| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 12:00 14:00 - 16:00 *Tuesdays are mornings only |
| Closed | Mondays Stormy weather |
| Contact | 011-511-9624 http://www.ssc.slp.or.jp/planet/sapporo-obs |
| Notes | Observatory has day time & night time viewings. Planet viewing depending on schedule |
| Location / Getting There | Located in Nakajima Park. 5 minute walk from Nakajima koen subway exit 3 1-17 Nakajima-koen,Chuo-ku,Sapporo 064-0931, Hokkaido |
Located in Nakajima Park
If you enjoy sightseeing and checking out the sights, then this is the ultimate in sightseeing. Instead of seeing the local sightseeing spots in Hokkaido, you will be gazing in wonder at the planets and stars! If you have never been to an observatory before, it is a must see. Built in 1960, it is easily accessed in Nakajima Park, which can be found just to the south of central Sapporo. It is free to enter in the mornings and afternoons, and is manned by super friendly staff/astronomers who are more than happy to help and show you the wonders of the skies.
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A close up of Venus!
Throughout the year, there are cosmic events that are constantly on show. Whether it be a comet, a blood moon, a planet in close orbit with the earth, or a meteor, to name a few. During these times the observatory is open for the public to come in and get a close up view of these marvels. For the annual schedule you can check their website, or pick up a flyer at the observatory. If there are no other visitors, and you have a Canon camera, then the staff can attach it to their telescope for some great shots! While in Sapporo, the observatory is a place to see.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 16:00 Old Kitami Station 8:30 - 22:00 Takinoue Culture Center |
| Closed | Winter (November to April) - Museum |
| Contact | 0158-29-3735 (cultural center) |
| Notes | Train museum Part of the cultural center |
| Location / Getting There | Located next to the Takinoue Cultural Center Sakaemachi, Takinoue, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido 099-5605 |
Train apparatus
Even though Takinoue doesn’t have a train station, they do have a small museum dedicated to train memorabilia known as the ‘Old Kitami Takinoshi Station’. Opened in 1990, it’s an interesting place with plenty of exhibits with information about the station, and over three hundred items from the train stations of old. All the signs are in Japanese but you can still enjoy these items from over fifty years ago. The train museum is located right next to the Takinoue Cultur Center so it’s easy to find. Just look for the small blue train engine on the tracks.
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Culture center
The Takinoue Culture Center is located only a few minutes drive from the center of town. The culture center is used in Takinoue for events and for concerts that are held monthly. Apart from the stage area that is on the second floor, there is the Takinoue Library on the first floor. There are lounges and a tea area and restrooms. It is also here you can find information on local events and festivals. There is plenty of parking and also a bus stop so access is easy. If you have some time, and are interested in a bit of history (and trains), then the Old Kitami Takinoshi Station is a cheap and quick sightseeing spot.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-75-4400 |
| Notes | Toilets on site Parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located bottom left on Lake Toya. 2 minute walk from Hokkai Hotel 168 Tōyakoonsen, Tōyako-chō, Abuta-gun, Hokkaidō 049-5721 |
Views from the park
The Mount usu Eruption Memorial park is a nice stretch of grassland on the south western coast of Lake Toya. It serves as an art park with some fantastic sculptures, plus it also has some information about the Mt Usu eruption, which still shows signs of a fault line that runs through the park. Mt. Usu, which lies a few kilometers to the south is a stratovolcano that has erupted four times since 1900. In the most recent eruption in 2000, a new fault line cut through the road and the park! This fault can still be seen today.
