| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | 10: 00-16: 00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-5586-2113 uchu@town.taiki.hokkaido.jp |
| Notes | Museum, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The museum is an 18 minute drive from central town of Taiki (south east coast of Hokkaido). Traveling along route 336, you will see a space shuttle sign. Take this road and follow it to the museum. Bisei, Taiki, Hiroo District, Hokkaido 089-2115 |
The town of Taiki is on the south east coast of Hokkaido. Since 1990, the town has been been promoting ‘space development’. The Sora Space Museum was opened in April 2018. The exhibition facility was opened so more people can learn about various experiments and efforts related to aerospace. In the museum you can find space suit exhibitions plus rockets that were used for experiments plus model rockets. Patrons can also experience the roaring sound of the H-IIB rocket launching on a large screen.
The museum is free to enter. For those in big groups, it is better to book ahead and get a personalized tour. They do provide meeting rooms that can be rented out for ¥2500. On the adjacent lot next to the museum, there is the Air Park. The first thing you will notice will be the giant hangar like building that dominates the area. It is here, and on the airstrip that various experiments are done. On occasion, drones can be spotted flying around. There is ample parking. This area can be closed on occasion so its best to call ahead as there is not much else in the area and it’s slightly out of the way from anything else.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Shinto shrine, parking, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido in the small town of Toyoni, in the district of Hiroo. The shrine is on route 336. It is just on the outskirts of Hiroo on the way to Obihiro. 〒089-2455 Hokkaido, Hiroo District, Hiroo, Toyoni Hondori 47 |
The beginnings of Toyoni Shrine dates back to August 1891. It all started as a simple and small garden shrine that was created by a settler, Kanjiro Inoue, who had made his way to the district of Hiroo. As a guardian deity of the area, he held a ritual of protection during the seasons of spring and autumn. For entertainment, folk songs were sung and children’s sumo events were held. All of this stopped suddenly, and later in 1945 after much discussion and organization for funds, a full shrine was built and completed. Due to decay and deterioration the shrine was reconstructed in 1985, and has maintained its appearance as you see it today.
The shrine is just off route 336, and it can easily be seen from this road, especially if you are driving from Hiroo to Obihiro. Obihiro being an hour drive away from the coast. It is just before the small town of Toyoni. There isn’t any parking but there is a drive way and grassland where you can stop. The grounds are quite nice in the summer months, and there are gardens and wild flowers growing around the area. This is a small shrine with 125 households as parishioners. The shrine is 11.5 tsubo.
| 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.
