| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot , no parking |
| Location / Getting There | The falls are a 5 minute drive before arriving in the town of Hiroo. They are a 45 minute drive from Cape Erimo, and are on route 336 across from the ocean. Funbe, Hiroo, Hiroo District, Hokkaido 089-2634 |
From Cape Erimo to the small town of Hiroo, there is a road that winds its way along the coast. Just fifteen minutes before the town of Hiroo, you can find the Funbe Falls. The road (route 336), that these falls are by, is known as the ‘Golden Road’. This road was originally started in 1798 and cut through the steep and craggy Hidaka mountains. It is called the Golden Road, as it cost a lot of money to make and through trade, the road spread gold. On one side of the road is the rough Pacific Ocean and on the other, is the cliffs of the Hidaka mountains that spreads deep into central Hokkaido. These mountains spread for 140 km and it is from the base of these mountains that the Funbe Falls flow all year round.
The Golden Road, after rock fall stopped traffic, was renovated and completed in 1981 due to avalanches from the cliffs. The waterfall is not that big and can be easily missed. It is just before a turn in the road and although there is no parking, there is room to stop off on the road side. The falls are surrounded by small headstones and shrines. These shrines are decorated with flowers and make for a good photo. There are a couple of signs with information about the Golden Road and surrounding mountains, but these are only in Japanese. Open all year round, the falls freeze over in winter and also make for a good photo.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot , parking available, short walking trail |
| Location / Getting There | 12 minute drive from Toyako Onsen on the southern edge of Lake Toya Takinomachi, Machi Sobetsu, Usu District, Hokkaido 052-0101 |
The path up past the shrine.
Sobetsu Waterfall can be found on the southern edge of Lake Toya. It is a beautiful waterfall, where you can take a nice walk to its base. You can get some great photos and experience the waterfall up close. To get to the waterfall you need to follow the road down on route 2 keeping Sobetsu river on your left (coming from Toyako Onsen). At the bottom of the hill, make a U-turn and cross over the river and follow the small road keeping the river on your left. There will be parking on the left hand side. Once parked, simply follow the winding path until you reach the waterfall.
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The flowing stream
The walk to the waterfall is a nice stroll and it takes about 8 minutes to get there. On the way you can enjoy the flowing stream and the surrounding trees creating a picturesque scene. The path crosses over the river twice over small bridges. On the way to the falls you can also find a small Buddhist Shrine on the left. With the falls in the background, this small shrine is also a good spot to get some photos. The path reaches a small wooden viewing platform about 10 metres from the falls. This wooden platform can get slippery so make sure you hold on to the rail. Sobetsu Waterfall is a beautiful spot to visit.
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot , parking available, rest rooms available, walking trails |
| Location / Getting There | Located along route 452 in the Ashibetsu province, between Yubari and Ashibetsu. 30 minute drive from Furano, 20 minute drive from Ashibetsu. 1 hour 30 minute drive from Sapporo. Ashibetsu, Hokkaido 075-0000 |
The path down to the falls
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The falls during summer
The river in question is the Ashibetsu River. It flows for sixty kilometres, and runs through to the city of Ashibetsu itself. The Sandan Falls can be found around halfway along the Ashibetsu river not far from the park. The falls can range from a small trickle to a raging torrent during spring after the snowmelt. The river is especially beautiful during the spring with a couple of cherry blossoms and in autumn with the foliage along the river. Sandandaki Park has restrooms next to the parking lot, and there are benches to take a seat and enjoy the view.
| Admission | - |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot , Parking available, Rest rooms available |
| Location / Getting There | Located along coastal road, route 231. West cost on Ishikari Bay. 1 hour 30 minute drive from Sapporo Hamamasuku Ofuyu, Ishikari, Hokkaido 077-0351 |
White Silver Waterfall
On the west coast of Hokkaido, from Ishikari bay all the way up, to Rumoi and up further to the north of Hokkaido, there is a beautiful coastal drive that you can take. The coastal road on route 231, winds its way along, hugging the cliffs with the ocean lapping at its side. Along the way, there are plenty of places to stop and take a break. The Shiragane Falls, translated to the ‘White Silver Waterfall’ is one of these spots, where you can take a break, stretch the legs and take a look at the waterfall as it spills its way into the ocean below.
