The Regional Guide Mini
WAKKANAI &Sample SOYA Book
1
Introduction
WAKKANAI & SOYA Soya is the perfect destination for hiking on the picturesque islands Rishiri and Rebun. Wakkanai is the gateway to the Russian Far East.
Rishiri-zan, Rishiri Island
Area Map Korsakov, Sakhalin Islands, Russia (159km)
Soya Strait
0
N
50km
Soya-misaki
Wakkanai
Rebun Island
Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park
Wakkanai Airport
★
Sarufutsu
Kafuka Oshidomari
WAKKANAI & SOYA Toyotomi
Sarobetsu Shitsugen
Rishiri Island
Okhotsk Line Nakatonbetsu
Esashi Okajima
Enbetsu
Otoineppu
Shosanbetsu
Soya Line RUMOI
Haboro Tomamae
Otoshibe
Omu
Bifuka
Okoppe
Nayoro
Shumarinai-ko
Ororon Line
Sea of Japan
Horokanai
Rumoi
Asahikawa
Takikawa
Ashibetsu
Bibai Iwamizawa Ebetsu
Sapporo
Yubari
OKHOTSK
Mikuni Pass
Biei
Daisetsuzan National Park (Kamuimintara)
Chitose
Minamifurano
Kanayama-ko Shuparo-ko Tomamu
Akan-ko Nukabira-ko
CENTRAL HOKKAIDO
KUSHIRO
Kamishihoro
Shintoku
EASTERN HOKKAIDO
Shimukappu
ISHIKARI
Shikotsu-ko
Sekihoku Pass
Furano
Katsurazawa-ko
Otaru
Niseko
Kitami
Shikaribetsu-ko
Ishikari
Kutchan
Rubeshibe
Onneyu Onsen
Sounkyo
Asahidake Onsen
SORACHI
SHIRIBESHI
Saroma-ko Engaru
Kamikawa
Fukagawa
Ishikari-gawa
Takinoue
KAMIKAWA
Numata
Yoichi
Abashiri
Kenbuchi Wassamu
Rumoi Line
Mashike Ofuyu
Monbetsu
Shibetsu
Obira
Ororon Line
Sea of Okhotsk
Nakagawa
Yagishiri Island
Teuri Island
Kutcharo-ko Hamatonbetsu
Horonobe
Teshio-gawa Teshio
NORTHERN HOKKAIDO
North Okhotsk Prefectural Natural Park
Ikeda
Obihiro TOKACHI
PACIFIC OCEAN 2
2
WAKKANAI & SOYA 稚内 · 宗谷 Soya is the northernmost region of mainland Japan. With the wilderness islands, wetlands, bamboo hills, wildflower gardens and peaceful marshes as your playground. Most travelers come in summer to enjoy great traverse and admire the beautiful flowers, but you will probably the call of snow-covered landscapes and pure white frozen sea in winter. Wakkanai is the region’s only city, it makes a base for exploring Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park and heading further north to Sakhalin Island.
