10 Things to Do in Kembuchi

10 Things to Do in Kembuchi

Kembuchi, also called Kenbuchi (剣淵町), is a town in the Kamikawa Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. Kembuchi got its name from the Ainu kene (pe) petit or kenepeptu which either refers to the alder tree or the river’s mouth.

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

Kembuchi colored manhole covers

1. Take a picture of the manhole covers of Kembuchi. So far, I have seen 2 unique colored manhole covers. Both are displayed inside the Kembuchi Picture Book Museum.

Kembuchi Pokemon Manhole Cover

2. Take a picture of the Pokemon manhole cover of Kembuchi. So far, The Kembuchi manhole cover has been installed outside the Kembuchi Picture Book Museum. It features the Alolan Vulpix and Honedge inside a library reading a book.

Kembuchi Shrine

3. Visit the Kembuchi Shrine (剣淵神社). It’s the main shrine of the town of Kenbuchi. 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.

Kembuchi Roadside Station

4. Visit Kembuchi Roadside Station, formally called Roadside Station Ehon-no-sato Kenbuchi (道の駅 絵本の里 けんぶち). You can buy produce and souvenirs harvested or made in Kembuchi. True to the town's theme, you can see picture books for sale here. However, if you’re looking for food to eat, it is highly recommended that you try the kamaboko and melon pan. If you collect roadside station stamps then this place is a must-visit.

Kembuchi Local Museum

5. Visit the Kembuchi Local Museum (剣淵町郷土資料館) and learn about the rich history of the city. There is even a bird-watching area inside the museum worth checking out.

Kembuchi Picture Book Village Family Travel Village 

6. Pitch a tent and stay overnight at Kembuchi Picture Book Village Family Travel Village (けんぶち絵本の里家族旅行村). This camping ground is in a vast park. There is a nearby onsen, a dog park, and also a scenic lake.

Kembuchi Onsen Lakeside Sakuraoka

7. Take a refreshing dip at Kembuchi Onsen Lakeside Sakuraoka (剣淵温泉レークサイド桜岡). You may choose to avail of the day trip onsen (500 yen per adult) or stay overnight for a longer bathing experience.

Lake Sakuraoka (桜岡湖) and Sakuraoka Park (桜岡公園)

8. Stroll around and enjoy the view of Lake Sakuraoka (桜岡湖) from Sakuraoka Park (桜岡公園). Aside from the beautiful view of the lake, this park also has an onsen, a dog park, and a camping ground.

Viva Alpaca Farm

9. Interact and feed the alpaca at Viva Alpaca Farm (ビバアルパカ牧場). You can also buy alpaca-themed souvenirs in the shop inside the farm.

Kembuchi Picture Book Museum

10. Do you love books? If so, then the Kembuchi Picture Book Museum (剣淵町 絵本の館) is a must-visit. This is one of the most beautiful libraries in Hokkaido if not in all of Japan. There are thousands of books in their collection. However, the library’s main theme is picture books so expect about 60-70 percent of those books to be picture books. Aside from that, the colored Kembuchi manhole covers and the Kembuchi Pokemon manhole are all found in the vicinity of this library.

I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Kembuchi gave you an idea and inspiration to visit this place that brands itself as the “Picture Book Town” in the north-central part of Hokkaido.

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