| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Free entry Restaurant ¥1000 - ¥3000 |
| Opening Hours | 09:30 - 17:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0133-625-511 |
| Notes | Seafood supermarket on 1st floor, 2nd floor is a seafood restaurant, parking 250 cars |
| Location | Need a car to get here, the Salmon Factory is a 40 minute drive from central Sapporo. You will need to head north in the direction of Ishikari along route 231. After 30 minutes turn left onto route 337 and then back again to route 231. This large building is easy to see and will be on the right hand side of the road if coming from Sapporo. 1 Chome-54 Shinkohigashi, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3243 |
If you love seafood and have a bit of time for a nice drive, head out to the Salmon Factory. It takes about 40 minutes to get there but there is plenty of parking once you arrive. The whole first floor is dedicated to the seafood market. They have lots and lots of frozen produce. They have lots of salmon products. You can buy some really quality and large cuts of salmon. Obviously, the price increases as the size of the cuts does. The store is actually call ‘Sato Suisan’ and many of their products are sent out to their stores across Hokkaido. To areas such as Hakodate and the New Chitose Airport to name a couple. After a little bit of shopping we recommend having lunch at the seafood restaurant on the next floor up. The restaurant is called ‘Old River’ and has a very extensive menu. Old River has plenty of seating but the best seats are the window seats and these overlook Ishikari River. If you want the window seats you can ask for them but the wait will be a little longer. But no matter where you are sitting, you can enjoy a great lunch here for about ¥1500.
Salmon Factory is a good place to visit if you are looking for seafood, some souvenirs as a gift or just for a special lunch. If you want to make a day of it, then after some lunch and some shopping, you should head out to Aso Beach which is about another 15 to 20 minute drive further north. This is a great spot, especially in the summer.
| Established | 1856 |
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | This shrine is located along the coast of Ishikari Bay. It's about an hour drive west from central Sapporo. 〒061-3521 Hokkaido, Ishikari, Atsutaku Kotan, ５０−3 |
Kotan Hachiman Shrine was founded in 1856 and was officially named a township shrine in 1875. It was listed as a local shrine on the 28th of April 1911. The purpose of the shrine is to follow the great principles of the deity, Hondawake no Mikoto. Hondawake no Mikoto is also more commonly known as the Emporer Ōjin. Emporer Ōjin’s actual reign have been proposed to be as early as 370 to 390 AD, to as late as the early 5th century AD. There is a general consensus that he was “probably real”. His grave is unknown though it is said to be around Osaka. The shrine is on the western coast of Hokkaido and is on a small hilltop offering quite beautiful views over the ocean. There are a flight of steps up to follow under two tori gates. The shrine also has views over the small village of Kotan.
This is a seafaring village and if you happen to see the warehouse of the locals sorting through their catch, you can pick up some fish for a very good price! About the shrine, the number of parishioner households total a hundred households, and the number of worshippers counts to a hundred. The annual shrine festival is on June 25th. It is a 3 minute walk from the Sapporo Chuo Bus Kotan.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 11:00 - 16:00 Weekdays 10:30 - 17:00 Weekends |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 013-379-3666 |
| Notes | Seafood restaurant, parking, seating 50, seaside views, good for groups |
| Location | The restaurant can be found along route 231 which is a coastal road on the western coast. It's between Ishikari and Mashike on the way to Rumoi. From Sapporo it is about 72 km away and a 1 hour 30 minute drive. 629-2 Hamamasuku Hamamasu, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3101 |
Route 231 is a nice coastal road on the western coast of Hokkaido. Along this road there are only a handful of places to stop for lunch. Restaurant Kaiko is a spacious seafood restaurant along this road. The price is very affordable and the restaurant is only a stones throw away from Hamamasu Central Park which leads onto the beach here. Other points of interest near the restaurant is the ruins of the Okajima Cave Prehistoric site. There is plenty of parking here and the restaurant is ideal for families or large groups.
