Hokkaido
道の駅 スタープラザ芦別
Begin your Ashibetsu trip in the “town of falling stars” with gatatan and local history exhibits at this roadside station.
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Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.
The quickest way to try Ashibetsu’s specialty at the station. This warm, hearty soup is especially welcome in cold weather.
Use the roadside station parking area and walk to the adjacent museum for a short introduction to Ashibetsu’s nature, history and identity as a town of stars.
Extend your stay with hot spring baths, a sauna, books and a café. “Onsen” means a hot spring bath.
Walk through Anne of Green Gables-inspired streets for an unusual Ashibetsu detour.
Michi-no-Eki Star Plaza Ashibetsu sits where National Routes 38 and 452 meet, making it a convenient stop on the way toward Furano and Biei or Takikawa. The local dish gatatan and the adjacent Hoshi no Furu Sato Centennial Museum are the main reasons to stop. With more time, extend the trip to Ofuro Café Seiyukan or Canadian World to explore Ashibetsu as a town of stars, coal mining, settlement history and stories. Gatatan is a thick, hearty local soup.
Michika Morisaki sees Star Plaza Ashibetsu as a preview of Ashibetsu, rather than merely a rest stop. Warm up with gatatan, explore stars and settlement history at the Centennial Museum, then, if time allows, go to the hot spring or Canadian World. Whether you travel with children or adults, the name “town of falling stars” can become part of the trip’s memory.
Ashibetsu is fun when you start with gatatan, then move on to stars and stories.
The roadside station restaurant is a place to try Ashibetsu’s specialty, gatatan. This thick soup is packed with ingredients and makes a satisfying meal during a break without feeling too heavy.
Hoshi no Furu Sato Centennial Museum is beside the roadside station. In a short visit, you can explore Ashibetsu’s nature, animals, geology, settlement history and identity as a town of stars.
Ofuro Café Seiyukan combines hot spring baths, a sauna, reading and a café for a longer stay. It is a strong option when you want more than a brief roadside break.
Streets recreating the world of Anne of Green Gables give this Ashibetsu stop a distinctly foreign atmosphere. Add an outdoor walk on a fine day to make the visit more memorable.
Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.
Park, use the restroom and have gatatan at the restaurant. Even a single taste of Ashibetsu’s specialty makes this more than a roadside station you merely pass through.
Parking → Restaurant → Shop → Departure
Restaurant hours vary by season, and there are periods when it is closed between meal services.
The adjacent Centennial Museum gives a sense of Ashibetsu through stars, geology, settlement and literature. The displays can spark conversation with elementary school children.
Roadside station → Centennial Museum → Shop
The Centennial Museum closes on Mondays and Tuesdays during some periods, so check its opening days.
Head to Ofuro Café Seiyukan for hot spring baths, a sauna, reading and a café. It makes a fitting end to a visit to Ashibetsu, the town of falling stars.
Roadside station → Ofuro Café Seiyukan → Journey home
You will need to drive from the roadside station. At night, consider the route home and the weather.
Walking through Anne of Green Gables-inspired streets adds a storybook dimension to an Ashibetsu trip. It may appeal more to adults than children, so consider your companions.
Roadside station → Canadian World → Hot spring or journey home
Check official opening days and the season before heading there.
Stars show the editorial recommendation for each age group on a five-point scale. Read the reasons alongside each rating.
Useful for a short break focused on the shop.
You can eat and use the restroom at the roadside station, but keep museum visits and outdoor walks short if carrying a child becomes tiring.
Good for a meal break; divide the exhibits into short visits.
Gatatan or a light meal can help reset the mood. Rather than trying to see every exhibit, taking in the tower and the starry atmosphere may be enough.
Add the Centennial Museum and hot spring for an easy outing.
You can give the day separate goals: see exhibits, eat and visit the hot spring. An outdoor walk depends on weather and season.
Easy to extend into learning about stars, geology, settlement and stories.
Combine the Centennial Museum, Canadian World and hot spring to make a full day of discovering Ashibetsu.
Permanent spaces and dated events are listed separately. Events can change both the atmosphere and crowds; use the official links for details.
Checking event dates.
Special exhibitions and closed days affect how you can visit. Because it is adjacent to the roadside station, current opening information is especially useful.
Hot spring baths, a sauna, a café and books can turn a short stop into a long stay. Check opening hours and events.
An outdoor walking destination that is especially appealing during its seasonal opening and events.
Practical ideas and things to consider when spending time here.
Travel reviews include visitors stopping specifically for gatatan; as a meal during a roadside break, it gives a distinct taste of Ashibetsu.
It is next to the roadside station, so you can reach the exhibits without another drive. For elementary school children and older, stars, geology and settlement offer things to talk about.
Travel reviews suggest it is easy to park along National Route 38 and to include on routes toward Takikawa, Furano or Biei.
Ofuro Café Seiyukan has an outdoor bath, sauna, books and a café, allowing you to switch from a short break to a longer stay.
The world of Anne of Green Gables and a 19th-century Canadian streetscape make it more than a nearby facility: it is a story-rich Ashibetsu detour.
Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.
Specialities, places to eat, sweets and bakeries can all give you a reason to stop. Check individual menus for current prices and availability.
A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.
When you want a quick taste of Ashibetsu.
Easy to fit a meal before or after the Centennial Museum.
A good fit for a winter break along the national route.
Take a reminder of the town of falling stars home.
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Begin your Ashibetsu trip in the “town of falling stars” with gatatan and local history exhibits at this roadside station.
Adjacent to the roadside station. Exhibits offer a quick introduction to Ashibetsu as a town of stars, geology and settlement history.
An outdoor Ashibetsu walk through the world of Anne of Green Gables and a 19th-century Canadian streetscape.
For families with elementary school children and older who want more than the roadside station, rainy days and anyone curious about Ashibetsu.
For days when you want to turn a roadside break into a half-day stay, including rainy or winter days.
For sunny days, photography and a story-rich detour.
For adults who want to enjoy outdoor scenery in good weather. At night, put safety and road conditions first.
For days when you want more meal choices or do not want your visit to end at the roadside station.
Send your travel companions a possible stop.
