Enjoy Hokkaido’s winter in Tokyo! Highlights of the “This Is My HOKKAIDO LOVE! Festival,” featuring all seven of Hokkaido’s airports
Hello! I am Yoshida from Division 2 of the Public Relations Division.
It has been getting colder day by day. With winter just around the corner, how have you been?
This time, the “All Seven of Hokkaido’s Airports Gather! This Winter, Travel to Hokkaido—This Is My HOKKAIDO LOVE! Festival” (hereinafter, the HOKKAIDO LOVE! Festival), for which SUNNY SIDE UP is in charge of PR, will be held on Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27 at TOKYO TORCH Park in front of Tokyo Station.
HOKKAIDO LOVE! The festival is a united event organized by the Hokkaido Tourism Promotion Executive Committee, comprising Hokkaido Airports Co., Ltd., which operates seven airports in Hokkaido, and the municipalities where the airports are located (10 cities and towns: Chitose, Tomakomai, Wakkanai, Kushiro, Shiranuka, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Higashikagura, Obihiro, and Ozora), to promote air routes to Hokkaido and share the appeal of winter in Hokkaido.
As the PR representative, I will introduce the highlights of this event where you can experience Hokkaido’s winter a little early—right in the heart of Tokyo!
Enjoy winter in Hokkaido ahead of time! Activity Area
Experience authentic curling culture with beginner-friendly, no-ice curling and even a chance to feel the weight of a real curling stone (approx. 20 kg), fun for everyone from children to adults! And when you think of winter in Okhotsk, you think of drift ice—this is your chance to touch real drift ice created by the Sea of Okhotsk, right here in Tokyo!
A grand gathering of gourmet delights from Hokkaido, the “Kingdom of Food”
Enjoy Hokkaido’s proud rice companions, including Obihiro’s “Beef Toro Flakes,” selected as runner-up at the National Local Donburi Championship; “Shacho no Ika Shiokara Kiwami,” made with Hokkaido-caught Japanese flying squid (surume-ika) and green chili peppers; and “Rayu Sake-n,” a mix of flaked salmon with garlic, garlic sprouts, and chili oil. You can also compare exceptional sake from three breweries (Kamikawa, Obihiro, and Hakodate) whose labels won awards at the 2022 Sake Award made with Hokkaido rice, and you will receive a sample of “Yumepirika,” Hokkaido’s finest rice, known for its pleasant stickiness and rich sweetness!
Locals will share ways to enjoy Hokkaido rice—exclusively for visitors to the venue!
A photo area at Tokyo Station where you can feel like you are traveling in Hokkaido
A Hokkaido scenic photo exhibition will be held with extra-large photo panels showcasing mystical winter landscapes from across Hokkaido. Life-size panels of TEAM NACS, who love Hokkaido, will also appear—be sure to take a HOKKAIDO LOVE! photo with them! In addition, you can enjoy the feeling of being in Hokkaido with attractions such as a life-size balloon of a Ban’ei racehorse—the only kind in the world, active in Ban’ei horse racing—and an exhibit of a precious curling stone signed by “Loco Solare,” the silver medalists of the Japan women’s curling team at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Tourism PR by nine local mascots! Featuring the hugely popular 2022 “Kitsune Dance”
Local mascots will promote the appeal of winter in Hokkaido and share great discount information. After the show, a meet-and-greet under the stage is also planned.
Date Time: Saturday, November 26, 2022, 11:30–12:00 / Sunday, November 27, 2022, 11:30–12:00
Venue: TOKYO TORCH Park, Stage Area
Appearing Characters:
Hokkaido tourism PR character “Kyunchan,” AIRDO mascot “Bear Do,” Tomakomai City official character “Toma Chop,” Wakkanai’s mascot “Rinzo-kun,” Akan Lake Onsen (East Hokkaido) official original character “Marimu,” Roadside Station Shiranuka Koitoi mascot characters “Koita-kun and Meika-chan,” Hakodate tourism PR character “Ika-ru Seijin,” and Asahikawa City symbol character “Asappi”
Comments from the team in charge
In addition to gourmet food and drinks, we have also prepared hands-on content that lets you physically enjoy winter in Hokkaido, such as touching drift ice and no-ice curling, making this an event that a wide range of people—from children to adults, families, and couples—can enjoy! We have also heard there may or may not be an announcement of an exciting campaign on the day of the event! Some of you may still feel hesitant about traveling far, but please come and enjoy the feeling of a trip to Hokkaido in Tokyo this weekend!
＜開催概要＞
■ Official name: All Seven of Hokkaido’s Airports Gather! This Winter, Travel to Hokkaido
This Is My HOKKAIDO LOVE! Festival
■ Dates: Saturday, November 26, 2022, and Sunday, November 27, 2022, 11:00–16:00
■ Venue: TOKYO TORCH Park (1-minute walk from the Nihonbashi Exit of JR “Tokyo” Station)
*In case of rain, only the opening event is scheduled to be held at MY Shokudo Hall Kitchen on the 3rd floor of Tokiwabashi Tower
*Event will be held rain or shine; canceled in strong winds
■ Organizer: Hokkaido Tourism Promotion Executive Committee
*Comprising Chitose, Tomakomai, Wakkanai, Hakodate, Kushiro, Shiranuka, Asahikawa, Higashikagura, Obihiro, Ozora, and Hokkaido Airports Co., Ltd.
■ Cooperation: Hokkaido Tourism Organization, Wakkanai Tourism Revitalization Promotion Council, Kushiro Wide-Area Tourism Attraction Promotion Council, Asahikawa Airport Usage Expansion Promotion Association, Tokachi Tourism Attraction Airport Usage Promotion Council, Memanbetsu Airport Development Usage Promotion Council, Sapporo City, All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., AIRDO Co., Ltd., Peach Aviation Limited, ANA FESTA Co., Ltd., JALUX Airport Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd., Another Japan, Agri Innovation Design Co., Ltd., Hokuren Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, and Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
■ Official website: https://hokkaidolove.jp
