Hoshino Resort Tomamu

(Japanese translation below)

By Kana Tarui

Hoshino Resort Tomamu is a mountain resort located in the village of Shimukappu, Yufutsu-Gun, Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Development Agency proposed the need for the development of Mt. Tomamu in order to stem the depopulation of the Shimukappu-village and surrounding area. There are two parts of the hotels at Tomamu.

The first hotel was built in December, 1987 and was named Tower I and the second was built in December, 1989 and was named Tower II. The towers were designed to reflect both summer and winter features. There are two other hotels there named Resonare Tomamu.

If you have any plans to stay at these hotels, you need to make a reservation. Accommodation fees vary. Tower I and Tower II are cheaper than Resonare Tomamu. Various events are held in Tomamu throughout the year, so many people come from Japan and other countries.

You can see Unkai, which is called “The Sea of Clouds” in Japanese. It is popular from May to October. But it is very difficult to see because it depends on the atmospheric conditions at the time.

The Ice Village is held from December to March. You can experience Tomamu`s Ice Town where the temperature drops to minus 30 degrees, only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The admission fee is ￥500, but it is free for Tower guests. There are churches, hotels and a café made of ice. You can enjoy eating cheese fondue and drinking hot coffee while you are there.