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A spacious land
abundant with nature - Festivals held throughout the four seasons
Hokkaido is an island at Japan's northern extremity, surrounded by
sea in all directions. It is an extensive land, accounting for 22% of
Japan's total area. Low humidity makes the summers pleasant, while in
winter you can enjoy winter sports. The island is gaining popularity
as a tourist destination throughout the four seasons. In
Hokkiado you can enjoy the magnificence of nature to your heart's
content: Daisetsu-zan National Park, which forms the roof of Hokkaido;
the secluded Shiretoko-hanto Peninsula; Kushiro Marsh, home to many
precious living things such as Japanese cranes; the Shikotsu-Toya
National Park, which is full of volcanoes and lakes; and the
ever-changing Shakotan Coast. There are also numerous hot springs,
like Noboribetsu-onsen, Jozan-kei-onsen and Soun-kyo-onsen Hot
Springs, where you can leisurely get over the tiredness from your
journey. In winter there is the Sapporo Snow-matsuri Festival and
Monbetsu Ice Floes-matsuri Festival. In summer there is the Furano
Lavender-matsuri Festival, as well as port-matsuri festivals in every
coastal town to pray for a good catch and safe fishing. Hokkaido
boasts over 1,200 festivals and events all year round.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 2 hours 10 minutes from Osaka Itami Aiport.Around 17
hours by sleeping car from Tokyo to Sapporo.
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Sapporo "Sapporo
Station and Odori Avenue Park"
A trendy shopping center and the location of the Snow Festival
Sapporo in western Hokkaido is divided up in a grid pattern, and
is the largest city on the island. Odori Avenue Park stretches from
east to west in the center of the city, and is a symbol of the city
- full of art objects, fountains, lilac and acacia plants and lots
of flowerbeds. To the north stand trading companies, financial
institutions and local government offices, while to the south is a
large underground shopping mall, which is always busy as the city's
main shopping center. It is directly connected to Sapporo Station,
which is the transport hub for all Hokkaido and is the place to
board JR Lines, the subway, and both local and tourist buses. The
city contains many essential sights, such as the Sapporo City Clock,
which has been marking time for over a century; the old Hokkaido
government building, a neo-baroque building known as "Red Brick"
that is lit up after dark; and the poplars outside Hokkaido
University (formerly the Hokkaido Agricultural College). Odori
Avenue Park is more than 1,400 meters long. In summer it is full of
beer gardens, while in winter it forms the location for the Yuki-matsuri
(snow festival) Festival. During the Snow Festival, this big park is
lined with magnificent snow statues and beautiful ice statues.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Sapporo Station is 36 minutes from the Airport by JR Rapid Train.
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Hitsujigaoka
Pastoral scenery with grazing sheep - The venue of the 2002 World
Cup
Hitsujigaoka stretches out on the southeastern side of Sapporo
City, which is situated in the southwestern part of Ishikari Plain,
Hokkaido. Hitsujigaoka welcomes you with a peaceful and relaxing
pastoral view where gently rolling hills and sleepy grazing sheep
are in sight. The whole pastureland especially, which glows with a
beautiful golden color in the sunset, is really something for you to
remember. There is an observation point where many people visit to
view the whole scenery of Sapporo City and Ishikari Plain that lies
lazily in the distance. In a corner of the observation area, there
is a bronze statue of Dr. William S. Clark, an American professor
who set up Hokkaido University and was also known as "the father of
Hokkaido pioneering." His name is well-known for his famous phrase
"Boys, be ambitious." Japanese still often quote this phrase on the
many occasions when someone needs encouragement. The statue is lit
up at night and it is a popular spot for young people to take
photos. Barbequing mutton in what is called "Genghis Khan style" is
one of the specialties of Hitsujigaoka. Hitsujigaoka is the venue of
the Football 2002 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Korea. The
Sapporo Dome in Hitsujigaoka opened in June 2001 is the 5th
all-weather type stadium to be constructed in Japan.
Getting there
An hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Shin-Chitose
Airport. Thirty-five minutes by JR Chitose Line Rapid Train from
Shin-Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station. Thirteen minutes by City
Subway from Sapporo Station to Fukuzumi Station. Twelve minutes by
bus from Fukuzumi Station to Hitsujigaoka-tenbodai (view spot).
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Mt. Moiwa-yama
The Moiwa Virgin Forest, a natural monument, and a night view that
shines like a sea of light
The 531-meter-high Mt. Moiwa-yama has wide foothills that
stretch into the southwest of Sapporo. It is known for its fine
night view, and is popular among local people as a place for dating
or just to go and admire the scenery. To get to the summit, take the
Moiwa-yama Ropeway from Sanroku Station (5 minutes). Then get on a
lift that takes you to the summit (3 minutes). There are attractive
coffee shops near the entrance to the ropeway. From the peak, you
can of course see the grid shape of the city of Sapporo. You can
also see Ishikari Plain, and all the way from Ishikari Bay to the
Yubari Mountain Range and Mt. Eniwa-dake near Lake Shikotsu. What is
especially beautiful is the night scene of Sapporo shining like a
sea of light, and the entertainment district, Susukino glimmering
with red and yellow neon lights.
The northeastern side of Mt. Moiwa-yama is covered in thick
vegetation. There are 160 types of trees and plants, including
varieties of linden, oak, katsura and wild cherry, and the Moiwa
Virgin Forest has been designated a Natural Monument. Also on the
mountainside are a museum about the virgin forest and a farm
dedicated to the virgin forest. In winter, the south side becomes a
ski resort.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport. The streetcar leaves from Nishi 4-chome, near the subway
Odori Station, and takes 20 minutes to reach Ropeway Iriguchi
Station. The ropeway Sanroku Station is 8 minutes walk away.
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Jozan-kei Valley
"Sapporo's back parlor" is alongside a ravine. The symbol of
Jozan-kei Valley is kappa, the water sprite.
