| Places of Interest | Kanayama Lavender Fields Kanayama Dam Kodakara Shrine Kanayamo Forest Park Camping Ground |
| Notes | Walking trails, National park, Camping grounds, Canoeing |
| Getting There | Located along route 465 in Minami Furano (South Furano) district. 2 hour drive north east from Sapporo. 40 minute drive south from Furano. Closest station is Higashi-Shikagoe Station, along the Nemuro line. 5 minute walk to the lake from the station. |
In Central Hokkaido located in the district of Minami Furano you can find the impressive Lake Kanayama. This narrow lake stretches for about ten kilometers and is surrounded by wooded mountains. It is formed from the Sorachi River among half a dozen others. It is a very picturesque place to visit, and is a good stop over point of you are driving from Sapporo to Furano via the backroads. On its central northern edge there is the Kanayama Forest Park, which is home to the Kanayamakohan Camping Ground, plus the beautiful Lake Kanayama Lavender Fields. On the eastern edge of the lake, there is the Kanayama Dam.
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Along the lake you can often find a few fishermen, but if you want to get a closer look on the lake , then there is a fun canoeing tour that is available for the public! To rent out the canoes, you can talk to the staff at the Kanayama Camping Ground, as this is where the tour starts. The large canoes fit a maximum of five people (2 adults and 3 children) and the tour is overseen by a guide. Tours are from April to September and run for 1 hour 30 minutes. The canoes are available from 6:00 until 16:00. Guide, insurance, plus equipment is all included in the price, which is ¥5000 per canoe (cash only). There are five canoes so a maximum of up to 25 people!
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 20:00 Monday to Thursday 9:00 - 22:00 Friday & Saturday 9:00 - 19:00 Sundays & holidays |
| Closed | – |
| Contact | 011-221-5355 http://www.amegyo.com/shop/ |
| Notes | Fishing gear store, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located in central Sapporo, 4 minutes on foot from Sapporo Station 18 Exit (next to Bic Camera east exit) 2-5, North 5 East 1, Chuo-ku, Sapporo |
Really good gear. Get it?
The island of Hokkaido is a beautiful place that is famous for its food, ski fields and countryside. With its mountains, fields, sweeping valleys and flowing rivers there are plenty of outdoor activities that one can do. Fishing is a popular recreational activity in Hokkaido whether it be in the ocean, the lakes, or the many rivers that can be found here. The American Fishing Gear store is one of many fishing supply stores throughout Hokkaido. Located in Sapporo, American Fishing Gear is an impressive two story store that has everything you could possibly need for fishing, whether you are an amateur starting out, or an old hand with a fishing reel.
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Huge amount of stock
The American Fishing Gear store is easily accessed being in central Sapporo. There is a parking lot on the premises too. The store is divided into two floors. On the first floor you can find sea fishing goods such as rods, small fishing boats, reels, sabiki bait catching rigs, and fishing wear. The second floor caters to freshwater water fishing, squid and rock fish fishing, trout and carp fishing, jigging, and mountain river fishing. You can also find waders, cooler boxes, nets and lures. There are plenty of firendly staff at hand to help you with any enquiries and can advise you on the best rods and lures to suit your needs.
| Length | 72 kilometres |
| Things to do | Tennis courts, Baseball courts Basketball courts, Park golf Soccer fields, Bicycle path BMX track |
| Getting There | Runs along eastern side of Sapporo station. Closest station to Toyohira River is 'Nakajima Park Station'. From here it is a 5 minute walk east. |
Toyohira high up near Jozankei
Toyohira River originates in Mt.Oizari, (Oizaridake) and winds its way down past Jozankei, to Sapporo before combining with the mighty Ishikari river before ending up in Ishikari bay. The lengthy river measures at 72 kilometers, and is the main river that flows past the city of Sapporo. The river is flanked by two paths that run along its banks. These paths are popular for runners, joggers, and cyclists who can enjoy the views for kilometer after kilometer. And of course, there are lots of fishing spots!
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Sapporo half marathon along the river
If you are not jogging, taking a stroll, or walking the dog, there is plenty to do along river. There are a few open tennis courts set up to enjoy, basketball courts, a BMX track, play areas for the kids, plenty of baseball grounds and park golf courses that are available through spring, summer, and autumn. There is a tonne of open space that can be enjoyed by everybody. Throughout the year, there area a couple of events held along the river. During the summer they have a firework event, and in October there is the Sapporo Marathon.
| Admission | ￥300 Adults ￥100 Children |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 16:30 |
| Closed | Mondays Winter (November to mid April) |
| Contact | 0135-22-5600 |
| Notes | Parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located on main road in Yoichi region. 1 hour 30 minute drive from Sapporo. 150−1 Hamanakachō, Yoichi-chō, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaidō 046-0021 |
During the Edo period, the coastal waters off Hokkaido in the Sea of Japan once flourished with herring. It was here in Yoichi that the fishing buildings were built. The fishing buildings and grounds were repaired and restored by the Fukuhara family until 1868. Now, you can take a step back in time and get a real sense of what life was like one hundred and fifty years ago. This valuable historic site can be accessed by car and is a must see while in the town of Yoichi.
