[Scary but popular? Too cute?] 5 'Swamp Characters' You Can Meet in Central Hokkaido! A Special Feature on Local Characters That Will Make Your Hokkaido Trip Even More Fun

When you think of Hokkaido, many people might imagine classic tourist attractions like magnificent nature, seafood, ramen, and hot springs.

But in fact, 'local characters' are also quite strong here.

Moreover, Hokkaido's characters don't just stop at being 'cute'.

They are all 'unforgettable once you see them,' including characters who became nationally famous for being too scary, characters with too much personality, and characters packed with local love.

The Central Hokkaido area, in particular, is a region with a very rich local character culture, partly because tourist destinations like Sapporo, Otaru, Yubari, and Tomakomai are concentrated there. It is not uncommon for people to get hooked on a character they casually saw at a souvenir shop and start collecting their merchandise.

Recently, more people are going to events specifically for these 'yuru-chara' (mascot characters).

They are often talked about on social media as 'mysterious characters found in Hokkaido' or 'so quirky that I actually like them,' and the image of them being 'for children' has faded compared to the past, with the number of adult fans increasing significantly.

Furthermore, because Hokkaido's characters are based on local specialties and history, they are also excellent as an entry point to learning about the town.

When you wonder 'Why do they look like that?' and look them up, you often find that local culture is deeply involved.

The ones I will introduce this time are 'real, popular characters' who are actively working in the Central Hokkaido area and have a stable lineup of merchandise.

I plan to continue with Eastern and Northern Hokkaido editions, and eventually a province-wide edition, so this time I have selected characters who are still very impactful while holding back a bit on the 'super-famous national celebrities'.

Characters you'll definitely want to take a picture with if you see them during your trip.

Characters that will make you do a double-take in the souvenir corner.

And characters whose merchandise you'll find piling up at home before you know it.

This time, I will fully introduce the world of this 'Central Hokkaido mascot swamp'.

1. Tomachop - The versatile character who carries all of Tomakomai on his back

Born as the official character of Tomakomai City, 'Tomachop' is one of the most popular local characters in Hokkaido. While based on a swan, his design is characterized by being packed with Tomakomai specialties, such as a surf clam hat, a haskap berry necklace, and an iris tail.

He is active as the vice-city bird and tourism ambassador of Tomakomai City, and he makes quite a lot of event appearances. Although he looks cute, he is actually a character with a strong local connection, with plenty of sports event appearances and corporate collaborations.

Merchandise is available at the
Tomakomai Tourist Information Center.

Around the Roadside Station Utonai Lake

Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal Shop

and other places, making them relatively easy to find. There is a wide variety of items, from keychains and plush toys to stationery. This is a classic type that 'Hokkaido character beginners' are likely to get hooked on first.

② Melon Kuma - The monster that became a nationwide sensation as the 'too scary mascot'

If you're talking about Central Hokkaido characters, you can't leave out Yubari's 'Melon Kuma.' The premise is that it's a bear that mutated after eating too many Yubari melons, and it's not just cute—it's genuinely scary. With sharp fangs, a realistic mouth, and an imposing costume, it's famous for making children cry.

However, that intense impact has conversely made it hugely popular, and it has become a staple in the Hokkaido souvenir world. An interesting point is that it's actually not an official Yubari City character, but one created by a local company.

Currently, there is a huge number of goods such as plush toys, T-shirts, socks, stationery, and stickers, and you can see a massive amount of related products at 'Melon Kuma's House' near Shin-Yubari Station. It is often seen at New Chitose Airport and highway rest areas within Hokkaido, making it a success story that has grown to the level of being a 'face of Hokkaido souvenirs.'

③ Ungappa - A healing character with a high encounter rate in Otaru sightseeing

Otaru's popular character 'Ungappa' is a local character that combines the Otaru Canal and a kappa. True to Otaru, which is famous for its retro townscape, it features a design that has a somewhat 'laid-back' feel.

As a character for a tourist city, it has a lot of exposure and is seen quite often at Otaru events and in tourism PR. It's not the type to aggressively push itself forward, but rather has an atmosphere of being a 'character you gradually grow to love.'

Merchandise is sold at souvenir shops and tourist facilities around the Otaru Canal, with keychains and snack collaborations being particularly popular.

Since these characters are easy to buy as a memento of your Otaru trip, they are quite popular with tourists. They really resonate with people who prefer 'Hokkaido-style laid-back vibes' over flashiness.

4. TV Tosan - A mysterious character that even Sapporo residents struggle to explain

A unique presence in the Sapporo character scene is 'TV Tosan.' It is a character based on the Sapporo TV Tower, and it's the type that makes you think 'What is this?' the moment you see it. However, this sense of relaxation and surrealism has gained popularity, and it has been loved in the Hokkaido character world for many years.

A veteran that has been active since before the yuru-chara (mascot) boom, it appears frequently on local Hokkaido programs and at events. Rather than cute, it's the 'full of character' type.

Merchandise can be purchased at the Sapporo TV Tower shop and tourist facilities within Sapporo. There are many novelty items like T-shirts and stickers, which are also popular with fans outside of Hokkaido. It is highly recommended for 'people who want to buy weird souvenirs on their Hokkaido trip.'

5. Atsumaru-kun - A talented character who also played an active role in disaster recovery PR

The Atsuma Town official character 'Atsumaru-kun' is a character packed with the charms of Atsuma Town, such as haskap berries, rice, and surfing.

While it looks like a very classic mascot character, its recognition within Hokkaido rose sharply after it played an active role in recovery PR activities following the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake. It features a rice ball-shaped pouch and is very popular with children at events. Although not flashy, it is a highly polished 'community-based character.'

Merchandise is sold at roadside stations, specialty product shops, and event venues within Atsuma Town, with pin badges and towels being popular. Recommended for those who want to strongly feel the local Hokkaido vibe.

Why are Hokkaido's local characters so 'eccentric'?

As you can see when lining up the Central Hokkaido characters, there are many cases where Hokkaido's local characters don't just end at being 'normally cute'.

For example, the extreme design of Melon Kuma.

The mysterious sense of style like TV-Toson.

The 'everything-on-it' style of local specialties like Tomachop.

This is also related to the fact that Hokkaido is vast and the individuality of each region is quite strong.

Furthermore, because Hokkaido has many tourist destinations, an 'impact that won't get buried' is necessary.

As a result, there is a foundation where characters that leave a lasting impression nationwide are easily cultivated.

In fact, there are quite a few people who say, 'I only remember the characters' after traveling to Hokkaido.

That is how much local characters have become a part of the sightseeing experience.

In fact, there are quite a few people who say, 'I only remember the characters' after traveling to Hokkaido.

That is how much local characters have become a part of the sightseeing experience.

And what's interesting is the phenomenon of 'looking at them as a joke at first, but realizing you've grown to like them'.

Hokkaido characters have a very strong addictive quality.

It is especially dangerous when you see their merchandise on-site.

You might find yourself heading to the register after picking one up while laughing, thinking, 'Who would actually buy this?'

We are planning Eastern and Northern Hokkaido editions in the future, but there are still a massive number of strong characters in Hokkaido.

In fact, there are quite a few 'big names' that we couldn't introduce this time.

When you travel to Hokkaido, please be sure to check out the 'character shops' as well as the tourist spots.

They might be the places that most clearly capture the atmosphere and vibe of the local area.

There are local characters on the main island of Honshu too, right?
I'd love to collaborate with characters like that.
If anyone is knowledgeable about this, would you like to write an article with me?
We will continue with more local characters this week.
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