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Relaxing spot
The falls are found at Cape Ofuyu and measure at thirty meters. In November 1977, Route 231 was opened, and to celebrate this achievement a monument was built. The monument can be found here at the Shiragane Waterfall. There is free parking available here, and the entrance can be found just after coming out of the Yutosu Tunnel (if coming from the Sapporo direction). The name meaning ‘White Silver’ is said to come from the silver splash that is reflected in the sunlight. It is a nice little spot, as the waterfall flows on one side, and the ocean can be found on the other.
| Length | Path along river is 2.7 km one way |
| Notes | Photography spot Wheelchair access |
| Location | 5 minute walk from Keikoku Park. 10 minute walk from Takinoue park |
Fishing spot
Takinoue Gorge (Kinsenkyo) is a hidden gem in the pleasant town of Takinoue and is formed from the Shokotsu River that flows from east to west. The gorge has a fantastic walking track that runs on both sides of the river offering great views down the gorge, and was voted as one of Hokkaido’s top hundred tourist spots for its breathtaking scenery. The path runs for 2.7km one way, starting from the rainbow bridge to the Keikoku Park Camping Ground. This river is a popular spot for fly fishing and was one of the first places in Japan to introduce the catch and release system. If you enjoy fishing this is a great spot to catch some rainbow trout. This river is beautiful in all seasons, especially in the autumn, as the leaves turn.
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Rainbow Bridge & Dragon falls
Along the trail there are some nice spots for photos, such as the Rakuyo Falls. There is a small observation point that overlooks the falls, making it a good spot for photos.There are a number of small waterfalls and tributaries and bridges along the path. On the western end of the river, you will find the rainbow bridge. The rainbow bridge name doesn’t come from old Norse mythology, rather that there is a fountain on the downstream side of the bridge and when the fountain is operating, the suns rays form the rainbow. The two tiered bridge is at the junction of the Shokotsu River and the Sakuru River, where they meet and form the ‘Water Dragon Waterfall’. The rainbow bridge offers views over these rivers, as well as Takinoue Park. On the second level of the bridge there is a slide for the kids down to the first level.
| Admission | Adults - ¥410 Children - ¥80 Preschool - free Pensioners - ¥210 |
| Admission (groups of more than 20) | Adults - ¥290 Children - ¥50 Preschool - free Pensioners - ¥210 |
| Opening Hours | Spring 9:00 - 17:00 Summer 9:00 - 18:00 Autumn 9:00 - 17:00 Winter 9:00 - 16:00 |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 011-592-3333 http://www.takinopark.com.e.bn.hp.transer.com/?go=kaienkikan |
| Notes | Car required to get there Buses available Wheelchair access |
| Location / Getting There | 〒005-0862 Hokkaidō, Sapporo-shi, Minami-ku, Takino, ２４７ Take Bus 106 from Sapporo station or Makomanai station |
Takino Suzuran park is a huge park that is a great place for families and nature lovers. It covers 395.7 hectares, with around 200 hectares are available to the public. There are 2 entrances, the East Gate entrance (higashi guchi), and the Central Gate entrance (chuo guchi). Parking is available and the bus stops are located here. There are 3 main areas that make up the park. There is the Country Garden Area, the Childrens Playground area, and the Forest Area. There is also a camping area and an observatory on the grounds.
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Country Garden Area
This area is famous for its flowers in the spring season. It has the visitors centre here and the country club building. Lockers, bathrooms, bus stop, and rest area is here. Its at the top of the park offering great views. A perfect spot to sit and get views down the hill of the flower pasture. Thousands upon thousands of lilacs are planted here and are truly beautiful in May. There is a path leading down through them to get great photos. The country club has a restaurant, a snack shop and shops selling local vegetables. The country club is home to the herb garden, rock garden, flower master retreat, and the observatory.
Children’s Playground (Kodomo no Tani)
This area is designed for the kids. It has a huge 6.8 hectare sloped lawn area. Kids can take giant red inflatable balls and roll them down the hill. There is a giant ants nest sculpture and tunnels that the kids can crawl through and play in. A cool stream is here, and kids can play and cool down in the summer. This place really captures the imagination with slides, tunnels, and trampolines for the kids to play on. There is a rest area for the parents, and toilets, and a coffee shop is available.
