Engaru: Flower Hills, Forest Railway and Culture

The town of Engaru combines flower-filled landscapes with museums, geological history and a historic forest railway. An entire hill has been landscaped as a park with flowers, alongside collections and attractions covering a wide range of themes. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Engaru, you can start by organising your plans around your interests: are seasonal blooms, cultural history or nature experiences your priority?

Blooms and views

The extensive 太陽の丘えんがる公園 park covers an entire hill, from summit to foot, and is planted with brightly coloured flowers. Particularly impressive is the panoramic display of around 10 million cosmos and yellow cosmos, visible mainly from late August to mid-October. In spring, moss phlox and azaleas bloom there. Blooming dates can vary from year to year; if you want to time your trip to see a particular flower, check for the latest information shortly before your visit.

The municipal ranch 見晴らし牧場 is located at the top of the park. On a clear day, the view extends all the way to the Sea of Okhotsk. 瞰望岩 also rises about 78 metres above the ground within the town. The rock was designated on 7 February 2011 as part of the nationally designated “ピリカノカ” landscape conservation area.

太陽の丘えんがる公園 park is about a five-minute drive from the bus terminal at JR Engaru Station. During the Cosmos Festival, free shuttle buses run on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. If you plan to use the shuttle, check the festival dates and timetable in advance. The administration building at the entrance to the 虹のひろば Cosmos Garden has a shop; from the rest pavilion, you can look out over the garden. As facilities may change, it’s worth checking the latest information before your visit.

Museums, geological history and culture

The 木のおもちゃワールド館ちゃちゃワールド displays and preserves around 10,000 wooden toys from approximately 40 countries. The museum also includes the “コロボックル影絵美術館” Korobokkuru Shadow Puppet Museum, which exhibits works by 藤城清治. The international toy collection and shadow pictures offer two different ways to explore art and design.

The 遠軽町郷土館 local history museum has around 4,400 objects in its permanent exhibition, with a further 1,300 objects in storage. These include local history materials as well as materials from Bastos, Engaru’s sister city in Brazil. The collection offers a perspective ranging from local history to the connections it reveals.

Japan’s largest obsidian deposit is located in the Shirataki area of Engaru. Large quantities of obsidian stone tools dating from more than 20,000 years ago have been discovered at sites in the area. The 遠軽町埋蔵文化財センター introduces visitors to life around 20,000 years ago through genuine stone tools. If you plan to visit the centre, check the latest opening hours.

The 丸瀬布昆虫生態館 also focuses on the town’s wildlife: one section features salamanders and fish, among other creatures. Live rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles are also on display. For your visit, it’s a good idea to check the latest information about opening hours.

Forest railway and time in the woods

The steam locomotive 雨宮21号 runs along a two-kilometre track in the いこいの森 forest park. It is Japan’s only operating forest railway steam locomotive and is preserved as a valuable cultural asset for future generations. Operating times vary by season, so check the latest timetable before visiting. The park also has a campsite in a natural setting among woods and a stream, as well as extensive play equipment.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it may help to weigh up these different interests: the flowers in the park give your trip a seasonal focus, while the museums and archaeological sites centre on cultural history and archaeology. The forest railway and forest park offer a different emphasis.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Urahoro, Shinhidaka, Bibai, Wakkanai, Takikawa, Pippu, Fukuyama, Nanporo.

For the main travel overview: Hokkaido.