Tokachi Millennium Forest is a vast nature and art destination in Hokkaido’s Tokachi region, where gardens, forests, contemporary art, dining, and hands-on activities come together in a beautiful natural setting. Visitors can experience the changing character of Hokkaido throughout the seasons while exploring gardens carefully designed to work in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
Covering approximately 500 hectares, the forest makes use of the natural woodland, grassland, and other landscapes that already existed on the site. Among its five distinctive gardens, the Earth Garden and Meadow Garden have received particularly high international acclaim.
In 2012, the Earth Garden and Meadow Garden received both the Grand Award and the International Award at the Society of Garden Designers’ SGD Awards in the United Kingdom. The gardens were subsequently praised as being among the most beautiful gardens in the world.
The gardens were designed by internationally renowned British garden designer Dan Pearson, whose approach emphasizes creating landscapes rooted in their natural surroundings rather than imposing formal designs upon them.
The Meadow Garden uses a naturalistic planting approach that incorporates the principles of an ecosystem into its design. Native plants of Tokachi are combined with horticultural varieties and native North American species to create a landscape that feels like a naturally evolving meadow rather than a conventional ornamental garden.
Flowers, grasses, trees, and other vegetation are arranged to create a changing tapestry of colors and textures. The result is a garden that feels deeply connected to the surrounding Tokachi landscape and offers a different experience as the seasons progress.
The Farm Garden brings agriculture into the garden experience. Vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers are cultivated here, while goats and sheep are kept on the grounds.
This area provides a glimpse into the relationship between the fertile Tokachi landscape and the region’s agricultural traditions. Rather than separating gardens, farming, and nature, Tokachi Millennium Forest presents them as interconnected parts of the same environment.
Contemporary artworks by internationally active artists can be found throughout Tokachi Millennium Forest. Rather than being concentrated inside a conventional gallery, the works are placed within the natural landscape, allowing visitors to encounter art while walking through the forest and gardens.
Among the notable works are “Kamuy’s Circle” and “Fragments of Kisara,” works inspired by Ainu traditions and stories. The combination of contemporary art and the natural landscape creates an experience in which the forest itself becomes part of the exhibition.
One of the most distinctive ways to explore the grounds is by taking a Segway tour. Riding through open grasslands and woodland allows visitors to cover more of the expansive site while enjoying unobstructed views of the surrounding scenery.
The tours offer an environmentally friendly way to experience the forest and grasslands, while also providing a fun outdoor adventure. The wide-open Tokachi landscape is especially impressive when viewed from the gentle rises and open spaces along the route.
Tokachi is one of Hokkaido’s leading dairy-farming regions, and the forest also offers opportunities to learn about local dairy culture. Visitors can take part in activities such as cheese-making experiences and learn how milk from the region is transformed into dairy products.
During special cheese-making programs held around Golden Week and in August, participants can even use the cheese they make to prepare pizza before enjoying it as part of their visit. These hands-on experiences offer a delicious way to connect with Tokachi’s agricultural heritage.
The on-site café serves light meals and sweets made with homemade dairy products. After walking through the extensive gardens and forest, it is a pleasant place to take a break while enjoying flavors closely connected to Tokachi’s dairy-producing landscape.
Tokachi Millennium Forest changes dramatically with the seasons. Fresh greenery and emerging flowers bring new life to the gardens in spring, while summer reveals lush grasslands and forests in full growth. Autumn adds rich colors to the landscape, creating an especially beautiful setting for walking through the gardens.
The scale of the site means that seeing the main highlights at a relaxed pace can take approximately two hours. Even travelers with limited time, however, can experience the beauty of Tokachi’s naturally growing trees and plants, internationally acclaimed gardens, contemporary art, and the character of one of Hokkaido’s great agricultural regions.
Tokachi Millennium Forest is more than a botanical garden or conventional park. It is a carefully developed landscape in which forests, meadows, agriculture, art, food, and outdoor experiences coexist.
For travelers seeking a deeper connection with Hokkaido’s natural environment, the forest offers an opportunity to slow down and appreciate the landscape itself. From internationally recognized garden design and Ainu-inspired contemporary art to dairy experiences and sweeping views across Tokachi, it presents a memorable and multifaceted side of Hokkaido.
4/22-6/30 9:30-17:00
7/1～8/31 9:00～17:00
9/1～10/15 9:30～16:00
Closed from 10/16
Open daily during the opening period
Adults (high school students and older): 1,200 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 600 yen
Children (under elementary school age) free of charge
Approximately 45 minutes from JR Obihiro Station via National Route 38 (Tokachi National Highway) and Route 75.