Hokkaido Simply Delicious!!!

Eat the Delicacies of Hokkaido, one of the biggest attractions of Hokkaido is of course, the FOODs!!! There are a variety of dishes and foods made from freshest ingredients. Flavors of Hokkaido are diverse, depending on seasons, regions and restaurants.

If you want to experience the delights of Hokkaido, eating fresh sushi and Kaisendon (seafood rice bowls) are a must. Sushi-bar Street in Otaru (Otaru Sushiya-dori) is filled with traditional sushi bars and new revolving sushi restaurants. Some restaurants are famous for all-you-can-eat style sushi, others are for their big lumps of sushi. You can enjoy sushi in any style you like.

Ekiben is a packed lunch often sold at railway stations. Eating ekiben is one of the pleasures of travelling. In Hokkaido, many of them use local specialties like 'ikura' (salmon eggs), 'uni' (sea urchin eggs), crab meat, squid, clams, scallops, etc.

One-Pot Dishes are Popular Winter Standard. Ishikari-nabe is a one-pot dish in which salmon, its milt and various vegetables are cooked with miso sauce. Its name was derived from Ishikari River, famous for salmon. Sanpei-jiru is a soup of salmon or hatahata fish and vegetables with salt and kelp flavor. There are also a variety of one-pot dishes (nabemono in Japanese) in Hokkaido, such as Hamanabe and Gokko-nabe, as people have to live with long and severe winter.

Genghis Kahn (Jingisukan) is a lamb barbecue dish named after the Mongolian warrior, is unique to Hokkaido and especially popular at beer halls throughout the city, many with their own original sauces in which the lamb is either marinated or dipped after grilling. The dish is rumored to be so named because in prewar Japan, lamb was widely thought to be the meat of choice among Mongolian soldiers, and the dome-shaped skillet is meant to represent the soldier's helmets that they purportedly used to cook their food.

At home or outdoors, this barbecue is so popular among Hokkaido people for “Ohanami” cherry blossom viewing, summer camping, on the beach , in the field, or at home, many enjoy having Jingisukan. Standard ingredients for this is, mutton or lamb, vegetables like onions, bean-sprouts, or others depending on the season or individuals ’liking. In most cases, for eating this barbecue, we use the special iron-cast pans in the shape of flat helmets with the hollow edges all around. In eating the meat, there are two choices, one is the meat is already soaked in the special sauce, the other is choosing the raw meat. For both kinds, we grill the meat on the pan with other ingredients at table, after the ingredients are cooked, we dip them into the special sauce for the unseasoned meat, or if we need more taste. If you have a chance of visiting supermarkets, meat corners, you find many different kinds of packs of Jingisukan coming from many different farms or factories along with different kinds of sauce. For local people, it’s quite common to have the “Jingisukan pan “at home, enjoying this barbecue with good beer or other beverages all the year round. In Sapporo, there’re many restaurants especially for good Jingisukan, so why don’t you try eating this specialty from Hokkaido while you stay here ?

Hokkaido has the biggest production of soba (buckwheat) in Japan. Sorachi and Tokachi provinces are the main production centers. Because of the big difference of temperatures between daytime and night, Hokkaido's soba (buckwheat) is especially tasty. There are thousands of soba noodle restaurants in Hokkaido, many of them serve handmade soba noodles made from locally produced soba.

Ramen is very popular all over Japan. Its history began in 1922 when a Chinese restaurant served ramen for the first time. Now, there are thousands of ultimate ramen restaurants in Hokkaido. Indeed some streets have nothing but ramen shops like the famous Ramen Yokocho or Ramen Alley, where signatures of past and present celebrities adorn the walls of the shops that line either side of the narrow passageway. Typical Sapporo's ramen is miso flavoured ramen served with rich butter and sweet corn. Asahikawa ramen is popular for its original soy sauce flavour, and Hakodate ramen is famous for its salt flavour. There are also other ramen with the names of their places. Individual ramen shops all have their own particular flavour and style and chefs can be quite secretive about what makes their soup so special. Everyone has their favourite ramen shop and a local's recommendation is worth getting. Otherwise, look out for crowds, as a queue waiting to be seated is a sure sign of quality.

Soup curry has become popular among local people. It is a new style dish of a mixture of ramen soup and curry. It is different to a normal thick curry and tastes like a curry flavoured spice soup cooked with large pieces of meat and vegetables. There are great varieties in ingredients. Some restaurants have 'Natto' (fermented soybeans), boiled egg or seafood in their soup curry. It may be interesting to try different soup curry.