Jozan-kei (valley)-onsen Hot Spring is located in the southwest
of Sapporo along an upstream ravine by the Toyohira-gawa River.
Called "Sapporo's back parlor," the spa is surrounded by mountains.
It was discovered by a monk called Jozan, and was named after him
for the efforts he made to develop it. The spa is known for its
plentiful waters, 200,000 liters of which flow every hour. The
waters contain a large variety of minerals, including boric acid,
sulfur and salt. The symbol of Jozan-kei Valley is the water sprite
or kappa. The kappa is an imaginary Japanese animal that lives both
on land and in water. It is a funny-shaped hobgoblin, with a plate
on its head, webbed hands and feet, and a pointed mouth. It became
the guardian spirit of this place from a legend about a young boy
who is supposed to have been taken off to the land of the kappa,
where he lived happily. Over 20 kappa stand in various poses around
the spa town, including the "Great Kappa King." There is also a
Kappa Pool, which becomes very lively during the Kappa Festival that
takes place in early August.
There are plenty of facilities for visitors nearby, such as the
nature walkway alongside the ravine and Sapporo International Ski
Resort. Jozan-kei Valley is also a hub for tourists going over the
Nakayama-toge Pass to Lake Toya-ko, and the town is lively
throughout the year.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Sapporo Station is 36 minutes from the airport by Rapid Train on the
JR Chitose Line. The JR bus from Sapporo Station to Jozan-kei Valley
takes 1 hour 20 minutes.
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Maruyama Park
A park rich in nature with a virgin woods Lions and giraffes in the
middle of a snow scene
Maruyama Park is in the western suburbs of Sapporo, inside the
dome-shaped Maruyama hill, 226 meters above sea level. This huge
60,000-square meter area contains a virgin woods with trees like
oak, katsura, magnolia and maple, and is a designated natural
monument. In spring the park is busy with visitors who flock to see
the blooming of more than 1,700 Hokkaido wild cherry trees. At
Hokkaido-Jingu Shrine on the hillside, there are giant elm and
cypress trees where woodpeckers gather, making it a great place for
bird watching.
Maruyama Zoo contains an aviary for tropical birds and an insect
house. The park contains about 200 species of living things. In
winter, the zoo is enveloped in snow, and giraffes and lions walk
around in the middle of this snow-covered landscape - a strange and
wonderful scene you cannot see at any other zoo. A 10-minute bus
ride from the park is the Okurayama Ski Jump Slopes, where you can
watch ski jump competitions during the season. There are also
facilities like ski resorts where you can enjoy winter sports.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport. From Sapporo Station. Take the City Subway Namboku Line to
Odori Station (2 minutes). Then take the City Subway Tozai Line from
Odori Station to Maruyama-Koen Station (5 minutes).
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Abashiri
Koshimizu Gensei-kaen: a seaside flower garden - A town where you
can see ice floes and cliones
Abashiri, the largest town on the Okhostk Coast of northeastern
Hokkaido, is a product of fishing and tourism. In addition to an
abundance of seasonal seafood available throughout the year, it is
also blessed with natural beauty such as primeval flower gardens,
lakes and ice floes. Abashiri has lots of places to enjoy, such as
the Koshimizu Gensei-kaen (Wild Flower Preserve), where about 40
kinds of flowers bloom in spring and summer; Lake Notori-ko, where
coral weed makes the surface red as if a carpet had been laid over
it; Lake Saroma-ko, which is separated from the sea by a long, thin
sandbar; and Lake Tofutsu-ko, famous for its swans.
Mt. Tento-zan in the suburbs is a great place from which to view
Abashiri. In the Okhostk Ryuhyo-kan (Ice Floe Museum) you can see
real ice flows even in the middle of summer, and experience a
temperature of minus 15 degrees. You can also see a type of conch
called a clione, whose back is plumed like a fairy tale angel, and
is known as the "angel of the ice flows." Ice floes arrive in
Abashiri every year in late January. An icebreaking tourist boat
leaves Wakkanai Port, enabling you to see the beautiful, rough blue
ice floes.
Getting there
Memambetsu Airport is 2 hours 40 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 2 hours 5 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Abashiri Station is 5 hours 19 minutes by Limited Express from
Sapporo Station on the JR Hakodate Honsen and Sekihoku Honsen Lines.
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Akan
The
infinite sky that creates a sea of clouds and stardust - A lake of
mystery that bears spherical moss
The Akan National Park is a mountainous park that stretches
across the eastern part of Hokkaido. The park includes a group of
volcanoes, such as Mt. Meakan-dake, Mt. Oakan-dake and Mt. Akanfuji,
which are situated around three famous volcanic lakes - Lake Akan-ko,
Lake Kussharo-ko and Lake Mashu-ko. The Akan National Park is a very
popular destination for its magnificent panoramic views and
hot-spring baths. Since the park is situated inland, the temperature
fluctuates rather sharply - it may rise as high as 30 degrees
centigrade on a hot summer's day but it can fall as low as 10
degrees centigrade in early morning and at night due to the
radiative cooling phenomenon. This phenomenon often produces a sea
of beautiful clouds that can be viewed from high elevation
locations. Glittery stardust that completely fills the night sky and
spectacular soft rimes provide further delights for the eyes in
winter. Lake Akan-ko is a lake of mystery and beauty. It is well
known for marimo - curious looking spherical moss, which is a
natural monument and is unique to the lake. Mt. Oakan-dake elegantly
looks over the eastern shore of Lake Akan-ko. Lake Mashu-ko is
internationally famous for its highest level of clarity in the
world. There is also a primeval forest of spruce and white fir. The
Akan National Park attracts many visitors throughout the year with
its magnificent scenic wonderland.
