| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 011-5582-2063 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine, parking, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido in the district of Hiroo. It is the in the centre of town and is part of the main park in town. It is a 2 minute walk from route 336. 1-13 Moyori, Hiroo, Hiroo District, Hokkaido 089-2637 |
Tokachi Shrine dates all the way back to June 1666. The shrine is located in the coastal town of Hiroo. Hundreds of years ago, the fishing industry here became strong. As the town prospered, so did the reverence of the deities. According to the local history, a piece of driftwood washed up along the coast which had the representations of a dragon, and then enshrined here. Later on, this driftwood was then carved into a statue. The date of this is unknown, but the statuette was about four inches and was carved into a likeness of Prince Shōtoku.
November 1799 saw the development of a new road between Hiroo and Samani. This opening increased trade and more wealth was attributed to the town. In turn, the shrine prospered and went through developments. As of 2021, the number of parishioners numbers 3,214 households, and 130 worshippers. This shrine is part of the main park in Hiroo. It is a great place to wander around and stretch the legs. The shrine has a nice long stone path which leads towards the shrine. Here, you can get some nice pictures of Tokachi Shrine.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot , no parking |
| Location / Getting There | The falls are a 5 minute drive before arriving in the town of Hiroo. They are a 45 minute drive from Cape Erimo, and are on route 336 across from the ocean. Funbe, Hiroo, Hiroo District, Hokkaido 089-2634 |
From Cape Erimo to the small town of Hiroo, there is a road that winds its way along the coast. Just fifteen minutes before the town of Hiroo, you can find the Funbe Falls. The road (route 336), that these falls are by, is known as the ‘Golden Road’. This road was originally started in 1798 and cut through the steep and craggy Hidaka mountains. It is called the Golden Road, as it cost a lot of money to make and through trade, the road spread gold. On one side of the road is the rough Pacific Ocean and on the other, is the cliffs of the Hidaka mountains that spreads deep into central Hokkaido. These mountains spread for 140 km and it is from the base of these mountains that the Funbe Falls flow all year round.
The Golden Road, after rock fall stopped traffic, was renovated and completed in 1981 due to avalanches from the cliffs. The waterfall is not that big and can be easily missed. It is just before a turn in the road and although there is no parking, there is room to stop off on the road side. The falls are surrounded by small headstones and shrines. These shrines are decorated with flowers and make for a good photo. There are a couple of signs with information about the Golden Road and surrounding mountains, but these are only in Japanese. Open all year round, the falls freeze over in winter and also make for a good photo.
| Pricing Guide at restaurant (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 - ¥3500 |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 16:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-4663-1666 |
| Notes | Souvenir store, restaurant, restrooms |
| Location / Getting There | From Sapporo the cape is about a 4 hour drive down the south coast. There is also a return express bus from Sapporo station. JR Hokkaido Bus (High Speed) to Erimo, (reservation required until the day before departure). *JR Sapporo Station 16:30 departure-Erimo 20:30 arrival *Erimo 5:30 departure-JR Sapporo Station 9:30 arrival Erimomisaki, Erimo, Horoizumi District, Hokkaido 058-0342 |
The Erimo Misaki Tourist Center serves as a souvenir store, information center, and as a seafood restaurant. It can be found at Cape Erimo on the point. There is a large carpark here as well, and the Tourist Center is definitely a welcome place during cold, wet and windy weather. Close by, you can also find the entrance to the Kaze no Yakata (house of wind), wind museum. The tourist center has numerous souvenirs inside. These include mainly animal products from the local wildlife such as antlers from the Hokkaido deer.
