One of Hokkaido's 179 towns
Pippu比布町
Strawberries at the foot of the Daisetsu range
Kamikawa region · Lavender, patchwork hills and the roof of Hokkaido.
Pippu is a strawberry town at the foot of the Taisetsu range, with a friendly local ski hill that trains Asahikawa's kids every winter.
Pippu is a small town just north of Asahikawa where the Kamikawa basin narrows toward the Soya line north. Strawberries are the crop it is known for, with pick-your-own farms busy in early summer, and rice fills the flat land between the Ishikari River and the hills. The town runs its own ski hill, a first ski slope for generations of Asahikawa children, and shares a hill famous for spring katakuri lilies with the city. Easy to reach, easy to leave; a pleasant half day.
- Region
- Kamikawa (上川)
- From New Chitose Airport
- ~192 km · 3 h summer / 3.5 h winter
- From Sapporo
- ~178 km · 2.7 h summer / 3.2 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.
Pippu 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 Pippu
Pippu Ski Area
ぴっぷスキー場
The town-run ski hill on the slopes east of town, with wide views over the basin and dry inland snow. Small and friendly, popular with families from Asahikawa.
Mt. Tossho katakuri flowers
突哨山のカタクリ
A low wooded hill on the border with Asahikawa where a huge colony of katakuri lilies carpets the forest floor in late April and early May.
Strawberry farms
いちご狩り農園
From June into July the town's strawberry farms open for picking, and the roadside station sells fresh berries, jam and sweets. Families from Asahikawa fill the farms on weekends.
Getting to Pippu
Asahikawa Airport is about 45 minutes by car. Route 40 and the Doo Expressway both pass through the town, with the Pippu interchange giving a direct link to Sapporo in about two hours. JR Soya Main Line local trains stop at Pippu station, about 15 minutes 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 Pippu
June and July for strawberries, late April and early May for the katakuri lilies. Late December to March for the ski hill. Autumn brings harvest colors to the paddies but little else for visitors.
What to eat in Pippu
Strawberries define early summer, eaten fresh or as jam, juice and sweets. Rice is the main crop the rest of the year, and the roadside station sells local vegetables and baked goods made with the town's berries.
Pippu in context: the Kamikawa region
Click a town to open its page
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 Pippu
Read next
More towns in Kamikawa
Other regions: Ishikari · Sorachi · Shiribeshi · Iburi · Hidaka · Oshima · Hiyama · Rumoi · Soya · Okhotsk · Tokachi · Kushiro · Nemuro