we take a close-up look at the Shibetsu Proving Ground where the harsh environment of northern Japan helps Toyota forge "ever-better cars." When asked what he would like to focus on next Further expanding the grueling off-road course used for Land Cruiser development I think Shibetsu’s off-road course has played a large part in the current Land Cruiser’s global renown With competition in SUVs set to intensify further we need to ensure that our products offer the ultimate in reliability and quality Few places can run their own off-road courses on this scale so this will continue to be a great advantage for Shibetsu more aspects of car development are moving into the digital realm in such times the Shibetsu Proving Ground plays an even more important role The Shibetsu Proving Ground has both a 10 km high-speed circuit and an extensive off-road course where we can incorporate digital technology into the driving we can cover every part of the cycle—break I believe we can make a greater contribution by improving the efficiency of high-level development the Shibetsu Proving Ground boasts a total of 20,000 annual users despite numbers falling over the past three years due to the pandemic Oyane strives to make the facility a “best-in-town” presence 我々は地域の皆さんに活かされています。冬期の除雪に地元の業者様にも入っていただくなど、地域経済にも少しでも貢献できればと思っています。 Oyane spoke of nature-viewing events on the Shibetsu Proving Ground site The four major natural rivers flowing through the site are home to rare creatures such as the Japanese crayfish and the Ezo salamander We invite children and curators from the Shibetsu City Museum to experience the richness of this natural environment we also organize social gatherings with local community members to hear their ideas for the Shibetsu Proving Ground We make a conscious effort to be part of the community through coexistence and co-prosperity Oyane spoke about the Shibetsu Proving Ground’s “mother test course” concept Hokkaido is home to several test courses run by other auto industry companies We are making arrangements to further boost Shibetsu’s value by ensuring it can be safely used by other companies Partners such as Subaru and Mazda have been using the facility for the past three years and I believe that’s the sort of field Shibetsu should be Shibetsu is making its four decades of expertise available not only for the benefit of Toyota but also Japan’s entire automobile industry The Shibetsu Proving Ground looks set to play an ever-larger role moving forward we check in on Shibetsu’s winter testing.How does car development in the extreme conditions of -30ºC differ from the summer sessions Experiences Spots Winter in Hokkaido is a time of pure white snow fields as far as the eye can see and other activities that are only possible in winter in this silvery white world Here we introduce some of these experience spots which are usually sightseeing spots but become snow playgrounds in winter 1Takino Suzuran Hillside Park (Sapporo) is recommended for skiing debutants Takino Suzuran Hillside Park is a 400-hectare site with colorful flower gardens and other attractions that are popular among citizens and tourists alike the park is renamed "Takino Snow World" and visitors can enjoy various snow activities such as walking skiing and tube sliding 2 Spacious winter leisure land The North Country Golf Club (Chitose City) A golf course with good access by car from New Chitose Airport it becomes "North Snow Land in Chitose" and you can enjoy winter activities such as snow experience corner and tube sliders in the vast snow field as much as you want A free bus service is also available to take you to tourist facilities in Chitose City 3 Fantastic ice town appears Hoshino Resort Tomamu (Shimukappu Village ) where the "Sea of Clouds Terrace" is very popular for its spectacular sea of clouds offers a wide variety of nature experiences throughout the four seasons "Ice Village," a fantastic ice town lined with domes made of ice and snow can be created only in an environment where the temperature drops to -20 to 30 degrees Celsius In addition to the fantastic space of the ice church there are also ice ziplines and ice slides for children and adults to enjoy snow in winter Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill (Sapporo) This popular tourist spot in Sapporo welcomes visitors with a statue of Dr "Hitsujigaoka Snow Park" is held where visitors can play with snow on a pure white snow field Visitors can experience familiar activities such as tube sliding 5 You can also interact with horses in winter at the Northern Horse Park (Tomakomai City) This nature park was created under the theme of "the bond between horses and people," and offers activities and events throughout the year that allow visitors to easily interact with horses visitors can enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides 6 Winter activities in the heavy snow field Tokachi Ecology Park (Otoe Town) is a place where families can enjoy a full day of fun including a campground and one of the largest fluffy domes in Japan The popular snow raft tours through forests and plains and other winter activities are all available 7 Let's play with snow excitingly Sapporo Dome (Sapporo) Sapporo Dome is well-known for sports games and concert events Sapporo Dome is transformed into a snow plaza where visitors can play in the snow on sleds visitors can dive into the snow and enjoy the feeling of the snow as much as possible in a treasure hunt 8 Enjoy the great outdoors Winter play experience Tokachi Nature Center (Otoe Town) This is a spot where you can experience various outdoor activities throughout the four seasons in the great nature