| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-511-5917 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Nakajima station Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 7 Jōnishi, 4 Chome−1−1 |
Immersed in history
Sapporo Gokoku Shrine is located in Sapporo, next to Nakajima Park on the southern side. The shrine was founded in 1888. It was built in honor and to comfort the spirits of the Tsunada soldiers who fought during the Meiji period. The shrine grounds are large and there is plenty of space to wander around and take photos. It is very quiet on weekdays, and is a pleasant walk from Nakajima park. The shrine is beautiful in all seasons, especially in autumn and spring with the cherry blossoms and the autumn leaves in the expansive gardens around the shrine.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
Gokoku shrine during spring
Behind the shrine, there are some beautiful old graves where you are free to wander round. There is a water basin, where you can purify your hands. The shrine has amulets they sell, and also offer blessings for things such as health, travel, business, and for good luck. Weddings, as well, as funerals are held here. For more information on booking the shrine, please contact them on their contact number (Japanese is required). Throughout the year, Sapporo Gokoku Shrine has numerous events. The public are welcome to come to the shrine and enjoy these events. For more information, check the table below.
| January 1st | New Year Day's festival from 7:00. From 10:00 prayers and blessings for cars are offered. Call for reservation |
| Febrauary 3rd | Setsubun Festival (bean throwing at spirits) from 15:00 |
| June first Saturday | Shinkuen Festival from 10:00 - 15:00 |
| July 5th | Concert Festival from 18:00. For members. |
| July 6th & 7th | Great Festival |
| August 7th & 8th | Taga Shrine Festival |
| October 15th | Shicho-go-san Festival |
| December 31st | Night Festival |
| Admission 入場料 | Free ※Parking 500yen/day 無料 ※駐車場１日５００円 |
| Opening Hours 営業時間 | - |
| Closed 定休日・休業期間 | - |
| Contact 問い合わせ | 0143-84-3311 |
| Notes 備考 | Numerous onsens in area Walking paths 温泉街 遊歩道あり |
| Location / Getting There 所在地・アクセス | 〒 059-0551 Hokkaido, Noboribetsu Onsen Town 〒059-0551 北海道登別市登別温泉町 |
Main walkway into the center
If you enjoy boiling sulfuric hot springs, volcanic steam plumes & hiking paths, then this is the place for you! As the name suggests, Jigokudanai, or better known as ‘Hell Valley’, is a 24-acre smoking crater of geothermal activity, created by a volcanic eruption 20,000 years ago. It is just a few minutes walk from the Noboribetsu Onsen district. Noboribetsu is also home to a shrine that is dedicated to Enma, the king of hell, which is an appropriate place for it. There is a chance to meet this formidable deity during the Jigoku Hell Festival during August.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
Okunoyu
Jigokudani can be explored via boardwalks and hiking trails that run through park. This eight kilometer network brings viewers to all areas of the valley. The sights will greet you, as well as the sulphur emanating the air, as you stroll along the boardwalks. Explore the sights, such as Tessen Pond (an 80° bubbling sulfur pool), or Okunoyu, and Oyunuma (small thermal lakes bubbling hot mud). Oyunuma flows into a warm volcanic river called Oyunumagawa, where visitors can place their feet along the trail. This river flows through the old forests making for some great sights.
| Things to see | Mt. Usu Toyako Onsen Toyako Visitor Center Tōya Lake Forest Museum |
| Notes | Walking trails, Onsens, National park, Camping grounds |
| Getting There | 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 Tōya is a volcanic caldera lake in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. With a maximum depth of 180 metres, this lake is 10 kilometers in diameter from east to west and 9 kilometers, north to south. The lake’s biggest town, Tōyako is located on its western shore. The town Sōbetsu is located on the other side of the lake. The stratovolcano, Mt Usu, lies on the southern edge of the lake. This lake is beautiful all year round, and is one of the northern most lakes that never ices over.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
A beautiful winter dawn
So, what can you do at the lake? This Lake is a beautiful lake to drive around and get some photos. There are numerous parks surrounding the lake in which to stroll, and enjoy. Likewise, there are numerous walking trails surrounding the park, such as the Waterfront Forest Lane (Takarada Nature Observation Trail) and the Nishiyama Sanroku Crater Trail. In the warmer months, there are five campgrounds around the lake. Lake Toya is the second most transparent lake in Japan! Perfect for swimming, canoeing, and boating on a nice summers day.
