| 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.
| Population | 1,148 |
| Size | 230 hectares |
| Contact | https://jozankei.jp/ |
| Location / Getting There | Jozankei is located along the banks of the Toyohira River and approximately 26 km south of (or a one hour by drive) from downtown Sapporo. Driving, take route 230 south toJozankei. There are buses direct from Sapporo Station. Take the rapid bus 7J, 7H or 8J. (Buses without a J or H will NOT go to Jozankei). Bus costs ¥1400 to Jozankei. Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 061-2301 |
Jozankei is located an hour south from Sapporo. It is an onsen (hot spring) town. The first hot spring bath opened here in 1866, and since then has become a picturesque town amid a ravine and is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. This national park is characterized by volcanic activity and it is from this activity that feeds the hot springs of Jozankei. The park includes two of Japan’s most famous caldera lakes, Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya; as well as the Mt. Tarumae, Mt. Yotei and Mt. Usu volcanoes. Jozankei has many hot spring hotels plus other sightseeing spots. Every season brings a different feel to Jozankei, each equally beautiful. The cherry blossoms in spring, the lush greenery in summer, the beautiful autumn foliage, and the winter wonderland all make Jozankei a place worth visiting.
| Pricing Guide (Avg. cost per person) | Free entry |
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-706-2658 |
| Notes | No parking, walking distance from Sapporo station, exhibits mostly in Japanese |
| Location | This museum is easy to access. It is a 15 minute walk from Sapporo station. Start by taking the north exit from the station and take a nice walk through the University grounds. 8 Chome Kita 10 Jonishi, Kita Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810 |
Walking around the grounds of Hokkaido University is a nice day out unto itself, and finding the museum here is a nice little bonus. The museum is free to enter and has some great exhibits. What makes this museum good is the old corridors that the visitors get to wander around. This gives the whole place an antiquated feel which adds to the experience. The show rooms are a little more modern and have an array of scientific exhibitions ranging from biological to technological fields. Unfortunately, practically all the information is in Japanese so for tourists, you aren’t learning too much. Even if you can’t read Japanese you can still enjoy the dioramas and pictures. They have local flora and fauna, animal skeletons, a dinosaur area with fossils, chemistry, geology, plus many more. The whole museum is two floors with elevator access. At the end, there is a gift store with souvenirs. This museum is great to wander around and good for kids too. A good day out as the grounds are nice to walk around as well!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | 18:00 - 21:00 |
| Dates | October 25 - November 3 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Parking available, food stalls are available |
| Location / Getting There | It is located in Nakajima Park so simply take the subway station to Nakajima Koen subway station. 1 Nakajimakoen, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0931 |
Nakajima Park is an extremely popular park in Sapporo. It one of the main three. The other two being Odori Park, and Maruyama Park. Since 2004, a new festival has started in Sapporo, that being the Autumn Illumination Festival. It is held in Nakajima Park in the evening and is truly stunning. During the day there is a Red Terrace Event on, in one section of the park. This has a dozen stalls and an eating area. They sell mainly sweet potato dishes. During the evening, it is lit up with hanging lights and is quite romantic. At 18:00 is when the real magic happens. Places in strategic spots around the park, the trees are lit with colored lights. Red, yellows, and greens. What makes it particularly beautiful is the reflection on the water from the central pond in the middle of the park. The Japanese Gardens inside the park are also illuminated and are a must see.
There are some events that are held out through the park to add to the experience. At the Hoheikan Hall building, there is the Meigren Dance Performance. This is a traditional geiko dance and is performed by geisha in their beautiful kimonos. Each dance goes for 15 minutes. There is also a tea ceremony at Hoheikan Hall where you an enjoy Japanese tea and sweets. There is also a tea ceremony in the Japanese gardens by the Hasso-an (Tea House). Oshiruko is sold here. Oshiruko is a traditional Japanese dessert made from sweet red bean paste and mochi.
| Meigrien Dance Performance | Free | October 25, 26, 30 November 2 1st performance: from 6:30 p.m. 2nd performance: from 7:00 p.m. 3rd performance: from 7:30 p.m. 4th performance: from 8:00 p.m. |
| Tea Ceremony and Japanese Sweets | ¥1000 | October 27, 28, 29, 31, November 1, 3 1st performance: from 6:30 p.m. 2nd performance: from 7:00 p.m. 3rd performance: from 7:30 p.m. 4th performance: from 8:00 p.m. |
| Japanese Garden Open-air Tea Ceremony | ¥500 | October 25 - November 3 |
| 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.
