10 Things to Do in Engaru

10 Things to Do in Engaru

Engaru (遠軽町) stands as a captivating town nestled within the embrace of Hokkaido's Okhotsk Subprefecture in Japan. The name "Engaru" derives from the rich linguistic tapestry of the Ainu people, reflecting the profound connection between culture and landscape. Rooted in the Ainu place name "Inkar-us-i," the essence of Engaru translates to "overlook-always doing-place," evoking a sense of perpetual vigilance from a vantage point.


For those planning to visit the town of Engaru to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Engaru:

Maruseppu colored manhole cover

1. Take a picture of the manhole cover of Engaru. So far, I have seen 1 unique manhole cover. It is the manhole of the former town of Maruseppu. The Maruseppu colored manhole cover is displayed inside the Maruseppu Local Museum.

Engaru Pokemon manhole cover

2. Check out the Engaru Pokemon manhole cover. It is installed in the Engaru Roadside Station / Engaru Forest Okhotsk Roadside Station. The Engaru Pokemon manhole cover features Hokkaido’s Pokemon Ambassador – Alolan Vulpix and Froslass.

Maruseppu Shrine

3. Visit the Maruseppu Shrine (丸瀬布神社). It was formerly the main shrine of the town of Maruseppu before it was merged with Engaru. You can pay your respects and offer prayers here any time of the day. Don’t forget to avail of the shrine’s goshuin if you collect them.

Maruseppu Roadside Station 

4. Head over to Maruseppu Roadside Station (道の駅 まるせっぷ). You can avail of beautiful woodwork as a souvenir here. You’d also find a roadside station stamp here if you collect them or do the Hokkaido Stamp Rally.

Engaru Shrine

5. Visit the Engaru Shrine (遠軽神社). It’s the main shrine of Engaru. You can pay your respects and offer prayers here any time of the day. Don’t forget to avail of the shrine’s goshuin if you collect them. The best time to visit this shrine is in autumn as the leaves of the trees in its vicinity turn orange and red.

Engaru Roadside Station

6. Visit the Engaru Roadside Station / Engaru Forest Okhotsk Roadside Station (道の駅 遠軽 森のオホーツク). There are plenty of things to do here like skiing even in summer, taking a relaxing foot dip at the ashiyu, and riding the zipline. You can also find the Engaru Pokemon manhole cover on the roadside station grounds. There is also a roadside station stamp here if you collect them or do the Hokkaido Stamp Rally.

Engaru Park

7. Stroll around and enjoy the fresh air at Engaru Park (遠軽公園). You will see the preserved D51859 and Ki282 engines on the park grounds. Aside from that, it’s also the venue for the Cosmos Festa held every 3rd week of September.

Maruseppu Onsen Yamabiko

8. Take a dip and relax at the onsen of Maruseppu Onsen Yamabiko (丸瀬布温泉やまびこ). It’s very affordable. It costs only 600 yen for adults and 400 yen for kids. Sadly, it’s a bathing-only facility and you can’t stay overnight.

Maruseppu Recreation Forest Campsite

9. Pitch a tent and stay overnight at Maruseppu Recreation Forest Campsite (丸瀬布いこいの森キャンプ場). It’s a vast campsite with numerous nearby attractions and facilities like an onsen, insectarium, museum, tennis court, and a preserved working steam engine.

Taiyo no Oka Engaru Park

10. Visit Taiyo no Oka Engaru Park (太陽の丘えんがる公園). It’s a beautiful vast flower park where you can see fields of shibazakura in the last week of May / early June and the cosmos in September.

I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Engaru gave you an idea and inspiration to visit this scenic town in eastern Hokkaido.

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Japan Diaries 4: Summary