One of Hokkaido's 179 towns
Kenbuchi剣淵町
The picture-book village in the fields
Kamikawa region · Lavender, patchwork hills and the roof of Hokkaido.
Kenbuchi is the 'Picture Book Village' — a library-museum of children's books in the fields, with an annual prize voted by kids.
Kenbuchi is a small farming town on the Soya line between Wassamu and Shibetsu that decided decades ago to build its identity around children's picture books. A town-run library and gallery of picture books stands among the fields, an annual prize is chosen by young readers, and book-themed art appears around town. There is also a hot spring by a small lake and a lot of rice and vegetable country. Quiet, gentle and clearly loved by the people who run it.
- Region
- Kamikawa (上川)
- From New Chitose Airport
- ~212 km · 3.3 h summer / 3.8 h winter
- From Sapporo
- ~189 km · 2.9 h summer / 3.4 h winter
- Best season in Kamikawa
- Choose dates around the flowers, autumn foliage or winter scenery you want to see. Check local conditions and seasonal transport before booking.
Kenbuchi at a glance
Drive estimates: straight-line × 1.35, at 65 km/h (summer) / 55 km/h (winter). How we calculate
What to see in Kenbuchi
Picture Book Hall
絵本の館
A town-run library and exhibition space devoted to picture books, with tens of thousands of titles, original artwork and play areas. The annual Kenbuchi Picture Book Prize is decided here by child readers.
Lake Sakuraoka and its hot spring
桜岡湖と剣淵温泉
A small reservoir lake on the edge of town with a campground, walking path and a hot spring on the shore. Cherry trees bloom around it in May.
Farm country of the Kenbuchi valley
剣淵の田園
Rice paddies, wheat and vegetable fields run flat between low hills, with the Kenbuchi River through the middle. Farm stands sell produce from summer into autumn.
Getting to Kenbuchi
Asahikawa Airport is about 1.3 hours by car. Route 40 passes through town and the Doo Expressway ends at the Shibetsu-Kenbuchi interchange nearby, about 2.5 hours from Sapporo. JR Soya Main Line local trains stop at Kenbuchi station, under an hour from Asahikawa.
Kamikawa region: Asahikawa Airport and Asahikawa Station are useful entry points. Plan the onward journey separately: reaching a railway station is not the same as reaching a flower farm, the Blue Pond or a mountain ropeway. Check seasonal bus services and the last return departure.
When to visit Kenbuchi
June to September for the lake, the campground and the fields at their fullest. May for cherry blossoms around Lake Sakuraoka. The Picture Book Hall is open year-round and is the winter reason to visit.
What to eat in Kenbuchi
Rice, wheat and pumpkins are the main crops, and the town's farm stands sell vegetables through the season. Bread and sweets made with local flour and pumpkin turn up at the lakeside facilities and in town.
Kenbuchi in context: the Kamikawa region
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Kamikawa is a large inland region of Hokkaido that includes Asahikawa, Furano, Biei and gateways to Daisetsuzan National Park. It is also the name of Kamikawa town, where Sounkyo Onsen is located. This page helps you choose between the region's sightseeing areas; use the town guide below if Sounkyo is your destination.
Towns near Kenbuchi
Read next
More towns in Kamikawa
Other regions: Ishikari · Sorachi · Shiribeshi · Iburi · Hidaka · Oshima · Hiyama · Rumoi · Soya · Okhotsk · Tokachi · Kushiro · Nemuro