This is a special feature article introducing the charms of Hokuryu Town. We will introduce in detail agricultural, cultural and artistic aspects.
Friday, January 9, 2026 On Wednesday, January 7, Hokuryu Town was blanketed in a silvery white world. On this day, Mayor Yasuhiro Sasaki visited the homes of the neighborhood association presidents in each of the town's 10 districts and delivered New Year's greetings. "I hope you will work together to build our town," the mayor said. […]
January 1, 2025 (Laughs) On New Year's Day, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the 43rd New Year's Day Marathon was held in the frigid town of Hokuryu. The breath of the people gathered at Shinryu Shrine and their sincere prayers for bountiful harvests and safe travels were etched in the air.
On Christmas Eve, December 24th (Wednesday), a ceremony to present the "Agricultural Successor Wedding Gift" was held in the Hokuryu Town Mayor's office. Mayor Sasaki presented his congratulations to the couple Yoshioka, Takebayashi, and Mikami, who got married this year.
On Saturday, December 20th, the town of Hokuryu was filled with the smiles and cheers of "delicious!" of over 100 people as the cold wind blew through the town. The "Minna no Hiroba Omusubi" Christmas party featured handmade decorations, freshly fried […]
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 On Monday, December 15, a "Simple Winter Exercises" event was held at the Hokuryu Town Health Center. The instructor was Aki Shiraishi, a local revitalization volunteer. The event attracted 20 participants, enough to blow away the cold outside.
Friday, December 12, 2025 On Thursday, December 11, the "2025 Hokuryu Town Children's Assembly" opened in the snow-covered Hokuryu Town Assembly Hall. Eleven sixth-graders from Shinryu Elementary School gave a sharp discussion on the town's challenges, including ski resort utilization, brown bear countermeasures, and accommodations.
Friday, December 12, 2025. On a snowy December night, the inside of a local public transport "Himawari" train was heading from Takikawa Station to Hokuryu Town. With visibility obscured, the driver's back held the wheel, exuding a strong sense of responsibility as he protected the lives of six people, including high school students. […]
Wednesday, December 11, 2025 On Tuesday, December 9, the Hokuryu Town Association for the Welfare of the Physically Disabled held a "Gorokke Tournament" at the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center. After enjoying the heated competition with the members, we went to the restaurant Mukohi […]
On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, and Thursday, November 27, a new treasure was born in Hokuryu Town. It is an original picture book called "Your Picture Book," which will be given to babies born in the town. It was written by picture book author Takuma Nagao. The book was bound […]
On November 24th (national holiday), the Niiname-sai festival was solemnly held at Shinryu Shrine in Hokuryu Town. This ancient ritual, which is preserved by a town of 1,600 people, embodies true values of gratitude and coexistence that modern society tends to lose sight of.
On November 23rd (National Holiday), the 4th Fukagawa Charity "Hometown Song Festival" was held at the Fukagawa City Cultural Exchange Hall "Mi-rai" (starting at 1pm). Sponsored by the Fukagawa "Kizuna no Kai" (Bond Association), the mayor and local residents participated in the event.
On November 22nd (Saturday), 2025, the "Omusubi" Mölkky Tournament was held at the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center. Approximately 40 people, ranging from newborns to seniors, gathered to play the Finnish sport […]
On November 21st (Friday), 2025, the fifth graders at Shinryu Elementary School held a harvest festival where they made rice balls and miso soup using the newly grown rice they had grown themselves. Under the guidance of Mr. Akimitsu Takada, they learned about rice planting and harvesting. They also made rice balls and miso soup using tuna mayonnaise and other seasonings.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, "Projection Mapping Night 2025" was held at Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen. This fourth year of collaboration with Hokkaido Information University was marked by the students' new challenges and the warm cooperation of local residents.
On Friday, October 31st, a celebration was held for Mr. Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association, who received both the Hokkaido Industry Contribution Award and the Hokkaido Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises 70th Anniversary Commemorative Award. The legendary Kuro […]
On Thursday, October 30, 2025, as winter approached, members of the Wa Neighborhood Association Senior Citizens Club gathered at Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen. They seriously studied frailty prevention and special fraud prevention, loosened up their bodies with exercises, and chatted with smiles at the social gathering. […]
On Sunday, October 26th, 2025, a "New Soba Enjoyment Event" was held at the Soba Making Community Center in Hokuryu Town. Using locally grown buckwheat flour "Kitawase," dan-ranked members of the "Soba Shokuraku Club Hokuryu" demonstrated their skills with sincerity. "Freshly ground [...]
On Saturday, October 25th, an intergenerational "Autumn Sports Day" was held at the Hokuryu Town Senior Citizens Welfare Center. The lively voices of children and the smiles of local adults intersected. There were many events, both winning and losing, […]
Monday, October 27, 2025 On Thursday, October 23, elementary and junior high school students from Hokuryu Town participated in an online workshop as part of a town-wide project to create a new logo for Hokuryu Town. They learned from professionals that "design is compassion" [...]
Updated on Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th, 2025 It's not just about efficiency and rationality, but the warmth of handcrafted goods. The Craft Marche held in Hokuryu Town on Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th, was a heartwarming event where the smiles of craftspeople from all over the country and visitors crossed paths. […]