Blessed with a broad expanse of land, a sunny climate, and water on all sides, Hokkaido has a rich natural environment and is a treasure trove of farm and marine products that are cherished by people throughout Japan.

More than 30 years have passed since the production of wine has begun in Hokkaido. Wineries have opened in Otaru, Hakodate, Furano, Yoichi, etc. Wines made in Hokkaido are steadily gaining popularity in Japan. Other kinds of wine made from local specialties such as haskapp berries, cowberries, melons, etc, are also popular.

In Hokkaido, there are many kinds of local beers. Their skills were introduced from countries like Germany, Belgium and Hungary. Those breweries are often small, so the production is usually labor-intensive. The beers are made from pure water and locally produced malt and hop. Sapporo is the spiritual home of Japanese beer. Sapporo Beer, founded here in 1876, still brews locally along with other major national brewers; Asahi, Kirin and a host of local microbreweries.

Hokkaido produces many kinds of Japanese and Western sweets, made from quality dairy products and agricultural produce. 'An' is bean jam made from Hokkaido's high quality adzuki beans, and mainly used in Japanese sweets. Hokkaido's cool climate is ideal for making chocolate. White chocolate and raw chocolate have become Hokkaido's specialties.

Dairy farming is popular in Hokkaido, and it is well known for producing good, economical beef, poke and mutton. Brand beef such as 'Hidaka beef' and 'Shiraoi beef' are known for their good quality. You can also try rare sea lion meat and reindeer meat. It is famous for its excellent dairy products. Cheese and butter were first produced in Hokkaido in the Meiji Era. Their quality is based on the knowledge accumulated during the history of one century, and known worldwide. The long history of dairy farming in and around Sapporo has produced a legacy of first class butter, milk, and ice cream products. Indeed Sapporo is home to one of Japan's major producers, "Snow Brand" as well as many other first-class, local enterprises. Ice cream made from fresh milk is also very popular.

Hokkaido is the home of vegetables in Japan and locally grown potatoes, pumpkins, onions, and asparagus add their natural flavours to any local dish. Potatoes, as well as sweet corn, are another taste of autumn in Hokkaido, and worth trying. Newly harvested potatoes are called 'Shin-jaga', and have fresh taste. Tokibi (Sweet Corn) is the king of delicacies of Hokkaido, being harvested from August to September. Many tiny stalls selling roast corn line the Odori Koen Promenade in central Sapporo during the season, and people enjoying a stroll in the promenade while munching on corn on the cob is a familiar scene. When they are kept through the winter, they taste sweeter.

Summer sees the harvest of the various types of melon grown in the area. Delicious, fragrant Yubari melons and Furano melons are famous nationwide. Haskapp is a small purple berry used for sweets and jam. Cherries of Niki are a popular specialty of the region. 'Densuke-suika' of Touma is a rare black jumbo watermelon. Its taste is very sweet.

Much of Hokkaido's population lives by the sea, and consequently seafood figures heavily in Hokkaido fare and are considered to be among Japan's very best seafood. Hokkaido is famous for its catch of variety of Kani (crab), such as 'kegani' (hairy crab, the most popular), 'tarabagani' (king crab) and 'hanasakigani'. 'Zuwaigani' (snow crab) is often called "the king of winter taste".There are many different crab dishes including 'nabemono' (a one-pot dish), 'yakimono' (grilled dish) and 'sunomono' (vinegared dish), but best eaten boiled. Sake (Salmon) dishes unique to Hokkaido style are 'Sampei-jiru' and 'Ishikari-nabe'. Ishikari-nabe is a one-pot dish in which salmon, its milt and various vegetables are cooked with miso sauce. Its name was derived from Ishikari River, famous for salmon. Sanpei-jiru is a soup of salmon or hatahata fish and vegetables with salt and kelp flavor. There are variety of processed salmon foods such as 'aramaki-zake' (salmon stuffed with salt, a preserved food), 'Kunsei' (smoked fish), 'Toba' (dried salmon), 'Tsukemono' (Japanese pickles), 'Izushi' (fermented fish), 'Suziko' (salted salmon eggs), 'Ikura' (processed salmon eggs). Ika (Squid) are caught mainly on Tsugaru Strait near Hakodate. They are eaten grilled, boiled or pickled, but the best of all is their fresh sashimi. 'Ika Somen' is a very popular dish of very thinly sliced squid sashimi, eaten with somen noodle sauce and grated ginger. 'Ikameshi' (stuffed squid with rice) is also popular in Hakodate. Processed squid such as 'Shiokara' (fermented with fish guts) and 'Surume' (dried squid) go best with 'Sake' (Japanese traditional rice wine). Uni (Sea Urchins) are popularly used in sushi, 'nabemono' (a one-pot dish) and rice dishes such as 'uni-don' which is a bowl of rice topped with sea urchin eggs.

