| Admission | Free Exhibition Room: Adults ¥200, High School Students ¥100, free for Junior High School Students or younger |
| Opening Hours | 8:45 - 22:00 (exhibition room and garden: 9:00 - 17:00) |
| Closed | Mondays, holidays, the last Tuesday of the month, year-end through New Year holidays |
| Contact | 011-596-5961 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Postal code061-2302 Sapporo, Hokkaido , Minami-ku, Koganeyu 27 45 minute drive from Sapporo From Sapporo Station, 60 minutes via Jotetsu Bus bound for Jozankei Onsen or Hokeikyo Onsen (Kaisoku 7/Kaisoku 8) From Makomanai Station, 38 minutes via Jotetsu Bus bound for Jozankei Onsen (12) Get off at "Koganeyu" bus stop and walk 6 minutes |
Sculpture at entrance
Traditional Ainu clothing
Embroidery
The Ainu Association of Hokkaido Sapporo Branch also holds workshops at the center that teaches Ainu embroidery and how to make the “Mukkuri” which is a traditional Ainu musical instrument. For reservations and fees required; contact Ainu Association of Hokkaido Sapporo Branch at 011-596-1610.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | Mondays |
| Contact | 011-596-3981 http://www.hakkenzanwinery.com/ |
| Notes | Wine tasting Free parking Wheelchair access Toilets available Wine available to purchase Good spot for autumn leaves viewing |
| Location / Getting There | 〒061-2275 Sapporo, South ward, Toyama 194−1 Around a 45 minute drive from Sapporo station Buses available from Sapporo Station (Jotetsu Bus 7 or 8) Buses available from Makomanai Station (Jotetsu Bus 12) Get off at "Toyotaki Shogakko" bus stop, walk 30 minutes |
Hakkenzan Winery is located at the foot of Mt. Hakkenzan and was opened in 2011. This pleasant winery sits beautifully in its surroundings with views of the surrounding areas. The winery has 3 vine fields that cultivates more than 25 varieties of grapes. This winery produces some fantastic wines including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnays, to name a few. This winery’s motto is “Wine is made in the field, and the grapes want to be wine”.
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View from the balcony
The Hakkenzan Winery not only has delicious wines, but they are also involved in researching and processing locally grown fruits in the local area, so they also produce and sell cider and fruit jam. These are sold in a small shop at the winery. Locally produced arts and crafts are also sold here. There is a balcony overlooking the vine field and gardens where you can sit and admire the view. Along with the balcony and shop, there is a small viewing area so you can see how they make their wines.
The Hakkenzan Winery is in a fantastic area and is a nice trip all year round. In the area, there are park golf courses, horse riding clubs. Mt Okesan for climbing, and the Jouzankei Hot Springs are only 10 minutes away by car. There is a lot to do so you can really make a day of it!
| Admission | Adults ¥500 High School and University Students ¥250 Elementary and Junior High School Students Free. |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 am to 5 pm daily |
| Closed | Mondays, December 27th to January 4th and occasional irregular closures |
| Contact | 011-511-7655 |
| Notes | Free parking (up to 7 spaces) Wheelchair access Exhibits are in Japanese only |
| Location / Getting There | Japan, 〒064-0931 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Nakajimakōen, 1−4 北海道立文学館 Take the Nanboku subway (Green line) to the Nakajima Park station. The museum is in the middle of the park, on the west side. |
The Hokkaido Museum of Literature first opened in 1995, and is the first of its kind in Hokkaido. It is located on the grounds of Nakajima Park and is home to some 260,000 works. The collection includes works by and about authors associated with Hokkaido, such as Takeo Arishima, Takuboku Ishikawa, Takiji Kobayashi, and Ayako Miura. There is a permanent exhibition as well as temporary exhibitions.
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The permanent exhibition includes 1,300 items and provides an insight into the literature and authors throughout the history of Hokkaido. This permanent exhibition is currently only in Japanese. The collection is of works of Hokkaido literature dating back to the mid 19th century. These works includes novels, essays, poetry, tanka, haiku, senryu, children’s literature, works of criticism, and Ainu folklore.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Shuttle bus hours | 8:45 - 16:00 Adults ￥620, Children ￥300 |
| Contact | 011-598-3452 |
| Notes | Peak spot for autumn leaves viewing Free parking Wheelchair access Toilets available |
| Location / Getting There | Jozankei 840-banchisaki, Minami-ku, Sapporo By car or bus, it's a 1 hour drive from Sapporo During October, it can take all day to get there! By car from Jozankei its an 8 minute drive. |
Jozan lake
Hoheikyo Dam was constructed in 1972 and stands at 102.5 meters tall. It was built, utilizing Toyohira river, for irrigation, for hydroelectricity and to control flooding. The reservoir created from the dam is called Jozan lake, which is surrounded by forest and high mountains. Located in Shikotsu Toya National park, the dam is in a designated environmental protection area, so cars, motorbikes, and bicycles are not allowed. To get from the car park to the dam there is a hybrid electric bus available, or it’s a 20 minute walk.