After a days activities, you can sit in the soothing hot water of the numerous onsens in which to relax with gorgeous views of the lake. And finally, in the middle of the lake, there is Nakajima Island. Nakajima island is home to wild deer and it also houses houses the Tōya Lake Forest Museum.
| Admission | Ski lift to top ￥500 adults ￥300 children |
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 18:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-641-8585 |
| Notes | |
| Location / Getting There | 20 minute bus ride from Sapporo station (JR bus [circle 14] Arai Yamasen) 45 minute walk from Maruyama subway station Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Miyanomori, 1274 |
Ski lifts to the look out. Rug up!
Okurayama ski jump was built in 1931 and is located on the east side of Mt.Okura in Sapporo. Contructed by Kishichiro Okura, it is one of the few 90 metre class jumping hills in the world. The ski jump has been home to Nordic World Ski Championships as well as 1972 Winter Olympics to name a few. The total height of the jump hill from the top starting point to the bottom of the slope is 133 metres, with a stadium area that can hold up to 50,000 spectators. There is also the Mt. Okura Observation Platform, offering views down the jump itself, plus views overlooking Sapporo from a height of 300 meters.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
Inside the observation deckOpen all year round, once visitors have arrived at the parking lot and taken the escalator to the base of the ski jump, the tickets for the chairlifts to the viewing platform can be found. There is not only the ski jump at Mt. Okura, but there is the Okurayama Crystal House and the Winter Sports Museum. The Okurayama Crystal House is a large building that houses a souvenir shop and restaurant. Tickets for the Winter Olympic Museum can be purchased with the ski jump observation tickets.
Escalators to the ski jump entrance
To get Okurayama Ski Jump, a car is needed. If you need public transport, then there are regular buses that can be taken from Maruyama subway station. Once arriving at Maruyama subway station, take the JR Hokkaido Bus Circle 14 (JR 北海度バス円14), and this bush will take you to Okurayama Ski Jump. These come twice an hour. Bus tickets are ￥210 for adults and ￥110 for children. The return bus schedule is located at the ticket shop. Okurayama Ski Jump is a good spot for views over the city, and if you’re lucky, you may get to some ski jumpers taking to the air!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-511-5917 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple |
| Location / Getting There | 5 minute walk from Nakajima station Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Minami 7 Jōnishi, 4 Chome−1−1 |
Tama Temple and Toyokawa Inari shrine were founded in 1891 and are located in the Susukino district of Sapporo. The temple is made of wood and reinforced concrete and is a nice small temple to visit. With the shrine right by, and in a convenient location, its a good spot to take some photos of not only the shrine, bu the many small statues around the temple. The Toyokawa Inari shrine is believed to have been built as a guardian company of Tamaji.
[the_ad id=’4264′]
The shrine is said to have “watched Suzukino’s emotions and sorrows for years, and witnessed its prosperity”. The “gate pillar” has inscriptions of certain geisha during this time. A small garden was maintained in the precincts of the Inari shrine, and upon entering the area on the left you can see the ‘Mizuko Mourning Monument’. This shrine seems to have a sad past concerning children lost at birth. Tama Temple is one of the few remnants of the old days during the period of the shogun of Hokkaido.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 19:00 |
| Closed | Mondays December 29 - January 3 |
| Contact | 011-251-0731 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access Location of bike rental |
| Location / Getting There | 10 minute walk from Odori station 13-chome Otanishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi |
Open during year round
The Sapporo City Museum of Art was originally built as a Sapporo Appellant College in 1926. It was changed from the Court of Appeals to the Sapporo Museum in 1973. At the opening, materials related to the Sapporo Olympics and documents relating to Sapporo literature were originally displayed. The Shiryokan can be found on the west end of Odori park overlooking the extensive rose gardens that are in bloom from spring. Due to its architecture and history, it became a registered cultural asset of Japan in 1997. This two story building has a ‘town history exhibition room’, a ‘mini gallery’ and also a ‘rental room’.
[the_ad id=”4264″]
Court room
In 2006, the ‘criminal court exhibition room’ was restored to its former glory during the appellate court era. The ‘mini’ gallery’ and ‘training room’ are available to hire and can be used to present artworks, for meetings, or presentations. The mini gallery is open from 9:00 to 19:00 that is open to check out the current exhibitions. The building is not large, but the surrounding gardens are a pleasant area to walk around during the warmer seasons. There are also benches in which to sit and take in the surroundings. During summer you will find bike rentals here out the front of this building. This building is heavily used during the Sapporo International Art Festival.
Gallery
The ‘mini’ gallery’ and ‘training room’ are available to hire and can be used to present artworks, for meetings, or presentations. For an exhibition, artworks must be loaded and unloaded during the opening times. During the week, the exhibition is open from Tusday to Sundays. Applications for exhibitions are taken on the first of each month, a year in advance. Exhibitions run for two weeks and up to three rooms are available. For more information, please visit their site at http://www.s-shiryokan.jp/
