| Admission | - |
| Park Golf | ¥1000 - ¥2000 depending on season |
| Restaurant | ¥1000 - ¥2000 per person |
| Opening Hours | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | https://www.vm-net.ne.jp/elk/ |
| Notes | Park golf, walking paths, Italian restaurant, winery, small parking available |
| Location / Getting There | *By car : from central Sapporo, it takes around 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. Head south on Route 230 toward Jozankei. Near Fujino, turn at the Fujino 3-2 intersection and continue about 2 km into the hills. Free parking is available on site. *By public transport : take the Namboku Subway Line to Makomanai Station, then transfer to the Jotetsu Bus bound for Jozankei or Fujino. Get off at “Fujino 4-jo 2-chome,” then it’s about a 7-minute walk to the park. 663 Fujino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2271 |
Nestled on the quiet outskirts of Sapporo, Elk no Mori Park offers a peaceful escape. Surrounded by forests and open green spaces, the park is known for its calm atmosphere, walking trails, and seasonal scenery that changes dramatically throughout the year. In spring and summer, the area comes alive with deep green foliage and fresh mountain air, while autumn paints the park in rich reds, oranges, and golds. Beyond its peaceful walking trails, Elk Nomori Park also has a park golf course and is home to beautiful flower gardens, a small local winery, and a cozy countryside café restaurant that make the area feel like a hidden retreat in the hills of southern Sapporo. Entry is free and there are lots of little nooks and gardens to sit and enjoy.
Set among the vineyards and flower gardens of Elk no Mori Park, カフェ＆レストランヴィーニュ offers a peaceful countryside dining experience just outside the city. The cozy restaurant is known for its handmade pasta, pizza, and seasonal dishes made with fresh Hokkaido ingredients. Large windows overlook the gardens and surrounding greenery, creating a relaxing atmosphere where visitors can enjoy a quiet lunch or coffee while taking in the natural scenery.
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-6453-3192 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | "By car from Sapporo : A 2.5 to 3 hour drive along route 231 along the Sea of Japan coast. By bus to Mashike from Sapporo : Take a highway bus from Sapporo to Rumoi 札幌～増毛・留萌線 (Sapporo–Mashike/Rumoi line) Then a local bus or taxi to Mashike. 3.5–4 hours 3 Chome-106 Hatanakacho, Mashike, Mashike District, Hokkaido 077-0214, Japan" |
Tucked away in the coastal town of Mashike, Junsumi Shrine is the kind of place you’re unlikely to find in guidebooks. It is best known for its large wisteria trees that can be found in its spacious courtyard. Unlike larger, well-known sites such as Mashike Itsukushima Shrine, Junsumi Shrine appears to serve a more local purpose. These smaller shrines are often maintained by nearby residents and visited during seasonal festivals, personal prayers, or moments of reflection. The wisteria blooms typically blooms from late May to early June so Junsumi Shrine is best to visit during this period. There are some benches to sit on and enjoy the quietness of the area.
| Cost per night | Free Parking is ¥1000 for cars and ¥300 for bikes from mid July to mid August |
| Open | May 1st - October 31st |
| Contact | 011-3379-2029 |
| Notes | Small campsite Covered cooking area Washing area Toilets Convenience across the road |
| Location / Getting There | By Car (recommended): The drive takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via Route 231 (Ororon Line) heading north towards Hamamasu. By Bus: Public transport is limited. The Engan Bus (沿岸バス) runs a service from Sapporo that stops at the Hamamasu bus stop. This bus typically runs only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (and major holidays), leaving Sapporo at 4:10 PM and returning from Hamamasu at 8:30 AM. From the Hamamasu bus stop, it is a roughly 1.7 km walk south to the park Hamamasuku Kawashimo, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3106, Japan |
Kawashimo Beach Park is a peaceful seaside camping destination in Hokkaido, offering visitors a relaxed escape surrounded by natural beauty. Set along a quiet stretch of coastline, the park features open grassy camping areas, easy access to the beach, and scenic ocean views that are especially striking at sunrise and sunset. It’s a great spot for swimming, fishing, and unwinding in a calm, uncrowded environment, making it ideal for both families and solo campers looking to enjoy a simple, nature-focused getaway. There is free parking available and the wide camping area gives you a bit of privacy. Many people who camp here enjoy fishing as it seems a popular spot for it.