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Inside the old treasury
The very reasonable price of admission will get you into the large grounds where you will find around half a dozen large buildings. Four of these you may enter. The largest building at the center of the grounds, is the first building that is noticeable from the road as you are driving along. This three story building used to serve as a secure treasury building for the local towns money and gold, hence the fortified windows around the building. Now it serves as a museum for artifacts over the last century. It overlooks the old grounds that were used for cutting and processing the herring.
Living quarters
The other buildings that may be entered include the fishing storage, that contains dozens of paintings, dioramas, and a fishing boat. It is a great building to stop by to study the history and folklore. The other, and equally fascinating building is also an old style home, that upon entering, shoes must be taken off. This house gives an interesting insight into living conditions in the past. They have tea rooms, old household items, and photographs of life One of the rooms has an antique hairdesser’s chair that was handled by some barber, now long gone.
So, for a nice (and cheap) day out, the Old Fukuhara Herring House is a great spot to visit. Not only, is the road out a nice drive, or ride, along the coast, but the Herring House is a place steeped in history. To get there, follow the Yoichi National Highway (route 5), which is a turn off to the right, after you pass through the small city of Otaru.
| Pricing Guide | Swan boat with engine ¥2500 - 20 minutes ¥3000 - 30 minutes |
| Swan boat ¥1500 - 30 minutes |
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| Pedal boat ¥1200 - 20 minutes |
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| Rowboat ¥1000 - 60 minutes |
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| Speedboat lake tour ¥1800 per adult ¥600 per child (ages 6 to 12) |
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| Opening Hours | 8:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-75-3467 http://toyamarine.com/ |
| Notes | Fishing boats available to rent Boat tours available |
| Location / Getting There | Southern coast of Lake Toya 〒 052-0103 Hokkaidō, Usu-gun, Sōbetsu-chō, Sōbetsuonsen, 62 Sonmyo Onsen 62 |
Swan paddle boats
Located on the southern shores of Lake Toya, there are a couple of places to rent some boats so you can not only enjoy the views from the shore, but from on the lake itself. There are a few options on which watercraft to get. Starting with the cheapest, there is the rowboat which is for two people, where you can take it easy at a slow place. Next is an old style pedal boat (if you don’t feel like rowing), which has a capacity of two people. For groups of four, there is the swan paddle boat, which is fun for the whole family! Lastly, if you feel like taking it easy, there is a motor powered swan boat. The engine is only two horsepower, so no license is necessary.
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Rental booth
Of course, if you want to see more of the lake, then there are speedboats that are available to take a tour with from April to November. There are seats for nine or twelve people, and the tour will take you around Nakajima island in the middle offering some great lake views. There are a couple of different courses that are available. Jet skis are also available for hire though a license is needed. If you are interested in fishing, there are also fishing boats that can be rented for the day. 
If you want a nice relaxing day and want to go fishing, then there are plenty of fish in the lake. Lake Toya has brown trout, rainbow trout, carp, to name a few. These fish can also be found in the adjoining rivers. What better way then to spend the day on the lake, taking in the scenery and enjoying the clear waters. For boats with engines, a boat license is needed. Reservations are required.
Pricing Guide
Yamaha 14ft
¥9,500 - full day
¥5,500 - half day
Yamaha 16ft
¥10,500 - full day
¥6,500 - half day
Rental Hours 4:00 - 19:00
Closed Winter (December to March)
Contact 0142-75-3467
http://toyamarine.com/
| Length | Path along river is 2.7 km one way |
| Notes | Photography spot Wheelchair access |
| Location | 5 minute walk from Keikoku Park. 10 minute walk from Takinoue park |
Fishing spot
Takinoue Gorge (Kinsenkyo) is a hidden gem in the pleasant town of Takinoue and is formed from the Shokotsu River that flows from east to west. The gorge has a fantastic walking track that runs on both sides of the river offering great views down the gorge, and was voted as one of Hokkaido’s top hundred tourist spots for its breathtaking scenery. The path runs for 2.7km one way, starting from the rainbow bridge to the Keikoku Park Camping Ground. This river is a popular spot for fly fishing and was one of the first places in Japan to introduce the catch and release system. If you enjoy fishing this is a great spot to catch some rainbow trout. This river is beautiful in all seasons, especially in the autumn, as the leaves turn.
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Rainbow Bridge & Dragon falls
Along the trail there are some nice spots for photos, such as the Rakuyo Falls. There is a small observation point that overlooks the falls, making it a good spot for photos.There are a number of small waterfalls and tributaries and bridges along the path. On the western end of the river, you will find the rainbow bridge. The rainbow bridge name doesn’t come from old Norse mythology, rather that there is a fountain on the downstream side of the bridge and when the fountain is operating, the suns rays form the rainbow. The two tiered bridge is at the junction of the Shokotsu River and the Sakuru River, where they meet and form the ‘Water Dragon Waterfall’. The rainbow bridge offers views over these rivers, as well as Takinoue Park. On the second level of the bridge there is a slide for the kids down to the first level.
