| Admission | - |
| Height | 1,898 meters |
| Hiking Time | 6 - 8 hours to the top |
| Notes | There is a car park, toilet facilities, drinking water and a small campsite. |
| Location / Getting There | The mountain is a 2 hour drive from Sapporo along route 230. To access the Lake Hangetsu trailhead, take Route 5 from Kutchan or Hirafu, and turn left at the Lake Hangetsu entrance. It's 10 minutes by bus from JR Kutchan Station or 15 minutes on foot from Yotei Tozan Exit |
Mount Yotei is an active stratovolcano that can be found in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It is also known as ‘Ezo Fuji’ (Ezo being the old name for Hokkaido). It is in the top hundred mountains of Japan, and is definitely a breathtaking mountain to look at. This iconic mountain can be seen from all the surrounding farmlands and the ski slopes of the big towns of Hirafu, Niseko, Rusutsu and Kutchan. Not only is its snow covered peak popular in Winter, but the Summer, Spring, and Autumn brings hikers and trekkers to its base as there is a great hiking trail on the western side. From this peak, you will be amazed at the beautiful views from its peak. For those who do decide to trek to the top it takes about seven to ten hours for a round trip. There is a campground near the base as well.
| Cost per night | *around ¥3500 per person for dormitory *around ¥6000 for a room (this price may vary depending on season) |
| Check-in | 15:00 - 22:00 |
| Check-out | 10:00 *reception from 7:00 - 20:00 |
| Contact | 013-622-0539 info@tabi-tsugumi.net |
| Restaurant | No |
| Wi-fi | Yes |
| Notes | Hostel Bunk beds Shared bathroom & kitchen Parking available Showers |
| Location | The hostel is located in Kutchan on the edge of town just by Kutosan river. It's only a 9 minute walk from Kutchan station, and a 15 minute walk from the centre of town. 〒044-0083 Hokkaido, Abuta District, Kutchan, Asahi, 45−8 |
Tabi Tsugumi guest house is a great place to stay while in the area. It is two stories and has both hostel bunk rooms plus private rooms as well. The guest house also has a fully furnished kitchen plus a Japanese style tatami area in which to relax. There are great views of Mt. Yotei from the kitchen and the lounge area. Tabi Tsugumi is run by the super friendly Japanese owner. He does speak English and is happy to help with anything you need. If coming via your own transport, there is parking available here. For those coming via train, the guest house is close by.
The dorm rooms are large and comfortable. There is a female only dorm room available as well. These rooms fit up to four guests. The bunks here are really big and it is a bit of a climb up the ladder to get to the top bunk, but once there you can find a very comfortable sleeping area, private locker, fan, and wall plugs and hangers. Although the room is shared you have plenty of space to yourself compared to other guesthouses. For those who want more privacy, there are private rooms for extra cost. Be sure to book in advance especially in winter as the guesthouse is near all the major ski fields in the local area. this a great option to stay and very affordable and clean! Other amenities include showers and washing machines.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Times vary |
| Contact | 011-3622-1099 |
| Notes | Catholic church, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | The church is located in central Kutchan. It is a 13 minute walk from Kutchan station. Can be accessed from route 276 which runs through the center of town. 1 Chome Kita 5 Jonishi, Kutchan, Abuta District, Hokkaido 044-0055 |
Not only can you find Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples throughout the cities and towns of Hokkaido, but there are also churches where people can practice their faith. Many smaller towns don’t have churches but Kutchan is a larger town and the Kutchan Catholic Church is the main church here. The church is on a large plot of land and is made up of a few buildings, one which also serves as a kindergarten. The church opening times in Sunday say from 9:00 in summer and 10:00 in winter, but it is best to call beforehand as the times may vary.
