Discover Shintoku

Shintoku offers unusual contrasts to consider when planning your trip: cherry trees grow on a mountain, a former railway line is now used for walks, cycling, and horseback riding, and Shintoku Mountain Ski Area adds winter sports to the mix. So the vacation rental that suits your stay will depend first on which side of the town you want to experience—cherry blossoms in spring, activities in the snow, or a trail dotted with reminders of railway history.

Cherry Blossoms on Shintoku Shrine Mountain

About 2,300 Ezo-yamazakura cherry trees grow across Shintoku Shrine Mountain. They usually bloom in early May. If you want to experience this special time of year, you can take the season into account when planning your stay. The trees extend across the mountain, rather than being confined to a single named viewpoint. This makes the cherry blossoms a distinct reason to consider visiting Shintoku in spring. They also offer a clear contrast to the area’s skiing and snowboarding: instead of a winter sports program, the focus is on a seasonal nature experience.

Skiing and Snowboarding for Different Skill Levels

Shintoku Mountain Ski Area is a family-friendly ski area for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers. This gives you a helpful way to assess winter sports as a possible focus for your stay, without assuming that everyone in your group has the same skill level.

The SAJ-recognized Shintoku Mountain Ski School also offers skiing and snowboarding programs for children, teenagers, and adults. It is run by NPO Sahoro Sports Club. Both the ski area and the school may therefore be of interest to families and groups with people of different ages. If you are traveling with several generations, you can take into account that programs are offered for these three age groups when choosing activities. The information about the ski area and school describes different aspects: the skill levels catered to at the ski area and the target groups for the programs.

Exploring the Karikachi Poppo Trail

The Karikachi Poppo Trail follows the route of the former Karikachi Line, a national railway line that was closed in 1966. Today, the trail is used for walking, cycling, and horseback riding. Along the route, you can encounter railway heritage in the form of masonry arch bridges and bridge piers. The trail thus combines physical activity with tangible traces of history: the route follows a former railway line, while its structures recall how it was used.

The trail runs for approximately 10 kilometers from the SL Plaza below Shintoku Mountain Ski Area to the former Niinai Station. The approximate length and named endpoints give you a concrete idea of what to expect on this outing. Plan the route as an experience in its own right and choose between walking, cycling, and horseback riding—the activities differ, but the railway relics along the trail provide a shared point of interest. If you are interested in landscapes and history, this is a different way to experience Shintoku than skiing.

Buckwheat Fields Along Soba Road

Another distinctive landscape can be found along National Route 38: the area known as Soba Road, with its buckwheat fields, stretches for about 1.5 kilometers between Karikachi Pass and central Shintoku. The approximate length and location between the pass and town center help you place the area geographically. Together with the Karikachi Poppo Trail, it offers a look at two different themes: fields beside the road here, and a former railway line with its railway relics there. Both can help shape your idea of what you would like to experience during a stay in Shintoku.

Which Vacation Rental Suits Your Travel Plans?

For train travelers, Shintoku Mountain Ski Area is a useful point of reference: it is a seven-minute walk from JR Shintoku Station. If winter sports are part of your stay, you can factor this into your daily plans and choose a vacation rental separately according to your personal needs.

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