Those who visit the Akan National Park can see traditional Ainu (the
natives of Hokkaido) dances at their kotan (village), and enjoy
other outdoor activities such as canoeing, mountain bike tours and
camping. Hot-spring baths on the lakeside will surely help you to
unwind and relax at the end of an exciting day.
Getting there
An hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Kushiro Airport.
Two hours 5 minutes from Kansai International Airport. An hour 10
minutes from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akan-ko by bus.
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Asahikawa
A thriving world of art set against the magnificent background of
Mt. Daisetsu-zan
Asahikawa is located almost in the center of Hokkaido, and is
the second largest city after Sapporo. With the magnificent Mt.
Daisetsu-zan in the background, and 120 rivers flowing through the
town, it is full of natural splendor. It is also the gateway for
tourism to Soun-kyo Gorge and Furano. Asahikawa's thriving art world
has led it to be called a town for art. Fountains and sculptures dot
the shopping park in Heiwa-dori Avenue, the road that leads straight
from Asahikawa Station. Situated on a hill overlooking the town, the
Hokkaido Traditional Arts and Crafts Village is full of buildings
resembling castles from the Middle Ages in Europe, and has the
atmosphere of an amusement park. There is a gallery of works using
the world-famous Yukara-ori, the traditional textile fabric of
Hokkaido, from which you can get a better understanding of
traditional Japanese crafts.
The Ban'ei horse race at Asahikawa Horse Race Track is a race unique
to Hokkaido. Horses compete on horsepower and the speed with which
they can pull an iron sleigh. Ban'ei horses are said to have twice
the power of thoroughbreds, and the races are powerful and dynamic.
Also, Asahikawa has a ramen (noodle soup) area the equal of that in
Sapporo, and its countless ramen restaurants are always busy.
Getting there
Asahikawa Airport is 1 hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 2 hours from Kansai International Airport. Asahikawa
Station is 1 hour 28 minutes from Sapporo Station by Limited Express
on the JR Hakodate Honsen Line.
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Erimo-misaki Point
A cape where a mountain range juts into the Pacific Ocean - You
might even meet seals
Erimo-misaki Point is a cape at the south of the Hidaka Mountain
Range that stretches for 150 kilometers in eastern Hokkaido, thus
giving it the nickname of "the backbone of Hokkaido." The cape juts
into the Pacific Ocean, and at its tip are cliffs standing over 60
meters high that were formed by sea erosion. The mountain range
becomes a reef that stretches offshore for several kilometers, and
the white breaking waves are magnificent, creating a dynamic scene.
Because the cape stands at the meeting point of warm and cold
currents, sea fog is often created around the cape. As a whole, the
cape has been designated the Hidaka-Sanmyaku-Erimo-Misaki
Quasi-National Park.
The area is one of the windiest in Japan, with winds of over 10
meters per second blowing for 290 days a year. This means
agriculture has not developed here, and no tall trees have grown.
The Erimo-misaki Point Wind Museum is a museum dedicated to wind,
and contains monitors showing the weather in different parts of the
world, as well as a facility that lets visitors experience wind of
25 meters per second. Using the binoculars provided in the
observatory, you can watch the seals that sometimes appear on the
reef.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Take the JR Chitose Line to Tomakomai Station, 41 minutes from
Sapporo Station, then change to the JR Hidaka Honsen Line and get
off at Samani Station, 3 hours 15 minutes from Tomakomai Station.
From Samani Station, the JR bus takes 1 hour to Erimo-misaki Point.
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Furano
"The navel town" - the center of Hokkaido - Irresistible fragrance
invite you into fields of lavender.
Furano is situated along the middle reaches of the Sorachi-gawa
River in the central part of Hokkaido and it belongs to the
Furano-Ashibetsu Nature Park. Because of its geographical position,
which is almost right in the middle of Hokkaido, Furano has a unique
nickname - "the navel town." Every summer, the humorous navel
festival is held in Furano, during which 3,000 participants draw
funny faces on their bellies and dance around in the main street.
Furano's natural beauty is very much appreciated in all seasons
throughout the year - beautiful stardust in the winter sky, charming
mizubasho, Japanese skunk cabbage flowers on the roadside in spring,
the inviting fragrance of lavender in summer, and the gloriously red
and yellow tinted leaves in autumn. The name "Furano" actually
originates from the Ainu (Hokkaido's natives) word furanui -
fragrant flame. Furano has created the Furano Lavender no-mori
(lavender woods) to commemorate its 80-year history of municipal
government. Many people visit the lavender-no-mori in summer when
the lavender bloom is at its best. Strolling along the path through
the forest of sweetly scented lavender is really a must when you
visit Furano in summer. You can also enjoy outdoor activities in
Furano all year round. Rafting trips down the Sorachi-gawa River and
hot-air ballooning are organized by the Alpine Visitor's Center, and
Kitano-mine Peak is a popular ski resort in winter.
Getting there
An hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Asahikawa
Airport. Two hours from Osaka Itami Airport. An hour by bus from
Asahikawa Airport to Furano Station.
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Hakodate
Morning
market for a rich variety of seafood - City architecture with a
harmonious blend of Japanese and Western cultures
Located in the southwest of Hokkaido and facing the Tsugaru
Strait, Hakodate developed as a port town for trading with foreign
countries at the end of the 19th century, and is a gateway of
Hokkaido connected with Honshu (the main island of Japan) Island by
the Seikan Tunnel.
At the bay area near the railway station, a morning fair is held
where more than 360 stalls packed tightly together attract shoppers
with freshly caught squid, scallops, salmon eggs, Atka mackerels,
and many other fishes and shellfishes. Five minute's walk will take
you to the moored Seikan Strait ferryboat named Mashu Maru Memorial
Ship, which used to link Aomori in Honshu with Hokkaido. There is a
restaurant and a coffee shop at the bow where you can spend a nice,
relaxing time viewing the scenery around the port.