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Beautiful art
The park is a wonderful spot to stroll around, look at the sculptures, take in the gorgeous views of the lake and get some photos. There are about half a dozen sculptures in the park, starting with the carvings of three lionesses, that mark the entrance and the parking area. At the western point of the park , there is a tiny forested outcrop called ‘Chinko Island’ which has a small path running through it. The water around this area is crystal clear and a good spot for a picnic!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0158-29-2227 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | 10 minute walk from Takinoue Park 5 minute walk from the center of town. 〒 999-5614 Takigami-cho, Monbetsu-gun, Sakuru wilderness 33 address |
Various shrines
Takinoue Shrine is a Shinto Shrine that was built in the heart of Takinoue. The location of a shrine is related to the sacred nature of a place where a holy ceremony took place in the past. In 1954 the center of the town was established by the village company, and the shrine was then constructed 1965. It is said that the spirits of the Gods of Japan exist as a sacred object which is enshrined inside the building. Shinto priests and shrine maidens work there all year round and prepare a variety of ceremonies.
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Top of the hill
The shrine has been constructed on a large plot of land, and it offers great views over the town of Takinoue. Taking the steep steps to the top, you can see Takinoue Park , which is especially beautiful in the month of May. Views of the Rainbow Bridge can also be seen making this shrine a fantastic spot to get some photos, not only of the shrine itself, but of the sweeping views over Takinoue. Being in the center of Takinoue, it is easily accessed, and a quick walk to other sightseeing spots. The festival day of the shrine is September 10th.
| Admission | ¥150 |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 16:30 |
| Closed | Mondays, Tuesdays Winter (November 1 to April 30) |
| Contact | 0158-29-3499 |
| Notes | Exhibits information in Japanese |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute drive past Takinoue city Across from Takinoue Valley Hotel Motomachi, Takinoue, Monbetsu District, Hokkaido 099-5604 |
The local wildlife display
The Takinoue City Museum may not look much from the outside, but on the inside, its a hidden treasure trove of Japanese history, antiques, and large dioramas depicting early life in the Takinoue area. The first room has information and dioramas on the local wildlife. It also has information about life in the Hokkaido region from a hundred years ago, and the way people lived. It has clothing from that era, tools used, farming methods and a fantastic Meiji era living room. Although the information is Japanese in only, you can still thoroughly enjoy the exhibitions. There are also a lot of artifacts on the Ainu.
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The days of old
There is another room at the back of the museum, that has an impressive collection of objects and artifacts from the decades past. Pick your way through pieces of history, and peruse at your leisure. Clothing, household items, banners, furniture and photographs can all be found here. The centerpiece of the room is a large vat that was used for brewing Japanese sake. This a truly fascinating room and if you like antiques, this is the place for you! To the side of the building, there is an old steam train carriage with illustrations of trains from the past. While in Takinoue be sure to have a look at the Takinoue City Museum, not only is it very cheap, it’s an interesting place to visit!
| Length | Path along river is 2.7 km one way |
| Notes | Photography spot Wheelchair access |
| Location | 5 minute walk from Keikoku Park. 10 minute walk from Takinoue park |
Fishing spot
Takinoue Gorge (Kinsenkyo) is a hidden gem in the pleasant town of Takinoue and is formed from the Shokotsu River that flows from east to west. The gorge has a fantastic walking track that runs on both sides of the river offering great views down the gorge, and was voted as one of Hokkaido’s top hundred tourist spots for its breathtaking scenery. The path runs for 2.7km one way, starting from the rainbow bridge to the Keikoku Park Camping Ground. This river is a popular spot for fly fishing and was one of the first places in Japan to introduce the catch and release system. If you enjoy fishing this is a great spot to catch some rainbow trout. This river is beautiful in all seasons, especially in the autumn, as the leaves turn.
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Rainbow Bridge & Dragon falls
Along the trail there are some nice spots for photos, such as the Rakuyo Falls. There is a small observation point that overlooks the falls, making it a good spot for photos.There are a number of small waterfalls and tributaries and bridges along the path. On the western end of the river, you will find the rainbow bridge. The rainbow bridge name doesn’t come from old Norse mythology, rather that there is a fountain on the downstream side of the bridge and when the fountain is operating, the suns rays form the rainbow. The two tiered bridge is at the junction of the Shokotsu River and the Sakuru River, where they meet and form the ‘Water Dragon Waterfall’. The rainbow bridge offers views over these rivers, as well as Takinoue Park. On the second level of the bridge there is a slide for the kids down to the first level.