Biei & Niseko

Biei is a very small town surrounded by a beautiful hilly landscape. Walking or pedalling rented cycle is recommended for travelling around the Biei,even the area is little bit wider for day trip. The day will be closed with satisfied feeling after wandering hills of Biei. For easier orientation, the area south of the town center has been named "Panorama Road" and the area northwest of the town center "Patchwork Road". The English language tourist brochure introduces recommended courses. Along the roads, there are various observation points, flower parks and some handsome trees and tree groups, which have gained fame through (mainly tobacco related) advertising appearances.

Small yellow flowers which called Kigarashi frequentry met as the landscape of Biei.

Main town district of Biei is surrounding area of Biei station. There are two bridges over the river Biei consisted with south border of the residential area. After crossing the river, two roads ascend to hill. A road continued from the red bridge goes to Bibaushi with parallel of JR Furano line which runs through the valley of the hill west and reaches Bibaushi station. Another scenic drive comes from the green bridge runs on the backbone of hill and meets "San ai no oka" view point. Small parking provides taking brief stop to enjoy vista mainly Tokachi mountains in fine day, although west part also good scenery of farmers field surrounded. Going ahead of there. With appearing lined pine trees in right roadside, another viewpoint "Chiyoda no oka" will be closed. Entering the dirt and scale up steps for white pencil like tower will introduce you viewing down the wider landscape of the area supposed by all peaks of Tokachi mountains as backdrop. Several roads are branch off from the backbone road. Each may reads you the photogenic subjects. Next to the "Chiyoda no oka", main road comes from "Sanai no oka" will turn to right, then descends the valley part in which another route is crossing. Again road goes up a hill. You reaches the crossing adjust the Takushinkan museum.

Another hill located in the west side of Furano line called "Shin ei no oka". The road from the red bridge at river Biei meets a branch for over crossing the railway line. Turning here to the right and taking the south direction, You get an approach to "Shin ei no oka". There is a parking for viewing point in “Shinei oka”. Beside there a souvenir shop is existed. Here is superior for seeing sunset with good northwest view. View for another direction going over the Furano line is also good landscape. Most visitors may take a picture of trees lined on the hill.

Winter landscape of pine trees on the Shinei no oka．

Shikisai no oka: Japanese word shikisai means color, although uses with scholarly terms like as chromatic. Since pronunciation is same as shiki which means four seasons. A hill named by conjuncture of these two words may indicates color of seasons. Field of Shikisai no oka covers top of a hill located in south part of Biei. A farmer field owner has started unified planting of flowers on the each section of his field. Colorful scenery of garden makes new tourist attraction of Biei.

Hill around the north west direction from Biei station is well known with name "Hokusei no oka". White piramid shape observation deck is stood. There are several trees stood on the flat landscapes of the hill provide the photogenic subjects for visitor. An elm tree near the deck called "Ken to Mery no ki" is most popular sightseeing spot of Biei, It might be even in all over the Hokkaido area.

Niseko is located about two and a half hours drive from Sapporo or about two hours from Chitose. Niseko is an increasingly popular destination for powder hungry skiers and boarders, and nearly alone among Japan's ski resorts is starting to draw increasing numbers of overseas visitors as well. Niseko is highly favoured by Australians, and increasingly Chinese and Japanese as well.

Niseko is situated between two mountains, Yotei-zan to the east and Niseko Annupuri to the west. The Matsukari River encloses the town to the north. There are two main train stations, Niseko station and Hirafu station. One of the larger and more popular sections of the skiing area is Mt Hirafu, however many times it may be more convenient to catch a train to Niseko Station and get a bus from there. Niseko can definitely be called the sports capital of Hokkaido. During the winter Niseko is a ski / snow boarders paradise with large amounts of some of the best quality snow in the world falling. Also on offer are ice-climbing, snowshoeing and dog sledding trips. During the late spring, summer and autumn Niseko is a hiking and rafting mecca for nature lovers. This period also offers canoeing, kayaking and camping opportunities. Niseko is also very popular throughout the year for its large number of onsens (hot spring baths).

