Oketo, town in Tokoro district, Hokkaidō, Japan
Oketo is a small town in eastern Hokkaido surrounded by forests and fields. It stretches along the Tokoro River and features open spaces where visitors experience clean air and a slow pace of rural life.
The town shows signs of Ainu culture through old fortifications. After World War II, settlers from Akita Prefecture established themselves here and shaped the modern community through farming and collective work.
The name Oketo comes from the Ainu language and means "place of the river". The wooden craft tradition, practiced since the early 1980s, is now woven into daily life and visible in local shops and community gatherings.
The nearest airport at Memanbetsu is about 90 minutes by car. You can also take the train to Rubeshibe Station and then a bus, or use direct buses connecting to nearby cities.
In the 1960s this town became famous for a strength competition called tug-of-war, winning more often than any other place in Japan. The tradition continues today in an annual July festival where teams pull heavy sleds over small hills.
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