RiverJapan · JP
Atsubetsu River
The Atsubetsu River (厚別川) is a 41-kilometre waterway flowing through Sapporo, Hokkaido — the second-longest river in the city and the largest tributary of the Toyohira River. Its name comes from the Ainu language, where "Ashiripet" means "new river," a reference to its history as a wild watercourse that changed its course with every annual flood. Today, after decades of flood-control engineering, the river's banks have been transformed into a series of parks, green spaces, cycling paths, and one of Japan's most celebrated waterfalls. From its source near Sorachi Peak in Minami Ward to its confluence with the Toyohira River in neighbouring Ebetsu, the Atsubetsu River threads through forested hills, farmland, and residential neighbourhoods, offering walkers, families, and nature lovers a surprisingly varied green corridor just minutes from Sapporo's urban core.