5 lesser-known places in Hokkaido that you should visit
Hokkaido, the largest prefecture of Japan, is well known for its beautiful nature and delicious foods. Despite its abundance in places to visit, most tourists stick to the southern and central sides of Hokkaido where extremely popular cities like Sapporo, Otaru, Hakkodate, and Furano are at. Instead of planning your itinerary around the “standard” routes, why not make your trip to Hokkaido a unique experience by including one of these less-visited places?
1. Wakkanai/Rishiri/Rebun
Tell people that you’ve been to the northernmost point of Japan with this photo opportunity at Cape Soya. (Image credit: Shirokazan / CC BY 2.0)
Best Season: Summer
What to see: Cape Soya—Japan’s northernmost point, Rishiri and Rebun alpine flowers
What to eat: Sea urchin, Konbu
Japan’s northernmost city, Wakkanai (稚内), is a really cool place to visit, especially in summer when the average temperature is just 20°C! This is the perfect place to escape the summer heat while being able to enjoy the beauty of Hokkaido.
Cape Soya (宗谷岬 Sōya-misaki) is where you want to go for that Instagram check-in. Take a selfie with the monument to prove that you have been as far north of Japan as possible. It is said that on a clear day, you are able to see Russia (Sakhalin) to the north.
See unique alpine flowers not found anywhere else in the world (Image credit: Yasufumi Nishi/JNTO)
In summer, Wakkanai’s nearby islands—Rebun (礼文島 Rebun-tō) and Rishiri (利尻島 Rishiri-tō)—come to life. Delicious sea urchin and konbu are harvested during this season so it is great to eat them fresh when visiting these islands. The two islands are also home to some unique flora that do not exist anywhere else in the world, making a hiking trip to these beautiful islands worth the 5-hour train ride from Sapporo.
Cape Soya (宗谷岬)
Address: Soyamisaki, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 098-6758, Japan
Nearest station: JR Wakkanai Station (稚内駅)
Rebun & Rishiri Islands (礼文島 & 利尻島)
Nearest station: JR Wakkanai Station (稚内駅)
2. Shibetsu
Sheeps happily grazing on the vast grassland (Image credit: kamome / CC BY-NC 2.0)
Best Season: All-year
What to see: Sheep
What to eat: Lamb
Hokkaido is a great place to see animals, from foxes to bears to sheep. In this city of Shibetsu (士別) that’s located north of Asahikawa, you can visit the dude ranch, Sheep of the World Museum. Here, you can find sheep varieties from all over the world and learn some pretty cool facts about sheep and their wool.
The ranch also offers some fun activities for visitors to try, such as feeding the sheep or wool spinning. They also sell a variety of wool-related products in the souvenir shop as well (if you are looking for a nice cardigan).
The ranch also has a restaurant that serves delicious grilled lamb cooked in the famous Hokkaido style known as Jingisukan (ジンギスカン).
Sheep of the World Museum (「羊と雲の丘」世界のめん羊館)
Address: 5351 Nishishibetsucho, Shibetsu, Hokkaido 095-0056
Nearest station: JR Shibetsu Station (士別駅)
Opening hours: 10am–8pm
Admission fee (if any): ¥200 (Adult), ¥100 (Child)
Tel (if any): +81 165-22-2991
3. Nayoro
Vast fields of sunflowers! (Image credit: chrissam42 / CC BY-NC 2.0)
Best Season: Summer
What to see: SunflowersWhat to eat: Nayoro stewed Jingisukan
If you are too late to catch a view of the iconic lavender fields in summer (late June to early August), head over to Nayoro (名寄) to the north of Asahikawa to catch the stunning sunflower fields instead.
The city has their own unique take on the lamb dish that can only be found here—stewed jingisukan instead of grilled.
