The Japanese town of Bifuka, in Hokkaido, was twinned with Ashcroft in 1994.
Bifuka is a small community with a population of about 4,800 and is in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Bifuka is located in a valley in the north central region of the island of Hokkaido.
It is surrounded by mountains and the Teshio River flows roughly northwest through Bifuka.
One of the major highlights is the Bifuka Sturgeon Museum featuring beautiful aquariums and a small facility which maintains eight species of sturgeon. Sturgeon were found in the Teshio River as far as Bifuka until the Meiji Period is an era of Japanese history which extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The park is a wonderful place to visit while in Ashcroft with huge trees, shaded benches and picnic tables. Throughout the park are several murals and mosaics. When we were there the visitor center and washrooms were open. There is parking on both sides of the park. The park is approximately 2 acres in size, though it is long and narrow.
One of the many attractions in Ashcroft is Heritage Place Park a well maintained interpretive park decorated with artifacts and buildings representing the history of the region. Within the park are a series of short walking paths with interpretive signs marking each exhibit and documents the early days of the railway and mining industries.
There are dozens of informational signs including British Columbia Heritage Markers. As you are walking the trails in the park, you will discover a vast array of mosaics and murals including the Harmony Bell which displays four mosaics about the ethnic diversity of the area. There is a large gazebo where musical entertainment are held during the summer. (These events are temporally closed due to COVID 19) There is a working water wheel, old sod roof miner's cabin, an old caboose and a Highland Valley Copper truck.