Built in 1878 as a drill hall for the Sapporo
Agricultural College, it is a two story
American style wooden structure housing a clock. Although now dwarfed
by the surrounding buildings it is never the less constantly surrounded
by Japanese tourists all year round and is the symbol of Sapporo.
Renovated in 1998 to house a small museum of local history, it
is reported that the Boston made 19th century clock had been so
well maintained that not only needed no restoration
work but also that the clock has never been late in tolling the
hour. Top
Included in many tourist bus trips this observation area is not
the greatest highlight of Sapporo but does offer a nice general view
to the city. There is a famous statue of Dr William S. Clark the
founder of Hokkaido University and opened in January 2001the Sapporo
Snow Festival Information Hall. For those who are thinking of getting
married there is also a chapel which is situated in a nice setting
near the fields of sheep. Top
Admission
High School and above ¥500
Junior High and under ¥300
Opening Hours
9 am to 5 pm daily : October to May
9 am to 9 pm daily : June to September
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Sapporo - Hokkaido Old
Government Building and the Hokkaido Archives
This red brick neo-baroque western style building was the headquarters
of the “Kaitakushi” or
the Colonial Development Office. This department was responsible
for the development and expansion of the Hokkaido region during the
Meji era. Inside the building visitors are allowed to wander freely
through almost all parts of the building. In several of the second
floor rooms the Hokkaido Archives are housed. This archive consists
of various fossils found in the Hokkaido region, tools and artifacts
from the native Ainu tribes and various paintings, photographs and
historical documents on the development of Hokkaido. Unfortunately
there are very few explanations and signs for the exhibits in English.
The building is also surrounded by a beautiful garden, which is almost
always occupied by various artists. Top
Otaru Glassware is also well known throughout Japan and has had
a long history. The glassworks originally made lanterns and other
products for the first settlers in the region however, as the town
expanded and the herring industry sprang to life the focus was changed
to making glass buoys. When the herring industry suffered its major
decline in the late 1950s the glassworks began producing ornamental
pieces for direct sale to consumers and tourists. Today Otaru's glass
industry is thriving and many beautiful pieces are on display for
pleasure and sale. Some major glassworks are the Kitaichi Glassworks,
the Otaru Unga Kogeikan, "The Glass Ship" Warehouse and the Kitaichi
Venetian Art Museum. It is possible to “make your own” glass
item in some of the glassworks such as ‘The Glass Studio’ and
the ‘Otaru Unga Kogeikan’. If you wish to make your own
item it is best to make a reservation, especially in summer if you
have many people in your group. Top
Admission
Most glassworks are free entry.
To make your own glass item prices vary from about ¥500 to ¥2000.
Opening Hours
Most shops are open 9 : 30 am to 6 pm (a little
later in summer)
Closed
-
Getting There
Most Glassworks are located near the canal area
along Ironai dori. From Otaru Station walk toward the bay.
About 10 min.
Phone
Kitaichi Glassworks 0134 - 33 - 1993
The Glass Studio 0134 - 33 - 9390
Otaru Unga Kogei-kan 0134 - 29 - 1111
Hokkaido
is one of the premier areas in Japan to go whale and dolphin watching.
Muroran is well situated to view the whales on their annual migration
through Volcano Bay. There are plenty of sightseeing boats available
during the the summer months from about the end of April to the middle
of August. Top
Admission
Tours for adults start at about ¥5000
Tours for minors start at about ¥2500
Jigokudani or "Hell Valley", is a large crater that was
formed by Kuttara volcano about 200,000 years ago. It is 450 meters
in diameter and is surrounded by red stone cliffs. Hot steam vents
and sulfurous streams pour out from the sides of this red valley
area giving it a very hell like appearance. This area is one of the
major sources for the Noboribetsu hot springs. There are 11 types
of springs and water temperatures can reach more than 100°C.