around Tokachigawa Onsen Onsen there are balloon rides and canoeing down the river in addition to snowshoe petit trail and snowmobiling there is a winter cruise down the Tokachigawa River by canoe The luxury of being alone on the water in the cool air and silence is exceptional 9 Let's go sledding in Sapporo Satarando (Sapporo) Sapporo Satarando aims to deepen understanding of agriculture and increase interest in food visitors can enjoy sledding on the sledding hill horse-drawn sleigh rides and snowmobile-drawn banana boat rides in the spacious park which cannot be experienced in other seasons 10 Experience winter life in Hokkaido pioneer days Hokkaido Kaitakunomura (Sapporo) is an open-air museum established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Hokkaido you will feel like you are in Hokkaido more than 100 years ago We recommend taking the horse-drawn carriage railroad in summer and the horse-drawn sleigh in winter In the winter-only "Winter Life Experience," visitors can learn about the harsh winter lifestyle of the pioneer days by playing with bamboo skis and sledges 11 Phantom village on a frozen lake Shikaribetsu Lake (Shikaoi Town) Lake Shikaribetsu is the highest lake in Hokkaido at 800 m above sea level a phantom village called "Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan" appears All of the village's structures are made entirely of ice and snow 12 View of Sapporo's snowy landscape Moerenuma Park (Sapporo) was designed by sculptor Isamu Noguchi as a single work of sculpture it is a popular spot for playing in the snow and the snowy view of Sapporo from the top of the mountain is exceptional At the store on the first floor of the Glass Pyramid 13 Winter activities at hot spring resort Toyako Silo Viewing (Toyako Town ) The Silo Observation Deck is located on the western shore of Lake Toya in Hokkaido at the edge of the land surrounding Lake Toya It is a scenic spot from which you can view Lake Toya Visitors can also enjoy snowmobile rides through the vast silver-white world and small children can have fun at the sledding corner 14 Snowmobiling in a spectacular silvery-white world Shibetsu Golf Course (Shibetsu City) Shibetsu Golf Course is transformed into "Snowmobile Land in Shibetsu" where both children and adults can enjoy snowmobiles and banana boats are very popular There are also discount coupon tickets with common meal coupons that can be used at restaurants in the city 15 Wai Wai Tube Sliding in Northeast Hokkaido (Sapporo) Northeast Park has unique facilities such as a chapu-chapu pond and a traffic area where visitors can practice bicycle riding sledding and walking ski courses are open on the slopes of the multipurpose plaza and "Wai Wai Tire Tubing," in which tire tubes are pulled by snowmobiles All information is current as of January 2023 Please check the official website for details 5 easy-to-participate social good events in Hokkaido [May 2025] A big transformation for your usual illuminations We tried out a mysterious camera lens that makes stars and hearts appear [2025 Latest Edition] A winter tradition in Hokkaido [Updated for 2025] Enjoy Tomamu's winter How to enjoy the fantastic "Ice Village" and the spectacular "Frost Terrace" [Updated for 2025] Experiences that can only be had in the Sea of Okhotsk Restaurant & Farm Inn "Takahashi Farm & Shorthorn Kingdom Maburitto" (Erimo Town) - Full of the charm of shorthorn beef's "red meat" Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category You can check the information of your “town” in one place Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service When it comes to creating each and every Lexus To create the very best luxury cars in Japan and sell them all around the world with mass appeal the Lexus LFA has long been the halo supercar for the company and despite recently finishing its limited production run of just 500 units it continues to stun with its futuristic looks and incredible performance The most exclusive and expensive variant of the LFA is of course the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition and in the following gallery courtesy of Lexus International a Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition is pictured testing at Lexus’ Shibetsu Proving Ground in Japan the Shibetsu Proving Ground is a jaw-dropping facility with the autumn colors in the following images making them all that more epic The grounds were opened in 1984 and incorporates five different circuits as well as a 2.4-mile straight well and truly long enough to test out the top speed of even the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition the Shibetsu Proving Ground also includes 20 different road surfaces based on different road surfaces around the world The Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition is powered by an uprated version of the standard LFA’s 4.8-liter V10 engine with it now producing a total of 563hp and the car also features a selection of other mechanical and aerodynamic improvements the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition can sprint around the famous Nordschleife in just 7:22.85 making it one of the fastest production cars around the Green Hell and website in this browser for the next time I comment Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp The city of Shibetsu in Northern Hokkaido is famous for Suffolk sheep a black-faced breed of sheep raised primarily for meat a 267-hectare farm that raises Suffolk sheep by letting them graze freely in vast pastures The sheep are raised and fed in a way that reduces their meat’s peculiar odor while keeping the rich flavor The farm’s high quality meat is