Furano

Furano is known as "Heso no Machi" (the Belly Button Town) due to its central location. Furano's inland location that ensures amazingly light snow, great weather conditions, beautiful scenery and perfect farming conditions as well as some wonderfully unique festivals. There is a very large temperature variation, so a light jacket is recommended even in the summer. Summer midday temperatures may exceed 30 degrees C, and midwinters will drop below -30. Furano has very heavy snowfall in the winter. The weather patterns ensure long warm days in summer and cool days throughout spring and autumn, not to mention 8 to 9 metres of light snow fall each ski season. Long blue-sky days allow great views from the ski hill of the smoke that spirals up from the volcano across town the valley. Anyone from families to beginner and high intermediate skiers easily fall in love with the ski area, its long groomed runs and the fantastic views.

Furano’s location results in very little wind on most days. This has enabled the area to become popular for hot air ballooning with flight days being an incredible 80% during February and March and most mornings and afternoons throughout the non winter months due to the great conditions. It was Furano’s location which provided the inspiration for a local to come up with the idea of a Bellybutton Festival which is held July 28 & 29 each year. The first Bellybutton Festival was not a huge success, as it attracted a mere 11 dancers some 40 years ago, but has grown into a massive festival for the town. Now, the locals have truly embraced the image and you are likely to come across locals with their shirts off and a face painted with their breasts as eyes and the bellybutton as the mouth during the summer.

The town’s location allows the local wineries and vineyards to grow delicious grapes and produce mouthwatering wines. Furano Winery produces delicious wines with full body reds and ice wines being their specialties. The cold night temperatures and long sunny days provide the perfect environment for local agriculture. Each year, Furano hosts a hilarious wine festival where the locals and tourists get together to drink, eat, dance and sing. This festival is a great way to see the creativity and effort the locals put into making sure Furano is an enjoyable place to live as well as to visit.

PLACES WE SHOULD VISIT….

Furano Winery // Furano Winery gives travelers the chance to visit a real working winery which bottles a wide variety of delicious wines grown right here in this region. The winery is located by a lavender farm and in amongst rows of grape vines over looking Furano with a view all the way to Mt. Tokachidake and Mt. Furanodake. Guests are able to sample the wines after watching the bottling process. There are a number of wines available for sale here along with wine and Furano related products.

Furano Grape Juice Factory // The idea of producing fine grape juice was adopted from the process of manufacturing wine. The pure juice is made from fresh grapes which grow in the grape fields behind the factory. There are videos and panel displays which explain the process. You can also watch at the bottling and inspecting of the juice through windows. Try a sample of their juice. You will love the 100% pure taste of fine grape juice. Admission is Free!

Furano Cheese Factory // Furano Cheese Factory is a large factory which produces a number of delicious cheeses along with cheese and dairy related products. There are about 8 different varieties of ice cream including some distinct must try flavours such pumpkin, cheese and asparagus. No one can drink Furano milk without commenting on the flavour and richness. You can witness the production of the cheeses from behind some large windows looking into the factory and then even partake in a butter making lesson. The factory has a large area for relaxing, eating and playing around outside on the grass under the trees and around the old tractor. Travellers of all ages enjoy the cheese factory, its food and drinks, and the lessons and fun to be had here.

Ningle Terrace // Also known as “Ninguru Terrace” is a beautiful collection of boutique cottages, housing specialty arts and crafts along with their creators. The creators sit there in the shops displaying and making more of their products as you wander around. Located just below the New Furano Prince Hotel, Ningle Terrace has been created using natural materials with timber buildings and a beautiful plank walkway around the waterfalls and trees. The forest gives off a beautiful scent with pine trees and the waterfall creating a wonderful atmosphere for wandering around or stopping in the café. The café serves a range of products including hot and cold drinks, baked milk, cakes and cheese platter and some delicious ice creams. With winter comes a stunning blanket of soft white snow which lines the walkways and leaves huge snow hats on the cottages and snow mushrooms on the trees. Ninguru Terrace is a different experience again at night with the walkways and buildings lined with fairy lights. Ninguru Terrace is the perfect place for wandering around and enjoying the sightseeing and beauty, or for getting some perfect souvenirs with a touch of nature and Furano.

Anpan Man Shop // Anpan Man is a famous Japanese cartoon character who has been loved and cherished by generations of Japanese. He is a character, which to put it simply, fights bad guys and helps the good guys. It is not as simple as that though. He is based on a bread roll stuffed with red beans and helps people who are in trouble by feeding them, wait for it, his head. The show features a whole cast of funny (and delicious) characters from Curry Pun Man and Dirty Jam Man to Bread Loaf Man and Bowl of Rice and Fried Stuff Man. The shop has an art gallery above it and the products which are on sale and the memorabilia placed around the shop make it an interesting and fun filled sightseeing spot.