Many of the dishes here are seafood dishes. Anywhere from shrimp, squid, to different kinds of fish and shellfish. These are served with miso, rice and a small side dish. Alternatively, they have curry and rice dishes plus soups and a delicious ramen which warms you up on a cold day. There are set lunch meals here. The menu is only in Japanese and there aren’t many pictures to go with the menu. So an translator application on your phone is your best option if you can’t read the menu. Enjoy!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0133-62-4611 |
| Notes | Beach, swimming spot, jogging spot, sunset views, paid parking available, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The beach is located to the west of Sapporo. It is a 55 minute drive from central Sapporo 〒040-0034 Hokkaido, Hakodate, Omoricho, 22, Unnamed Road |
There are two main beaches that Sapporo locals head to for a summer suntan, swim or BBQ. One being near Otaru called Zenibako Beach, and the other being Aso Beach at Ishikari. Whereas Zenibako has more of a party vibe to it with the small shacks selling booze with tables and BBQ spots, Aso Beach is a lot more serene with less people. The surf itself is very calm and quiet and not very deep. It is best to bring some form of shade as there are no trees around and the beach can get quite hot in the summer.
The beach is open to camping and it must be said, that the sunsets here are absolutely beautiful. There are stores or camping supplies so make sure to bring all you own gear. There are paid parking spots that cost about ¥500 for the day and not a far walk from the beach. Other places of note include Hamanasu No Oka Park, and the Ishikari lighthouse. For bird watchers too, this area is bustling with wildlife. There is also an Onsen hotel nearby. Aso Beach is a tranquil beach and offers view of the whole of Ishikari Bay.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-3362-3450 http://www.city.ishikari.hokkaido.jp/site/sightseeing-guide/1590.html |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, photography spot, nature walk, parking available, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | Hamanasunooka Park is located along Ishikari Bay. It is a small headland that lies at the mouth of Ishikari River. It is a 50 minute drive north from central Sapporo. 29-1 Hamamachi, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3371 |
Ishikari Bay is a scenic spot to the north of Sapporo. Along this coastline you can find a thin and narrow headland that is home to Hamanasunooka Park. This windswept piece of land spreads over 1,500 meters and is formed at the intersection of the Sea of Japan and the Ishikari River. There are 180 species of beach plants that cover this sandy outcrop with 16.5 hectares designated as the Ishikari City Beach Plant Conservation Area. To access this area, there is a wooden walkway that extends from the car park to the point. It is also here you can see the Ishikari lighthouse.
The lighthouse has a history of more than 100 years since its establishment in 1892. Interestingly, the lighthouse was originally striped black and white but was repainted red for a movie in 1957. Every year the lighthouse is open to the public. During June and July the pretty rugosa rose (beach rose) is in bloom. From spring to autumn you can also see other flowers such as viola grayi, beach pea, and bindweed. For bird watchers, continue to the end of the point where there is a vast array of birds to be seen. Last, if you want to put your feet up and take some souvenirs back with you, there is the Hamanasunooka Park Visitor Center. For an escape from the city for some beautiful nature, look no further than Hamanasunooka Park. It is a fantastic day out!
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | - |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 19:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0133-78-2300 |
| Notes | Rest stop, Museum, Food available, Souvenir store, Observation deck, Parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Found on the Ishikari coastal road, route 231. It's a 1 hour drive from Sapporo. 12-4 Atsutaku Atsuta, Ishikari-shi, Hokkaidō 061-3601 |
Observation deck
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Energy for the drive from Ishikari Fumiichi
The small museum has information on the surrounding flora and fauna. With miniatures, small exhibits, and photographs, its an interesting place to have a wander around. For those wanting to grab a bite to eat, there are a couple of food stalls on the middle floor. The ‘Ishikari Fumiichi’ store has a few fish meals, Chinese dumplings, and beers to buy. ‘Home’ is a bakery & pizza restaurant that has delicious pastries, pizzas, and fresh juices available. And the popular ‘Gelato Lico Lico’ sells (you guessed it) gelatos. Simply order your meal from the vending machines and go to the counter. There are plenty of tables to rest, eat, and drink.
