuring local specialties from southern Hokkaido
5. The "Southern Hokkaido Trolley Railway" runs through the natural beauty of southern Hokkaido on a trolley.
Summary

Kikonai Town is the first Shinkansen (bullet train) stop in Hokkaido, located when traveling from Tokyo. It's a small town with a population of about 4,500 people, surrounded by the Tsugaru Strait and lush mountains.

The town's specialties include the abundant seafood caught in the rough waters of the Tsugaru Strait and "Hakodate Wagyu," a brand of beef raised with abundant natural blessings. Furthermore, despite being in Hokkaido, the town enjoys a mild climate and high rainfall, making agriculture, including rice cultivation, a thriving industry.

This is Kikonai Station. JR Kikonai Station, where the Hokkaido Shinkansen arrives and departs, and Kikonai Station of the Donan Isaribi Railway, operated by a third-sector company in southern Hokkaido, are adjacent to each other.

In fact, Kikonai Town has long flourished as a transportation hub connecting the three southern Hokkaido cities of Hakodate, Matsumae, and Esashi. Buses to Matsumae Town, the southernmost town in Hokkaido, and Esashi Town, famous for the Esashi Oiwake folk song, also depart from the terminal in front of the station.

Leaving Kikonai Station, the modern, single-story building you see right in front of you is "Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai" (Roadside Station Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai).

At the entrance, you'll be greeted by Kiiko, the local character of Kikonai Town, which is modeled after the Akaushi beef, the common name for Hakodate Wagyu beef.

The spacious store features a shop selling souvenirs and local specialties, as well as restaurants, a tourist information corner, and display panels about the traditional Kikonai town event, "Kanchu Misogi," held every January.

This spot is convenient as a base for sightseeing in southern Hokkaido, as it not only provides information about Furuchi Town but also has a resident tourism concierge who is well-versed in tourist spots throughout southern Hokkaido.

Additionally, an event called "Fish Day" is held on the 3rd of every month. Seafood and food items are sold in a special outdoor tent where large fishing flags flutter in the wind.

You'll definitely want to try the food menu featuring ingredients from southern Hokkaido, including Kikonai Town. Here are some of the popular restaurants at the Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai (roadside station).

Koppen Dot

"Koppen Dot" is a popular shop that sometimes has long lines on holidays. They sell salt bread made with "Misogi no Shio," which is made by boiling seawater from the Tsugaru Strait, as well as gourmet coppe bread with ingredients from southern Hokkaido.

The fillings for the gourmet bread rolls change daily. The menu features hearty options such as potato salad made with Kikonai-grown May Queen potatoes and grilled Hakodate Wagyu beef sandwiches.

Kitchen Kiko

This snack shop uses the name of the local mascot, Kiiko, as its signboard. In addition to food items such as ramen and soba, they also sell sweets such as soft serve ice cream made with miso salt.

The shop's most popular item is the Hakodate Wagyu beef croquette. You can enjoy it freshly fried right there. The croquette has a rich flavor with the delicious taste of Wagyu beef, and you can easily eat it all without any sauce.

How about Ocuda Spirits?

Al Checciano is a famous Italian restaurant in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. The owner-chef of Al Checciano, Masayuki Okuda, has produced a restaurant called "Donan de's Ocuda Spirits."

The dishes, made with fresh ingredients gathered from all over southern Hokkaido, are all exquisite. In addition to dinner courses, there are also affordable lunch menus available.

One of the unique features of this Italian restaurant is its grilled dishes. You can enjoy freshly grilled local ingredients cooked on a roaster built into your table.

Furthermore, this restaurant offers a unique service: they will cook the fresh seafood you purchased on "Fish Day" right there on the spot. You can choose from two menu options: pasta or grilled dishes, and they will be prepared with the chef's recommended sauce.

The JR Esashi Line was discontinued in May 2014. The "Donan Torokko Railway" opened in March 2016, utilizing the tracks of the former line.

You'll take a round trip on a trolley train for about 1 kilometer, from near the former Oshima-Tsuruoka Station to the area near the former Tsuruoka Higashide Ranch Station, which has been named Kiko no Sato.

This ticket office is located on the site of the former Oshima-Tsuruoka Station. It uses the station's waiting room as is, and its retro appearance evokes a sense of nostalgia.

After having my ticket punched with an old-fashioned ticket punch, it was finally time to board the trolley. On the outward journey, two pedal-powered trolleys are pushed by an engine-powered electric trolley at the front.

The trolley car rattles along through the natural landscape of Kikonai, its wheels making a pleasant clattering sound. The vibrations are directly transmitted to your body, which is a unique experience only a trolley can offer.

At Kiko no Sato, the trolley is uncoupled, and the return journey is done by pedaling. However, since the tracks themselves are downhill, you don't need to put in too much effort.

You can proceed at your own pace, so enjoy the scenery as you head towards the end of the trail.

That concludes our introduction to tourist attractions in Kikonai Town, the first stop on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line.

"Michi-no-Eki Misogi-no-Sato Kikonai," a roadside station where you can find delicious food and tourist information from southern Hokkaido, and "Donan Torokko Railway," where you can experience riding a trolley, are both must-see tourist spots.

If you're traveling to Hokkaido by Shinkansen, be sure to get off at JR Kikonai Station and enjoy sightseeing in Kikonai Town.

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