| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | 10: 00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-5442-5584 |
| Notes | Museum, historical site |
| Location / Getting There | The museum is located by Kushiro River overlooking the harbor. It is a 15 minute walk, south from Kushiro station. By bus, take the 'Takuboku circulation line' and get off at the "Monument of the Little Boy" stop. 3 minutes on foot. From Kushiro Station Bus Terminal, take bus 2, 3, 27, 28, or 30 and get off at "Jujigai". 5 minutes on foot. From the airport, take the airport bus (Akan bus) and get off at "MOO". From here, it's 7 minutes on foot. 2 Chome-1-12 Omachi, Kushiro, Hokkaido 085-0847 |
In Kushiro, along the promenade that follows Kushiro River, you can find the Kobunkan. It is across the wide river from the Fisherman’s Wharf MOO. Kobunkan serves as a museum and as a historical spot. It is a restoration of the former Kushiro Shibun Newspaper Company. This office building was originally built in 1908. The small building is easily recognizable by its red brick facade, and gives the museum a certain rustic charm. Getting to the museum is relatively simple. From Kushiro train station, follow the main street down to Nusamai Bridge. Kobunkan is on the right after crossing the bridge.
The Kushiro Shinbun Newspaper was visited by the Japanese poet, Takuboku Ishikawa. He worked at the paper for 76 days, and it is here at the museum you can find many exhibits and rare documents relating to his work. The first floor of the museum is dedicated to the development of Kushiro. It holds maps of the planned port and a city map during the Meiji Era. Here there is also small cafe so you can enjoy a tea or coffee in nice surroundings. The second floor has the exhibits for the poet, Takuboku Ishikawa. There is also a statue of him outside by the museum.
| 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 | ¥300 Adults ¥200 Children ¥240 Groups (15 or more) |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | December, January and February. |
| Contact | 011-4663-1133 |
| Notes | Museum, seal viewing location |
| Location / Getting There | The museum is located at Cape Erimo. From Sapporo, it is about a 4 hour drive down the south coast. There is also a return express bus from Sapporo station. JR Hokkaido Bus (High Speed) to Erimo, (reservation required until the day before departure). *JR Sapporo Station 16:30 departure-Erimo 20:30 arrival *Erimo 5:30 departure-JR Sapporo Station 9:30 arrival Erimomisaki, Erimo, Horoizumi District, Hokkaido 058-0342 |
The ‘House of Wind’ is situated overlooking Cape Erimo. Cape Erimo is famous for its strong winds and rolling mists. Because of this, the museum is actually built into the mountain. Its prominent feature is the large glass windows that face out from the cliff face with spectacular (and warm) views over the ocean and the rocky peninsular. Access to the museum is via a long and damp stone carved corridor. The charge is very affordable and once inside the warm and inviting museum, you can access a theatre, exhibits, a seal observation deck, a wind tunnel, plus information about the surrounding area.
The main focus of the museum is the wind and the seal colony. The ‘House of Wind’ has a great wind room. The room has a large fan at one end and it is here you can safely experience gale force winds with a wind speed of 25 meters per second. There are hand rails to hold onto. Other exhibits in the museum focus on the seal colony that lives at Cape Erimo. These are Kuril Harbor Seals. The seals here can be viewed at the observation deck via a number of binoculars that have been set up. The number of these seals numbers at around 600 and are listed as ‘near threatened’. The best time to see these seals is in the summer when they usually out of the water. At Kaze no Yakata, you can also find information on the local wildlife plus skeleton exhibits.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9:30 - 20:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0138-23-3763 |
| Notes | Park, historical buildings, photography spot, kids playground, toilets, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Hakodate Park is located in the southern end of Hakodate City. It is near the base of Mt. Hakodate. Without a car, the best way to get to the park is to take the tram from Hakodate station and get off at Aoyagi-cho (¥230). It is a 2 minute walk from here. 3-15 Aoyagicho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0044 |
Hakodate Park is one of the gems in Hakodate. During the cherry blossom season from mid April to the beginning of May, it is covered in beautiful cherry blossoms and is one of the top spots in Hokkaido to enjoy these flowers. The blossoms here are stunning and a must see if you are in Hakodate at this time. The park was established in 1874, but was transformed into its current layout in 1879. The new park was proposed by Richard Eusden, the British Consul of Hakodate. The park has western elements to it and is home to many attractions and sightseeing spots.