The area around Motomachi maintains a congenial blend of Japanese
and Western cultures in the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, an
important cultural property, as well as the old British Consulate
with its tea lounge, Haristo Sei-kyokai or the Russian Orthodox
Church, and the Higashi-Hongan-ji branch temple. At the waterfront
overlooking the Hakodate Port, there is a shopping mall of remodeled
red brick warehouses, the Old Kanamori Haberdashery Museum and
Hakodate Beer Hall.
Getting there
An hour 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hakodate
Airport. An hour 40 minutes from Kansai International Airport to
Hakodate Airport
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Hakodate and Environs
The night view of Hakodate is deemed one of the world's three most
spectacular night views along with Hong Kong and Naples.
There are numerous scenic spots around Hakodate City, which is
located at the tip of the Oshima-hanto Peninsula in the southern
part of Hokkaido. Mt. Hakodate-yama, situated to the southwest of
Hakodate, facing the Tsugaru Straits, is also known as Mt. Ka-gyu-san
because its shape resembles that of a cow lying down (ka meaning
"lying down" and gyu meaning "cow"). A cable car travels 835 meters
to the summit, 332 meters above sea level. From the all-weather
observatory overlooking the port of Hakodate and the city, visitors
can enjoy magnificent views in all directions, including views of
the Shimokita-hanto Peninsula and Tsugaru-hanto Peninsula to the
south. In particular the night view of Hakodate, counted among the
world's three best night views along with those of Hong Kong and
Naples, is even more memorable when accompanied by lights of squid
boats out at sea.
The Trappistine Convent, 30 minutes by bus from Hakodate Station,
was founded by eight sisters sent from France in 1898, and has
statues of the Virgin Mary and Joan of Arc in the front courtyard.
Yunokawa-onsen Hot Spring at the mouth of the Matsukura-gawa River
flowing into the Tsugaru Straits is a popular swimming spot in
summer. It is also known for the beauty of its squid-boat lights
during summer and autumn nights. The hot spring is popular among
people of Hakodate for leisure activities and relaxation because of
its convenient location only five kilometers from the center of
Hakodate.
Getting there
An hour 20 minutes to Hakodate Airport from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 35 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Around 30 minutes by bus to Trappistine Convent from Hakodate
Station, and 30 minutes to the Yunokawa-onsen by streetcar.
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Kushiro
The port town of illusion that lies in the mist - The Japan's
largest marshland - Kushiro Marsh
Kushiro, which is well-known as "the town of mist," is situated
in the southeastern part of Hokkaido, facing the Pacific Ocean.
Kushiro plays a leading role in the east of Hokkaido in politics,
economics and culture. The marine products industry of Kushiro has
flourished since the early 20th century and the long and narrow city
centering on Kushiro Port still retains many features in the streets
of the early 20th century port town. There was once a famous poet
and novelist, Takuboku Ishikawa, who lived in Kushiro in those days
so there is also a literary atmosphere to the city. The monument of
Takuboku Ishikawa can be found in Yonemachi Park where you can enjoy
a fantastic view of Kushiro Port from an observation point. If you
would like to treat yourself to gourmet cooking or would like to
enjoy shopping, Kushiro Fishermen's Wharf MOO is the place to go.
This is a very popular place for local people and visitors and there
is always a lively, cheerful and welcoming atmosphere.
In the north of Kushiro, Japan's largest marshland, Kushiro Marsh,
stretches out over the majority of the Kushiro Plain. Kushiro Marsh
is listed as a National Park. Kushiro Tancho Nature Park is known
for the first successful artificial breeding of Tancho cranes
(Japanese cranes), which are designated natural monuments. There are
currently about 20 Tancho cranes settling in the park. They can be
seen all year-round.
Getting there
An hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Kushiro Airport.
An hour 40 minutes from Kansai International Airport. Forty minutes
by bus from Kushiro Airport to Kushiro Station.
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Kushiro Marsh
Two thousand varieties of animals and plants live in Japan's biggest
marsh
In eastern Hokkaido, Kushiro stretches out right to the north of
Kushiro. This is a huge marsh with an overall area of 183 square
kilometers, and was the first Japanese marshland registered under
the Ramsar Convention on wetlands. Two thousand varieties of animals
and plants live here, including Hokkaido deer and the white-tailed
sea eagle. In summer, all sorts of wild flowers bloom, while in
winter the Japanese crane, a designated special natural monument,
flies in.
To view the wide marshland, observation points have been set up in
the surrounding hills. At the marsh observatory in Kushiro, a
sightseeing walkway has been set up so that you can walk around the
marsh. The Hoso'oka Observatory has great views - of the winding
Kushiro-gawa River beneath, and the Akan Mountain Range in the
distance.
In summer, the sightseeing train Norokko shows visitors the marsh as
it slowly makes its way from Kushiro Station to Shibecha Station.
There are also plenty of other ways to enjoy the marsh, such as
canoeing for 9 kilometers down the river from Lake Toro to Hoso'oka,
looking down at the marsh from 50 meters in a hot air balloon, or
riding dosanko, a Hokkaido-bred horse.
Getting there
Kushiro Airport is 1 hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport,
and 2 hours 5 minutes from Kansai International Airport. Kushiro
Station is 3 hours 32 minutes from Sapporo Station by Limited
Express on the JR Nemuro Honsen Line.
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Lake O-numa
A lake with islands connected by 18 bridges - Art nouveau glasswork
Lake O-numa located in the southern part of Hokkaido is part of
the O-numa National Park, together with the nearby Ko-numa Marsh and
Junsai-numa Marsh. Lake O-numa is 24 kilometers in circumference and
was formed by the eruption of Mt. Koma-ga-take. It has 126 islands,
large and small, and is famous for the spectacular views of these
islands connected by 18 bridges. It takes approximately 60 minutes
to walk around the lake through a series of arched bridges,
including Kogetsu-bashi Bridge, Ukishima-bashi Bridge, and
Hinode-bashi Bridge. Visitors can also enjoy a circuit of the lake
by rented bicycle, pleasure boats operating from spring through
autumn, or an exciting motorboat ride. The lake is renowned as an
attractive spot to watch the sunset in summer among a beautiful
display of mizubasho (Japanese skunk cabbage) flowers.
