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In Japan, you may have seen the bustle of Tokyo, enjoyed the red leaves of Kyoto, fed the reindeer of Nara ......
However, you never know that in the northernmost part of Japan, there is a small town called Wakkanai, which has changed your perception of Japan
The city of Wakkanai is a small town in the northernmost part of Japan, which will change your impression of Japan.
With a seascape even more stunning than the Seto River Sea, the scattered outlying islands and variegated flowers are like a scene out of a dream;
There are snow-covered mountains on the sea that are even more magnificent than Mt. Fuji, covered with snow in winter and blooming with flowers in spring and summer;
The city reminds you that it's the northernmost tip of Japan, and although it doesn't have the romance of the snowy cities of Otaru and Sapporo, there's something special about the trains as they move slowly through the snow;
When the weather is good, you can even see the Kuril Islands (Sakhalin) in the distance, and from the Russian signs in the streets to the Russian nesting dolls in the stores, Wakkanai exudes a faintly exotic flavor.
This is a place you may not have heard of even if you've been to Japan 100 times.
Today, we'll take you to Wakkanai and show you what this place has to offer, along with Rishiri Island, known as the “floating island of dreams,” and Rebun Island, known as the “floating island of flowers,” right next to it.
🤗 Wakkanai
|| Wakkanai Park - Unrivaled ocean views in your pocket!
Japan has never been known for its seaside beauty, but come to Wakkanai and you'll be mesmerized by its blue skies and unrivaled ocean views. Pass through the Kitamado Shrine, walk up the slope of the Shorikamichi Way, and walk along the mountain road for about 30 minutes to reach Wakkanai Park. From here, you can overlook the townscape overlooking the sea. The staggered houses are set against the sea and you can't help but marvel at them.
Climbing up to the observation deck at the top of the Kaiji Centennial Tower, you will be greeted by a clear and magnificent view of the sea, with green grass on the hillside on one side and a calm and vast coastline on the other, which will make you feel at peace. There are also two swings in the park, where you can swing as if you were going to be thrown directly into the sea, which is not only exciting but also romantic.
|| Jomtien Valley Hills - Green with Sea and Sky
The Soya Hills were cut during the Ice Age, and there are wind farms as far as the eye can see on the hills, which can give you the illusion that you are in Holland. There is an 11-kilometer-long Shirai Road, which is paved with the shells of Hokkaido's specialty, the sailfish, and is very distinctive.
Along the way, you will see pastures scattered on the hills, machines harvesting rice paddies in the fall, and the harmony of the sea and sky in the distance. You can also stumble upon black cows in the pastures and get in touch with nature.
|| Cape Soya - The Romance of Japan's 45°31′ North Latitude
It seems that every visitor to Wakkanai has to take a picture of the monument at Cape Soya. Located at 35 degrees 31 minutes north latitude, it is Japan's northernmost landmark, and the monument reads “Japan's Northernmost Land”, with a design that combines the triangle representing the North Star and the letter “N” for north. If it's time for a meal, you can enjoy authentic Japanese home cooking at the Northernmost Cafeteria, where you can savor the most authentic local cuisine.
It's a bit of a slump over here in winter, with a hint of romance revealed when it snows, but in spring and summer it's a different story. The green slopes of the Soya Point Peace Park are like a large canvas, and colorful flowers add to the vibrancy of the area. The Prayer Pagoda, the Memorial for the Disappeared, and the Peace Monument are no longer so cold against the backdrop of green grass and red flowers.
|| North Breakwater V ault Promenade - a time-traveling experience
None of the buildings in Wakkanai are particularly elaborate, but they are all very distinctive. In the north harbor of the station, there is an arch-shaped promenade standing on the seashore. With a length of 427 meters, 70 Romanesque columns, and a half-arched top, the promenade is like stepping into a time tunnel, where the years have slowed down. Outside the sea wind whistling, waves surging, but in the promenade is very calm, if it happens to snow, and lovers walking arm in arm, like walking through the longest century.
|| Vice Harbor Market - Feeling the city's atmosphere between the food
Wakkanai is not a big city, so you can walk along the southern national highway from the train station for about 15 minutes to reach the Vice Port Market. The market is not crowded, but there is a wide variety of goods, including fresh seafood, local products, and snacks, so you can feel the atmosphere of Wakkanai. On the first floor, there is a huge fishing boat “Daiichi Mizuko Maru”, and some historical photos are displayed on the hull of the boat, so you can relive the story of Wakkanai's past.
🤗 Rishiri Island - A Pilgrimage to the Floating Island of Dreams
|| Rishiri Fuji - Snowy Mountains Floating on the Sea
When you fly from Tokyo to Wakkanai on an airplane, you can see Rishiri Fuji, one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, from your window. Clouds cover the top of the mountain, while at the foot of the mountain is the turquoise blue sea, as if you are floating on the surface of the sea. In the fall and winter, most of Rishiri Fuji's mountain accumulates snow, making it even more magnificent than Mt. Fuji from afar.
Rishiri Fuji is a place of pilgrimage for many mountain climbers. It seems to be a great challenge to climb from zero elevation to 1,700 meters, but probably because the scenery along the way is so beautiful, the difficulty of the climb does not deter the fanatics. If you are worried that your body will not be able to withstand the intensity of the climb, you can ride a bicycle around the foothills of the mountain and get a deep sense of the great natural beauty.
|| Sea urchin rice - Japan's No. 1 delicacy
It is said that the best sea urchins come from Hokkaido, where the low temperature of the local waters and the clear quality of the water produce sea urchins that are at the world's top level, along with the well-known long-footed crabs and tuna. The horse dung sea urchin from Rishiri Island is the best of the best, and is known as “Japan's No.1 delicacy” of “Jigami Sea Urchin”, which is only harvested from June to August in a year, and is full of meat and rich in flavor. So when you come to Rishiri Island, you must try the sea urchin rice~ If you are in season, you can also go to the Jingu Coastal Park to pick sea urchins yourself.
🤗 Rebun Island - Revel in the world of floating islands of flowers
|| Sea of Flowers - Revel in a world of splendor
Rebun Island is known as the “Floating Island of Flowers,” and because it is located at a high latitude, it is ideal for the growth of a variety of alpine wildflowers. From May to August every year, a variety of wildflowers bloom and compete for color, and you can enjoy a walk through the flower gardens, sit in the grass and be surrounded by a sea of flowers, or quietly enjoy the sea breeze and the scent of flowers and be mesmerized by this colorful world.
|| Clarifying Point - The best place to enjoy the arc-shaped bay
If you want to see the clearest sea, you can't do better than the Sea of Clarity Cape, one of the representative landscapes of Rebun Island, famous for its crystal-clear waters. Climbing up to the observation deck, the arc-shaped bay appears in front of you, while the turquoise-blue, crystal-clear water, with even the fine sand clearly visible, is close by. The surface of the sea is calm and changes color with the sky. The rocks are also covered with flowers, echoing the blue sea in a peaceful manner.
|| Cathedral Peach Terrace - See the Jagged Rocks from a Great Distance
From the Cat Terrace Peach Terrace Observatory, you can see the beautiful Peach Rock and Cat Rock against the backdrop of a sea of flowers. Cat Rock looks like a wary cat facing the observatory and watching the land, while Peach Rock is a rock shaped like a peach, which is very vivid. The rocks seen here are much more majestic than those seen from the Momoyam Observatory, and the waves have left many traces of their age.
- Author:japan guides
- URL:https://japan-guides.com/article/culture-106
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