Wakkanai　Places to Visit

Cape Soya

Cape Soya, the Northern-most Part of Japan

This cape is located at 45 degrees 31 minutes 14 seconds north latitude. A stone monument stands on this site and on a clear day you can see the Sakhalin Islands in the distance. This pyramid-shaped monument is modeled after the North Star and the letter "N" is engraved at the center. It is lit up at night. Nearby stands the monument of Mamiya Rinzo who explored the Karafuto region in the Yedo period. Aslo nearby are the Soya Hometown Historic Museum, the Drifting Ice Museum, and the Cape Soya Peace Park.

●50 minutes by bus from Wakkanai Station, get off at the Cape Soya bus station.

Cape Noshappu, a Place for Watching the Setting Sun

This cape is located 4 km to the north of Wakkanai and the rare flat-surface lighthouse stands on it. This cape has 5 minutes less latitute than Cape Soya and 1 minute than Cape Sukoton on Rebun Island, making it the third northern-most cape in Japan. This spot is also popular among the tourists for watching the setting sun. A symbol of this cape is the red-striped lighthouse towering 42.7 meters from the ground and which is Japan's 2nd tallest lighthouse.
Noshappu is an Ainu word which means "a place where the waves break." Located nearby are the Noshappu Drifting Ice Museum and the Youth Scientific Museum.

●10 minutes by bus from Wakkanai Station, get off at Noshappu and walk 5 minutes.

Cape Noshappu

The Breakwater Dome

The Breakwater Dome with a Strange Design

This semi-arch type breakwater reminds one of an old Roman building and is simply called the Wakkanai Dome. It has a length of 427 meters and a height of 13.2 meters, and is made of concrete. Its 70 pillars make it look like the arches of an old Roman building and is a rare design for a breakwater. This spot and the adjacent tiled "Shiosai (sea roar) Promenade" is a popular spot among the tourists.

●5 minutes walk from Wakkanai Station


Korsakov
Memo

Sakhalin, a Near Yet Far Island

There is a regular ferry service from Wakkanai to the Russian sister city of Korsakov on the other shore. From there you can go to Juzhno Sakhalinsk, the capital city of Sakhalin by train if you speak Russian fluently. If you don't, we recommend you to take the package tour. These tours are scheduled during the warm months from April to August and held 5 to 6 times a year for a duration of 5 or 6 days.

●Wakkanai-Korsakov Regular Ferry Promotion Association　TEL:0162-23-6161


Certificate

Collection of Souvenirs

All the shops around Cape Soya sell souvenirs which certify that you have been to the northern-most part of Japan. The most popular is a free certificate with your name and date printed on it. You can get it at the Kashiwaya Gift Shop and at the Yasuda Gasoline Stand, or by taking a tour of Cape Soya on a taxi.

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