Furano Jam Factory // Located right near the Anpan Man shop in Rokugo, Auntie’s Jam Shop has over 40 varieties of delicious homemade jam. The handmade jams are made from just about every fruit and vegetable you could imagine or have heard of. The jams are all available for tasting with little pieces of bread provided. There are chutneys and a number of sauces also available. At the Jam Factory guests are able to partake in a jam making lesson. Instructors’ help guests make their own jam and teach them the steps to creating their own flavours. You can then take this home as the perfect souvenir.

Furano Ropeway (Cable Car) // It is open throughout the year. During the winter you can experience some of the best skiing and snow in all of Japan here. The ski season generally runs from about November 20th to May 8th. During the summer and autumn months you can use the Ropeway to float above the beautiful colours of the forest and the mountain. From the top you can access a number of well kept hiking trails. The summer sightseeing ride costs around 1,800 YEN for a return ride.

Goto Sumio Museum // Goto Sumio is one of Japan’s most famous and influential artists with his works being inspired from all over the world. Goto Sumio spent his childhood growing up in his hometown of Chiba. He is the son of the chief priest of a Buddhist Temple and began painting from a young age. From his early days, he often traveled to Hokkaido to sketch or paint the amazing landscape of this area. This Museum hosts many of Goto Sumio’s finest works with some of the larger pieces comprising 10 panels and extending to 9m in length and 2m in height. All his works, both small and large, give the viewer an incredible look into the subject of the painting. Goto Sumio often depicts sceneries of ancient cities like Nara or Kyoto in cycles of the four seasons. Another group of his paintings represent landscapes and people’s lives in China. The nature of Hokkaido is also one of his favourite subjects. Those works are painted with a touch of affection and religious solemnity.

Rokugo-no-mori Forest // This place became well known by the very popular TV drama " Kita-no-kuni Kara" which was written by Kuramoto So. Through the drama, the viewers were always impressed by the great nature of Furano. The Rokugo-no-mori Forest was named after the drama. There are still some things left over from the filming of the drama such as the log cabin. This is a great spot for enjoying an unspoiled nature. You can also check out the log cabin "Goro-no-ie" or the forest photo gallery "Morino Shashinkan".

Goro’s Stone House // The famous long running drama, ‘From The Northern Country’ used this stone house as the main set for the show. The rocks and all the materials used in the construction were taken directly from the surrounding mountains. The stone house is a completely self sufficient country house with a windmill, and small farm with some animals. By looking through this area you can soon see why the show maintained such huge popularity for 18 years.

Ryounkaku Onsen // Located at the highest driveable point in Hokkaido, Tokachi Mountain at KamiFurano. The outdoor pool offers a spectacular view of the mountains and the Tokachi-Dake volcano. Accommodation is also available.

Hakuginso Onsen (Mt. Tokachidake, Kamifurano) // Hakuginso Onsen offers a great variety of indoor and outdoor natural hot spring baths as well as a rare mixed male-female bathing area (swim wear required).

Asahi-ga-oka Koen // This is where you will enjoy one of the superb views of Japan. This park is located on a hill so that you can look at the mountain ridges or look down upon the cities. In the spring time, 3,000 cherry trees will blossom and the park will be covered by its marvelous pink color.

Torinuma Koen Park // This is a primeval forest park. There is a mysterious pond which is located in a very quiet place where birds rest their wings. In May, the Japanese skunk cabbages will be in full bloom. People who love the outdoors will gather together here to enjoy the view.

Choei Lavender Farm & Naka-Furano Flower Park // Located directly across the valley from the smoking volcano, Mt. Tokachidake, this beautiful lavender and flower farm is certainly worth the visit. You can ride the ski lift up the hill over the lavender fields and look at the amazing views from this vantage point.

Highland Furano’s Lavender fields // The main lavender season is from July to August. Highland Furano is located just outside Furano. You can take a look at the largest lavender fields close to the city from its outdoor hot spring. There is a nice hot spring located above the lavender fields where you can have a sauna and a hot bath.

Furano Ski Resort // This international class ski resort has hosted the World Cup Skiing Competition 10times and the World Cup Snowboarding Competition. The resort offers slopes for all levels of skiers. Snowboarders are also welcomed. The ropeway can hold up to 101 passengers and it the fastest of its kind in Japan. It also operates in the off-season.

