Muroran city enjoys a blend of city life surrounded by spectacular natural scenery. There is a large deep water port and many outdoor sightseeing spots.
Please note that many of the places to visit in Muroran may require the use of a car. If you would like car rental information please click here.
Cape Chikyu (Chikyu Misaki – Cape Earth)
Cape Chikyu is located at the southern end of Muroran City and is a beautiful scenic area. Residing on the cape approximately 120 m above sea level, there is a 310 000 candlepower lighthouse, large observatory, hiking trails and parking lots. From the observatory on clear days it is possible to see Mt. Komagatake, Cape Esan, and the Shimokita Peninsula. This area is a particular favorite with Japanese to view the first sunrise of the new year which is considered significant in Japan. Located about halfway along the Cape Chikyu hiking course is Charatsunai Beach which is home to Japan’s only seaweed research facility run by Hokkaido University. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | 10 min. by car from JR Bokoi Station |
Cape Etomo is the ending point to Etomo Peninsula and is home to a seaside park and recreation area. From the peninsula, it is possible to see Mt. Usu, Mt. Showa, Mt. Yohtei, the Oshima Peninsula and Cape Esan. Within the park there is a walking path about One kilometer long. The walking path has a nice view of Hakucho Bridge, Daikoku Island and the sea. This area was also the location of an Ainu fort that was said to be impenetrable due to its system of trenches and location behind the cliffs. However, today all that remains is a monument to the Ainu People. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | 15 min. by car from JR Muroran Station |
Daikoku Island is a small island located at the entrance to Muroran Harbor. The island was named in 1838 after one of the ‘Seven Deities of Good Fortune’. On the island is monument to the British Ship “Providence” whose crew died in 1796 and also a rare species of black lilly. The lilies where almost harvested into extinction by the Japanese, however replanting and conservation efforts are seeing a return of the plants. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | - |
Dolphin and Whale Watching Tours
Hokkaido is one of the premier areas in Japan to go whale and dolphin watching. Muroran is well situated to view the whales on their annual migration through Volcano Bay. There are plenty of sightseeing boats available during the the summer months from about the end of April to the middle of August. Top
| Admission | Tours for adults start at about ¥5000 Tours for minors start at about ¥2500 |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | (0143) 27 – 1822 For information & reservations |
| Getting There | - |
Former Branch Office of the Nanbu Clan
The Nanbu Clan were entrusted with the protection of an area stretching from Hakodate Cape Esan to Horobetsu by the shogunate in 1855. In line with this they erected defensible areas and other works, some of which are still visible today. They also erected their branch office. Old trenches, wells and a monument to their office can be viewed. This area was designated an important cultural property by the historical society in 1934. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | 10 min. by car from JR Motowa Nishi Station |
Hakucho Bridge & Commemorative Hall
Hakucho Bay Observatory
Completed in 1998, the Hakucho Suspension Bridge stretches across the opening to Muroran Harbor. It is the longest suspension bridge in Eastern Japan and is beautifully lit at night by wind generated power. There are several areas to view the bridge including the Hakucho Bay Observatory. Offering a lovely view of Muroran Port, Hakucho Bridge and Etomo peninsular, this observatory area is also well lit at night due to the surrounding industrial area. There is also a museum dedicated to various aspects of the bridges construction. Inside you will find photographs, models and a giant TV showing images from the top of the bridge. There is also a coffee lounge and park golf course. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | The Bridge : Board a Donan bus to Hakucho Ohashi Kinen-kan-mae stop The Observatory : 10 min. by car from JR Motowa Nishi Station |
Itanki Beach located along the coast from Muroran is famous for it’s special “singing sand”. The sand makes a very distinct sound when it is walked over. This gives the beach a popular image as being clean. Surfers are also regular visitors to this area as there are many good surf days to be had here. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | - |
Kin-Byobu & Gin-Byobu (Gold & Silver Cliffs)
Kin-Byobu is a cliff face located near Cape Chikyu (Chikyu Misaki – Cape Earth). This cliff face iscomprised of reddish brown rock that when viewed in the the morning sunshine presents itself in a beautiful golden color. In Japanese it is thought to resemble a golden paper screen, thus gaining it’s name. Similarly, Gin-Byobu is also a large cliff face located at the southern end of Etomo Peninsula which appears silver in the morning light. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | - |
Literature Museum of Muroran Port
Various writers and artists, including Yoshinori Yagi and Kiyohiro Miura, who are from or connected to Muroran, have materials, writings and other works on display here. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | Approximately a 10 min. walk from JR Muroran Station |
Masuichi Beach is located about about halfway betweenMt. Sokuryo and Gin-Byobu. It can be reached via theCape Chikyu sightseeing trail. This area is characterized by unusual rock formations and is also a designated wildlife sanctuary where various species of birds nest (Cuckoos, Falcons and Bush Warblers to name a few.) From the beach area it is also possible to see Mt. Komagatake on the other side of Volcano Bay. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | - |
Created for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike this recreational park is situated at the base of Mt Muroran and is at an altitude of over 900 meters. the recreation grounds include an overnight training facility with gymnasium, camping grounds, tennis courts and a park golf course. The area becomes a small ski hill, for beginner to intermediates, during the winter months. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | The Ski area is open from about mid December to about late March depending on the season. |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | - |
Mt Sokuryo was named after it was used as a base point by an americanengineer helping to construct roads between Sapporo and Muroran in the 1870’s. The mountain commands an excellent view of the surroundings and has an observation deck on top of it along with several brightly lit transmitter towers. The view takes in Muroran city, Mt. Showa Shinzan, Mt. Usu and Mt. Yotei and is particularly beautiful at night.Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | Approximately 10 min. by car from downtown Muroran |
Muroran Aquarium is home to some 4 000 plus specimens (approximately 150 different species) of sea life, kept in 46 tanks. The aquarium has examples of both freshwater and salt water fish and other sea creatures that live in the waters off of Hokkaido and Honshu. There are also other sea animals including seals, penguins and sea lions. There are animal shows and various other facilities to keep everyone in the family happy. Top
| Admission | Adults & High school Students ¥300 Over 70 yo & Under 15 yo Free of Charge |
| Opening Hours | 9:15 am to 4:45 pm : End of April to October 31 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0143-27-1638 |
| Getting There | Approximately 3 min. walk from Donan Bus “Suizokukan-mae” stop |
Muroran Folklore and Historic Museum
A must for history buffs, this museum is dedicated to the history of Muroran and also of Japan and adjoins the Former Branch Office of the Nanbu Clan. The museum contains approximately 28 000 items of varying historical value. Items relate to the many facets of society, life and history in this region and also to the first airplane engine produced in Japan, the Muroran Steel Works, the “Tondenhei” or farmer soldiers and the native Ainu. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | 9 am to 5 pm Daily |
| Closed | Mondays and following day if Monday is a national holiday. |
| Contact | 0143-59-4922 |
| Getting There | 7 min. by bus from JR Motowa Nishi Station |
This museum is a wonderful experience for all the family with various exhibits of new scientific and technological discoveries. There are approximately 1 000 exhibits to see all with simple explanations even for the layman. The museum also incorporates a 10-metre dome-shaped planetarium where astronomical phenomena and other mysteries are reproduced and explained. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0143-22-1058 |
| Getting There | 10 min. walk from JR Muroran Station |
This area is famous purely for its natural beauty. The area is comprised of many grass covered cliffs, Itanki Beach and the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The word Tokkarisho is derived from the Ainu language meaning “many stone seal” and indeed some of the rock formations resemble the sea life. The area has been featured as the backdrop to many Japanese television drama and movies. Top
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Getting There | - |