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Restaurant & lookout
For places to see in Hokkaido, Hoheikyo dam is a beautiful location, and during autumn, it’s a must see! The views of the autumn leaves are spectacular. The dam was voted as one of the top 100 waterside forests, and is also one of the top 100 lake dams as ranked by the Forestry Agency. The floodgates are opened between June and October from 9:00 to 16:00. There is also a small lookout area above the dam, and for lunch , there is a Jingiskan (mutton) restaurant as well! At the far end of Hoheikyo Dam is a museum with old photos and information (in Japanese) about the dam. It has a nice place to sit, with amazing views over Jozan lake. 
From the parking lot, to the dam it is about a kilometer. There is a hybrid electric bus that runs every 10 minutes. The fare (round trip) for adults is ￥620 and ￥300 for children. Children up to 12 years old can ride for free. If you prefer, you can walk this road, which will take about 20 minutes. The road passes through 2 long tunnels but there is a good photo opportunity along the way, looking into the valley.
WARNING!! To get to the dam requires your own transport or by public bus. The peak season in getting to Hoheikyo Dam is in October (for the stunning Autumn leaves). Getting to the dam from Sapporo will take ALL day during this month on the weekend! If possible, visit the dam during weekdays. Buses are available daily from Sapporo to Jozankei. From Jozankei to the dam, shuttle buses are available.
| Admission | Adults ¥510 High School and University Students ¥250 |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 17:00 daily |
| Closed | Mondays, Exhibit changing days and New Year Holidays |
| Contact | 011-644-6882 |
| Notes | Wheelchair access No parking |
| Location / Getting There | Japan, 〒060-0001 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Chūō-ku, Kita 1 Jōnishi, 17 Chome−2−1 北海道立近代美術館 5-minute walk from Nishi Juhatchome Station on the Subway Tozai Line |
2nd floor views
Opened in 1977, the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art has built up an extensive collection of art, with as many as 4,800 works, both domestic and international. These are centered around the three themes of Jules Pascin and the École de Paris, art associated with Hokkaido, and glassware representing periods from Art Nouveau, through to contemporary works. Along with these artworks, there are workshops and presentations held by the art gallery. Other works encompass Japanese modern art, European prints and Ukiyoe prints.
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Outside sculpture
The permanent Museum Collection exhibition is held on the first and second floors of Gallery A, which are connected by a large spiral staircase. The artworks from the museum’s collection are displayed and changed seasonally, four times a year. The second floor also houses a small restaurant that serves up a healthy menu, making use of Hokkaido-grown vegetables. A special menu offered during exhibition periods allows visitors to enjoy delicious meals. The outside grounds of the Hokkaido gallery are a pleasant place to walk around and take in some of the impressive sculptures there. To make a day of it, across the road is the Hokkaido Governor’s Residence which is also well worth a look!
To get to the museum, it’s a 5 minute walk from the Nishi Juhatchome Station on the Subway Tozai Line, exit no.4. From Sapporo Station on the JR Line and Subway Namboku and Toho Lines, take the Chuo Bus or JR Hokkaido Bus (42, 55, 64, 57, 66, 80, 62, 63) and get off at “Doritsu Kindai Bijutsukan” bus stop.
| Admission | Free parking & open all year |
| Notes | Great views of the coast Sea urchin (uni) restaurant Ice cream shop Souvenir shop Restrooms available |
| Contact | 0135-44-3715 |
| Location / Getting There | Located on Shakotan coast Irikacho, Shakotan, Shakotan District, Hokkaido Prefecture 046-0327 2 hour drive from Sapporo |
Lovely coastline
Shimamui coast is part of the Shakotan Cape which is on the western coast of Hokkaido. It is located next to Cape Shakotan and is famous for its coastline, and its crystal clear waters. There is a lookout at about 100m above sea level, offering stunning views from the cliffs down onto the water. The lookout is only a 5 minute walk from the car park so its easy to get to! There is a narrow tunnel that leads to the viewing point. There is also one more lookout which is slightly higher and offers similar views.
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Beautiful clear water
To get down to the water there is a small path that winds its way down to the rocky shoreline. Be aware, this track can get muddy at times. The rocky shore line is surrounded by craggy peaks, that feel primordial. The contrast of these rocks with the water, also known as ‘Shakotan Blue’ is a real feature and a great photo opportunity. The Shimamui Coast was included in the “top 100 coastlines in Japan”. If you fancy a bit of snorkeling in these calm waters you will see thousands of sea urchin, islands and valleys of rock crowned in seaweed, a few fish and you will have stunning views to the bottom! The water is chilly (depending where you come from) so its best in the summer months.
Sunset over Shimamui coast
There may be an opportunity to see seals on the coasts during the winter but you need a pair of long boots or mountain-climbing boots to navigate the snow-covered path to the coasts. After taking in the views, there is a restaurant and souvenir shop named “Rinko” that serves primarily sea urchin in varying dishes. They also have ice cream cones which is perfect in the summer! There is also a separate restroom located next to the parking lot. To make a real day of it, you can head around to Cape Shakotan, Cape Kamui, and Cape Ogon which all have fantastic views and are all near each other!