The church has a small parking area for those driving in. During the warm spring months, there are a couple of cherry blossom trees on the premises. The church has a nice view of Mt. Yotei. Also on the church grounds, you can find a nice statue of the Virgin Mary. The statue has been placed in a small hillock and is surrounded by vines which flower during the summer. The spot makes for a good photo. For those driving, the church is easily accessed from the main road that runs through the town of Kutchan. If you are taking public transport, it is not a far walk from the train station. Alternatively, you can take a taxi during the winter.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1000 |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 16:30 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0136-22-5705 |
| Notes | Coffee shop, small grocery store, wifi, seating 16, parking, wheelchair access, no smoking |
| Location / Getting There | This cafe is located in central Kutchan. It is at the front of Tsutaya book and DVD rental. Can be accessed from route 5 which runs through Kutchan. 〒044-0031 Hokkaido, Abuta District, Kutchan, Minami 1 Jonishi, 1−27 |
In the center of Kutchan and on the main street you can find a very nice small cafe called Vida Café. It is part of the Tsutaya book store and is located on the corner with large glass windows overlooking the parking lot. At this cafe you can pick up a simple coffee or a light snack. The menu has pictures and the friendly speak English. For those from overseas, it is easy to order. The food menu is small but enough. They have hashed beef with rice, pizza and an omelette dish on the menu, plus a few coffees. The comfortable seats are the perfect spot to enjoy a nice meal.
This coffee shop also serves as a small store. The cafe sells souvenirs, plus it has a lot of food items to take home. They have a huge range of curries to buy. These curries are pre mixed and are easy to make a delicious meal. There are plenty of other snacks on the shelves. There are also magazines and brochures to flip through while sipping on your coffee, hot chocolate or tea, plus there is free wifi here. This is one of the few places in Kutchan in which to relax, have a light meal and enjoy a tea. It is also just across the road from the Lucky supermarket so there is plenty of parking.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0136-22-0352 https://konpirajikuchan.jimdofree.com/ |
| Notes | - |
| Location / Getting There | Located at the north end of the town of Kutchan. It's a 15 minute wlka from the centre of town or a 20 minute walk from Kutchan train station. 〒044-0057 Hokkaido, Abuta District, Kutchan, Kita 7 Jonishi, 1 Chome−８ |
Konpira Temple (or better known as ‘Konpiraji’ in Japanese) is a buddhist temple. It is the main temple in Kutchan and is a good place to visit while in town. It makes for a good spot to get some photos or to experience a little of the Japanese culture. A statue of the founding priest was constructed at the foot of Mt. Konpira which can be found at Lake Toya. Every year, at the temple, the annual Konpira Temple Festival is held. This festival celebrates Autumn and heralds the coming of winter. It is a three day festival and is held on the 9th, 10th, and 11th of October.
Being a buddhist temple, they have many statues around the grounds. The most common being the Ojizo-sama. These are usually small statues that have a child like appearance. They are often dressed in a red bib. This practice is believed to have begun when grieving parents who had lost a child put the deceased child’s bib on a Jizo statue in the hope their child would be protected in the other world. To get to the temple it is a fifteen minute walk from centre of Kutchan, or a five minute drive.It is located just to the north of central Kutchan. It is easily accessed as it lies at the end of the main street that runs through the town.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | ¥1500 |
| Opening Hours | 11:30 - 15:00 lunch 17:00 - 21:00 dinner |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0136-23-3166 http://markiecurry-niseko-kutchan.mystrikingly.com/ |
| Notes | Soup curry restaurant, seating 20, no smoking, delivery available, parking for 2 cars, English menu available, vegan option available |
| Location / Getting There | Located in central Kutchan along the main road that runs through Kutchan. It's a 10 minute walk from Kutchan train station. 〒044-0053 Hokkaido, Abuta District, Kutchan, Kita 3 Jonishi, 1 Chome−13−6 |
This soup curry restaurant can be found in central Kutchan which is by the Niseko skiing resorts. Kutchan is a country town and it is here, Markie Curry gets its fresh ingredients. The vegetables that go into their curries are supplied by local farmers plus Markie Curry has its own farm to grow fresh vegetables. This makes up the back bone of soup curries. Markie Curry also has its own secret spice recipe making for a delicious curry. There is seating for twenty, plus you can order ahead and they provide a delivery service which is a bonus (especially for cold winter months!).
The menu (also in English) is easy to follow. First, choose your meal from eight different soup curries. Second, choose your soup flavor. Markie Curry has a prawn base, coconut base, original base, and vegan base soup! Third, choose your spice level which ranges from zero to fifteen. There are kids meals here to by the way, that aren’t spicy for the little ones. Fourth, choose your rice size. Lastly, choose any extra toppings you would like. These topping range from an extra ¥100 to ¥300. For drinks they have lassies, coffees, juices, and beer. Too easy. Enjoy!