The restaurant is large and one of the best spots to try some local seafood while in Erimo. There are not a lot of restaurants in Erimo, so this is a good spot for some lunch while on the road. Being on the coast, there is plenty of seafood to choose from. They have a great sea urchin bowl that comes with rice, pickles and a miso soup. It is costly at ¥3600 a bowl, but if you have the money, it’s worth a try. Other dishes include sashimi, sushi, and shellfish. You can also find some large tanks with equally large snow crabs for sale. These things are huge and aren’t cheap! Overall, Erimo Misaki Tourist Center is a good place, although a little old, to stop off at take a look at its wares, or have a taste of its local cuisine!
| Admission | ¥300 Adults ¥200 Children ¥240 Groups (15 or more) |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | December, January and February. |
| Contact | 011-4663-1133 |
| Notes | Museum, seal viewing location |
| Location / Getting There | The museum is located at Cape Erimo. From Sapporo, it is about a 4 hour drive down the south coast. There is also a return express bus from Sapporo station. JR Hokkaido Bus (High Speed) to Erimo, (reservation required until the day before departure). *JR Sapporo Station 16:30 departure-Erimo 20:30 arrival *Erimo 5:30 departure-JR Sapporo Station 9:30 arrival Erimomisaki, Erimo, Horoizumi District, Hokkaido 058-0342 |
The ‘House of Wind’ is situated overlooking Cape Erimo. Cape Erimo is famous for its strong winds and rolling mists. Because of this, the museum is actually built into the mountain. Its prominent feature is the large glass windows that face out from the cliff face with spectacular (and warm) views over the ocean and the rocky peninsular. Access to the museum is via a long and damp stone carved corridor. The charge is very affordable and once inside the warm and inviting museum, you can access a theatre, exhibits, a seal observation deck, a wind tunnel, plus information about the surrounding area.
The main focus of the museum is the wind and the seal colony. The ‘House of Wind’ has a great wind room. The room has a large fan at one end and it is here you can safely experience gale force winds with a wind speed of 25 meters per second. There are hand rails to hold onto. Other exhibits in the museum focus on the seal colony that lives at Cape Erimo. These are Kuril Harbor Seals. The seals here can be viewed at the observation deck via a number of binoculars that have been set up. The number of these seals numbers at around 600 and are listed as ‘near threatened’. The best time to see these seals is in the summer when they usually out of the water. At Kaze no Yakata, you can also find information on the local wildlife plus skeleton exhibits.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Parking available, sightseeing spot, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | The lighthouse is found on Cape Erimo. It is a 2 minute walk from `Erimo to Daiguchi bus stop`. From Sapporo, it is about a 4 hour drive down route 336, and then a right turn on to route 34 which is about 10 minutes from the cape. 367 Toyo, Erimo, Horoizumi District, Hokkaido 058-0343 |
Cape Erimo Lighthouse is a large white lighthouse that can be found overlooking the tip of Cape Erimo. The lighthouse was first lit in the Meiji Era on June 25, 1889. It was destroyed during a bombing raid on July 15, 1945 during World War II. It was then rebuilt on February 3, 1950 and continues to light the coast to this day. It was also selected as one of the best fifty lighthouses in Japan. Cape Erimo is a rugged and windy coastal area that is famous for its strong winds and fog.
In this area, the warm and cold currents collide offshore, and sea fog is generated for about 100 days a year. You can often see the fog rolling in from the ocean. The lighthouse is a beacon for fishing boats and cargo ships sailing through the choppy waters around the cape. The lighthouse stands at 13.7 meters, and is 73.3 meters up from the sea level. The light reaches out 22.5 nautical miles, which is about 41 kilometers. There is a lot to see on Cape Erimo and is a must stop if driving through the area.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 014-633-2149 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple, parking, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido in ShinHidaka precinct. It's a 26 minute drive from the center of the town of ShinHidaka. It's also a 20 minute drive from Shizunai Onsen. 213 Mitsuishihoncho, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 059-3108 |
Shohoji Temple is a quite a large Buddhist temple in a small town in the Shinhidaka area. It has a large main shrine with a few outer buildings creating a nice courtyard. It is in this courtyard there are numerous small gardens. These gardens and rock gardens are well cared for and have a distinct Japanese quality to them. There are some beautiful flowers that are in bloom throughout the warmer months. It is also in this courtyard you can find a small parking area.
Among the small gardens you can find many of the statues that are common at Buddhist temples. These statues are draped in red cloth and many often are wearing red bibs. These bibs are meant as a protection for young children not only in this world but for the next. Shohoji Temple is not a bad place to stop and grab some photos. The area the temple in is small with a couple of small restaurants close by.
