
Tag: Eastern Hokkaido

Kushiro City Museum

Admission | ¥480 - Adults ¥250 - Highschool Students ¥110 - Children |
Opening Hours | 9:30 - 17:00 |
Closed | Mondays |
Contact | 0154-41-5809 |
Notes | Museum, wheelchair access, free wifi, lockers available, events held throughout the year, wheelchair & stroller rental |
Location / Getting There | The museum is a 40 minute walk from Kushiro station or a 15 minute drive.. For public transport from Kushiro Station bus terminal No.3 (bus 16 Shirakaba Harutori Shopping Center Line, 17 Shirakaba Akira Danchi Line) or No. 11 (bus 2 Wakakusa Danchi Line, 12 Fumizono Koju Line (for Midorigaoka), 55 Nanboku Line (2nd) Please take the bus from (to Wakakusa housing complex)). The nearest bus stop to the museum is the "Municipal Hospital". It takes about 10 to 15 minutes from Kushiro Station to the city hospital bus stop. ¥220 yen one way. (As of October 1, 2021) 1-7 Shunkodai, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0822 |
The history of the Kushiro City Museum dates far back to 1936. Originally, an exhibition room was set up as the “Kushiro City Folk Museum” on the second floor of the Kushiro City Hall Waterworks Construction Office. Over the decades, the location changed and finally on November 3rd, 1983, the “Kushiro City Museum” was born. The building was designed by a local arhcitect, Kiko Mozuna. His award winning design was designed to represent a red-crowned crane with its wings spread out. The museum is home to 4100 exhibits and objects.
The exhibitions at the museum incorporate flora and fauna from the Kushiro area. There is a permanent Ainu exhibition here also which is fascinating. This is one of the best museums in Hokkaido as the exhibits are first class and very well presented with great detail. There is information in multiple languages and there is plenty of space to walk around at your leisure. The museum is four floors and there is a huge amount of information to learn from the earliest archaeological findings to the current wild life of Kushiro. This museum is a must visit for those visiting Kushiro and are interested in history.

Bar Unity

Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥600 per drink |
Opening Hours | 20:00 - 02:00 |
Closed | Mondays |
Contact | 011-5423-2866 |
Notes | Reggae bar, seating 12, no parking |
Location / Getting There | The bar is located in central Kushiro. It is a 14 minute walk south from Kushiro station. The bar is down a narrow alleyway. Look for the sign out the front. 〒085-0013 Hokkaido, Kushiro, Sakaemachi, 3 Chome−2 |
Unity is a cool little reggae bar in central Kushiro. This long running bar originally opened back in 1995. It is run by the friendly owner who is happy to have a chat and keep the tunes rolling. The main music selection here is reggae, plus a wide range of genres such as soul and hip hop. The bar is small and comfortable creating a cozy atmosphere. At Bar Unity, you can sit at the counter and enjoy a beer or a cocktail. There is only enough seating for ten customers so its good for small groups or those drinking alone. It’s easy to meet people at the bar!
This bar is tucked away down one of the side streets so it has its regulars that often come. There is a lot to choose from on the menu. They have Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo, and Corona beer. For those who enjoy their spirits, there are around eighty cocktails to enjoy. All the drinks are priced at ¥600. Although there is no food menu, Bar Unity has various events and parties throughout the year where you can enjoy some food that is being served up. This bar is enjoyed by the locals and is a great place to checkout if you are traveling through Kushiro.

Izumiya

Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
Opening Hours | 11:00 - 21:00 |
Closed | - |
Contact | 0154-24-4611 |
Notes | Western restaurant, no parking, no smoking, seating 40, good for large groups |
Location / Getting There | Izumiya is located in central Kushiro in the nightlife district. It is one block from Kushiro River. The restaurant is a 13 minute walk from Kushiro station. 2 Chome-2-28 Suehirocho, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0014 |
Izumiya is a western style restaurant in the entertainment district of Kushiro. Kushiro being one of the largest cities on the south eastern coast of Hokkaido. Izumiya opened in 1960 and has a claim to fame over any other restaurant. Kushiro is famous for its special cuisines. One of these dishes being ‘Supa Katsu’. It is here at Izumiya, that supa katsu originated. Supa katsu is a spaghetti dish that is presented on a piping hot iron plate. The spaghetti is topped with thick juicy cuts of tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) and on top of all that, a savory meat sauce is poured.
This dish is very filling and being on a hot iron plate, remains warm throughout. The restaurants decor hasn’t seemed to have changed over the years but there is plenty of seating here and is ok for small groups. Being a western style restaurant, there are other dishes on the menu. These include steaks, salads, pastas, and seafood meals and delicious desserts. For those visiting, the supa katsu should be tried due to the history of the place, just make sure you have a healthy appetite beforehand. The restaurant can be found on the second floor.

