Japan Wakkanai Travel Guide | A Healing Journey to the Northern Secret Land
| A Healing Journey to the Northern Secret Land.
🌸Japan Wakkanai Travel Guide | A Healing Journey to the Northern Secret Land
📍Must-know Before You Go
Location: The northernmost city in Japan! It is surrounded by the Sea of Japan on the left, the Sea of Okhotsk on the right, and Sakhalin Island to the north, with a "world's end" filter.
Best season:
❄️Winter (Dec–Mar): Snow walls, ice sculptures, skiing, and aurora hunting (Sep–Apr)
🌿Summer (Jun–Aug): Fjord hiking, flower fields, and seafood
🌟Must-visit Attractions
1. Cape Soya | A Sense of Ritual at the Northernmost Point of Japan
The triangular landmark "Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan" offers a view of Sakhalin Island on a clear day.
📸Don't miss the "Certificate of the Northernmost Point of Japan" (available on-site)
🚌Transportation: Take a bus from Wakkanai Station for about 1 hour
2. Cape Noshappu | A Paradise for Sunset Lovers
The highest lighthouse in Hokkaido + 360° sea view
🌅Recommended to visit in the evening! The pink and purple sunset is breathtaking.
3. Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park
🌸Summer only: Flower fields at the foot of Mount Rishiri (cherry blossoms bloom in May!)
🚣Canoeing: Paddle into the blue fjord and encounter seabirds
4. Wakkanai Park's Fantasy Ice and Snow World
❄️Ice and Snow Gate: Giant ice archway in winter
🏰100th Anniversary Tower: Overlook the city and see Russia from the top
🍣Food Radar
1. Scallop sashimi, Wakkanai Port Morning Market, freshly caught and killed! Sweet and fresh
2. Octopus shabu-shabu, Izakaya Umikaze-tei, chewy octopus + secret yuzu vinegar, perfect match!
3. Seafood donburi, a sea view restaurant near Cape Soya, salmon + sweet shrimp + sea urchin piled up like a mountain
4. Wakkanai milk ice cream, Michi-no-Eki (roadside station), rich milk flavor, better than internet-famous brands.
🛏️Accommodation Recommendations
For hot spring lovers: Minato no Yu Onsen (open-air sea view hot spring + hammock lounge)
Cost-effective choice: Dormy Inn Wakkanai (free late-night ramen + walking distance to the station)
Secret land experience: Rebun Island B&B (view of Mount Rishiri from the door, stargazing at night)
🚗Transportation Guide
✈️Major transportation: Fly from Tokyo/Sapporo to Wakkanai Airport (1.5 hours)
- 🚞For slow travelers: Take the JR Limited Express "Soya" from Sapporo for 5 hours (choose a seat by the sea!)
🚲In the city: Renting a bike is the most convenient way to get around (attractions are concentrated)
💡Local Tips
1. Strong winds in winter! Gloves + windproof mask are more useful than hand warmers
2. Buses are infrequent, check the timetable in advance (available for download on the Wakkanai Tourism Association website)
3. Buy "Soya Black Beef" curry & "Sea Urchin Butter" cookies as souvenirs
4. Visit in February to attend the Ice Sculpture Festival, the lights at night are dreamy❄️
Wakkanai's Easter Egg: Take Japanese-style photos on the White Road📸 (fairy-tale wooden houses), listen to the sound of the waves under the breakwater dome🌊, and you might even see a little fox wandering by the roadside🦊!
👉Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions~