Discover Chitose: Nature, History and Special Places

Chitose brings together nature, regional history and places worth exploring. The municipality includes an aquarium where you can observe freshwater fish and river life, Aoba Park with its many facilities, and a purpose-built play area for children. The wider region also includes Lake Shikotsu and the history of the Oji Narrow Gauge Railway. This gives you different themes to choose from when planning your trip: nature watching, outdoor activity or cultural history.

Lake Shikotsu and the History of the Yamasen

Lake Shikotsu lies in the wider region. It is about 13 kilometers long and five kilometers wide, with a circumference of around 40 kilometers. Its maximum depth is about 360 meters, and its average depth is around 265 meters. The comparison shows that the deepest point is well below the average depth. The lake’s length, width and depth give you different ways to gauge its scale.

The history of the Oji Narrow Gauge Railway, known as the “Yamasen,” also links the lake with Chitose and Tomakomai. The railway opened in 1908 and served both to transport timber for power generation and to bring tourists to Lake Shikotsu. After it was discontinued in 1951, the former railway line was used as a cycling path from the 1970s onward. This reflects a change in use: from a railway connection to the later use of the route for cycling.

Observe River Life at the Aquarium

The Salmon Hometown Chitose Aquarium focuses on freshwater fish and life in the Chitose River. It has one of Japan’s largest freshwater aquariums, where you can observe salmon and various freshwater fish from northern regions. It also features Japan’s first facility where you can directly observe underwater life in the Chitose River. Visitors can follow river life through the seasons. A film about the salmon life cycle complements the observations by showing how the fish develop. The river viewing and the film offer different perspectives: one on life in the water, the other on the salmon’s life cycle.

Parks and Opportunities to Get Active

Aoba Park has 17 facilities. These include a library, picnic areas and the Nakayoshi play area, as well as tennis courts, an athletics stadium, a baseball field and multipurpose areas. The park also has paths surrounded by greenery for walking and jogging. Different types of activities come together in the same park: quiet time in the picnic areas, paths through the greenery and sports facilities. Michi-no-Eki Salmon Park Chitose has a children’s play area designed by Børnelund. These options give you practical ideas if you want to include exercise and activities for children in your trip.

Wine Tasting and Jōmon History

Chitose Winery offers a tasting tour exploring the qualities of North Wine. If you plan to take the tour, check the official website for current participation and booking options before your visit. The Kiusu Shubun Tombs are a large group of nine surviving circular tombs in Chitose City. Part of the site east of the national highway is open to the public, where you can see Jōmon-period tombs from the ground surface. Check the current visitor rules for this area before your trip.

These themes offer different perspectives: the lake and railway tell a story of the landscape and regional use, the aquarium brings you closer to river life and salmon, while the parks and tombs appeal to other interests. When looking for a vacation rental, you can start by considering which of these themes you want your trip to focus on.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Obihiro, Shintoku, Kamikawa, Shiraoi District, Higashikagura, Abuta District, Hidaka, Minamifurano

For the main travel overview: Hokkaido.