2026 Mukawa Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in August)

Following the advice of a friend I grabbed drinks with in Tokyo, I headed to Mukawa for lunch today to eat shishamo. Sudare Shishamo Mukawa, Hokkaido, is famous for its shishamo (willow leaf fish), and with the fishing ban lifting in October, they are perfectly in season right now. To enjoy a full-course shishamo meal, I headed to a local shop called Kanedai Ono Shoten. Out front, half-dried shishamo are strung up in rows like bamboo blinds. You can buy them right there to eat inside the shop or have them shipped anywhere in the country. Food Ticket Machine For anything other than the half-dried shishamo, you buy a food ticket here before heading in. This time, I went with the raw shishamo nigiri sushi and shishamo soup set, plus some fried shishamo. Inside the Shop Here’s what it looks like inside. Every table has a hot plate set up so you can grill your half-dried shishamo yourself. Half-Dried Shishamo Behold, the half-dried shishamo! After just a few minutes on the hot plate, you’ve got yourself some piping hot, perfectly grilled fish. Taking the advice that "authentic male shishamo taste the best," I picked out a large male. It was so rich, fatty, and flaky that it made me wonder, "Is this really shishamo?" It completely blew the substitute fish I usually eat, Capelin (Karafuto shishamo), right out of the water. Shishamo Nigiri Sushi And this is the shishamo nigiri, something you can only eat right here, right now during this season. It has a uniquely chewy yet firm texture. Soy sauce is fine, but the highly recommended way to eat it is with sansho (Japanese pepper) salt. The refreshing aroma makes it absolutely delicious! If I had to compare it to another fish I’ve had, I’d say it’s similar to Japanese halfbeak (sayori). Shishamo Soup The shishamo soup is a soy sauce-based broth that comes with a grilled shishamo right in it. Pickled Shishamo It also came with a side of pickled shishamo. The blend of the lightly pickled veggies and the savory umami of the fish is simply exquisite. Fried Shishamo When you fry the real deal, the shishamo turns out plump and super satisfying. There really is nothing better than enjoying truly seasonal food right at the source! Kanedai Ono Shoten 2-42 Miyuki, Mukawa-cho, Yufutsu-gun, Hokkaido 0145-42-2468 Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Closed: Sundays from January to April