The park is hugely popular in the spring time due to the cherry blossoms. Throughout the park you can find many other attractions that are there throughout the year. There are several historic colonial buildings here. These include the Kyushiritsu Hakodate Library, and the Hakodate City Museum. For those with kids there is a small amusement park, and a small zoo down the bottom of the park. Other points of interest include the grave of a German consul, Ludwig Haber. He was a murdered in 1874 by an anti foreign Japanese national. And up near the top, overlooking the park is a stone carving plus a small pavilion.
| Admission | ¥800 Adults ¥300 Children |
| Opening Hours | 8:00 - 18:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-3824-1115 http://www.ryoma1115.com/ ryoma1115@amail.plala.or.jp |
| Notes | Historical museum, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | Central Hakodate. Take the tram from 'Hakodate Eki Mae' to 'Jujigai' station (3 stops and costs ¥200). The museum is right next to the Jujigai tram stop. Alternatively, it's a 17 minute walk from Hakodate station. 8-6 Suehirocho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0053 |
Sakamoto Ryoma was born on 3 January 1836, and grew up to be a master swordsman and lower class samurai who opposed the Tokugawa Shogunate. He was against the modernization and westernization of Japan, though he was a visionary who dreamt of an independent Japan without feudalism, inspired by the example of the United States where “all men are created equal”. He is also regarded as the “father of the Imperial Japanese Navy”. He was a prominent figure before his assassination on 10 December 1867 at a local tavern near Kyoto.
The museum in Hakodate was constructed in 2009 to honor his life. The island of Hokkaido, then known as ‘Ezo’ was a new land for the samurai to relocate to and become farmers. Across from the museum you can find a large statue of Sakamoto Ryoma. There is information about his life plus other prominent samurai of the era. These include Okamoto Kensuke who explored the islands of Sakhalin alone, and Santo Ichiro who was interested in cultivating Ezo. For a look at a piece of Japanese history, Sakamoto Ryoma museum is a good place to visit.
| Admission | ¥500 Adults ¥250 Children |
| Opening Hours | 8:30 - 18:00 (admission until 17:00) April-October 9:00 - 17:00 (admission until 16:00) November-March: 10:00 - 15: 00 December 31st-January 3rd |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 013-827-2500 info@mashumaru.com http://mashumaru.com |
| Notes | Museum, guided tours available, no parking (though Hakodate Station Square Parking can be used), restrooms |
| Location / Getting There | Located on the western harbor in Hakodate on the old pier. It's only a 4 minute walk from Hakodate station. It's also a 10 minute walk from the Red Brick Warehouses 29-15 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001 |
The Mashu Maru is a ship that once served as a ferry and was the link between Hokkaido and the main island of Honshu. This ferry was in service until its last day on March 13, 1988. It is now moored at the old Hakodate number 2 quay. This platform was the actual platform from which the Mashu Maru operated from. In what is an already historical city, it now serves as a museum adding to the history, and sees its days welcoming sightseers. Close by to the ferry you can find Ika Square and Seaport Park, which is not a bad spot to have some take away lunch!
Once on board the Mashu Maru (kind of pronounced like marshmallow) you can access various parts of the ship. Take a turn at the wheel at the wheelhouse, or have a look at the wireless communication room as it was back in the day. One of the front cabins was remodeled into an exhibition room and has models and parts from the ferry. There is also a history of the ferry with panels and images. Unfortunately, there is no access to the main engine room or overall control room though you can see these rooms via a monitor camera that you can control. Access to the deck is available, though in the event of strong winds or snow parts of the deck will closed to the public. On board you can find a small shop selling souvenirs. Enjoy!
