| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | The school may now be off limits but you can view it from the outside. There is parking nearby. |
| Getting There | By car the distance is about 61 km from Sapporo to Yūbari. Head east. By public transport from Sapporo Station take a train to Shin-Yūbari Station. From Shin-Yūbari Station transfer to a local bus operated by Yutetsu Bus (or other local bus) into Yūbari city centre. ¥3000 – ¥4800. 2 hour travel time. |
For those who enjoy haunted stories, like dark and eerie places, and are ghost chasers, Yubari is definitely a place you need to stop and check out. Yubari was once a thriving town and due to the coal mine closing down and the town going bankrupt, it has seen a massive population decline. The abandoned infrastructure and silent streets create a stark, haunting environment, with some specific locations linked to paranormal stories. Next to Yubari Shrine is one of these buildings. It used to be school but has now fallen silent and the company that ran the school went bankrupt. It is now overgrown with weeds and the school has fallen into disrepair. There is parking at Yubari Shrine and a path leading up to the school. This school is now off limits to the public but you can get a great sense of the eeriness from the outside. There have been reports of strange noises coming from inside the abandoned school at night and a strange presence can be felt in the room with the safe. There are odd items around the school which add to the creepiness.
| Dates | From late April to late October |
| Hours | Fireworks start from 20:45 until 21:05 every night |
| Contact | https://www.laketoya.com/en/event/ |
| Location / Getting There | They are held on the lakeside of the Toyako Onsen side which is on the southern side of the lake. Lake Toya is in south Hokkaido. It is a 2 hour drive from Sapporo. Take JR train from Sapporo station bound for Hakodate. Get off at Toya station (70 min) ￥4500 Take bus from Toya station to Toyako Onsen bus terminal (15 min) ￥330 |
Lake Toya is a popular spot for locals and overseas travelers alike. The lake is a caldera lake and has a stratovolcano, Mt Usu, near the southern edge of the lake. This volcanic activity feeds the many onsens (hot springs) that make up the Toya onsen village which also lies on the southern side of the lake. There are a dozen onsen hotels here and every night a firework show is held from 8:45pm. The fireworks are set off from a boat which moves across the lake so everyone can get a close look. To view the fireworks you can stand along the shore line. And for those staying at one of the hotels, you can get great views from your hotel room. The best part is, it is all free! If you are feeling a little more adventurous, there is a ferry that heads out 8:30pm where you can view the fireworks from the water. The fireworks last for 20 minutes and if the weather is stormy they are cancelled.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 16:00 April 29th to November 3rd (closed during winter) |
| Closed | Tuesdays |
| Contact | 013-3606-107 |
| Notes | Museum, parking |
| Location / Getting There | The museum is located near Ishikari beach. It is a 45 minute drive from central Sapporo. Take the 231 road north to Ishikari. 48-1 Bentencho, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3372 |
The Ishikarihama Coastal Plant Conservation Center is located just a stone throws away from Aso-Ishikari Beach. Around that area, there is an abundance of coastal plants and flora and fauna. To fully appreciate the area, you should also visit Hamanasu No Oka Park which is close by. The Ishikarihama Coastal Plant Conservation Center is a small center with an observation area on the second floor. It is also has walkways and a nature area out the back. Here, you can have a pleasant stroll about and sit on one of the many benches along the wooden walkway. This observation garden has many distinctive local seaside plants The center provides information on the nature of Ishikari, including an exhibition room. These exhibits are only in Japanese however. The center also conducts research on coastal plants and occasionally holds nature observation meetings to introduce a wide range of information about the nature of Ishikari. This is a nice place to enjoy while in Ishikari. With ample parking it is very easy to stop and take a look while in the area.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Free entry |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-706-2658 |
| Notes | No parking, walking distance from Sapporo station, exhibits mostly in Japanese |
| Location | This museum is easy to access. It is a 15 minute walk from Sapporo station. Start by taking the north exit from the station and take a nice walk through the University grounds. 8 Chome Kita 10 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810 |
Walking around the grounds of Hokkaido University is a nice day out unto itself, and finding the museum here is a nice little bonus. The museum is free to enter and has some great exhibits. What makes this museum good is the old corridors that the visitors get to wander around. This gives the whole place an antiquated feel which adds to the experience. The show rooms are a little more modern and have an array of scientific exhibitions ranging from biological to technological fields. Unfortunately, practically all the information is in Japanese so for tourists, you aren’t learning too much. Even if you can’t read Japanese you can still enjoy the dioramas and pictures. They have local flora and fauna, animal skeletons, a dinosaur area with fossils, chemistry, geology, plus many more. The whole museum is two floors with elevator access. At the end, there is a gift store with souvenirs. This museum is great to wander around and good for kids too. A good day out as the grounds are nice to walk around as well!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Photo spot |
| Location / Getting There | The river runs through the southern end of Susukino, Sapporo, and runs through Soseigawa Park. |
This is a very small river that runs through or past many iconic areas of Sapporo. It is a well recognized river though most people don’t know much about it. It breaks off from Toyohira River and begins its journey north and runs all the way along Nakajima Park. From here it cuts through the northern part of Susukino. There is a bridge over this river at Eki Mae Dori (the main street that runs through Sapporo. It is at this bridge where people can get some nice photos. During the springs cherry blossoms drape over this small river in this area, and in winter it is quite beautiful. It is here too that you can look down and see the many Koi (colorful carp) fish here swimming around. From here the river flows along with some bars and stores along its banks. The river then flows straight for many kilometres. It is the central feature of Soseigawa Park which is named after the river (gawa meaning river in Japanese). The river finally ends up joining Fushiko River and then eventually joins the mighty Ishikari River which ultimately flows to Ishikari Bay.
| Established | 1856 |
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | This shrine is located along the coast of Ishikari Bay. It's about an hour drive west from central Sapporo. 〒061-3521 Hokkaido, Ishikari, Atsutaku Kotan, ５０−3 |
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. Emporer Ōjin’s actual reign have been proposed to be as early as 370 to 390 AD, to as late as the early 5th century AD. There is a general consensus that he was “probably real”. His grave is unknown though it is said to be around Osaka. The shrine is on the western coast of Hokkaido and is on a small hilltop offering quite beautiful views over the ocean. There are a flight of steps up to follow under two tori gates. The shrine also has views over the small village of Kotan.
This is a seafaring village and if you happen to see the warehouse of the locals sorting through their catch, you can pick up some fish for a very good price! About the shrine, the number of parishioner households total a hundred households, and the number of worshippers counts to a hundred. The annual shrine festival is on June 25th. It is a 3 minute walk from the Sapporo Chuo Bus Kotan.