| Length | 136 kilometres |
| Things to do | Hiking, photography in autumn, leads to Lake Shuparo which has kayaking and canoeing |
| Getting There | It's located in the center of Yubari. By car the distance is about 61 km from Sapporo to Yūbari. Head east. By public transport from Sapporo Station take a train to Shin-Yūbari Station. From Shin-Yūbari Station transfer to a local bus operated by Yutetsu Bus (or other local bus) into Yūbari city centre. ¥3000 – ¥4800. 2 hour travel time. |
The Yūbari River flows through the mountainous heart of Hokkaido, shaping a quiet landscape of forests, valleys, and rugged gorges before joining the Ishikari River. Originating near Mount Hachimori, the river flows through the Yūbari region. Once central to the rise of Yūbari as a coal mining town, it now winds through a region that blends natural beauty with traces of its industrial past. Today, the river and its surroundings—especially areas like Lake Shuparo—offer a peaceful, uncrowded setting ideal for scenic drives, photography, and experiencing a slower, more atmospheric side of Japan. This area is great for nature photographers and hiking and you can get some great photos from the town of Yubari.
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | The school may now be off limits but you can view it from the outside. There is parking nearby. |
| Getting There | By car the distance is about 61 km from Sapporo to Yūbari. Head east. By public transport from Sapporo Station take a train to Shin-Yūbari Station. From Shin-Yūbari Station transfer to a local bus operated by Yutetsu Bus (or other local bus) into Yūbari city centre. ¥3000 – ¥4800. 2 hour travel time. |
For those who enjoy haunted stories, like dark and eerie places, and are ghost chasers, Yubari is definitely a place you need to stop and check out. Yubari was once a thriving town and due to the coal mine closing down and the town going bankrupt, it has seen a massive population decline. The abandoned infrastructure and silent streets create a stark, haunting environment, with some specific locations linked to paranormal stories. Next to Yubari Shrine is one of these buildings. It used to be school but has now fallen silent and the company that ran the school went bankrupt. It is now overgrown with weeds and the school has fallen into disrepair. There is parking at Yubari Shrine and a path leading up to the school. This school is now off limits to the public but you can get a great sense of the eeriness from the outside. There have been reports of strange noises coming from inside the abandoned school at night and a strange presence can be felt in the room with the safe. There are odd items around the school which add to the creepiness.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 16:00 April 29th to November 3rd (closed during winter) |
| Closed | Tuesdays |
| Contact | 013-3606-107 |
| Notes | Museum, parking |
| Location / Getting There | The museum is located near Ishikari beach. It is a 45 minute drive from central Sapporo. Take the 231 road north to Ishikari. 48-1 Bentencho, Ishikari, Hokkaido 061-3372 |
The Ishikarihama Coastal Plant Conservation Center is located just a stone throws away from Aso-Ishikari Beach. Around that area, there is an abundance of coastal plants and flora and fauna. To fully appreciate the area, you should also visit Hamanasu No Oka Park which is close by. The Ishikarihama Coastal Plant Conservation Center is a small center with an observation area on the second floor. It is also has walkways and a nature area out the back. Here, you can have a pleasant stroll about and sit on one of the many benches along the wooden walkway. This observation garden has many distinctive local seaside plants The center provides information on the nature of Ishikari, including an exhibition room. These exhibits are only in Japanese however. The center also conducts research on coastal plants and occasionally holds nature observation meetings to introduce a wide range of information about the nature of Ishikari. This is a nice place to enjoy while in Ishikari. With ample parking it is very easy to stop and take a look while in the area.