Jun and Yui's Recycled House // A popular location used as the set for the TV drama "Kitano Kuni Kara" where you can see unique ideas shown in the Recycled Houses.16.5km from JR station

Farm Tomita // One of Hokkaido’s premier flower farms. Originally a simple lavender farm, today the farm has expanded to include a number of large fields of various flower types, including Poppies, French Marigolds, and many more. The most famous image of the farm is that of the ‘rainbow field’ created by planting rows of different flowers along the gentle rolling hills. The image is unforgettable and each year visitors come to photograph the fields made famous by their use in a nation wide Japan Rail calendar. Along with the fields, the farm has cafes, ice cream venders selling delicious lavender ice cream, gift shops, a dried flower shop and a potpourri shop. Farm Tomita is free to enter and you can wander around at your own pace. The weather for photography is often best very early in the morning when you will find the keenest of flower enthusiasts enjoying the beauty of the farm. Farm Tomita has a green house, which offers guests blossoming flowers throughout the year. This, along with the gift shops and potpourri house, make Farm Tomita an all year round attraction.

Kanno Farm // A vivid flower field can be seen when it leaves a bibausi station to Route 237. A poppy and a Lavender put it on autumn from early summer, and a flower blooms. It is in the course of the sightseeing bus as well recently, and always crowded with many visiters.

Abashiri

Abashiri is well known for fishing, especially crabs, and its prison history which has been a central part of the town since the Meiji Era and the old Abashiri Prison is among others. The area is also visited by thousands of tourists each year keen to see the floating sea ice. Abashiri is the southern most limit of this spectacular event and is also a stepping point to the World Heritage Listed, Shiretoko National Park. Abashiri city is enclosed by the Okhotsk Sea to the north and Lake Abashiri to the south. The main train station is located to the west of the central part of town but almost in the middle of the main tourist attractions. Abashiri River divides the town into two halves with the main area on the southern side of the river and the prison and fishing areas on the northern. Mt Tento rises to the south of the station and is home to the Abashiri Prison Museum, the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples and Mt Tento Tent Land car camping area.

Abashiri is popular in the winter as it is the southern limit of the drift ice coming down from China and Russia, however the winter temperatures can easily reach -15°c and more. Abashiri is approximately 350 km from Sapporo and it takes about 5 hours by train to reach JR Abashiri Station from JR Sapporo Station or about 45 min by aircraft from New Chitose Airport. The Abashiri Tourist Information Center conveniently adjoins the JR Abashiri Station and offers a wide range of information on the city and also the surrounding Okhotsk area. Pamphlets and other tourist information is available in several languages including English, Korean and Taiwanese.

PLACES WE SHOULD VISIT….

Abashiri Art Museum // Displayed in the museum are many works by Kaichi Igushi, a well known artist from the Abashiri area. Many of the exhibits reflect scenery from the surrounding Okhotsk Plains. Other exhibitions are held at irregular intervals.

Abashiri Municipal Museum // This museum was designed to help educate people about the local Abashiri area and as such has materials relating to the people and the development of the area. Exhibits include items from the Moyoro Shell Mounds, Edo period industrial and fishing equipment and other assorted artifacts.

Abashiri Prison Museum // In use from 1890 up until about 1984 and located on Mt Tento, this ex-prison which was moved from it’s previous location and reconstructed here, has been preserved in almost it’s original form. It has been converted into a museum, the only one of it’s kind in Japan. It is possible to see how the prisoners lived and worked in the prison confines. The actual detainee housing areas are also still intact and can be seen. The museum has various displays to show aspects of daily prison life, has wax dummies to give a better picture of the prisoners themselves and also displays some of the shackles and chains that were used.

Abashiri Prison // The current Abashiri Prison is well known throughout Japan as the setting for a hit TV series known as “Abashiri Bangaichi” (Exile in Abashiri). It is possible to take photos in front of the prison and there is also often a small stall with goods produced by the inmates, however since this is a real prison operated by the Kushiro Law Department inside visits and photos are strictly prohibited.

Ice Breaking Ships // During the cold winter, fresh water from the China-Russia border area freezes when it hits the chilly ocean. This ice then moves south toward Japan eventually reaching Hokkaido. There are various boats to take when wanting to view the ice floes but two of the more well known boats are the “Garinko” in Monbetsu and “Aurora” in Abashiri. The Garinko is fully equipped with an ice crusher on the bow and thus can make trips through the whole ice season the Aurora however sometimes cannot break the ice during the peak season but operates most of the time. There are also sea eagles and seals that follow the ice and they can sometimes be spotted from the boat. Cruises usually last for about an hour. These cruises are very popular and thus it is usually essential to make bookings in advance.

Moyoro Shell Mounds // While Hokkaido’s native Ainu culture has been well documented and many museums set up showing their artifacts, little is known about the Moyoro culture. Excavation work along the banks of the Abashiri river in 1913 revealed a distinct culture thought to have inhabited the area some 1000 years ago. Pit-house dwellings and other artifacts, including bones and earthenware, related to this mysterious culture are on display.

Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum // This museum has been built at the top of Mt Tento with a view beautiful 360°view over the Okhotsk Sea and the surrounding area. Extremely popular in winter with visitors wanting to get a view of the drift ice coming down from the north, it is also quite popular in the summer as it houses a drift ice museum where visitors can enjoy the ice year round in the -15°C cooling room. There are large interactive displays which give information about the ice and the animals that life on or around the ice flows. There is also a viewing platform built at the top of the tower area.

Shiretoko National Park // Taking up most of Shiretoko Peninsula, Shiretoko National Park was World Heritage Listed in July 2005. The area is comprised of pristine, almost untouched, wilderness with steep mountains, small lakes and a wide variety of animals, including bears, foxes and other mammals and many birds including sea eagles. The area is also well known for its beautiful waterfalls, some of which flow directly into the sea of Okhotsk and can be viewed from sightseeing boat which departs from the port of Utoro. One of the famous waterfalls is called “Maiden’s Tears”. This waterfall is produced from warm water and thus steams as it falls. The lake area has a walking track and can be finished in about one (1) to two (2) hours. There is also cave Makkausu which was formed by seawater erosion. Inside the cave is a special type of luminous moss. The winter also often sees the area surrounded by floating ice.

Peoples of the North Museum // This museum was built as a dedication to people living in northern areas from around the world. The architecture of the building is interesting and is built to reflect the tent styles of accommodation that many northern people used. The museum houses a variety of objects and artifacts from various parts of the world. There are also interactive displays which are designed to help guide visitors through the museums exhibits and many of these displays are also in English.

Mt. Tento Tent Land // As the name suggests, this area is dedicated to those who would like to spend a night or two camping in the surrounds of a Prefectural Park area. The site is set up for car camping with vehicle facilities, lodges, and a central lodge with amenities. It is located on the southern side of Mt Tento and has views of the Okhotsk Sea, Mt. Daikan and the Shiretoko Mountains.

Kushiro

Kushiro is known as the “City of Mist” and this is certainly true a lot of the time when the city is blanketed in a thick mist causing much of the city to disappear. The city has flourished as a port city and is home to one of Japan’s largest fishing fleets. It is also bordered by the world famous Kushiro Marsh in the city. Apart from the Marsh area Kushiro is also a gateway to the beautiful Akan National Park, Akkeshi Hokkaido Natural Park, Notsuke / Furen Hokkaido Natural Park and Hokkaido’s most eastern city Nemuro. A famous Japanese poet by the name of Takuboku Ishikawa was also from Kushiro.

The main train station is situated roughly in the center of the city and offers a central location from which to explore the city and surrounds. Most of the tourist destinations are however somewhat removed from the central area and it will be necessary to catch buses to the the best sights. Most buses can be caught at or near the station area. The main entertainment and shopping area is located left (upon exit) of the station toward the river. This area is home to plenty of bars and restaurants of which the seafood restaurants and sushi shops are highly recommended. Kushiro is known as one the the colder cities in Hokkaido and even in summer temperatures rarely climb above 25°c. In winter temperatures drop to about -10°c and strong winds can often be experienced.

PLACES WE SHOULD VISIT….
Fisherman's Wharf (MOO) // Developed in 1989, this wharf area, which goes by the local name of “MOO”, has shops, restaurants, a fitness club, an indoor garden and a pool. There are also stops for busses which depart to Lake Akan, Abashiri, Nemuro, Obihiro and Sapporo. The area is generally lively with locals and tourists alike enjoying the center. Also of interest nearby is the “EGG” which is an all year greenhouse designed to give people a chance to rest and relax and enjoy the sun even during the bitter Kushiro winter. The greenhouse is designed to reflect the shape of a giant yacht in fitting with its location near the wharf.

Nusamai Bridge // Located not far from Fisherman's Wharf (MOO), the Nusamai Bridge measures 124 m in length and was completed in 1976. The current bridge is the fifth after others were destroyed by floods or replaced due to age. The bridge has sculptures representing the four seasons adorning it’s handrails along the way and is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in Hokkaido. The sculptures were produced by well known Japanese artists Shin Hongo and Churyo Sato. It is also lit by old style lamps which gives the bridge a romantic European feel at night. The bridge is particularly popular at sunrise and sunset when the lighting and mist combine to create the most romantic feel.