In the neighborhood is the O-numa Venetian Glass Museum, which
displays some 170 pieces of elegant art nouveau glass works, such as
those of Emile Gare. These works include a superb lace-glass pitcher
- one of only three of its kind left in the world. Visitors can also
sample low-fat O-numa beef, milk straight from the farm, soft cream,
O-numa-brewed beer, and enjoy other tasty treats. O-numa is a
well-equipped resort area with facilities for horseback riding,
tennis and golf as well.
Getting there
An hour 20 minutes to Hakodate Airport from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, or 1 hour 35 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Twenty minutes to O-numa Station from Hakodate Station by JR
Hakodate Honsen Line Limited Express.
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Lake Shikotsu-ko
Known as the most northerly lake that does not freeze over - Clear
water with visibility of 25 meters
Lake Shikotsu-ko is in southwestern Hokkaido in the west of the
city of Chitose. It is a crater lake that was formed over 30,000
years ago by volcanic activity, and has a maximum depth of 360
meters, making it the second deepest lake in Japan. It is an
oligotrophic lake with 25 meters visibility, and does not freeze in
most winters. This makes it the most northerly lake that does not
freeze over. The eastern lakeshore near the mouth of the
Chitose-gawa River is the center for tourists, and has hotels and
pickup points for pleasure boats. Other facilities include
Hokkaido's largest campsite and a wild bird observatory on the
southeast shore, and a national campsite on the west shore. On
10-meter-high bluff rock faces that stretch for 500 meters, is a
cave mouth covered thickly with about 30 varieties of moss. It has a
lustrous, dreamlike beauty.
In summer, people enjoy boating on the lake - in pleasure boat
tours, cruisers and motorboats - or they fish for rainbow trout or
go scuba diving. In winter the Chitose-Shikotsuko-Hyobaku-matsuri
Festival (Ice Fall Festival) features objects made out of ice from
the lake water, which are lit up to produce a fantastic spectacle.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
The JR bus from Chitose Airport to Shikotsu-kohan terminal takes 40
minutes.
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Lake Toya-ko
A lakeside spa resort - Spirals of white smoke above Showa Shinzan
Volcano
Lake Toya-ko, which is situated in the southwestern part of
Hokkaido, belongs to the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Repetitive
volcanic activity in the early 20th century created a depression in
the ground, giving birth to Lake Toya-ko as a result. This wide lake
lies 200-500 meters below the outer rim of the crater. The active
volcano that stands proudly near the lake with white smoke rising
above it is Mt. Showa Shinzan. The volcano was elevated when the
ground cracked during a huge earthquake in 1943. Toya-ko-onsen Hot
Spring, which stretches out along the 43-kilometer diameter crater
lake, is one of the best spa resorts in Hokkaido.
Lake Toya-ko is an ice-free lake. It never freezes even in winter
when the temperature falls quite drastically. The beauty of this
northernmost ice-free lake can therefore be admired anytime
throughout the year. There is a little island called Nakano-shima in
the middle of the lake and on it, there is Toya-ko Lake Forest
Museum, which is a part of the sightseeing boat route. Trout and
smelt fishing are very popular sports in and around the lake.
There are many places of interest around Lake Toya-ko including the
Volcano Science Museum where they show visual images of the eruption
that occurred in 1977 with a special sound system. There also
camping sites that are well facilitated around the lake.
Getting there
An hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Shin-Chitose
Airport. An hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport. An
hour 20 minutes by JR Chitose Line Limited Express from Shin-Chitose
Airport, change at Minami Chitose Station to Toya Station.
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Matsumae
The only castle town in Hokkaido that proudly boasts 10,000 cherry
trees in 250 varieties
Matsumae Town is situated at the southern tip of Oshima-hanto
Peninsula, which protrudes into Tsugaru Channel at the southern part
of Hokkaido. Matsumae is the northernmost castle town in Japan and
it has played a central role in Hokkaido pioneering in politics,
culture and economics since Matsumae (Fukuyama) Castle was built in
the 17th century. There is a reference library inside the
beautifully restored castle tower of Matsumae Castle, which tells
you a lot about the local history. Matsumae Park, which has been
created around the castle ruins, proudly boasts as many as 10,000
cherry trees in 250 varieties and is much loved by local people as a
place for recreation and relaxation. There is a reference library at
the park, where you can learn about cherry trees, and cherry
blossom-related paintings and artifacts are on display.
There are many other places to visit around the castle ruins,
including Hogen-ji Temple that is proud of its gateway, the most
ancient in all of Hokkaido. The gateway of Aun-ji Temple was
originally Matsumae Castle's gate, and Matsumae-han Yashiki is a
theme park of a replica village of the whole Matsumae Clan area in
the 1850's when the town prospered with 30,000 people in 8,000
households. There are also festivals held in Matsumae such as the
Cherry Blossom Festival in spring, which is the best known in all of
Japan for the numerous varieties of cherries, and Joka-matsuri
Festival (the Samurai Warrior Festival) that is held in summer with
a spectacular parade of decorative floats.
Getting there
An hour 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hakodate
Airport. An hour 35 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Twenty minutes by bus from Hakodate Airport to Hakodate Station. Two
hours 50 minutes by bus from Hakodate Station to Matsumae.