Winter in rural Hokkaido

#HokkaidoAdventure #Dinosaurs&EarthHistory #Mukawa-choAttractions In Mukawa, Hokkaido, lies a land steeped in dinosaurs and Earth history. The Hobetsu Local Museum houses significant local fossils and natural history exhibits. The nearby Hobetsu Earth Experience Center, once an educational facility that recreated Earth's diverse environments and natural forces through interactive experiences, is currently closed. The closure is due to damage to the building and exhibits caused by the Eastern Iburi Earthquake in Hokkaido. 🕰️ Hours / Current Status · Hobetsu Museum: Opening hours are generally 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, with last admission around 4:30 PM. Closed on Mondays, the day after a national holiday, and during the year-end and New Year holidays.  🏖️ Environment/Facility Highlights Hobetsu Municipal Museum · The museum primarily collects and displays dinosaur fossils discovered in the Hobetsu region during the late Cretaceous (late Mesozoic) period, particularly a full-body replica of the renowned Kamui Sauru Japonicus. · In addition to dinosaurs, the museum also exhibits ammonites and other marine and terrestrial fossils, as well as exhibits related to geology, paleoclimate, and natural history. · Accessible facilities include parking, multi-purpose restrooms, ramps, and wheelchair rentals, making it convenient for families and the elderly. Hobetsu Earth Experience Center: · Eight experience zones showcase Earth's diverse environments: tropical rainforests, deserts, ice ages, the ocean floor, and the atmosphere. Simulating temperature fluctuations, sound, light, water, and vibrations creates an immersive experience for visitors.  · After closing, the former museum site has been renovated: the Hobetsu Museum will construct a new building with expanded exhibition space, including the full skeleton of the "Mukuragawasaurus" and new experience exhibition areas. It will also include hot spring facilities, a cafe, and a direct sales area for agricultural products as part of an overall redevelopment plan. The new exhibition and experience area will open in the next few years and will include new facilities and expanded exhibits. If you plan to visit in the coming years, please stay tuned for updates. 📍 Address and Transportation · Hobetsu Municipal Museum Address: 80-6 Hobetsu, Mukuragawa-cho, Yufu-gun, Hokkaido Due to its remote location, it is recommended to drive or rent a car. 💰 Ticket/Fee Information (Hobetsu Municipal Museum) · Adults: Approximately 300 yen · Elementary to High School Students: Approximately 100 yen · Groups (10 or more) receive discounts. Children usually enter free. ✨ Recommended Travel Experiences 1. A Paradise for Dinosaur and Paleontology Enthusiasts If you're interested in dinosaurs or paleontology, the Hobetsu Municipal Museum's collection of fossils and restored skeletons is truly eye-opening. The Mukawasaurus and ammonite exhibits offer a valuable window into Hokkaido's geology and Mesozoic life. 2. A Revitalizing Cultural Space The Hobetsu area is currently undergoing a revitalization project. With the opening of new museums and the expansion of exhibitions, the area is not only preserving its past but also looking toward the future. If you visit later, you'll be able to see the new museums and experience spaces. 3. Family-Friendly Nature Experiences The museum and its surrounding natural environment are ideal for outdoor activities like walking trails and observing the topography and geology. Incorporating local agricultural product experiences or seasonal events can further enhance the diversity of your visit. 🌏 The Hobetsu Municipal Museum is a living natural history museum, showcasing more than just dinosaurs and fossils, but also the layers of Earth's history and the evolution of life. For travelers interested in nature, geology, and paleontology, as well as families, the Hobetsu area offers more than just exhibitions; it's a journey through time and the Earth. If you're ever in Hokkaido, this is a worthwhile stop. Whether you're reminiscing about the past or anticipating the future's new facilities, it's a profound and inspiring place.

Located deep in Tokachi, Mukawa Town Hobetsu Museum A time capsule that takes you on a journey to dinosaurs and ancient marine life. The museum features a spectacular display of a whole-body reconstructed skeleton of the plesiosaur "Hobetsuarakiryu" (kubinagaryu), discovered in 1977, and the largest whole-body skeleton in Japan of the "Mukawa Dragon", Kamuysaurus japonicus, which was announced in 2019. The museum also displays a giant ammonite fossil with a diameter of over 1m, and the specimens known as "Japan's largest ammonite" are like a treasure chest of ancient seas. It's like traveling through time and space from about 100 million years ago to the Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era 70 million years ago. In addition, a variety of marine life such as a plesiosaur with a total length of about 8m, marine reptiles such as mosasaurs, and fossils of sea turtles are on display. The most moving part is the "touch real fossils" experience corner, a rare opportunity to experience ancient Earth with all five senses. The museum opened on July 20, 1982, and since then has been loved as a base for passing on precious local discoveries to the future. Open from 9:30am until 5pm (last entry at 4:30pm), closed on Mondays, days after national holidays, and New Year's holidays. Admission is 300 yen for adults and 100 yen for students, with occasional free days for local residents. The museum begins with a "welcome" from the towering plesiosaur in the entrance hall, followed by a re-experience of the ecology of the ancient seas with models and fossils. Then, you can see the majestic Mukawasaurus in the Mukawasaurus corner, see displays of marine reptiles such as ammonites and sea turtles, and experience interacting with the real thing, making it a program that flows smoothly through ancient time. The story-filled exhibits are moving for adults as well as children. Although it is a small town museum, it is also a full-fledged natural history museum, with ongoing research and excavation surveys in collaboration with Hokkaido University. In the quiet land of Hobetsu, you can enjoy a special time experiencing the romance and biodiversity of 100 million years. Please take your time to experience the "memories of the Earth" that can only be experienced here. #AbsolutelyFreeTrip