exported all over Japan and has received wide acclaim with many top chefs serving it at their own hotels and restaurants Shizuo Farm also operates a restaurant called Suffolk Dining SHIZUO where guests can enjoy a variety of lamb and mutton dishes using the farm’s own meat You can try it as a grilled steak or Hamburg steak seasoned lightly to let you enjoy its natural flavor You can also enjoy it sliced and grilled with vegetables a popular Hokkaido dish known as Genghis Khan (“Jingisukan” in Japanese) it is well worth it as Suffolk Dining SHIZUO is one of the few places in Hokkaido where you can enjoy premium quality lamb and mutton meat Website: https://www.shizuo-farm.com/restaurant (Website available only in Japanese) Phone: +81-165-22-4545 (Japanese language only) ※For reservations in English, please send an e-mail to info-shizuofarm@shizuo.co.jp Dinner 16:30-20:00 (advance reservation required for dinner) https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/railpass/index.html https://japanbyjapan.com/blog/travelling-within-hokkaido *Information is correct as of January 2019 Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Railroad enthusiasts across Japan are pooling resources to make financial contributions via the internet to preserve abandoned rail facilities and support financially struggling local railways Some of these sites have turned into tourist destinations where railway buffs gather for exchange events with locals hoping the trend will help revitalize regional economies (A human-powered railway turntable and a C11-type steam locomotive on display in Shibetsu A human-powered railway turntable remains in the town of Shibetsu at the former Nemuroshibetsu terminal station of Hokkaido Railway Co.'s Shibetsu Line and a C11-type steam locomotive was on display near a community center several hundred meters away from the site Both the railway turntable and steam engine showed degradation from aging a local construction company and others launched a turntable preservation society aimed at creating new tourist attractions combining the device and rolling stock "It became popular among children and we started to see some of them who came to events many times," said Shizuo Shinoda The society has raised money through crowdfunding to cover part of the 8 million yen ($71,000) expense for tasks such as hoisting the locomotive onto the railway turntable around 1.11 million yen was collected and used for preservation activities such as manually turning the turntable with the steam locomotive on top and some 100 railroad fans participated in an event held on Oct 7 during which they enjoyed a tour of the vehicle made a financial contribution to the society and visited the town with his family I would like to support their activities that utilize their local heritage," Wada said after spending time with Shinoda and others is advancing a plan to remodel the stationmaster's former lodgings at Yatake Station in Hitoyoshi The time-honored building on the Hisatsu Line was built in the Meiji Era (1868-1912) the operator of the facility had collected about 3 million yen via crowdfunding to cover part of the refurbishing costs Crowdfunding appears to be the method of choice for raising funds in the recent trend of railroad preservation and supporting struggling local railways students of Choshi Commercial Senior High School collected nearly 5 million yen in 2014 to aid repairs of train cars of Choshi Electric Railway Co Other crowdfunding cases include efforts by Shinano Railway Co and Yuri Kogen Railway in Akita Prefecture According to Japanese crowdfunding platform Readyfor Inc. there have been about 50 projects related to railways since 2011 one of them being to preserve compartment coaches from the limited express sleeper train Hokutosei which had linked Tokyo's Ueno Station and Hokkaido's Sapporo Station until ending its service in 2015 "Many people seem to be interested in visible efforts like the maintenance and preservation of train cars and station buildings," a Readyfor official said in analyzing the trend "(The projects) also provide financial contributors an opportunity to visit related sites as tourists," the official said To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Toyota City―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today that it has completed the construction of the 1st circuit of its Shibetsu Proving Ground in Hokkaido almost completes the facilities of the largest proving ground in Japan which Toyota started building in June 1982 customers have made the improvement of technological development systems Shibetsu Proving Ground is Toyota's third proving ground following one at its company headquarters in Toyota City and another at its Higashi-Fuji Technical Center in Shizuoka Prefecture Since the completion of the first phase of construction in October 1984 Shibetsu Proving Ground has been used for a variety of tests The new 1st circuit will be used for high-speed testing and the already completed 4th circuit will be used for testing on cornering Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here The town of Shibetsu is located at the northeastern end of Hokkaido The area as a whole is best known for its unspoiled nature Despite the truly awesome scenes of a grand natural landscape in its surroundings Aside from being a hotbed of traditional culture for the native Ainu with a significant amount of the population of just over 6,000 employed in the industry the name Shibetsu means “place with many salmon” in the language of the Ainu and it is this fish specifically that remains the symbol of the town until this day and shellfish farming has