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Mt. E-san
Over 600 kinds of alpine plants - Distinctive wine-red hot springs
Mt. E-san, located in the southeast of the Kameda-hanto
Peninsula extending into the Pacific Ocean from the south of
Hokkaido is an active volcano 618 meters above sea level, and a part
of the E-san-do-ritsu Nature Park. Mt. E-san offers a scenic
location commanding a panoramic view from Mt. Yotei-zan to Mt.
Komaga-take, and on a fine day, as far as the Shimokita-hanto
Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. Over 600 varieties of alpine plants,
including azaleas and cowlberries, flower with one another in beauty
in the volcano's crater, and E-san Tsutsuji-matsuri Festival (E-san
azalea festival) is held each year in early summer. Another seasonal
highlight is that of the autumn colors, which set the whole
mountainside ablaze with color.
At the foot of Mt. E-san is the E-san-onsen Hot Spring, renowned for
its distinctive wine-red color since the latter half of the 19th
century. At Todo-Hokke-mura Todai Family Hakubutsukan (Todo-Hokke-mura
Village Lighthouse Family Museum) on the northern side, visitors can
marvel at the constellations glittering on the ceiling, and compare
the blasts of different foghorns, including those used by
lighthouses, to warn passing ships of hazards. At the
Mizunashi-Kaihin-onsen Hot Spring there is a bathtub right at the
seashore, where visitors can enjoy an open-air bath with the added
attraction of relaxing views of the countryside, with the sea and
Mt. E-san in the distance. The temperature of the bath changes at
low tide.
Getting there
An hour 20 minutes to Hakodate Airport from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 35 minutes from Kansai International Airport. An
hour 45 minutes by bus from Hakodate Station to E-san Tozanguchi.
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Noboribetsu
Jigoku-dani Valley, fuming with volcanic gas - Noboribetsu
primeval forest with mixed broad-leafed trees
Noboribetsu in southwestern Hokkaido contains Noboribetsu-onsen,
Karurusu-onsen, Noboritbetsu-rinkai-onsen Hot Springs, and has a
rich variety of scenery including forests, lakes and marshes. It has
been designated a part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
Noboribetsu-onsen is one of Hokkaido's best-known hot springs, and
is surrounded by virgin forest 200 meters above sea level. It has
over 10 kinds of water, containing minerals such as hydrogen
sulfide, salt, and iron. The quality of these minerals means the spa
ranks among the world's most exceptional hot springs.
The most impressive scene at the hot spring is Jigoku-dani Valley
(hell valley), where yellowy gray volcanic gas is given off from the
surface of the rocks. This makes the whole place smell strongly of
sulfur, and gives it an image of hell. The valley is a 450-meter
diameter volcano mouth, which produces 3,000 liters of hot water a
day. In the northeastern part of the hot spring grow many sorts of
wide-leafed trees, including oaks and a bamboo grass called
kumaizasa. This is called Noboribetsu Genshirin, or primeval forest,
and has been designated a natural monument. Around Shiho-mine Peak
to the west, there is a bear farm where you can see brown bears.
From the mountain summit you can view Lake Kuttara-ko, whose clear
water is the second most transparent in Japan.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport. Noboribetsu Station is 37 minutes from Minami Chitose
Station by special express on JR Muroran Honsen Line. The JR bus
from Noboribetsu Station to the hot spring area takes 13 minutes.
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Nosappu
From the oldest lighthouse in Hokkaido on the easternmost end of the
island, view Kunashiri, Shikotan, and Habomai Islands
Nosappu Point is located at the tip of Nemuro-hanto Peninsula, a
part of eastern Hokkaido known for its production of crabs called
Hanasakigani. This is the eastern extremity of Hokkaido, and is
visited early in the morning by people who want to be the first to
see the sun rise in the world. At its tip stands the oldest
lighthouse in Hokkaido, which was built in 1872. The peninsula
consists almost completely of pasture, and presents a quiet scene of
grazing.
The white tower on Nosappu Point that rises above everything else is
Heiwa-no-to, the Tower of Peace. If you climb up to the 90-meter
high observation deck you can get a 360-degree panoramic view of the
area. On a clear day, the islands of Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai
can be seen. Spread against the horizon, they make a grand view.
There are lakes and marshes throughout the peninsula, some large and
some small, and they form a paradise for wild birds. One of these
lakes, Lake Furen-ko, is known for its giant swans.
Getting there
It takes 1 hour 40 minutes to Nemuro-Nakashibetsu Airport from
Tokyo Haneda Airport. Nosappu is 40 minutes by bus from Nemuro
Station. Kushiro Station is 3 hours 32 minutes from Sapporo Station
by Limited Express, and Nemuro Station is 2 hours 10 minutes by
Rapid Train from Kushiro Station, both on the JR Nemuro Honsen Line.
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Notsuke-hanto
Peninsula
Fields, marshes and Japan's largest sandbank - Fir trees washed and
withered by seawater
Notsuke-hanto Peninsula has a strange shape said to be like a
shrimp's bent back. This has been formed by sea currents moving the
sand and earth that has been flushed out of the Shibetsu-gawa River.
Located in eastern Hokkaido, this expanse of land stretches like a
fine thread between the Nemuro Straits and Notsuke Bay. It is made
up of fields and marshes, and at 28 kilometers is Japan's largest
branching sandbank.
On this peninsula can be seen woods of withered trees called
Todowara (fir straw) Woods. This is the result of fir trees growing
on the Notsuke-hanto Peninsula that were washed by seawater until
they withered. Their trunks and roots have become like skeletons,
and stand exposed in clumps in the green marsh. There are also woods
called Mizunara (beech trees) and Narawara (oak straw), which were
formed by beeches and oaks that had been blown and withered by
strong winds till they bent. There is a wooden path here that takes
20 minutes to walk along, and which makes it easy for visitors to
see the woodland. Near Todowara Woods is the Notsuke Gensei-kaen
(Wild Flower Preserve), where many varieties of flower bloom in
summer, such as Japanese bush clover, sweet brier and the Hokkaido
yellow day lily. At the end of Todowara Woods is a wharf, from which
pleasure boats depart for trips around the 1 to 5 meters deep
shallows of Notsuke Bay.
