A clear stream flowing from the foot of Mt. Tarumae, and a road through the forest
| From Tomakomai Station | By car about 10 min (about 11 km by road) Estimated from road map data. Traffic lights, congestion and winter roads can make it take longer. |
|---|---|
| Area | Tomakomai |
| Our photos | 2017, 2020, 2023 |
| Map | Route from Tomakomai Station / Open map |
What kind of place are the Nishitappu River and Hokkaido Route 141 (Tarumae-Nishikioka Line)?
The Nishitappu River starts on the middle slopes of Mt. Tarumae and flows through a national forest. It is one of Tomakomai City’s sources of tap water. Its water is sent to the Nishitappu Water Purification Plant, which supplies the western districts of the city. According to city materials, its water quality ranks near the top in nationwide river surveys.
Hokkaido Route 141 (Tarumae-Nishikioka Line) is a Hokkaido road that runs from Nishikioka through the forest at the foot of Mt. Tarumae toward the Maruyama area. There are gates at both ends of the section. The road is closed when the road shoulders are in poor condition or when trees may fall.
How to get there from Tomakomai and travel time
About 10 min by car from JR Tomakomai Station. The distance is about 11 km by road.
The travel time is an estimate to Nishikioka Station. Route 141 is sometimes closed, so please check the road information from the Iburi General Subprefectural Bureau before you drive.
Travel times are estimates based on road distances calculated from road map data (OpenStreetMap), assuming an average speed of about 55 km/h (about 70 km/h for trips over 40 km). Traffic lights, traffic jams and winter road conditions can make the trip longer. Please check the latest road information before you go.
How Tomakomai residents can enjoy it
If you live in western Tomakomai, a forest with a clear stream is right next to your everyday life. From 2017 to 2023, our president photographed the scenery along the river and the road in the season of fresh green leaves.
For people looking for “a life with nature just outside the door,” the Nishikioka area is one we strongly recommend seeing.
Our photo record
Our president visited in May 2017, May 2020 and May 2023 and took about 202 photos.
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Photos: Banana House Inc. (taken by our president). Do not reuse without permission.
Our photo records and timestamp certificates
The 8 photos in this article were taken on site by our president. We list the SHA-256 hashes of the published files and have them signed by timestamp authorities (DateSealed, DigiCert, Sectigo)(First certified: 2026-11-03 12:40 JST). A signature shows that the same file existed before that time; it does not prove the date the photo was taken.
You can check the signature and hash of each photo from its timestamp certificate. To see whether a photo you saved matches our records, use the photo timestamp verification page (Japanese) .
Frequently asked questions
What kind of river is the Nishitappu River?
It is a river that starts at the foot of Mt. Tarumae and is one of Tomakomai City's sources of tap water. Water is supplied from the Nishitappu Water Purification Plant to the western districts of the city.
Can I always drive on Hokkaido Route 141 (Tarumae-Nishikioka Line)?
It may be closed because of the condition of the road shoulders, the risk of falling trees and other reasons. Please check the road information from the Iburi General Subprefectural Bureau.
Nearby spots
- Nishikioka Station and the Nishikioka area (about 0 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 10 min)
- Nishiki-Onuma Park (about 3 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 15 min)
- Midorigaoka Park and observation deck (about 11 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 5 min)
Looking for a home or selling in Tomakomai?
“Lake Shikotsu or Noboribetsu on weekends”, “I want to live near the airport”: we suggest areas that fit the way you want to live. We also help with selling and vacant houses.
Banana House Inc., 1-1-1 Honkocho, Tomakomai. We never use pushy sales. Please write in English or Japanese.