Ōzora
Understand
Ōzora was formed on 2006 as a result of the merger of the town of Memanbetsu, and the village of Higashimokoto. The name of the town means "Large Sky".
Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.
Get in
By plane
- 1 Memanbetsu Airport (女満別空港, MMB), 201-3 Memannbetsu-Chuo, 女満別中央201-3.
Regular flights are 6 flights from New Chitose, 3 - 6 flights from Haneda and 1 flight from Chūbu per day. There are bus services to/from Abashiri via center of Memanbetsu to fit each flight.
By train
JR Sekihoku main line runs through Memanbetsu Station from Sapporo to Abashiri. Limited Express Okhotsk runs 4 round trips per day. About 5 hrs from Sapporo to Memanbetsu.
By bus
There are intercity bus services for Memanbetsu and Higashimokoto.
- Dreamint Okhotsk (ドリーミント オホーツク号) - Hokkaido Kitami Bus and Abashiri Bus are operating the service. It runs through Memanbetsu from Sapporo to Abashiri with 9 round trips per day. About 5 hr 30 min from Sapporo to Memanbetsu.
- Eagle Liner (イーグルライナー号) - Hokkaido Chuo Bus and Shari Bus are operating the service. It runs through Higasimokoto from Sapporo to Shari with 2 round trips per day. About 5hrs from Sapporo to Higashimokoto.
Get around
By train
Sekihoku Main Line runs in Memanbetsu area. Local train runs 9 round trips per day between Kitami and Abashiri. There are 2 stations in the town.
By bus
There is a local bus service in each Higashimokoto and Memanbetsu area. Bus services are often between Abashiri and Memanbetsu Airport. But other area is a small number, not suitable for tourism.
By car
Rental car
There are many rental car shops near Memanbetsu Airport.
See
- 1 Shibazakura Park (芝桜公園), 393 Suehiro, Higashimokoto, 東藻琴末広393 (8 km southeast from center of Higashimokoto), ☏ +81 152 66-3111, fax: +81 152 66-3112. Best time to see is mid-May - early-Jun. Moss phlox (Shibazakura) blossoms bloom in the park in spring. ¥500.
- 2 Asahigaoka Park (朝日が丘公園), Asahi, Memanbetsu, 女満別朝日. Park is located on a hill of Memanbetsu. Views of 360° can watch from the observation deck. Sunflowers bloom in summer. Free.
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Camp
- 1 Memanbetsu Lakeside Campsite (女満別湖畔野営場), Memanbetsu-Kohan, 女満別湖畔, ☏ +81 152 74-4252. Open July - September yearly. Located beside Lake Abashiri. There is a hot spring nearby. ¥300.
- 2 Shibazakura Park Campsite (芝桜公園キャンプ場), ☏ +81 152-66-3111, fax: +81 152-66-3112. Period May - Sep. Free site ¥300. Auto camp site ¥1500+.
Mid-range
- 3 Yumoto Hotel Sansui (湯元ホテル山水), 3-2-3 Memanbetsu-Kohan (5min walk from Memanbetsu station), ☏ +81 152 74-2343, fax: +81 152 74-2997. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. Bath is the hot spring. Located side Lake Abashiri. Stay +2 meals ¥7800+. Only bath ¥390 (11:00 - 23:00).