【Silver Spoon】 Obihiro City, Hokkaido
What is “Silver Spoon”?
“Silver Spoon” is a youth agriculture manga by Hiromu Arakawa, known for “Fullmetal Alchemist.” Serialized in “Weekly Shonen Sunday” from 2011 to 2019, it became a massive hit with cumulative sales exceeding 17 million copies.
The story’s protagonist, Yuugo Hachiken, enters Ezo Agricultural High School (Ezo-no) in Hokkaido due to being tired of competition at a prestigious school, choosing it simply “because it has a dorm.” The work depicts Hachiken, raised in an urban environment, growing alongside his classmates in the unknown world of agriculture and livestock farming.
Author Arakawa Hiromu herself is from Hokkaido, with a family background in dairy farming, so the work incorporates the realities and authentic depictions of agriculture throughout.
Obihiro City, Hokkaido as the Setting Model
The Ezo Agricultural High School featured in “Silver Spoon” is not a real school. However, the setting model for the work is the Obihiro City area of Hokkaido.
Why Obihiro City is the Model
Obihiro City is the central city of the Tokachi Plain and is known as one of Japan’s premier agricultural regions. With vast crop farming areas and dairy farming regions spread throughout, it is an environment perfectly suited to be the setting for the agricultural high school depicted in “Silver Spoon.”
Author Arakawa Hiromu is from the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, and her family home in Otofuke Town (an adjacent town to Obihiro City) operates a dairy farm. Consequently, the work reflects the landscapes, culture, and agricultural realities of the Tokachi region in rich detail.
Geography and Characteristics of Obihiro City
Obihiro City is located in the eastern part of Hokkaido and is the seat of the Tokachi General Subprefectural Bureau. It is the largest city in the Tokachi region with a population of approximately 160,000 and has the following characteristics:
- Vast Farmland: The Tokachi Plain is Japan’s largest crop farming region, with production of wheat, potatoes, beans, and more
- Dairy Farming Kingdom: Large numbers of dairy cattle are raised, and it is a center for producing high-quality dairy products
- High Sunshine Rate: Particularly sunny for Hokkaido, known as “Tokachi Clear Skies”
- Food Treasure Trove: Abundant in fresh agricultural products, dairy items, and local cuisine such as butadon (pork rice bowl)
“Silver Spoon” Sacred Sites in Obihiro
Here are recommended sacred sites for “Silver Spoon” fans visiting Obihiro.
1. Obihiro University of Agriculture
The Obihiro University of Agriculture is said to be one of the models for “Ezo-no” appearing in the work. As the only national university specializing in animal husbandry, its expansive campus features pastures and farms.
Some facilities are open to the public, and many visitors gather during university festival events. The atmosphere on campus is precisely the world of “Silver Spoon.”
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by bus from JR Obihiro Station
2. Tokachi Pasture
The Tokachi Pasture of the Independent Administrative Institution Livestock Improvement Center is a state-managed pasture with approximately 1,700 hectares of expansive grounds. From the observation deck, you can take in views of the majestic Tokachi Plain and Hidaka Mountain Range, experiencing the Hokkaido nature depicted in “Silver Spoon.”
Highlights:
- Birch tree-lined avenue
- Panoramic views from the observation deck
- Grazing cattle and horses
Access: Approximately 30 minutes by car from Obihiro city center
3. Rokka no Mori
A beautiful garden utilizing the natural beauty of Tokachi, where you can enjoy landscapes reminiscent of those in “Silver Spoon.” Flowers of the four seasons bloom in profusion, and the pastoral atmosphere evokes the setting of the work.
Flowers depicted on Rokkatei’s wrapping paper are planted throughout the grounds, and you can enjoy Tokachi’s nature while strolling.
Access: Approximately 30 minutes by car from Obihiro city center
4. Tokachi Sennen no Mori
A natural experience facility spanning 400 hectares of expansive grounds with forests, grasslands, and gardens. You can enjoy the landscape of Hokkaido’s great nature exactly as depicted in “Silver Spoon.”
Activities are abundant, including Segway tours and horseback riding experiences, allowing you to experience agricultural and ranch activities as the characters in the work might.
Access: Approximately 40 minutes by car from Obihiro city center
5. Michi-no-Eki “Nakasatsunai”
A roadside station offering Tokachi agricultural products and dairy items, where you can purchase fresh ingredients like those in “Silver Spoon.” Vegetables grown by local farmers and Tokachi dairy cheese and butter are popular.
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by car from Obihiro city center
Activities in the “Silver Spoon” Style Possible in Obihiro
Dairy Farming Experience
Multiple farms near Obihiro offer dairy farming experiences for tourists.