Sakaemachiheiwa Park

Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | 24 hours |
Contact | 011-5431-4557 |
Notes | Small park, festivals held here, no parking |
Location / Getting There | The park is located in central Kushiro. It is near the nightlife district, and is only a 9 minute walk from Kushiro station. 6 Chome-9 Sakaemachi, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0013 |
Sakaemachiheiwa Park is located in the center of Kushiro. There are very few green spaces in Kushiro and this park is often used for festivals during the summer and winter and many locals use this park. There is a bit of interesting history behind the park and the area. In 1945, nearing the end of the war, Kushiro was hit by an air raid. The war damaged city was reconstructed and a site was secured for the Sakaemachi Heiwa Park in 1945. Further projects were further created in 1947.
In 1972, the submerged park was redeveloped. A fountain was installed in the middle of the park. The fountain with the surrounding trees and grass area is a pleasant place to rest. As there aren’t many places to enjoy the greenery, this small park is quite a popular with the locals. The park is also right among the entertainment district so it’s easy to find a restaurant, izakaya, or bar close by. This park is a small space in town and is not a bad place for a stroll.

Nusamai Park

Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | 24 hours |
Contact | 0154-31-4557 |
Notes | Small park area, sightseeing spot, children playground, toilets |
Location / Getting There | The square is located in central Kushiro. It is just off the main road, Kitadori 113, and right by the Nusamai Bridge. It is a 15 minute walk, south from Kushiro station. 1 Nusamaicho, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0836 |
This park in Kushiro can be found overlooking the city and is a quiet and peaceful spot to enjoy. In this small park, among the flowers and trees, you can also find the Takeshirō Matsuura Ezo Expedition Statue. Takeshirō Matsuura was a Japanese explorer, cartographer, writer, painter, priest, and antiquarian. Born in 1818 he was an important figure in the development of Hokkaido. He was instrumental in the naming of the island and many of its places and is often referred to as the “Godparent of Hokkaido”. This statue is in the center of the park and overlooks the city.
To get to the park, you need to pass over the the popular Nusamai Bridge. There is a path that winds its way up past the round about and up a flight of steps. The design of this path is really nice and has a distinct European feel to it. This gives the area a beautiful atmosphere. Once at the top, there are nice views. The sunset here is particularly nice. This park has play equipment for kids and benches to sit. For such a small park, this area is quite a nice spot to visit and is recommended in the late afternoon.

Friendship Square

Admission | Free |
Opening Hours | 24 hours |
Contact | - |
Notes | Small park area |
Location / Getting There | The square is located in central Kushiro. It is just off the main road, Kitadori 113, and right by the Nusamai Bridge. It is a 15 minute walk, south from Kushiro station. 1 Okawacho, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0837 |
Friendship Square can be found overlooking Kushiro River. Kushiro River starts from Lake Asshan and runs for 154 kilometers. It finally makes its way down to Kushiro. At the mouth of the river you can find Friendship Square. The square runs for about four hundred meters by the river. It lies between two of the bridges, one being the popular Nusamai Bridge. It can be accessed via a path that runs along the promenade. The square is directly in front the Kushiro Century Castle Hotel, which has views over the river.
The whole area is a pleasant place to walk around and enjoy the river, and the harbor. This area is also famous for its nice views of the sunsets. The square has a nice view of Nusamai Bridge with the sunset. Along this promenade you can also find the Kobunkan (a small historical museum). Plus, on the other side of the river, there is the hugely popular Kushiro Fisherman’s Wharf MOO, which is a great shopping and dining area. Friendship Square is a quiet pleasant spot, good for a sit down, have some lunch and take in the calm.