| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 0146-33-2611 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido in ShinHidaka precinct. It's a 25 minute drive from the center of the town of ShinHidaka. It's also an 18 minute drive from Shizunai Onsen. 302 Mitsuishihoncho, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 059-3108 |
Mitsuishi-Jinja Shinto shrine is a shinto shrine and is located in the Shin Hidaka district. The shrine was founded by the first pioneers who also built the town over 150 years ago. These pioneers were lead by the Kobayashiya Hanjiro who was the head of the Kobayashi family. On December 27, 1883, the shrine building rotted and the borders of the precincts expanded so the shrine location was moved. In 1981 there was a landslide and the shrine collapsed. It was rebuilt in October 1985 to the present day.
The shrine is just off the main road of route 235. The shrine is a pleasant town and is part of the long coastal road which is great to drive along. There is no real access for those taking public transport. The closest station was the Hidaka Mistuishi Station, though unfortunately this has now permanently closed. The shrine is a nice spot to walk around. It not large by any standards but it is in a nice area. There are some steps which lead to the the main shrine that has a view over the ocean. This shrines parishioners includes 781 households.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | No parking, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido. If heading east from Shizunai it is a 7 minute drive from the centre of town. in the south east of Hokkaido. 147 Shizunaimauta, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 056-0011 |
If you are taking a trip down the south coast of Hokkaido you can enjoy some stunning views from the coastal road. Along the long route 235 you will pass through many small towns. Each town is home to at least one or two shrines. About seven minutes past the quaint town of Shizunzi, you can see find Odaka Shrine. The shrine has no parking but there is a small side street past the small shrine if need be so you can park, get out and stretch your legs. The shrine is up in the hills and looks down over the Pacific Ocean.
This small shrine has a grass path that leads to its base. It can get overgrown and offers a wild look to the place. The cool thing about Odaka Shrine is that to get to the shrine itself, you need to pass under three ‘torii’. Torii being the gates placed at the front of a shrine. These gates are usually painted red if they are painted at all. Once at the top of the grass path, you can get some nice views over the ocean. Behind the shrine itself is a steep mountain cliff. This is a nice little spot to visit.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 014 642-1459 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the coast of Hidaka in the south east of Hokkaido. The shrine is only really accessible by car. It is a 5 minute drive east from the town of Shizunai. 72 Higashishizunai, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 059-2561 |
Kotohira-Jinja Shinto Shrine was first built during the first year of the Ansei era. The Ansei era spanned for six years from November 1854 through to March 1860. It was listed as a village shrine in the 9th year of the Meiji era in 1876, and the name was changed to its current name in 1952. This area and shrine was visited by Matsuura Takeshirō. He was a famous Japanese explorer, cartographer, writer, painter, priest, and antiquarian. In the early Meiji period he was an official in the Hokkaidō Development Commission. On the grounds you can find numerous monuments and statues that are historical sites.
The shrine can be found on the left hand side (if coming from Sapporo), along route 235. This long and winding road follows the coastline all the way down to Cape Erimo. The shrine is noticeable from its numerous tori gates which lead back to the shrine itself. There is a small drive way area for parking. The grounds are nice to walk around. You can get the nice ocean breeze as well. The deity for this shrine is Emperor Sujin. His reign was from 97BC to 30BC. This is one of the many shrines that line this long coastal road.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00 - 15:00 Lunch 17:00 - 21:00 Dinner *Monbetsu race track location 15:00 - 21:00 |
| Closed | Tuesdays *Monbetsu racetrack is open only during race days |
| Contact | 0146-22-7717 Urukawa location 0144-84-3668 Monbetsu racetrack 0146-42-6111 Shizunai location 01456-7-8155 Hidaka location https://lumbinicafe.com/ |
| Notes | Nepalese curry and soup curry store, no smoking |
| Location / Getting There | 4 locations on south west coast of Hokkaido. They can all be found on the main coastal road, on route 235. Please see google maps below. |
Lumbini is a small chain of restaurants that can be found on the south eastern coast of Hokkaido. There is a restaurant in one of the main coastal cities, all on the way down to Cape Erimo. These city towns include Hidaka, Urakawa, and Shizunai. At these restaurants you can enjoy some cuisine with the taste of Asia such as India and Nepal. Many of the ingredients mirror those of Himalayan villages. Many of the spices used in their dishes are imported directly from India and made to perfection by the trained chefs, to give their dishes and authentic taste.
The menu has a wide variety of dishes such as tomato-based, spinach-based, onion-based, and bean-based curries. Lumbini also has soup curries, noodles, salads, drinks, and desserts. The menus at each restaurant are generally the same with set meals and lunch sets, though they each have their own individual special meals to enjoy. All these meals are very affordable at around ¥1000. Side dishes include delicious naan, and salads. The drink menu includes lassis, and ‘chia’ which is a Nepalese tea.
| 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!