The valley also has many hiking trails through it (and a road) and
along one of these trails (also possible to drive to) is the sulfurous
pond Oyunuma. There are also some smaller
even hotter mud pools nearby. Top
Admission
If driving the parking areas for Hell Valley
and Oyunuma Marsh cost ¥410. Keep your ticket as one ticket
will get you entry to both parking areas.
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
Catch the bus from Noboribetsu Station to the
hot spring area. Then follow the hiking trails for about 2
min to Hell Valley and about 15 min. to Oyunuma Marsh or 10
min. by car.
In use from 1890 up until about 1984 and located on Mt Tento, this ex-prison which was moved from it’s previous location and reconstructed here, has been preserved in almost it’s original form. It has been converted into a museum, the only one of it’s kind in Japan. It is possible to see how the prisoners lived and worked in the prison confines. The actual detainee housing areas are also still intact and can be seen. The museum has various displays to show aspects of daily prison life, has wax dummies to give a better picture of the prisoners themselves and also displays some of the shackles and chains that were used. Top
Admission
Adults ¥ 1050
University & H.S. Students ¥ 730
Children ¥ 520
Opening Hours
9 am to 6 pm daily April to October
9 am to 5 pm daily November to March
Closed
-
Getting There
Approximately 10 min from JR Abashiri Station
by the Mt.Tento bus.
During the cold winter, fresh water from the China-Russia border area freezes when it hits the chilly ocean. This ice then moves south toward Japan eventually reaching Hokkaido. There are various boats to take when wanting to view the ice floes but two of the more well known boats are the “Garinko” in Monbetsu and “Aurora” in Abashiri. The Garinko is fully equipped with an ice crusher on the bow and thus can make trips through the whole ice season the Aurora however sometimes cannot break the ice during the peak season but operates most of the time. There are also sea eagles and seals that follow the ice and they can sometimes be spotted from the boat. Cruises usually last for about an hour. These cruises are very popular and thus it is usually essential to make bookings in advance. Top
Information for ship “Aurora”
Admission
Adults ¥ 3000
Children ¥ 1500
Opening Hours
January 20th to first Sunday
of April
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
0152-43-6000 for Reservations & Information
Boat Departs
January 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm,
3 pm
February & March 9:30 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:30 pm (Special
Sunset Cruise - Can be irregular)
Taking up most of Shiretoko Peninsula, Shiretoko National Park was World Heritage Listed in July 2005. The area is comprised of pristine, almost untouched, wilderness with steep mountains, small lakes and a wide variety of animals, including bears, foxes and other mammals and many birds including sea eagles. The area is also well known for its beautiful waterfalls, some of which flow directly into the sea of Okhotsk and can be viewed from sightseeing boat which departs from the port of Utoro. One of the famous waterfalls is called “Maiden’s Tears”. This waterfall is produced from warm water and thus steams as it falls. The lake area has a walking track and can be finished in about one (1) to two (2) hours. There is also cave Makkausu which was formed by seawater erosion. Inside the cave is a special type of luminous moss. The winter also often sees the area surrounded by floating ice. Top
Admission
-
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
-
Phone
-
Akan National Park
Located in Eastern Hokkaido, almost in the center between Kushiro City and Abashiri City, Akan National Park
is an amazingly beautiful mountainous area typified
by plentiful forest, crystal clear lakes and relaxing onsen areas. Akan
is an extremely popular tourist area and is a stepping stone to the World
Heritage Listed Shiretoko National Park. The Akan National Park is some
90 481 hectares in area and has a huge range of wildlife and also a Japanese
Special National Natural Monument listed algae called gMarimoh. This
very unusual type of algae forms itself into almost perfect balls and
if left undisturbed long enough will grow to be the size of footballs.
Major areas of attraction in the Akan Park Area are: Iozan, Lake Akan & Lake
Akan Village (Akankohan), Lake Kussharo and Lake
Masshu.
