Kotan Hachiman Shrine

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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. Read More ....

Otaru Canal Museum & Information Center

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Otaru City General Museum Canal Museum has an extensive collection that introduces the history of Otaru City including information on the natural environment. The exhibition includes 20,000 objects and materials in its collection. The museum is located by Otaru Canal and can be found in the 'former Otaru warehouse'. Read More ....

Tokai Lavender Fields

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On the Tokai Sapporo School campus the grounds really comes alive with lavender. It is said that the south district of Sapporo, where the campus is located, is known as the birthplace of lavender cultivation in Japan. Read More ....

Urahoro Shrine

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During the Meiji Era, as the town of Urahoro (on the south east coast of Hokkaido) was being developed, the pioneers called for the construction of a shrine to serve as a spiritual centre. On August 15, 1896, a small shrine was erected, enshrining Amaterasu (goddess of the sun and the universe). Read More ....

Onnenai Visitor Center

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, also known as the Kushiro Marshland is a sprawling national park to the north of Kushiro. There are half a dozen observation decks, museums, and walking paths that surround the park. The Onnenai Visitor Center is one of these museums and can be found on the western side of the marshland. Read More ....

Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

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The Kushiro Shitsugen National park (better known as the Kushiro Marshland) is a national park, located to the north of Kushiro on the eastern side of Hokkaido. The park is known for its wetlands ecosystems. 'Shitsugen' translates to wetlands in English. It was designated as a national park on 31 July 1987. The massive park covers an area of 268.61 square kilometres on the Kushiro plain and is well known for its wildlife and vegetation. Read More ....

Kushiro Marsh Observatory

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Perched at the top of a large hill, overlooking Kushiro Marsh, you can find the Kushiro Marsh Observatory. This is one of the most interesting buildings in Hokkaido. The exterior, and especially the interior, has a strange and unique design and is reminiscent of a cool sci-fi movie. The central hall of the museum is definitely a place to get some photos. Read More ....

Obihiro Shrine

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In 1881, a man named Benzo Yoda and others from Shizuoka Prefecture organized a pioneer group called the "Bansei-sha". This group and settled inShimo-Obihiro Village and started pioneering. During this time, they started holding festivals and later built a small shrine, though the connection with the current Obihiro Shrine is still not well known. Read More ....

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Sapporo Dake (Mt Sapporo)

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Height	1293 m / 4114 ft
Length	11km round trip
Hiking Time	Winter - 4 hours to the top Summer - 3 hours to the top
Notes	Car needed Cabin available - Free
Location / Getting There	Sapporo-dake, Jozankei, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture 061-2301 Take route 230 past Jozankei , turn left heading to Hoheikyo Hot Spring.

Hike up through winter

For outdoor enthusiasts there is a great hike up to Mt. Sapporo (Sapporo Dake). The views from the 1293m summit are spectacular! You can catch stunning views of Sapporo on one side and on the other, there are views of the inactive volcano, Mt Yotei. The hike is medium and to get to the summit it takes about 4 hours in winter with snowshoes and about 3 in summer. The length is about 6 km from the hike starting point. You will need a car to get to there! (refer to the map to see where the starting point is).

Hiyamizu Hut

The hike can be done in a day but if you are looking for a weekend away, there is a cabin halfway up. The cabin is 2 stories and is decked out with a fireplace, a kitchen area with cups and cooking knives, tables, chairs, a toilet, and oil lamps. The cabin is sometimes locked, but if you are caught out in a blizzard or are in need of shelter the back windows are easy to open. The cabin, known as Hiyamizu Hut is looked after by a local resident and the firewood is constantly stocked up. If you do stay at the cabin then make sure you leave it clean and tidy for the next hikers!

Start of the trail

For an even more spectacular view of the sunrise from the mountain summit, leave the cabin at around 3:30am in the morning. If you can wake up its well worth it! To get to the trail head you will need a car! It’s less than an hour’s drive from the centre of Sapporo. Turn off onto the road from the Number 230 Road, and follow the signs to Hoheikyo Dam. Just before reaching the parking of the Dam, you’ll see a a sign indicating the Sapporo dake Trailhead on the left side. During winter you will need snowshoes. For information on where to get some good hiking gear go to Shugakusou Outdoor .