Forest Area (Mori no Sumikawa)
This heavily wooded area is a great place to walk around and take in the pine air. There are walkways that twist and turn through the forest. There is a timber swing for the kids, a woodland craft house, and a suspension bridge all through this area. This area leads to the waterfalls which are a main feature in this park. There are 4 main waterfalls that surround the park, Ashiribetsu Fall, Masumi Fall, Shiraho Fall, and Furo Fall.
| Summer Activities | |
| Camping | There are camping grounds at this park, with access to shower rooms and a laundromat. Cabins are also available to rent but you will need to call in advance. There is a small shop near the camping grounds selling alcohol, cold drinks, snacks, cold meat, frozen foods, toys, camping equipment, and fuel (charcoal, white gasoline, various gas cartridges) |
| Fishing | Rent a fishing pole and bait and try some trout and rainbow trout fishing. Cost is ¥850 for the hour and ¥100 for additional bait. |
| Cycling | Rent a bicycle to get around and see the whole park! There are bicycles for adults, children and tandem bicycles. Prices range from ¥100 for children to ¥310 for adults. A 2 person bicycle is ¥800. Rental is for 2 hours. For an extra 30 minutes the cost is ¥30 for children and ¥80 for adults. |
| Park Golf | Park golf is like mini golf. It involves hitting a billiard size ball around a short course with a wooden club. Fun for everyone! Clubs and balls are available for free from the Country Club |
| Cooking | There are 4 different spots around the park that have BBQ’s and areas to cook. These areas can accommodate 100, 300, and to 1000 people depending on the area. Water supplies, and sinks, log seating is available. |
| Winter Activities | |
| Sled Slope | This slope for tubing is the longest in the country! For kids and adults the straight course is 200 metres! There is a shorter 180 metre S shape course. There is also a kids sled corner. Tubes and sleds are FREE to rent! |
| Skiing & Snowboarding | This 250 metre length course is perfect for beginners at a 7 degree slope. The weekend lift tickets for adults are ¥150 per ride, ¥1030 for 4 hours, or ¥1540 for a day pass. Lift tickets for children are ¥100 per ride, ¥620 for 4 hours, ¥1030 for a day pass. Weekdays have cheaper day passes. ¥820 for adults and ¥510 for children. |
| Skiing Lessons | Skiing lessons are available but only in Japanese, and depending on the conditions. It is advised to call ahead. The cost is ¥200 per person (not including ticket passes). There is a morning class and an afternoon class. Applications for the morning class must be handed in by 10:15. Morning class is from 10:30 – 12:00. Afternoon class applications must be in by 13:45. The lesson goes from 14:00 – 15:30. Skiing gear is available from the Country Club |
| Snowshoeing | There are 3 courses available. 1st is the Forest area (Takino no Mori), a 30 minute to 2 hour trek through the woods. 2nd is the Kawagarasu Course, a 1 hour trek to see the Ashiribetsu Falls frozen over, or “ice falls”. The 3rd is the Akagera Course which is also a 1 hour course. This course is an up and down course which has views over the park. |
| Cross Country Skiing | 6 courses to choose from. You can rent the gear and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the park. There are 2 beginner courses, a 1 km and a 5km course. 2 intermediate courses, 3km and a 5km course. 2 advanced courses, a 10km and a 16km course. Ski rentals are available from the Country Club. |
| Ice Falls | Snowshoe or do cross country skiing to see these amazing waterfalls frozen over. To Ashiribetsu Fall, it is approximately 1.1km from Keiryu Guchi Parking lot. The waterfalls are frozen by the end of December. |
If you don’t have your own transport, there are buses available from Sapporo station and Makomanai station. It is also possible to use a taxi from Makomani station. The ride takes about 20 minutes via taxi. The bus time tables are as follows:
To
Takino Suzuran Park Cost
Times
From
Makomanai Station
Terminal 2 Bus 106
Adults ¥440
Children ¥220
Takes 31 min.8:45
9:45
10:45
11:45
12:45
13:45
14:45
15:50
From
Sapporo Station
Terminal 1 Bus 106
Adults ¥630
Children ¥320
Takes 61 min.9:15
12:15
From
Fukuzumi Station
Terminal 6 Bus 87
Adults ¥620
Children ¥310
Takes 44-50 min.10:20
11:20
12:40
13:42
14:30
| From Takino Suzuran Park | ||
| To Makomanai Station East Exit Bus 106 | Cost Adults ¥440 Children ¥220 Takes 31 min. | Times 9:33 10:33 11:33 12:28 13:28 14:28 15:28 16:33 |
| To Sapporo Station East Exit Bus 106 | Adults ¥440 Children ¥220 Takes 61 min. | 8:45 9:45 10:45 11:45 12:45 13:45 14:45 15:50 |
| To Fukuzumi Station East Exit Bus 87 | Adults ¥620 Children ¥310 Takes 44-50 min. | 12:17 13:37 14:42 15:37 16:42 |