Sun Pillar Park Nisshin (北海道立サンピラーパーク)
Address: 147 Nisshin, Nayoro, Hokkaido 096-0066
Nearest station: JR Nisshin Station (日進駅)
Opening hours: 9am–6pm
Tel: +81 1654-3-9826
4. Abashiri
Red glassworts in Lake Notoro—not your typical tourist attraction in Abashiri (Image credit: melvil / CC BY-SA 4.0)
Best season: Autumn, Winter
What to see: Ubaranai Glasswort in Lake Notoro (Autumn), Icebreaker cruise (February only), Abashiri Prison Museum (All-year)
What to eat: Abashiri Prison food
While famous for their icebreaker cruises in winter and the ex-maximum-security prison that has since been converted into a museum, Abashiri (網走) is also good to visit in the autumn for their whole marshlands filled with red glassworts. In September, the coral grass at Lake Notoro changes colour and turns the whole beach into a sea of red!
While visiting the (in)famous prison museum, you’ll even get a chance to taste what the inmates used to eat. Not sure what to feel when it seems like Japan’s inmates eat better than I do on a daily basis.
Ubaranai SANGO Grassland @ Lake Notoro (卯原内サンゴ草群落地 / 能取湖)
Address: 60-3 Ubaranai, Abashiri, Hokkaido 093-0135
Nearest station: JR Abashiri Station (網走駅)
Abashiri Prison Museum (博物館網走監獄)
Address: 1-1, Aza Yobito, Abashiri, Hokkaido 099-2421
Nearest station: JR Abashiri Station (網走駅)
Opening hours: 9am–5pm (daily), 9am–6pm (1–16 August)
Admission fee: ￥1,100 (Adult), ¥770 (Senior high school & College students), ¥550 (Elementary & Junior high school students)
Tel (if any): +81 152-45-2411
5. Nemuro
Hanasaki crabs—a specialty produce of Nemuro. (Image credit: Midori / CC BY 3.0)
Best Season: Autumn, Winter
What to see: Cape Nosappu—Japan’s easternmost point, bird-watching (winter)
What to eat: Sanma, Hanasaki crabs
Japan’s easternmost city, Nemuro (根室) is another worthy destination to visit, especially in autumn when they hold festivals to celebrate their best produce. In winter, you might even catch a sight of arctic birds flying overhead to seek shelter from the cold Siberian winters.
Even within Japan, Nemuro is renowned for its fish and is a contender for one of the best dining destinations in Hokkaido. Sanma fish and Hanasaki crab are local delicacies which also merit their own festivals. The city’s Sanma Festival is usually held in late September, while the Hanasaki Crab Festival takes place earlier in late August or early September. During the festival, you can eat as much of these two delicious seafoods as you desire for a much lower price than usual.
Look out for Hokkaido’s oldest lighthouse at Cape Nosappu (納沙布岬 Nosappu-misaki), and if you are lucky, you might even spot some sea otters and whales too!
Cape Nosappu (納沙布岬)
Address: Nosappu, Nemuro, Hokkaido 087-0165, Japan
Nearest station: JR Nemuro Station (根室駅)
Nemuro Sanma Festival (根室さんま祭り)
Address: Nemuro Cityhall @ 2-27 Tokiwacho, Nemuro, Hokkaido 087-8711
Nearest station: JR Nemuro Station (根室駅)
Dates: End of September for 2 days (annually) (This year cancelled due to Coronavirus)
Tel: +81 153-23-6111
Hanasaki Crab Festival (根室かに祭り)
Address: 1 Kaigancho, Nemuro, Hokkaido 087-0054 (Location may change)
Nearest station: JR Nemuro Station (根室駅)
Dates: 3 days between late August to early September (annually) (This year cancelled due to Coronavirus)
Tel: +81 153-24-3104
While seemingly out of the way and far from Sapporo, all of the above places can be conveniently accessed via the JR Hokkaido railway network! Simply grab a Hokkaido Rail Pass and you will have easy access to these exotic locations, and savour some delicious Hokkaido seafood right from the source. For more information regarding the Hokkaido Rail Passes, contact us via jtbjrcafe.sg@jtbap.com.
Header image credit: Yasufumi Nishi/JNTO
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