Transportation By Car : Renting a car to travel around the Akan National Park area
can be a good option, especially in the summer when the roads are in
good condition. The Park itself has three highways running through
it which service the towns and observation points and give access to
Abashiri and Kushiro which are about one or two hours away. The winter
however, will see these roads covered in snow and ice and therefore
driving will be more hazardous. Also the national park has many wild
animals and especially deer can be a hazard when driving at night.
Take all caution and obey speed limits.
For a list of rental car agencies and contact info - Click
Here. By Bus : The Akan Bus Service provides a variety of sightseeing buses that
tour around the Akan area and make stops at various tourist destinations. There
are also regularly scheduled buses running between the towns of Akankohan,
Kawayu, Abashiri and Kushiro with stops at Lake Masshu. These buses however
are relatively infrequent with only between 2 to 5 buses per day. Be sure to
book ahead. By Train : The only train line through the Akan National Park is the JR Senmo
Line which runs from Kushiro to Abashiri. The stop in the park is the Kawayu
Train Station just outside the small onsen town of Kawayu. The ride from
Kushiro takes approximately 1.5 hours and costs ¥1 790. From Abashiri it takes approximately
2 hours and costs ¥1600. There are about 4 to 6 trains per day running
from these locations. Top
Iozan
Iozan is an active volcanic mountain located just outside
of the small onsen town of Kawayu. This area vents large amounts of sulphur
and gasses and can be viewed up close. There are also several walking
tracks in the area of differing lengths and difficulty. Around the mountain
area it is also possible to buy eggs cooked by the natural steam of the
volcano. There is also a rest house with bathrooms, small restaurant
and souvenir store.
*Please remember that this area is an active volcanic
area. If using the walking trails do not enter areas which have been fenced
off as they will be unsafe. Top
Admission
Parking Fee is ¥410
(Keep your ticket and you can also use it at the Lake Masshu
parking area)
Opening Hours
-
Closed
-
Getting There
Approximately 5 min drive from Kawayu Onsen Station
This unusual sea wall is the symbol of Wakkanai and is located very
near the sea terminal for ferries to Sakhalin, Rebun and Rishiri Islands.
Named “The North
Breakwater Dome”, it is 427 meters in length, has 70 pillars
and there is also a walkway inside. The dome was built to protect the
port from the strong winds and waves that are almost constant in this
area. The dome was used as a pier for boats servicing the islands from
1923 to 1945, and now the dome is a popular tourist attraction and
the main area for some of Wakkanai’s yearly events / festivals. Top
Cape
Soya is the most northern point in Japan and is marked by a small
monument commemorating the north and the northern frontier spirit.
From here, on clear days it is possible to see the Russian Island
of Sakhalin which is only 43 kilometers away. Cape Soya is also
part of Japanese northern exploration history and a monument to
one of Japan’s famous explorers is here. This site is quite amazing
and very beautiful. In winter huge ice flows from the north pass
by and It is possible to take boat rides on various kinds of ice
breakers to enjoy the spectacle more. Located on top of the cape
above the area for the most northern pont, there are several monuments
and a small lighthouse. One of them is "The Bell for World Peace",
which is a replica of the bell situated in the garden in front
of United Nations Building in New York City. Another
is the “Tower of Prayer”, which was built as a memorial
to the passengers of a Korean Airlines flight which was shot down
by the Soviet Union just north of the cape. Top
Along the sea of Japan, the coastline running north and south
of Wakkanai, is known as “the Wakkanai Western Coast”.
This seaside highway which commands ocean views and views of the
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park area is an extremely popular
driving course and many motorcycle and car touring groups head
this way. From the coastal road it is possible to see Mt. Rishiri
Fuji, rising from the sea to a height of 1,721 meters. The national
park consists of sand dunes and seasonally changing wild flowers
and some magnificent sunsets on good days. A must see for nature
lovers. Top
Lying at the southern end of the central Hokkaido peninsula Mount
Hakodate (Hakodateyama) is 334 meters high and allows a spectacular
view of both the city and the Tsugaru Strait. On clear days and especially
at night, the view of Hakodate from the mountain is quite amazing
and is said to be amongst the three most beautiful views in the world.
