| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-582-0050 |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, seal watching, walking trails, parking available, photography spot |
| Location / Getting There | From Sapporo the cape is about a 4 hour drive down the south coast. There is also a return express bus from Sapporo station. JR Hokkaido Bus (High Speed) to Erimo, (reservation required until the day before departure). *JR Sapporo Station 16:30 departure-Erimo 20:30 arrival *Erimo 5:30 departure-JR Sapporo Station 9:30 arrival Erimomisaki, Erimo, Horoizumi District, Hokkaido 058-0342 |
Cape Erimo is located on the south eastern point of Hokkaido. It is a fantastic place to visit and is famous for the ocean winds. Cape Erimo is one of the strongest wind regions in Japan. There are more than 260 days a year of winds blowing at speeds of 10 meters per second or more. With the waves crashing below and the scattered rocks trailing off to the horizon makes for a great sightseeing spot, and an equally good photography spot. For wildlife lovers, there is a seal colony which can be observed through a telescope and an abundance of sea birds circling the cliffs.
There is a walking trail down to the bottom of the cliffs. Here you can see Erimo Shrine which was built in 1814 to enshrine the god of food and safety. Also, down by the shrine you can observe the fisherman who collect seaweed from the beautiful, deep blue waters. It is possible to take a tour on one of the boats. Other points of interest include the Cape Erimo Lighthouse plus the observation deck and wind museum. Near the large parking area, you can find a souvenir store and a seafood restaurant. This is a fantastic place to wander the paths and enjoy the mist and sea air.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | Many stores in Hokakido Generally from 11:00 - 20:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.collagekids.nl/ |
| Notes | Ramen store chain, 11 stores in Sapporo, 1 store in Kutchan, 1 store in Abashiri, and 1 store in Wakkanai |
| Location / Getting There | Various locations in Sapporo (check google maps). Kutchan location is along main street in town. Abashiri store is in the center of town. Check the google maps at the end of article. |
Sanpachi Ramen is a big chain of ramen stores. The restaurants can predominately found in Sapporo, with eleven stores. Other ramen restaurants can be found in the town of Kutchan, Abashiri, Wakkanai, and the central city of Asahikawa. For those locations, see the maps at the end of the article. This large chain has the standard ramen dishes of miso, soy sauce, and shio (salt). The pork is not sliced like most other ramen restaurants, but diced into delicious pieces. Other styles include fried vegetable ramen, or a spicy hot ramen dish. Extras can be ordered.
Whatever dish you choose, they always present it with their signature ‘sanpachi’ fish cake on top. Ramen is never too expensive and Sanpachi is no exception. All the dishes are within the ¥1000 mark so you can get a filling dinner or lunch at a cheap price! The restaurants have a drink menu as well. There is soft drink as well as beer to be had. For those trying ramen for the first time, the miso always seems to be a favorite of most people, and be prepared for big servings. Ramen is filling to say the least but a favorite among locals especially. Enjoy!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | Depends on store |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.yamaokaya.com/ |
| Notes | Ramen store, over 30 different stores in Hokkaido |
| Location / Getting There | There is a store in every main city throughout Hokkaido. Check google maps below. |
Ramen Yamaokaya is a huge chain of ramen restaurants all throughout Japan. There are hundreds of Yamaokaya restaurants. In Hokkaido there are over thirty that can be found in all the major cities and towns. Since the first opening in 2007, this company has continued to thrive. The restaurants are recognizable by their red facade. The soup at Yamaokaya is made of pork bones and water and is brewed for three days before arriving at the table. The green onions that are used in their bowl of ramen are freshly produced through contract farmers. With the selected noodles and specially marinated pork shoulder, it all combines to make for a nice bowl of ramen.