been the cornerstone of the local economy for decades now It is in this difficult environment where Hayashi Tsuyonori lives primarily an association of likeminded fishermen who are challenging the ways of the past by facing up to the realities of the present talking to local fishermen like Hayashi is an interesting study in how macro trends such as climate change or geopolitics impact people on a micro level beginning with the declining salmon yield: “While Shibetsu is known for salmon the number of salmon being caught in recent years has declined,” says Hayashi There are several possible explanations for this including overfishing as well as climate change affecting the currents and thus fish breeding patterns he is definitely a man that looks forward rather than back “This town was built on the salmon trade but there is such a rich maritime yield in this area that we do not have to be dependent on it By looking to the sea and understanding what is happening we must evolve together with the sea.” and ever since he ran into his dad at work while on a field trip to the harbor as an elementary student Hayashi says: “Just seeing him working and in his element but I just knew that fishing is what I wanted to do from that moment on.” While his father sadly passed away he still treasures the utmost respect for him between what Hayashi calls “salaried employees of the fishing industry” and real fisherman that informs his approach to his craft to this day.  Splitting his time between Shibetsu and Aomori Prefecture Hayashi’s family eventually settled in Shibetsu the fruits of which I was eventually able to reap.” Ironically Hayashi’s attitude and vision for his community have put him in a position where he is sometimes also struggling to get accepted by the more traditional fishing community in the town “I am definitely trying to do something new The fishing industry was and is very traditional.” It is this strict adherence to tradition that probably has fueled the continuing reliance on salmon – and perhaps even the increasingly fruitless ventures into what Russia sees at its territory Hayashi sets himself apart is by focusing on traditionally “unpopular” fish These are still catchable in relative abundance in undisputed waters While some may see this shift as a calculated response to the modern realities facing local fishermen in Shibetsu as he is simply responding to what the ocean will give him As Hayashi puts it: “For many others what I am doing is crazy They are so stuck; they cannot conceptualize changing the old ways I really believe that while our fishing technology has increased our appreciation and respect for the ocean has suffered in return.” Hayashi always attempts to steer the conversation back to the basics of fishing another related effect of the industrialization of fishing that Hayashi mentions often is the loss of respect for life He explains that “fishing is inherently a craft where you take life Respecting each life that the sea gives you and making sure that feeling is passed on down the supply chain to the final customer is something that we must hold dear.” Nevertheless this still leaves the question of how to build a sustainable business one that both respects the changing climate situation and the limited access to territory fishermen face This leads us into the second big goal of Hasshin-kai’s activities: bridging the gap between fishermen and the final customer He has already cultivated personal relationships with several restaurants he ensures that each fish is being handled and prepared with the same values that he holds his goal is to build a brand that people can associate with his approach: “While Shibetsu is relatively unknown there is a network of younger fishermen across Eastern Hokkaido who think like I do linking up and building a “Eastern Hokkaido” brand only makes sense.” This way he can effectively add value to each fish he sells and ensures that his business remains competitive despite not focusing exclusively on high yields of popular fish Another way to bring the final customer closer to the sea is through arranging tours during the egg-laying seasons he sometimes takes local students on his fishing boat to marvel at the region’s nature “I realized that many people are interested in authenticity The feeling of going to sea on a real fishing boat is completely different to going on a tourism boat.” He hopes that this can turn into a full-fledged tourism activity to propel more visitors to Shibetsu “Our town is a fishing town first and foremost so it only makes sense to stay true to who we are and give people an authentic experience.” Tying this venture back into the Kuril Islands also offers an intriguing possibility While visa-free travel for locals to the disputed territory is technically possible such travel too has become politically charged with numerous incidents detracting would be travelers One way to overcome this is through “border tourism” a concept recently promoted by numerous governmental and private actors to experience Japan’s links with neighboring countries In the context of Hasshin-kai and Eastern Hokkaido operators like Hayashi are looking towards offering a glimpse at the disputed territories from their boat This allows both locals wishing to see the land of their forefathers as well as interested visitors to experience these fascinating islands without risking a geopolitical incident with climate change and geopolitical tensions impacting our life in ways we never thought possible Our foray into Shibetsu has underlined this and it is now up to local fishermen to deal with the situation in a way that allows them to continue their business in a sustainable way this necessitates breaking with past traditions This is something that Hayashi certainly willing to do together with his like-minded colleagues he is attempting to change fishing in the region from the ground up It all comes back to his core ideology: “We are not employees What does being a fisherman mean to Hayashi?  “Two things: we live to become as close to the sea as we can and ensuring that we connect every soul we take with something meaningful.” It seems that this motto is present in every new challenge Hayashi undertakes ©2022-2025 Hokkaido Tourism Organization Spots Animal Here are 10 aquariums in Hokkaido that you should visit at least once whether you're going on a date with your partner or as a sightseeing destination or outing with your family This urban aquarium is located on the 4th to 6th floors of "moyuk SAPPORO" and its popular exhibits include the jellyfish and garden eels floating in the fantastical aquariums and Shirokuma Bakery & on the 6th floor serves bread Why not relax and unwind while gazing at your favorite aquarium a long-established aquarium representing Hokkaido will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024 which are rare worldwide and can only be seen here in Japan a variety of other creatures are on display and you can observe creatures living freely in a natural environment including wild sea lions and seals that sometimes get lost Fun dolphin and penguin shows and feeding experiences are also popular The building was modeled after an old castle in Denmark and visitors can enjoy a mystical aqua tunnel that makes them feel like they are walking underwater a soothing jellyfish space enveloped in light and music and a galaxy tank with a school of about 10,000 sardines reminiscent of the stars The penguin parade that marches through the square and the performances by dolphins and fur seals are also popular this urban aquarium has been a beloved symbol of the subcenter of Shin-Sapporo you can observe various planned exhibits and watch marine staff feed the animals up close It is easily accessible from JR and subway stations and is adjacent to a large shopping center so you can spend the whole day enjoying meals and shopping This is one of the largest freshwater fish aquariums in Japan where you can observe various freshwater creatures from around the world with a focus on salmon and freshwater fish from Hokkaido You can look through the windows into the water of the Chitose River that flows next to the facility and observe the salmon that have made their way upstream you can see the salmon being caught for the salmon breeding project using an "Indian waterwheel" installed in the Chitose River near the facility This is the first aquarium to open in Hokkaido in 1953 It breeds and exhibits about 120 species of rare tropical fish that live in the Muroran area including the "Aburabouzu" (black-spotted porgy) There are also playground equipment such as a merry-go-round and a Ferris wheel so it's a facility that the whole family can enjoy at their leisure This freshwater fish aquarium is located on the grounds of the "Onneyu Onsen Roadside Station" in Kitami City and features impressive exhibits that mimic nature such as the world's first "frozen river tank" and Japan's first "waterfall basin tank." Many Japanese huchen and you can see large specimens up to 1m in size The "Salmon Aquarium" is unique to Shibetsu Town which boasts one of the largest salmon catches in Hokkaido This aquarium allows you to learn all about salmon and a fishway tank where you can observe the ecology of salmon according to the season and their life cycle This aquarium is located at the northernmost tip of Japan and the Wakkanai Lighthouse is the landmark It is characterized by the breeding and display of northern fish and underwater creatures that can only be found in the northernmost part of Japan and the 90-ton rotating tank offers a powerful 360-degree view The seal feeding experience and penguin show are also popular It is the only marine mammal conservation facility in Japan and consists of two facilities "Seal Land" and "Seal Sea Paradise." "Tokkari" is a Hokkaido dialect word derived from the Ainu language that means "seal." Seals that have been rescued due to injuries including the popular spotted seal nicknamed Goma-chan are given treatment and training so that they can be returned to the wild [7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell" [Updated for 2025] A complete guide to accessing Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) and nearby hotels "So cute it's unfair" - Feel the healing power of a sleeping miniature horse [Information on the early opening on April 25th] Sapporo Odori's newest attraction Floor details and highlights of "4PLA" opening in summer 2025 A hotel in the center of Sapporo with a superb sauna and large public bath Experience the warmth that is unique to Hokkaido at "Danyuki Sapporo" [2025 Edition] 7 recommended cherry blossom spots in the Kitami and eastern Hokkaido areas Enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the great outdoors The Shibetsu Proving Ground is a key facility in the making of ever-better cars and a place filled with creative ideas for ensuring that testing is carried out safely If a test vehicle crashes and its body is crushed this tool is used to cut open the metal to rescue the driver We train regularly to be ready for such situations fellow course management member Daiki Hirakawa explained some of the team’s other efforts to ensure safety His day begins with the morning course inspection checking the sand bunkers and cushions that have been set up