Rishiri-zan
Korsakov, Sakhalin Island, Russia (159km)
Soya Strait
N
0
20km
Soya-misaki Sukotonmisaki
Noshappu-misaki ★
Rebun Island
Soya Bay
Funadomari
Kafuka Rishiri Airport
Kutsugata
Oshidomari Hime-numa
Oniwaki
Otatomari-numa
Rishiri Island
Ororon Line
O-numa
Sarufutsu Park
40
North Okhotsk Prefectural Natural Park
North Okhotsk
★
Hama-Sarufutsu
Esanuka Genseikaen Asajino Esanuka Line Beniya Genseikaen Kutcharo-ko
Kabutonuma
Kabutonuma
Sarobetsu Wetland Center Wakasakanai
Sarobetsu Shitsugen ★
Sea of Japan
238
Sarufutsu (Onishibetsu)
Bakkai
Rishiri-RebunSarobetsu National Park
Rishiri-zan (1721m) ★
Wakkanai Airport
Minami-Wakkanai Sakanoshita
Rebun-dake (490m)
Sea of Okhotsk
Soya Hills
Koetoi
Wakkanai ★
Kushu-ko
Shiretoko
Soya Hillside Footpaths
Soya Park
SOYA Tokumitsu
Hamatonbetsu
Toyotomi Onsen 275
Shimonuma
Horonobe Soya Line
Teshio
40
Teshio-gawa
RUMOI
Kamui-yama (439m)
Chikoma-dake (529m) Toikanbetsu Pinneshiri Onsen
232
Nakagawa
Kitami Kamuimisaki
Nakatonbetsu
Esashi Pinneshiri-dake (703m)
Utanobori
Tenpoku Pass
Enbetsu Ororon Line
Otoineppu KAMIKAWA
TOP DESTINATIONS IN WAKKANAI & SOYA ★
Wakkanai
Japan’s northernmost city is a base for exploring Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park and Sakhalin Island. • Soya-misaki: One of Japan’s most famous capes overlooking Sakhalin on a clear day. • Noshappu-misaki: It is easily access from the city center. Watch the gorgeous sunset. ★
North Okhotsk
Admire the elegant swans at the peaceful lake Kutcharo-ko. In winter, you might look over the frozen sea from the Okhotsk Line.
★
Sarobetsu Shitsugen
It dotted with quiet marshes and dairy farms. Colorful wildflowers bloom in summer. • Toyotomi Onsen: Oily water is believed to be helpful in treating psoriasis. ★
Rishiri Island
A great isolated island looks like Mt Fuji floating in the sea. ★
Rebun Island
Hike the spectacular trails filled with alpine plants and bamboos. 4
Kita-no-Canaria Park, Rebun Island
Sarobetsu
Rishiri Island
Wind Farm on the Soya Hills
FOUR-DAY SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1: Sarobetsu & Toyotomi Onsen
Day 3: Rebun Island & Wakkanai
Arrive in Toyotomi by train or intercity bus from Sapporo, then transfer the local bus for Sarobetsu Shitsugen. Visit Toyotomi Onsen then head north to Wakkanai by train.
Ferry to Rebun Island from Rishiri. Hike the Momo-iwa or Sukoton-misaki’s coastal trail. Take an evening ferry to Wakkanai, then dining on local cuisine.
Day 2: Rishiri Island
Day 4: Soya-misaki & North Okhotsk
Take an early morning ferry to Oshidomari. Hiking, cycling or take a bus around the great mountain Rishiri-zan. During the o-season, you should catch an evening ferry to Kafuka on Rebun Island.
Take a morning bus to Soya-misaki, then continue to Hamatonbetsu. Stroll around the lake Kutcharo-ko. Bus to Esashi and take a taxi to Mikasa-yama for a great view. Then travel to Asahikawa or Monbetsu by bus. 5
Wakkanai 稚内 Japan’s northernmost city of Wakkanai is an important turning point for all travelers. In summer, this city is crowded with group tourists, railway enthusiasts and motorcyclists. They spend a couple of time in the town and its surroundings before traveling onward. Wakkanai has ferry connections to Rishiri and Rebun islands through the year. It also offers seasonal international ferries to the further north island of Sakhalin, Russian Far East.
ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES Central Wakkanai 稚内市街 North Breakwater Dome 北防波堤ドーム This 427m-long and 13.6m-height half-arched breakwater is an enduring symbol of the city near the train station. Kita-Bohatei Dome has 70 cylindrical columns and was built in 1936 as a Wakkanai-Sanbashi (pier) Station. From here the railway ferries connected to Odomari on Karafuto (currently Korsakov on Sakhalin) until 1945. Today the breakwater promenade is good for a stroll. ‣ NOTABLE BUILDING: 1-1-1-2 Kaiun North Breakwater Dome
Wakkanai Fukuko Market
FAST FACTS Population: 35,000 Location: 316km north of Sapporo
HIGHLIGHTS ★ Soya-misaki and Hillside Footpaths ★ Sunset View from Noshappu-misaki ★ Wakkanai Park and Memorial Tower ★ North Breakwater Dome ★ Wakkanai Fukuko Market
HOTSPOTS @ Wakkanai Station @ 2nd floor of KITAcolor
LEFT LUGGAGE ✓ Wakkanai Station ✓ Wakkanai Port domestic terminal ✓ Wakkanai Port Service Center 6
Central Wakkanai HOEI
Antarctic Research Expedition Karafuto Dogs Training Memorial
0
400m
Soya Bay
a-sen
Monument to Nine Maidens
N
n
ori-kit Hond
Hyosetsu-no-Mon Memorial
a-se ham Kita tpath) (foo
Noshappu-misaki (3.7km)
Shiosai Promenade
02
16 01
08
15
10
Wakkanai Park
KAIUN
13
Toyota Rent-a14 Lease
Footbath Wakkanai Onsen Dome (2km)
Nippon Rent-a-Car
Bookstore $
Post Office
Hatoba-dori
Wakkanai Park
Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower
18
City Hall
Cemetery
20 17
11
i 12
KITAcolor
Wakkanai Sta.
Chuo Arcade
05
North Breakwater Dome
P 21
Odori
19
CHUO Wakkanai City Hospital
Ferry Terminal (Heartland Ferry)
Seico mart
International Ferry Terminal (Hokkaido Sakhalin Line)
04
Dai-ni Fukuko
03
i-sen
0
200m
Wakkanai Lighthouse 06 09
樺太食堂
NOSHAPPU Fisherman’s Restaurant
07
n se a- ) m ath ha tp ta oo Ki (f
Karafuto Shokudo
漁師の店
Wakkanai Onsen Dome (3km)
Wakkanai Port
Wakkanai Fukuko Market & Minato-no-yu
Soya Bay
Noshappu Park
Noshappu bus stop ノシャップ
Minato 2 bus stop 港2丁目
Soya Line
Noshappumisaki
N
Hondori-minam
Noshappu
Route 40
MINATO Wakkanai Forest Park Camp-jo
Dai-ichi Fukuko Minami-Wakkanai Station (1.2km): Sakanoshita Beach (7km): Wakkanai Airport (12km): Soya-misaki (30km)
7
Rebun Island 礼文島 Summer sees the narrow island of Rebun fill with nature lovers and hikers. Although the altitude is low but the latitude is high, you will admire the lovely alpine flowers from June to August. Rebun is also called the hanano-ukishima (floating flower island).
HIKING Hiking is the main activity in Rebun, numerous scenic trails across the bamboo hills and alpine plant gardens. Momo-iwa Trail 桃岩展望台コース (6.5km / 3hrs) Rebun’s most popular trail traverses the spectacular hills passing through the wildflower gardens overlooking Rishiri Island. The scenic trail affords fine views of Momoiwa (Peach Rock), coastal cliffs, valleys and the solitary Motochi Lighthouse. Starting from Kafuka on foot, the trailhead is opposite the Reiko-ji temple (700m northwest of the ferry terminal). For Shiretoko on the southern edge of the trail, several buses run from the ferry terminal (8min; ¥310).
Nishi-Uedomari, view from Sukai-misaki
FAST FACTS Population: 2600 Location: 60km west of Wakkanai, 10km north of Rishiri Island
HIGHLIGHTS ★ Hiking Rebun’s West Coast ★ Alpine Plants and Scenic Capes ★ Eating Local Seafood
HOTSPOTS @ Kafuka Ferry Terminal @ Kita-no-Canaria Park
LEFT LUGGAGE Momo-iwa (Peach Rock)
✓ Kafuka ferry terminal 8