Main Activities:
- Milking experience
- Bottle-feeding calves
- Butter and ice cream making
- Tractor rides
By actually experiencing the work performed daily by characters in “Silver Spoon,” your understanding of the work deepens.
Agricultural Experience
The Tokachi region offers seasonal agricultural experience programs such as potato digging and wheat harvesting.
Activities:
- Harvesting potatoes and corn (summer-autumn)
- Tractor driving experience
- Sorting and packaging agricultural products
You can physically feel the difficulty and joy of the agriculture depicted in the work.
Horseback Riding Experience
“Silver Spoon” features many scenes of equestrian club activities. There are riding clubs and ranches near Obihiro where even beginners can safely experience horseback riding.
Recommended Facilities:
- Tokachi Sennen no Mori (trekking courses)
- Various riding clubs (experience lessons)
Horseback riding in Hokkaido’s great nature is a precious experience that allows you to feel the work’s atmosphere.
Obihiro Cuisine: “Silver Spoon” Style Food Enjoyment
Many dishes using Hokkaido ingredients appear in “Silver Spoon.” Here are must-try local dishes when visiting Obihiro.
Butadon (Pork Rice Bowl)
The soul food of Obihiro is butadon. Thick-cut pork seasoned with sweet and spicy sauce, heaped boldly over rice. While “Silver Spoon” features pork farming scenes, Tokachi pork is tender and juicy—a delicacy.
Famous Restaurants:
- Pancho (original butadon shop)
- Ton-den (popular with locals)
- Ippin (known for thick-cut pork)
Tokachi Dairy Products
Tokachi is known as the dairy farming kingdom, abundant in fresh milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and other dairy products.
Recommended Products:
- Yotsuba Dairy products (milk, butter, cheese)
- Tokachi-no Fromage (cheese workshop)
- Tokachi Sennen no Mori ice cream
Like the pizza and cheese made by Hachiken and friends in “Silver Spoon,” Tokachi dairy products are rich in flavor, with outstanding ingredient quality.
Bread and Sweets Using Tokachi Wheat
Wheat grown on the Tokachi Plain is high quality and popular as bread and confectionery ingredients.
Recommended Shops:
- Masuyashoten (100% Tokachi wheat bread)
- Rokkatei (Marusei Butter Sandwich, etc.)
- Cranberry (famous for sweet potatoes)
With wheat field scenes appearing in the work, experiencing products made from that wheat lets you feel the cycle of agriculture.
Potato Dishes
Tokachi is a major potato producing region. Hokkaido potatoes from Tokachi, with their fluffy texture, suit any dish.
Popular Dishes:
- Imomochi (potato cake)
- Jaga butter
- Potato salad
- Croquettes
With harvest scenes depicted in “Silver Spoon,” you can enjoy potatoes in various forms.
Access to Obihiro
Airplane
Tokachi Obihiro Airport is the nearest airport.
- Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Haneda Airport
- Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Chubu Centrair International Airport
Bus service from the airport to Obihiro city center takes approximately 40 minutes.
Train
JR Obihiro Station is the central station.
- Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes from Sapporo Station via limited express
- Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes from New Chitose Airport Station via limited express
Travel by train is recommended as you can enjoy views of the Tokachi Plain from the train windows.
Car
Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes from Sapporo via Doto Expressway. Renting a car allows you to freely visit surrounding pastures and tourist spots.
Best Season for Obihiro Tourism
Spring (April-June)
- Agricultural work begins with snowmelt
- Beautiful fresh green season
- Relatively few tourists, allowing leisurely enjoyment
Summer (July-August)
- Lush farmland spreads just like the “Silver Spoon” setting
- Agricultural experience programs are abundant
- High sunshine rate, ideal for tourism
- Many crops available for harvest experiences
Autumn (September-November)
- Harvest season with the most abundant agricultural experiences
- Beautiful autumn foliage
- Abundant fresh agricultural products
- Many events including food festivals
Winter (December-March)
- Pastures in snowy landscapes are fantastical
- Learn the realities of winter agriculture and farming
- Few tourists, allowing quiet enjoyment
- Winter-specific experience programs available
Accommodations Recommended for “Silver Spoon” Fans
Farm Inns
Accommodations in actual farm homes where you can experience daily agricultural and dairy farming life. You can pseudo-experience dorm life like in “Silver Spoon.”
Features:
- Morning milking experience
- Farmhouse table cuisine
- On-site farm viewing
Hotels in Obihiro City
Staying at city hotels provides a convenient base for tourism.