to prevent a serious accident if a car slides out and crashes Another part of our job is keeping an eye on the monitors to make sure that deer and other animals don’t intrude on the course we move to monitoring from the control room Hirakawa led us to a section of the room lined with monitors displaying camera feeds He explained that visitors from Toyota’s headquarters or the Higashi-Fuji Technical Center are asked to submit test plans and outline what they hope to achieve The staff then prepare the courses and schedules based on those to ensure the tests run efficiently Despite test drivers sometimes making special requests there’s a reason why the arrangements always go smoothly Not only do I know the courses like the back of my hand which is Toyota’s second-highest level as a test driver and allows testing at over 200 km/h This means I can prepare tests from the perspective of those who conduct them we can prevent problems by identifying and monitoring irregular driving via our cameras Using their advanced skills as test drivers to detect dangers Hirakawa and the team address safety in a way that goes beyond mere data we also want to help our colleagues as quickly as possible That’s why we try to stay up to date with the latest information on first aid and vehicle construction Among the multiple car and parts manufacturers that have test courses in Hokkaido Toyota was the first to establish a rescue unit Other companies visit us to exchange information neither the state-of-the-art ambulance nor the rescue truck loaded with equipment for prying doors or cutting through the roof of a crashed vehicle have ever been called to action the team is meticulously prepared for rescue The test driver’s job is not just about working with cars—maintaining safe courses is equally important This means learning emergency medical aid for the sake of colleagues and keeping emergency vehicles eternally on standby the ideas and care of each person involved in Toyota’s cold-climate testing contribute to making ever-better cars Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information National Report Hokkaido--A Russian man who reportedly swam about 20 kilometers to Hokkaido seeking asylum was taken into police custody here on Aug according to Russian news agencies and other sources The man “apparently swam in a wet suit” to cross the sea and wants to defect to Japan the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported quoting a source familiar with the incident one of four disputed islands administered by Russia but also claimed by Japan which Japan calls the Northern Territories “posters of Japan and other items were discovered indicating that he is a fan of Japanese culture,” a local Russian official told the Interfax news agency he was taken into custody by Hokkaido police in the town and later transferred to the Sapporo Regional Immigration Services Bureau of the Japanese government’s Immigration Services Agency Based on the information that he sought asylum in Japan Japanese immigration officials contacted the Russian Consulate-General in Sapporo informing them that they were currently trying to establish his identity According to Russia’s Interfax news agency authorities of the Southern Kuril District of the Russia’s Sakhalin State Izhevsk is known for manufacturing the AK-47 assault rifle The man moved to Kunashiri three years ago and acquired a plot in the island’s southernmost district under a Russian program that offers 1 hectare of land in the Far East region for free to applicants The district is the closest part of the island to Shibetsu He lived in the village of Dubovoe and elsewhere 17,” the local Russian official told Interfax The official confirmed that the man appeared in Shibetsu on Aug ASDF scrambles against Russian aircraft spike suddenly EDITORIAL: Japan needs frank appraisal of strained ties with Russia Russia rejects 'hostile' Japanese protest over island visit Japanese at risk of being on hook to Russian spies for sensitive info Russia leads diplomats in unpaid parking fines Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Hokkaido—A corporation here is not only providing young Vietnamese with opportunities to earn a living but it is also helping them to raise families which operates a farm and construction company while they are eager to switch to the Class II visa version so they can remain in Japan permanently This city in northern Hokkaido has a population of about 17,000 less than 40 percent of the combined population in 1960 of the municipalities that now make up Shibetsu four Vietnamese couples working at Shizuo have become parents one of the first technical intern trainees employed by the Shizuo group in 2015 She initially came to work in Japan because she wanted to help her parents back in Vietnam Thang at that time was working in a factory in Gifu Prefecture in central Japan After working for three years as a technical intern trainee When Japan introduced the specified skills visa in 2019 Suong applied and was able to return to work with the Shizuo group the specified skills visa allows the holders to find work in other companies obtained the specified skills visa and also began working for the Shizuo group That allowed the couple to begin their life together in northern Hokkaido Three Vietnamese women who first came to Hokkaido with Suong as technical intern trainees also obtained the specified skills visa to remain with Shizuo group and the four couples now reside in the same apartment complex All four couples are hoping to switch to the Class II visa so they can continue living here indefinitely “Japan is the best place to give birth and raise a