Harutori Park & Lake Harutori // The park and lake area make a great place to relax or go for walks during the summer. The lake is about 5 km in circumference and goes to a maximum depth of about 6 m. It is also of interest as there is a special type of fish, the Red Crucian Carp, which inhabits this lake. This fish is a rare species and has been designated a National Monument. Kushiro is also the only city in Japan that has a lake within its borders. In the park there is also the Kushiro City Museum a nature observation center and the remains of an Ainu fort called “Charankechshi”

Kobunkan (Port Museum) // This museum was constructed inside the renovated former offices of the Kushiro Shimbun (Kushiro Newspaper). When first constructed in 1908, this building was the first brick building constructed in Hokkaido. A famous Japanese poet by the name of Takuboku Ishikawa worked here for about 3 months when he was young. Some of his work along with other historical artifacts of the region are on display.

Kushiro City Marsh Observatory // This observatory, built in 1984, gives a view over the top of almost the entire Kushiro Marshland area. The observatory was built with the theme of “Tussock Grass” which is a special type of grass found in the marsh. Inside visitors will find various displays about the fauna and flora in the marsh. There are also information display boards on the observation deck that show areas where prehistoric artifacts were found and wildlife sanctuaries are located. Starting from the observatory there is also a 2.5 km walkway which takes visitors for a tour around the marsh and has various other view points along the way.

Kushiro City Museum // The Kushiro City museum was designed to reflect the image of a Japanese crane spreading it’s wings. The museum houses a great variety of exhibits in natural history including various birds, insects, fish and local mammal species. There is also a reconstructed mammoth skeleton, carnivorous marshland plants, displays on prehistoric human life and a collection of Ainu materials. There is also a small model of Kushiro showing some of the historical places and important breeding grounds for the local fauna. There is some English information and the staff will also try to answer any questions you may have.

Kushiro City Zoo // This zoo was established in 1975 and is the second largest zoo in Hokkaido. The cool climate of Kushiro lends itself well to the keeping of more northern animals and several successful breeding programs have been established for rare and endangered species. The zoo is located near the Kushiro Marsh area and makes a nice day out for the whole family.

The Kushiro marshland // It is a home to more than 2000 species of precious plants and wildlife. It is a breeding ground for some of Japan’s endangered and rare species. The National Park Marshland area designated in 1987 covers some 26 861 ha. which accounts for approximately 60% of Japanese marsh area. The park was also the first in Japan to be designated under the special convention known as the Ramsar Convention for wetland protection. Types of animals living here include Hokkaido deer, Japan’s largest freshwater fish known as Hunchen, Siberian salamanders, white-tailed sea eagles and Japanese cranes. There have also been artifacts and items from the prehistoric age discovered here. There are several options for viewing the park including canoe rides, hot air balloon rides and even Japan’s slowest train which takes visitors for a ride around the park. For the more active there are also several wooden walkways which allow visitors to get close up views of many parts of the park.
These walkways are through the marsh area so there are huge numbers of bugs and insects. YOU WILL NEED INSECT REPELANT TO ENJOY THE WALK. Also, although rare, bears do sometimes wander into this area. Stay alert and at times make a little noise by talking loudly to prevent problems.

Marine Topos Kushiro // Kushiro is well known for cold weather, mist and fishing. Huge amounts of Japan’s sea food and sea products are produced in Kushiro. This museum was built to display and promote Kushiro’s fishing industry and all things fishing in general. The city is proud of its fishing heritage and one of the largest fishing fleets in Japan moored here.

Tsurui / Itoh Japanese Crane Sanctuary // This sanctuary was established by the Wild Bird Society of Japan at what is known as the Itoh feeding station. In 1987 they built a small Nature Center for observing and studying the Japanese crane and this area then became known as the Ito Japanese Crane Sanctuary. On the first floor is an observation room and the second houses a study and information room. The winter season brings some 200 plus birds to the sanctuary.

Tsurumidai Plain (Tsurui Village) // In about 1963, Shimosetsuri Primary School students started to feed Japanese cranes during the harsh winter season when food for the birds was scarce. This school was closed in 1974 and moved to a different location however their crane legacy continues due to the kindness of local towns people supported by various organisations. They took over the feeding of the cranes and the birds now regularly flock here for the winter and also sometimes even in the summer. The winter season is best to view the birds with over 100 now making regular winter visits.

Yonemachi Park // Yonemachi Park and the observation tower (shaped like a small light house) located in the park, give a panoramic view of Kushiro City and surrounding area and on good days as far as the Akan Mountains. It is a small park but a great place to take a rest with a nice view. Located in the park there are also several monuments to various people of note from the Kushiro area. Among these, visitors can find a stone monument to the famous poet Takuboku Ishikawa. The monument has one of his famous poems written on it.