Recommended Areas:
- Around JR Obihiro Station (convenient access)
- Entertainment district (many restaurants)
Hot Spring Inns
Tokachi River Hot Spring is known as a “beauty bath” featuring mooru onsen mineral spring water. It’s ideal for relaxing after sightseeing.
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by car from Obihiro city center
Cultural Connections Between “Silver Spoon” and Obihiro
Existence of Agricultural High Schools
Multiple agricultural high schools exist in the Obihiro area.
- Hokkaido Obihiro Agricultural High School
- Hokkaido Otofuke High School
These schools teach practical crop cultivation, animal husbandry, food processing, and similar subjects, serving as models for the educational settings depicted in “Silver Spoon.”
Tokachi Agricultural Culture
Tokachi’s agriculture has history and tradition continuing from the pioneer era. Large-scale agriculture utilizing vast land and family-managed dairy farming coexist in diverse forms.
The agricultural realities depicted in “Silver Spoon”—difficulties in management, successor issues, struggle with nature—are precisely the challenges facing Tokachi farmers.
Food Education and Local Production for Local Consumption
Obihiro City emphasizes food education, including using local agricultural products in school meals. The work’s theme of “the meaning of eating” is reflected in actual initiatives.
What We Learn About Tokachi and Obihiro from “Silver Spoon”
The Value of Agriculture
Through the work, you understand how food is produced and how much effort farmers expend. Visiting Obihiro deepens this understanding.
Attitude Toward Facing Life
“Silver Spoon” earnestly depicts the process of raising livestock and shipping them as meat. Tokachi dairy farmers and livestock farmers face life similarly in their work.
Severity and Blessings of Nature
Hokkaido’s nature is beautiful yet harsh. The severe winter cold depicted in “Silver Spoon” and the reality of weather-dependent agriculture are experienced daily by Tokachi farmers.
Bonds with Comrades
One major theme of the work is bonds with comrades. In Tokachi’s agricultural community, mutual aid and cooperation among farmers play important roles.
How to Enjoy “Silver Spoon” Sacred Site Pilgrimages
Re-read the Work Before Visiting
It is recommended to reread “Silver Spoon” before visiting Obihiro. Recalling scenes from the work while touring gives deeper emotional resonance.
Visit According to Season
“Silver Spoon” depicts agriculture of all four seasons. Visiting in different seasons—spring planting, summer growth, autumn harvest, winter harshness—lets you experience different aspects of the work.
Interact with Local People
If possible, try interacting with local farmers. Participating in agricultural experience programs or farm inns allows you to directly hear about the agricultural realities depicted in “Silver Spoon.”
Photography
Countless photography spots exist: the vast Tokachi Plain landscape, pasture animals, fresh agricultural products. However, unauthorized entry onto private land is strictly forbidden. Photograph respectfully.
Savor Local Cuisine
Tasting dishes and ingredients appearing in “Silver Spoon” is a highlight of sacred site pilgrimage. Enjoy Tokachi-specific cuisine: butadon, dairy products, potato dishes, and more.
Precautions for Obihiro Tourism
Securing Transportation
Tourist spots beyond Obihiro city center have limited public transportation, making car rental recommended.
Clothing and Supplies
- Even in summer, early mornings and evenings are cool, bring something to wear over
- Sunlight is strong, hat and sunscreen are essential
- Farm visits require clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Winter requires thorough cold-weather preparation (temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius)
Farm Visiting Etiquette
- Unauthorized entry onto private land is prohibited
- Do not touch animals without permission
- Avoid loud voices (animals experience stress)
- Take all trash with you
- Be considerate not to interfere with farm work
Facilities Requiring Reservations
Agricultural experience programs and some farm visits require advance reservations. Always confirm before visiting.
Conclusion: The Deep Connection Between “Silver Spoon” and Obihiro
“Silver Spoon” is a story of agriculture and youth set in the Tokachi region around Obihiro City, Hokkaido. Through the work, you can learn much: the value of agriculture, the meaning of eating, the attitude toward facing life.
Visiting Obihiro lets you experience the landscapes, food, and agricultural scenes depicted in the work. The vast Tokachi Plain, fresh agricultural products, and warm encounters with people become unforgettable memories for “Silver Spoon” fans.
Through sacred site pilgrimages, not only does understanding of the work deepen, but it also becomes an opportunity to reflect on Japan’s agriculture and food culture. Please visit Obihiro and experience the world of “Silver Spoon.”
The great nature and agricultural culture of Tokachi and Obihiro will welcome you warmly. The story of youth and growth depicted in the work will revive more vividly in the actual landscape.