child,” Suong said She added that the weaker yen has led to a decrease in the number of Vietnamese who want to work in Japan but she said others love life in Japan and are not only interested in money “More people will come to Japan” if the Class II visa is expanded The four couples were also lucky to be employed by the Shizuo group has gone out of his way to help his foreign workers He takes courses on the weekends so he can better teach Japanese to his workers who want to obtain a driver’s license Suong refers to Imai as “our father in Japan.” we must think of them as our family,” Imai said He said he hopes the government will expand the Class II visa to cover all sectors now using the Class I visa “If they can live here with their families their seriousness toward their work as well as their study of Japanese will be much different,” Imai said “They will also be better off financially in comparison to migrant workers.” Japan sees 6-fold rise in number of foreign workers on new skills visa 1st foreigner under new visa setup can bring family to Japan Skilled foreign workers flocking to urban centers for higher pay Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Japanese version Japanese version The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser. Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. Southern Meats Goulburn general manager Craig Newton and Goulburn Mulwaree Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk at Southern Meats.A CHANCE meeting on a trip to Goulburn's sister city in Japan has lead to a big business deal for the Southern Tablelands town All articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueSouthern Meats Goulburn has signed a $340,000 agreement with Shizou Farm Co Ltd a company with its own meat processing plant Goulburn-Mulwaree mayor Geoff Kettle said Shizou Farm Co Ltd chief executive Yutaka Imai had been sourcing meat from Melbourne as he couldn't meet demand with his own plant Cr Kettle and his council group happened to dine in a restaurant owned by Shizou Farm Co on their night-off from their sister-city engagements in the country That dinner resulted in Mr Iami wanting to know if he could source lamb from Goulburn instead of Melbourne "I encouraged him to visit Goulburn to inspect the quality of the meat that is produced at Southern Meats to see if he would be interested in importing from here instead of Melbourne - and he was on the plane to Australia within two weeks," Cr Kettle said "I was very surprised and overwhelmed with the speed he came to Goulburn "I take my hat off to Southern Meats and Pelican Sheep Station where we took the Japanese delegation to see the sheep." He said Mr Iami was impressed with the quality of the meat An initial 17 tonnes of Southern Meats lamb will be exported to Shibetsu by air and ship It will comprise of both frozen and chilled product "The cost per kilogram is going to be more for Mr Iami than importing from Melbourne but that didn't worry him as he liked the quality "This first order will lead to more as he wants to import more product (as his business grows)." Mr Kettle at the moment Shizou Farm Co imported $US26,000 to $US30,000 worth of lamb product from Melbourne - business that would now be conducted in Goulburn He said that amount was expected to increase "Lamb consumption in Japan is just starting to take off," Cr Kettle said Cr Kettle said this was a great result from a trip which had been receiving bad press as a waste of money "This is a good news story for something which had been painted by some locals as a council jaunt.. "We hope it will help boost further exchanges." He said Mr Iami was also interested in importing local wine and beer from the Goulburn region as well However at the moment Japan had bulk trade restrictions on any wine that had copper sulphate in it and it was used in wine's made in the region to provide a "robust and sweet flavour" Cr Kettle said Mr Iami would be talking with the Japanese trade department to see if he could "speed up the removal of the restrictions" While this was a smaller order for Southern Meats Goulburn Cr Kettle said it helped the business open up further connections in Japan Today's top stories curated by our news team Our twice weekly wrap of the latest in rural property sales Our twice weekly wrap of the big news in the red meat sector Industry news from Australia's dairy sector The week's top stories curated by our news team outdoor camping Camping is a classic outdoor activity to enjoy the magnificent nature of Hokkaido you can enjoy an extraordinary experience in the scenery of each of the four seasons we will introduce 23 campgrounds near Kushiro and in the Nemuro area including campgrounds where you can also enjoy hot springs and lakeside campgrounds with spectacular views Kushiro Yamahana Park Auto Campground is located in a large 570-hectare park that stretches to the west of Kushiro Marshland Facilities include spacious and private tent sites and Kushiro City Fureai Horse Park are located adjacent to the park offering a full range of leisure facilities A campground in an area where tourist facilities such as a roadside station are gathered There are athletic facilities and a railroad museum The adjacent 36-hole park golf course is also popular There is also a menu of hands-on activities such as "woodcraft" to make a red-crowned crane clip and "potato digging" at a farm in the fall This campground with full facilities is surrounded by forest and is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring where you can spend a quiet and relaxing time in the rich nature Nearby is a mountain stream where you can fish and play