Tokachi has a continental climate. In the spring, often dry, strong winds blow over the Hidaka Mountain Range. In summer, the coastal area is cool with numerous foggy days, and the inland area has relatively high temperatures, often over 30. In winter, there are low temperatures, often below 0 but there is less snow than other parts of Hokkaido.

There are many sunny days throughout the year. The total amount of sunshine is over 2,000 hours a year, which is the most in Japan. The difference between the highest and the lowest temperatures is approximately 60, but Tokachi has four distinct seasons.

   The breakdown of Tokachi's gross product by industry is primary 10%, secondary 20% and tertiary 70%. The percentage of primary industry is higher than the Hokkaido average. In recent years, however, the percentage of primary industry is decreasing while that of tertiary industry, including wholesale, retail and services, is increasing.

   Forests account for 64% of Tokachi's total land area. It has one eighth of the total forested area of Hokkaido. Naturally, Tokachi is one of the biggest producers of lumber. The lumber produced in Tokachi is mainly from Sakhalin fir, larch, oak and white birch.

   Salmon is the major product of Tokachi's fishery and accounts for 50% of the total catch.

   The high productivity of Tokachi's agriculture has been achieved by a combination of fertile land, large-scale farming and mechanization. The total area of cultivated land is approximately 250,000 hectares. There are approximately 6,700 farms. The average area cultivated per farm is 38 hectares, which is 22 times larger than the national average. The number of cattle per dairy farm is 114, which is approximately the same as that of EU countries.

   Tokachi is a major food-producing region in Japan. The value of Tokachi's agricultural production was 240.6 billion yen in 2006, which was approximately 20% of Hokkaido's total output. Upland crops made up 51% of it and 49% came from livestock farming. Wheat, beans, potatoes and sugar beets are major crops. Tokachi grows 41% of the wheat, 40% of the beans, and 42% of potatoes in Hokkaido. The district's share for the nation for these crops is wheat 25%, beans 18%, and potatoes 32%. Almost all the domestic sugar beets are produced in Hokkaido and the district’s share is 40%. Fresh milk and beef cattle are the major livestock products. Fresh milk production is 25% of Hokkaido's total and 11% for the nation.

   The cold winters, with little snowfall have made skating a popular sport in Tokachi. School playgrounds are flooded to make skating rinks so children can speed skate and play ice hockey during gym class. In Obihiro, there is an excellent 400-meter speed skating oval, which has hosted the World Cup Speed Skating Championships and the National Winter Athletic Meet. Tokachi has produced many skaters who have competed in the Olympic Games and other international championships. Speed skater Hiroyasu Shimizu, the former world record holder in the Men's 500-meter and a Gold Medal winner in the Nagano Winter Olympics, is from Obihiro.

   There are several sports that were invented in Tokachi and have spread nationwide. Gateball, which is popular among elderly citizens, was created in Memuro. Likewise, Park Golf originated in Makubetsu and Mini Volleyball was first played in Taiki. These Tokachi-born sports are now popular around Japan and are enjoyed by people of all ages.

   Approximately 8.95 million tourists visit Tokachi annually, 6% of the total number of Hokkaido tourists. Obihiro hosts the most tourists (2.6 million), followed by Otofuke (1.4 million), which has Tokachigawa Spa. Obihiro has three major festivals: Ice Festival (Jan.), Heigen Festival (Aug.) and Chrysanthemum Festival (Nov.).

   Popular tourists spots in Obihiro include Yachiyo Farm, a 975-hectare public pasture that keeps cattle for local farmers, Green Park and its 400-meter bench, once the longest in world, and Midorigaoka Park. In downtown Obihiro, there is the Kita-no Yatai (Food Stands of the North), a collection of more than ten food stands. Each stand offers its own specialties made from Tokachi products.

   A local food specialty that originated in Obihiro is buta-don (pork bowl). This dish is rarely found in any other area of Hokkaido or Japan. It is a bowl of rice topped with fried or grilled pork that is dipped in a special sauce. Many restaurants in Tokachi offer buta-don, each made from its own recipe. Buta-don is also a popular dish for Tokachi people to make at home. Finally, Tokachi Wine, a product of the town of Ikeda, is a nationally renowned wine.

   The history of Tokachi's development began when the 27 members of the Bansei-sha, a privately funded group from Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, lead by Benzo Yoda, immigrated to Tokachi and started clearing the land for farming. Until its breakup in 1932, the Bansei-sha constructed roads and bridges, and laid the foundation for the villages and towns that now make up Tokachi. Therefore, Benzo Yoda is called the "Father of Tokachi."

   In 1933, when Obihiro's population reached 32,000 (6,300 households), it was designated a city. In 2002, a ceremony was held to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Obihiro's founding and the 70th anniversary of it becoming a city.