The cool thing about Yamaokaya is that they bring a special menu every month. These menus are in tandem with the changing of the seasons. At their stores, they also bring out special ramen sauces that can be purchased. They have been doing this ever since they first opened in 2007. The regular menu has 27 different types of ramen to choose from! Their specials on this menu include a premium soy sauce tonkatsu, a premium salt tonkatsu, and for those who like something a bit more fiery, an ultra spicy ramen. All the ramen dishes are relatively cheap and you can get a good feed for under ¥1000.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:30 Bench Time Cafe 11:00 - 20:30 Yakiton Hidaka (Yakitori Restaurant) 11:00 - 21:00 Restaurant Yamasho (Chinese Restaurant) |
| Closed | Thursdays - Restaurant Yamasho Tuesdays - Bench Time Cafe |
| Contact | 011-4647-3650 Bench Time Cafe 011-4647-2989 Yakiton Hidaka 011-4647-3369 Restaurant Yamasho |
| Notes | Rest area, photography spot, land mark, parking available, 3 restaurants under mural |
| Location / Getting There | On the south eastern coast of Hokkaido. The rest stop is a 15-minute walk from Seppu Station on the JR Hidaka Main Line, under the mural of a horse along National Route 235. It's a 6 minute drive from central Niikappu. 292 1 Seppucho, Niikappu, Niikappu District, Hokkaido 059-2412 |
Niikappu is a town and sub prefecture on the south coast of Hokkaido. The area is known mainly for its production of racehorses. You can find statues and symbols of horses all across the town. On the border of the town of Niikappu and along the ocean drive there you can see the Niikappu mural. It is easy to see and it’s also the mark for where the rest stop is. This area is home to three restaurants that are open for lunch and dinner. Travelers have the option of a coffee shop, Chinese, or BBQ.
The mural itself raises high on the cliff face and depicts three race horses charging along. This area is also a nice spot to take a break as it faces the ocean. The coffee shop ‘Bench Time’ has a western menu with curries and some ice-cream to enjoy. There is a bench out the front to sit and enjoy the sun. ‘Yakiton Hidaka’ is right next door and they have set meals which include a meat dish served with rice. They are open for dinner for those on a long drive. Lastly, Restaurant Yamasho is a Chinese restaurant that serves excellent meals. Enjoy a lunch or dinner and watch the sunset! The Niikappu Mural is handy spot to relax and grab a bite for those on driving down the coastal road.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Local landmark, no parking, no public transport |
| Location / Getting There | The lighthouse is located in central Hidaka on the southern coastline of Hokkaido. It is about a 4 minute drive from central Hidaka on the coast. 126 Monbetsuhoncho, Hidaka, Saru District, Hokkaido 059-2121 |
On the southern coast of Hokkaido there is a beautiful coastal road that runs all the way down to the point of Erimo. Driving through the town of Hidaka, one of the local landmarks is the Hidaka Gate Lighthouse. All drivers will catch a glimpse of the lighthouse as they drive past. After its construction its first lighting was in 1970. The lighthouse raises 45 meters above sea level and the distance that the light stretches out to sea is 13 nautical miles. Although it is listed as a tourist attraction, just viewing it along the drive is enough. Unless you really have a passion for lighthouses, it isn’t really worth stopping off for. This is for a couple of reasons.
The biggest problem is that there really isn’t a place to park at the lighthouse so access isn’t super easy. There is a small road that comes off the main road and you can park along here. Secondly, there is no path to get right up to the lighthouse. There are some small steps that lead up to lighthouse but from there it is fenced off. You can walk around the fence but this can get overgrown when the grass area is not cut. The views along the coast are quite nice and make for a good photo. Nearby, you can see the Mombetsu Inari Jinja Shrine. Ultimately, you don’t need to stop off to enjoy this lighthouse as you can see enough from the road along the way. Enjoy the drive!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-582-0050 |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, bird watching, walking trails, parking available, walking spot, jogging spot, picnic area, photography spot |
| Location / Getting There | From "Sumikawa Station" on the Namboku Subway Line, take the Chuo Bus Nishioka Loop Line [Sumi 73] or [Sumi 74]. Get off at "Nishioka Sugenike". It is a 28 minute drive from central Sapporo. 487 Nishioka, Toyohira Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-0039 |
Nishioka Park is located in the southern suburbs of Sapporo. The main feature of this huge park is the equally huge pond at its center. The water feature was originally constructed as a water supply facility for the former army (25th Infantry Regiment) in the Meiji era. Construction started in June 1891 with the blocking of the Tsukisamu River. It wasn’t until 1977 that the land and reserve became Nishioka Park. This waterside park is famous for flora and fauna. A great spot for bird watchers and nature lovers. Take a stroll along the raised paths over the marshlands where you can observe abundant mammals, wild birds, dragonflies, and the fireflies (which come out late July).
The park has a few different areas to wander around in. At the top of the park, there is an observation deck and community center. In this area you can find pine trees and cherry blossoms during the spring. Following the paths, they all lead down to the water. The path crosses over running streams, and grass areas for those who want to sit and have a picnic. There is also a camping ground here! The iconic structure overlooking the pond is the small intake tower. Hexagon in shape, this wooden tower is a nice photo opportunity.
