| 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 | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Parking available, sightseeing spot, wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | The lighthouse is found on Cape Erimo. It is a 2 minute walk from `Erimo to Daiguchi bus stop`. From Sapporo, it is about a 4 hour drive down route 336, and then a right turn on to route 34 which is about 10 minutes from the cape. 367 Toyo, Erimo, Horoizumi District, Hokkaido 058-0343 |
Cape Erimo Lighthouse is a large white lighthouse that can be found overlooking the tip of Cape Erimo. The lighthouse was first lit in the Meiji Era on June 25, 1889. It was destroyed during a bombing raid on July 15, 1945 during World War II. It was then rebuilt on February 3, 1950 and continues to light the coast to this day. It was also selected as one of the best fifty lighthouses in Japan. Cape Erimo is a rugged and windy coastal area that is famous for its strong winds and fog.
In this area, the warm and cold currents collide offshore, and sea fog is generated for about 100 days a year. You can often see the fog rolling in from the ocean. The lighthouse is a beacon for fishing boats and cargo ships sailing through the choppy waters around the cape. The lighthouse stands at 13.7 meters, and is 73.3 meters up from the sea level. The light reaches out 22.5 nautical miles, which is about 41 kilometers. There is a lot to see on Cape Erimo and is a must stop if driving through the area.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 014-633-2149 |
| Notes | Buddhist temple, parking, car needed |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido in ShinHidaka precinct. It's a 26 minute drive from the center of the town of ShinHidaka. It's also a 20 minute drive from Shizunai Onsen. 213 Mitsuishihoncho, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 059-3108 |
Shohoji Temple is a quite a large Buddhist temple in a small town in the Shinhidaka area. It has a large main shrine with a few outer buildings creating a nice courtyard. It is in this courtyard there are numerous small gardens. These gardens and rock gardens are well cared for and have a distinct Japanese quality to them. There are some beautiful flowers that are in bloom throughout the warmer months. It is also in this courtyard you can find a small parking area.
Among the small gardens you can find many of the statues that are common at Buddhist temples. These statues are draped in red cloth and many often are wearing red bibs. These bibs are meant as a protection for young children not only in this world but for the next. Shohoji Temple is not a bad place to stop and grab some photos. The area the temple in is small with a couple of small restaurants close by.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 0146-33-2611 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the south east coast of Hokkaido in ShinHidaka precinct. It's a 25 minute drive from the center of the town of ShinHidaka. It's also an 18 minute drive from Shizunai Onsen. 302 Mitsuishihoncho, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 059-3108 |
Mitsuishi-Jinja Shinto shrine is a shinto shrine and is located in the Shin Hidaka district. The shrine was founded by the first pioneers who also built the town over 150 years ago. These pioneers were lead by the Kobayashiya Hanjiro who was the head of the Kobayashi family. On December 27, 1883, the shrine building rotted and the borders of the precincts expanded so the shrine location was moved. In 1981 there was a landslide and the shrine collapsed. It was rebuilt in October 1985 to the present day.
The shrine is just off the main road of route 235. The shrine is a pleasant town and is part of the long coastal road which is great to drive along. There is no real access for those taking public transport. The closest station was the Hidaka Mistuishi Station, though unfortunately this has now permanently closed. The shrine is a nice spot to walk around. It not large by any standards but it is in a nice area. There are some steps which lead to the the main shrine that has a view over the ocean. This shrines parishioners includes 781 households.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Contact | 014 642-1459 |
| Notes | Shinto shrine |
| Location / Getting There | The shrine is located on the coast of Hidaka in the south east of Hokkaido. The shrine is only really accessible by car. It is a 5 minute drive east from the town of Shizunai. 72 Higashishizunai, Shinhidaka, Hidaka District, Hokkaido 059-2561 |
Kotohira-Jinja Shinto Shrine was first built during the first year of the Ansei era. The Ansei era spanned for six years from November 1854 through to March 1860. It was listed as a village shrine in the 9th year of the Meiji era in 1876, and the name was changed to its current name in 1952. This area and shrine was visited by Matsuura Takeshirō. He was a famous Japanese explorer, cartographer, writer, painter, priest, and antiquarian. In the early Meiji period he was an official in the Hokkaidō Development Commission. On the grounds you can find numerous monuments and statues that are historical sites.
The shrine can be found on the left hand side (if coming from Sapporo), along route 235. This long and winding road follows the coastline all the way down to Cape Erimo. The shrine is noticeable from its numerous tori gates which lead back to the shrine itself. There is a small drive way area for parking. The grounds are nice to walk around. You can get the nice ocean breeze as well. The deity for this shrine is Emperor Sujin. His reign was from 97BC to 30BC. This is one of the many shrines that line this long coastal road.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | - |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-582-0050 |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot, seal watching, walking trails, parking available, photography spot |
| Location / Getting There | From Sapporo the cape 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 |
Cape Erimo is located on the south eastern point of Hokkaido. It is a fantastic place to visit and is famous for the ocean winds. Cape Erimo is one of the strongest wind regions in Japan. There are more than 260 days a year of winds blowing at speeds of 10 meters per second or more. With the waves crashing below and the scattered rocks trailing off to the horizon makes for a great sightseeing spot, and an equally good photography spot. For wildlife lovers, there is a seal colony which can be observed through a telescope and an abundance of sea birds circling the cliffs.
There is a walking trail down to the bottom of the cliffs. Here you can see Erimo Shrine which was built in 1814 to enshrine the god of food and safety. Also, down by the shrine you can observe the fisherman who collect seaweed from the beautiful, deep blue waters. It is possible to take a tour on one of the boats. Other points of interest include the Cape Erimo Lighthouse plus the observation deck and wind museum. Near the large parking area, you can find a souvenir store and a seafood restaurant. This is a fantastic place to wander the paths and enjoy the mist and sea air.