in the water selected as one of Otobetsu's eight new scenic spots for its magnificent autumn foliage This campground is located on the shores of Lake Tatsukotake It is a great place for marshland exploration where you can observe marshland flora and fauna Visitors can also enjoy walking along the wooden path around the lakeside With private deck sites overlooking the lake this campground is a safe place for beginners to spend time and other activities are also nearby and can be enjoyed in combination with camping This campground is equipped with grass-lined tent sites a nearby animal house where you can meet small animals walking trails where you can spend time among plants and nature making it a fun place for the whole family which looks like a cow when viewed from above has a campground as well as playground equipment and hands-on facilities where visitors can experience ice cream and sausage making This campground is adjacent to a fun "sunayu" (sand bath) where you can quickly create your own outdoor bath by digging in the sand visitors can enjoy playing in the water and canoeing while camping in summer There are many hot springs of different qualities in the vicinity making it a perfect base for visiting hot springs This is an auto campground with a great view of Kunashiri Island on a clear day as well as a cooking building and restrooms A quiet campground dotted with trees and grass The log cottage-style footbaths with covered natural hot spring baths in the grounds are spacious and relaxing The campground is also close to the Lake Akan hot spring resort area making it easy to take a day trip and enjoy sightseeing at Lake Akan This campground is located in a park on a small hill near the city center In addition to free sites in a soft grass area including auto sites with a power supply for a more private feel Nearby there is a roadside station with a direct sales shop and a walking trail where wild birds can be observed The Tsuru-no-sato Camping Field is attractive for its large grass field (about the size of five soccer fields) and convenient accessibility Although adjacent to Kushiro Marshlands National Park it is also close to Tsurui Hot Springs and downtown Tsurui Village making it easy to get in touch with nature in Tsurui Village The Tsuru-no-sato Camping Field offers camping all year round Nijibetsu Auto Campsite is a well-equipped campground with a cooking building and flush toilets as well as a barbecue house It is also recommended as a base for sightseeing in East Hokkaido beautiful green lawn with a comfortable feeling of openness and is bordered by a small slope and the campground is surrounded by a pleasant breeze and is also a good place to see stars it is also a convenient base for touring the popular East Hokkaido area for riders This campground is located on the lakeside of the Wakoto Peninsula which is attached to the south side of Lake Kussharo you can pitch your tent close to the edge of the surf There is also a free outdoor hot spring near the campground which attracts many repeat visitors and locals This campground is located at the southernmost tip of Hamanaka Town on the Kiritappu Peninsula and is surrounded by the sea on all sides creating a fantastic atmosphere as a veil of mist covers the magnificent cape landscape Visitors can enjoy camping in a rich natural setting while fully appreciating the view of the cape surrounded by flowers A campground where you can enjoy a different atmosphere from everyday life in a quiet place surrounded by nature It is also possible to stay for consecutive nights A small river and a large open space make it a perfect campsite for children this campground is surrounded by deep forest and full of wild nature Other than the cooking facilities and restrooms allowing you to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest Each tent site has a fire pit where you can warm yourself by the fire and enjoy the unique time that passes in the forest at night Near the campground is a hidden hot spring surrounded by the calm Notsuke Bay and quiet forests bungalows with the gentle scent of wood and free tent sites are available so that you can enjoy outdoor life as you wish you can see colorful flowers such as skunk cabbages and Japanese rosebushes A campground on a hill with the best view of the sea auto sites and free sites facing the Sea of Okhotsk A selection of rental items is also available where you can enjoy Hokkaido's unique fishing depending on the time of year Especially popular are pink salmon and chum salmon fishing which lasts from August to October each year The campground is located in Nakashibetsu Midorigaoka Forest Park It is a 30-minute walk from the city center and there is an open space and playground equipment in the center of the site Most of the park is an unspoiled natural forest and a variety of trees can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons Tangji Motomura Campground is located about 1 km from National Highway 391 along the lakeside It borders the shore of Lake Tangji and is a scenic spot suitable for experiencing the great nature All information is current as of April 2024 The 21 recommended campgrounds in the Goshi area near Lake Toya Family-oriented camps with a variety of fun activities and Kamikawa Area: 22 Campgrounds Recommended for the Year 2024 Camping in contact with nature and animals Recommended 13 campsites near Hidaka and Erimo The 21 recommended campsites in the suburbs of Rumoi and Soya area for 2024 Camping to enjoy the ocean and spectacular views all around The 20 best campgrounds in the Tokachi area near Obihiro Camping to see the star-filled sky from the vast land