Getting there
Nemuro-Nakashibetsu Airport is 1 hour 45 minutes from Tokyo
Haneda Airport. From the airport, it takes 30 minutes by bus.
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Obihiro
Easy to get about in Obihiro City - Canoeing, hot-air ballooning,
hot-spring baths and more around - Lake Shikaribetsu-ko
Obihiro occupies the central part of the Tokachi Plain along the
middle reaches of the Tokachi-gawa River in the southeastern part of
Hokkaido and it is the center of the region in politics, economics
and logistics. The city center is divided into sections like a
checkerboard, which imitates that of Washington, D.C. in the USA, so
it is therefore very easy to get about even if you are very new to
the city. The magnificent Midori-ga-oka Park and Suiko-en Garden,
which are located 1 kilometers from the city center, are proud of
their 50 hectares of green area. Obihiro-Hyakunen-kinenkan (Obihiro's
100th Anniversary Hall) in the park was built in 1982 and contains
many references and much information about Obihiro's history.
Wildlife habitats that symbolize the nature of Tokachi are also on
display here. There is also a memorial museum of Naomi Uemura - the
great mountaineer - near the park. In summer, an idyllic view is
created when Yachiyo Public Farm puts 1,500 cows out to pasture.
Lake Shikaribetsu-ko is another place for you to visit. This
beautiful lake is situated at the southeastern tip of the
Taisetsu-zan National Park and is surrounded by a primeval forest of
white fir and spruce. Canoeing and hot-air ballooning can be enjoyed
on the southwestern side of Lake Shikaribetsu-ko. Tokachi-onsen Hot
Spring is an ideal place for you to relax. Tokachi-onsen Hot Spring
is famous for its high quality spring water - very smooth to the
skin, which bubbles out of the center of Tokachi Plain. It is a very
popular spa resort that links Taisetsu and Akan.
Getting there
An hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Obihiro Airport.
Two hours 20 minutes from Kansai International Airport. Thirty-seven
minutes by bus from Obihiro Airport to Obihiro Station.
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On'neyu-onsen Hot
Spring
A cuckoo clock with mechanical dolls and a pink-tinged azalea
mountain
Opened in 1890, On'neyu-onsen Hot Spring is one of Hokkaido's
leading hot spring resorts. It is in Rubeshibe-cho, a town in
northeastern Hokkaido more than 30 kilometers away from Kitami,
which is known for its peppermint production. The riverbanks are
lined with hotels, and at sunset the hot spring area is bustling
with people going out for walks.
Its highlight is the symbol of On'neyu-onsen Hot Spring, the world's
biggest cuckoo clock. This symbolizes a town that developed as an
accumulation point for lumber. The clock is 20 meters high and built
in a spiral shape. Every day at midday, mechanical dolls appear, and
music plays. The hot spring is also famous for the Hokkaido purple
azalea, which has been designated a natural monument. In early
summer, as many as 280,000 flowers on azalea bushes along the
riverbank are awash in pink.
Nearby is a northern fox farm, where the northern fox, one of
Hokkaido's most famous animals, is bred. The rare silver fox can be
seen here. Also, at the town aquarium and local museum can be found
Japan's biggest freshwater fish, the itou, a type of salmon known as
the "phantom fish" due to it being designated an endangered species.
Getting there
Memambetsu Airport is 1 hour 40 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport. An hour 15 minutes by Limited Express from Abashiri Station
to Rubeshibe Station, on the JR Sekihoku Honsen Line. The bus to
On'neyu-onsen Hot Spring takes 20 minutes from Rubeshibe Station.
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Otaru
The retro
town and the canal create a nostalgic mood.
Otaru is situated in the western part of Hokkaido, facing
Ishikari-wan Bay. It has developed and prospered as "the sea
entrance of Hokkaido" over the last 100 years and it has gained the
nickname "Wall Street of the north." The glassworks shops, coffee
shops, restaurants and shopping malls along the canal have been
converted from stone-built or brick-built warehouses, which were
used for storage when the canal was crowded with jostling barges in
former flourishing days of commerce. When night falls, oil lamps on
the cobbled streets are lit. The town gently evokes a nostalgic
mood.
Otaru's nickname is "the town of hills" as there are so many hills
including Jigoku-zaka (the hill from hell) - a very steep slope -
and the long-winding Funami-zaka. Mt. Tengu-yama that towers behind
Otaru becomes a popular ski resort in winter. There is an
observation point on Mt. Tengu-yama and the panoramic view including
the whole of Otaru and its port is absolutely wonderful. There are
also cable cars to the mountaintop. The coastal area in the suburb
of Otaru belongs to the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru-Beach Quasi-National
Park and beauty spots including Otamoi Cliffs attract many visitors
especially in summer.
Getting there
An hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Shin-Chitose
Airport. An hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport. An
hour 11 minutes by JR Chitose and Hakodate Line Rapid Train from
Shin-Chitose Airport to Otaru Station.
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Shakotan and Niseko
Blue sea and fantastic crags - Shakotan, where the cliffs extend
Niseko, where you can enjoy outdoor sports
The Shakotan-hanto Peninsula, in western Hokkaido, juts into the
Sea of Japan and forms a beautiful coastline full of variety and
clear water. The area from O-gon-misaki Point to the Shakotan-misaki
Point and Kamui-misaki Point is Hokkaido's only sea park. Rental
cars are available at the station in Yoichi, which is at the base of
the peninsula. Using this as a starting point, you can drive around
the peninsula on a single road. A seabed sightseeing boat leaves
from Bikuni Port, and you can see Shakotan's blue sea from the
underwater glass observation room. Also, the Yoichi Uchu-Kinenkan
(Yoichi Space Memorial Museum) commemorates Mamoru Mori, the
astronaut who was born here. There, you can experience being a space
shuttle pilot through a simulation device.
