Wakkanai & Soya Travel Guide sample book

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

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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

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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

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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)

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Dai-ni Fukuko

03

i-sen

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200m

Wakkanai Lighthouse 06 09

樺太食堂

NOSHAPPU Fisherman’s Restaurant

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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