Kotan Hachiman Shrine

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Kotan Hachiman Shrine was founded in 1856 and was officially named a township shrine in 1875. It was listed as a local shrine on the 28th of April 1911. The purpose of the shrine is to follow the great principles of the deity, Hondawake no Mikoto. Hondawake no Mikoto is also more commonly known as the Emporer Ōjin. Read More ....

Otaru Canal Museum & Information Center

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Otaru City General Museum Canal Museum has an extensive collection that introduces the history of Otaru City including information on the natural environment. The exhibition includes 20,000 objects and materials in its collection. The museum is located by Otaru Canal and can be found in the 'former Otaru warehouse'. Read More ....

Tokai Lavender Fields

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On the Tokai Sapporo School campus the grounds really comes alive with lavender. It is said that the south district of Sapporo, where the campus is located, is known as the birthplace of lavender cultivation in Japan. Read More ....

Urahoro Shrine

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During the Meiji Era, as the town of Urahoro (on the south east coast of Hokkaido) was being developed, the pioneers called for the construction of a shrine to serve as a spiritual centre. On August 15, 1896, a small shrine was erected, enshrining Amaterasu (goddess of the sun and the universe). Read More ....

Onnenai Visitor Center

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, also known as the Kushiro Marshland is a sprawling national park to the north of Kushiro. There are half a dozen observation decks, museums, and walking paths that surround the park. The Onnenai Visitor Center is one of these museums and can be found on the western side of the marshland. Read More ....

Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National park (better known as the Kushiro Marshland) is a national park, located to the north of Kushiro on the eastern side of Hokkaido. The park is known for its wetlands ecosystems. 'Shitsugen' translates to wetlands in English. It was designated as a national park on 31 July 1987. The massive park covers an area of 268.61 square kilometres on the Kushiro plain and is well known for its wildlife and vegetation. Read More ....

Kushiro Marsh Observatory

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Perched at the top of a large hill, overlooking Kushiro Marsh, you can find the Kushiro Marsh Observatory. This is one of the most interesting buildings in Hokkaido. The exterior, and especially the interior, has a strange and unique design and is reminiscent of a cool sci-fi movie. The central hall of the museum is definitely a place to get some photos. Read More ....

Obihiro Shrine

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In 1881, a man named Benzo Yoda and others from Shizuoka Prefecture organized a pioneer group called the "Bansei-sha". This group and settled inShimo-Obihiro Village and started pioneering. During this time, they started holding festivals and later built a small shrine, though the connection with the current Obihiro Shrine is still not well known. Read More ....

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Ai Road Yuhinooka Rest Stop

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Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person)	-
Opening Hours	9:00 - 19:00
Closed	Depending on season
Contact	0133-78-2000
Notes	Rest stop, Free coffee, Lunch boxes available, Coastal views, Rest rooms
Location / Getting There	Found on the Ishikari coastal road, route 231. It's a 1 hour drive from Sapporo. 12-4 Atsutaku Atsuta, Ishikari-shi, Hokkaidō 061-3601

Pull up a seat and enjoy the view

Ishikari Bay which is on the west coast of Hokkaido, and is a part of the Sea of Japan, is a treasured spot to take a coastal drive along route 231. The road bends and twists as it follows the coastline and there is a lot to see along the way. The Ai Road Yuhinooka Information Centre is halfway up the coast and its the perfect spot to pull in and take a rest. It is on the right hand side approaching the hill crest. There are usually more than a few motorbikes in the parking lot as the 231 is a great ride for touring.

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Seafood lunch set

The small building and porch offers views over the bay, and the views of the sunsets here are particularly stunning. There are a couple of photography spots to get some photos. Inside, they have quaint seafood lunch box sets that are available to purchase. Also, there is ice cream and drinks. The best part, though, is that this rest stop offers free coffee! There are benches and tables to sit and eat and enjoy the sea breeze. Across the road is the recently built ‘Airodo Atsuta Rest Stop’ and although this newer, larger building is more frequented, the Ai Road Yuhinooka, is a great little place to check out.