The cable car connects to an observatory at the top of the mountain.
Inside there are souvenir shops, a restaurant with incredible views,
and an events hall where monitors play a show about the four seasons
of Hakodate. The temperature at the top of the mountain, even in
summer, is slightly cool and winds can cause even cooler temperatures.
The cable car which holds up to 125 people will depart every ten
minutes in peak times. It is possible to drive to the top of the
mountain in the warm months after the cable car service has finished
operation for the day. (After approximately 10 pm) Top
Admission
¥640 one way / ¥1 160 return
Opening Hours
10 am to 10 pm April 26 to October 31
10 am to 9 pm Nov 1 to Aril 25
Closed
For a short time in early November for yearly
service.
Constructed from 1857 to 1864 as Japan's first Western style fort
Goryokaku, is now a park and home to some 1 600 cherry trees. Shaped
like a star boats can be rented for use in the moat that completely
surrounds this
beautiful area. The fort is also famous as the area where the Edo
Shogunate Samurai had there last stand against the newly formed Meiji
Imperial Army. Inside the park there is a small museum that displays
weapons, uniforms and other historical articles related to these
events. The whole area can be viewed from the Goryokaku Tower. Approximately
50 meters high and standing near the park entrance it gives you a
great view of the star shape and the general area. Top
Admission
Tower -
Adults ¥520
Opening Hours
8 am to 8 pm Daily
Closed
-
Getting There
From JR Hakodate Station, take a tram to the "Goryokaku
Koen Mae" stop (10 minutes). From there, the fortress is another
5-10 minutes on foot.
Phone
-
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English
typified
by plentiful forest, crystal clear lakes and relaxing onsen areas. Akan
is an extremely popular tourist area and is a stepping stone to the World
Heritage Listed Shiretoko National Park. The Akan National Park is some
90 481 hectares in area and has a huge range of wildlife and also a Japanese
Special National Natural Monument listed algae called gMarimoh. This
very unusual type of algae forms itself into almost perfect balls and
if left undisturbed long enough will grow to be the size of footballs.
Iozan is an active volcanic mountain located just outside
of the small onsen town of Kawayu. This area vents large amounts of sulphur
and gasses and can be viewed up close. There are also several walking
tracks in the area of differing lengths and difficulty. Around the mountain
area it is also possible to buy eggs cooked by the natural steam of the
volcano. There is also a rest house with bathrooms, small restaurant
and souvenir store. 
Cape
Soya is the most northern point in Japan and is marked by a small
monument commemorating the north and the northern frontier spirit.
From here, on clear days it is possible to see the Russian Island
of Sakhalin which is only 43 kilometers away. Cape Soya is also
part of Japanese northern exploration history and a monument to
one of Japan’s famous explorers is here. This site is quite amazing
and very beautiful. In winter huge ice flows from the north pass
by and It is possible to take boat rides on various kinds of ice
breakers to enjoy the spectacle more. Located on top of the cape
above the area for the most northern pont, there are several monuments
and a small lighthouse. One of them is "The Bell for World Peace",
which is a replica of the bell situated in the garden in front
of United Nations Building in New York City. 
Another
is the “Tower of Prayer”, which was built as a memorial
to the passengers of a Korean Airlines flight which was shot down
by the Soviet Union just north of the cape. 
this
beautiful area. The fort is also famous as the area where the Edo
Shogunate Samurai had there last stand against the newly formed Meiji
Imperial Army. Inside the park there is a small museum that displays
weapons, uniforms and other historical articles related to these
events. The whole area can be viewed from the Goryokaku Tower. Approximately
50 meters high and standing near the park entrance it gives you a
great view of the star shape and the general area. 