Niseko is a large resort area encompassing Mt. Yotei-zan, which
looks like Mt. Fuji, and has the Niseko Range of peaks at its
center. You can easily enjoy a variety of outdoor sports throughout
the year, including skiing, hiking and rafting. There are also so
many hot springs that it is said to take six days to visit them all,
even if you bathe three times a day. There is also a park where
fresh water gushes out from Mt. Yotei-zan: this is known as the
source of one of Japan's 100 best-tasting water.
Getting there
Shin-Chitose Airport is 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 1 hour 55 minutes from Kansai International Airport.
Yoichi Station is 55 minutes from Sapporo Station on the JR Hakodate
Honsen Line. Niseko is 1 hour 38 minutes from Sapporo Station on the
JR Hakodate Honsen Line.
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Shiretoko
An unexplored region where the cliffs stretch for miles, and
cormorants and white-tailed sea eagles live
Shiretoko-hanto Peninsula in northeastern Hokkaido juts out into
the Sea of Okhotsk. It is said to be the last unexplored region of
Japan, and consists of steep mountain peaks covered with virgin
forest. Cormorants and white-tailed sea eagles live there, and the
whole area has been designated a national park. The towns called
Utoro and Rausu on the eastern side of the peninsula are the
starting points for tourists. Vistors can see the whole of the
peninsula and its cliffs by boarding a sightseeing boat that departs
from Utoro Port. Shiretoko is known as a waterfall kingdom, and many
waterfalls can be seen from the sightseeing boat: the warm-water
Kamuiwakkayu no-taki Falls, which gives off steam; Furepe-no-taki
Falls, which is so beautiful it is called "maiden's tears"; and
Oshinkoshin-no-taki Falls, which flows alongside a road and drops
magnificently towards the sea. There are also Lake Shiretoko-go-ko
(five lakes), which are small, quiet lakes surrounded by virgin
forest, and known as "the five jewels." You can walk round these
five lakes in about an hour. In winter, the coasts of Shiretoko are
sometimes surrounded by ice floes.
Utoro and Rausu are connected by the Shiretoko Odan Road. They are
known for Rausu konbu, a kind of seaweed, and hot springs that
bubble up into the sea. Makkausu is a cave formed by sea erosion,
and has luminous moss growing on it.
Getting there
Memanbetsu Airport is 1 hour 40 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 2 hours 5 minutes from Kansai International Airport. A
bus from the Memanbetsu Airport takes 2 hours 15 minutes to Utoro.
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Soun-kyo Gorge
A hot spring with plentiful hot water and a giant gorge bordered by
cliffs that stretches for 24 kilometers
Soun-kyo Gorge is situated at the foot of Mt. Daisetsu-zan,
which is called the roof of Hokkaido. Soun-kyo Gorge is a giant
gorge consisting of 100-meter cliffs formed by the erosion of tuff,
and forms the center of the Daisetsu-zan National Park. The hot
spring boasts magnificent scenery and plentiful hot water, and
attracts 3 million visitors a year.
The gorge contains lots of waterfalls, of which the Ryusei-no-taki
Falls ("shooting star" falls) and Ginga-no-taki Falls ("Milky Way"
falls) are especially worth seeing. At both these waterfalls, water
falls directly over the cliff, giving them a sense of power. Obako
and Kobako are said to be the most beautiful places in the gorge.
Obako features wide rock faces that resemble byobu (folding
screens), while Kobako has many fantastic crags. You can rent
bicycles here. If you change from the Daisetsu-zan Soun-kyo Ropeway
to the Kuro-dake Lift, you can climb to 1,700 meters and enjoy a
magnificent view of Mt. Daisetsu-zan. Soun-kyo-onsen Hot Spring is
in the middle of the gorge, and is full of modern hotels. In summer
the gorge fire festival takes place, while in mid-winter there is
Hyobaku-matsuri (an icefall festival).
Getting there
Asahikawa Airport is 1 hour 35 minutes from Tokyo Haneda
Airport, and 2 hours from Kansai International Airport. Take the JR
Hakodate Honsen Line from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, 1
hour 25 minutes by Limited Express. From Asahikawa Station, take a
JR bus to Soun-kyo Gorge in 1 hour 50 minutes.
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Wakkanai
The "wind town" sandwiched by two seas - Soya Point - the
northernmost point on Hokkaido
Wakkanai, the most northerly point in Hokkaido, is a port town
sandwiched between the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. It is
called the "wind town" because strong winds blow on so many days.
The port is a center for bringing in rich catches of shellfish, such
as crab, sea urchin and scallop. It also has ferries going to the
Rishiri-to Island and Rebun-to Island, both of which are designated
as national parks. Along the coastline is one of the few seawalls in
the world that is shaped like a Greek temple. It is in the shape of
a 427-meter half-arch, and contains a walkway inside.
A 10-minute bus ride from Wakkanai Station is Noshappu Point, the
location of Wakkanai Lighthouse - the tallest in Hokkaido. The cape
is known as a place where you can watch the sun set beautifully
below the horizon of the sea. Thirty kilometers east of Wakkanai is
Soya Point, the northernmost point in Hokkaido. This has a stone
monument in the shape of a triangular pyramid, which was built in
the image of the Pole Star. On a clear day, you can see the outline
of Sakhalin Island 43 kilometers away.
Getting there
Wakkanai Airport is 1 hour 45 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport.
The journey takes 3 hours 35 minutes from Kansai International
Airport via Shin-Chitose Airport. Wakkanai is 4 hours 58 minutes
from Sapporo Station by Limited Express on the JR Hakodate Honsen
Line and Soya Honsen Line.
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Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
