Wakkanai

Bakkai Port Seal Observatory

抜海港 ゴマフアザラシの越冬

About 300 seals have decided that the concrete boulders of this small fishing port was a good home. Surprisingly, they seem to get along fine with the fishermen. The city administration has put up a small rudimentary observation hut with windows and a video feed, so the many guests now pouring in don't disturb the seals. Self-service tea is provided free of charge, nice touch.

Closed·Free

Breakwater Dome

港北防波堤ドーム

Built in the 1930s, this odd-looking breakwater is a 427-m (1,401-ft) arched hallway supported by 70 Roman-style pillars. It rises over 13 m up in the air to provide some protection for the strong winds in the area. It looks entirely out of place, but makes for some good photographs. In the summer months (Jul-Aug) it's sometimes converted to a lively market with BBQ and karaoke.

Free

Komadori Ski Center

稚内市こまどりスキー場

A small ski resort in the Wakkanai kōen makes use of the lift here - 3 relatively short runs with just 50 m elevation difference and the longest at 300 m (985 ft).

Dec-late Mar 10:00-17:00 (sometimes night-skiing until 21:00)·¥1000 per day

Noshappu Cold Water Aquarium

稚内市立ノシャップ寒流水族館

Next to the Science Center. Fittingly for Japan's northernmost aquarium, it's centered around 2 large outdoor tanks with seals and penguins. The indoor area is rather smallish with the two main tanks containing species from the oceans south and north ecosystems respectively - the balloon fish is kawaii! Feeding shows twice per day in the outdoor pools.

Closed · opens 9 am·¥400

Sōya Misaki

宗谷岬

This is the northernmost point of Hokkaido, and aside from a small inaccessible and uninhabited island it is also the northernmost point of Japan. Naturally the Japanese have gone out of their way to commemorate this fact with the largely uninspiring Northernmost Point Monument (日本最北端の地の碑), a gray concrete triangle engraved with accomplishments. Right next to it is a Statue of Mamiya Rinzō (間宮林蔵の銅像), a Japanese explorer from the Edo period famous for his explorations and mapping of Karafuto (Sakhalin), and discovering it was an island. Nearby you also find an Old Naval Watchtower (旧海軍望楼) dating back to the conflicts over control of Sakhalin during the 1904 Russo-Japanese War.

Wakkanai Kōen

稚内公園

It is a large park spreading over the grassy hills west of the town, offering some commanding views over the area. The rope-way has been closed, but it is only a short walk to the top beginning at the Hokumon Shrine (北門神社). There are some nice walking trails to explore, and over 4,000 wild cherry trees grow in the park if you are here during Hanami (mid-May). To get an even better view you can ascend the 70-m-high Motoe Hiraku Centennial Memorial Tower (開基百年記念塔・北方記念館) 09:00-17:00 (Jul-Sep until 21:00) for a 360° panoramic view of the cape, the expansive Sarobetsu Plain, the Rishiri Volcano and even sometimes to Sakhalin in Russia. Below is the two-story Northern Memorial Hall, which has a collection of documents relating to the local area and Sakhalin. In the weird, small Ice House (ゲストハウス氷雪) you can take a footbath in ice, if that tickles your fancy.

Wakkanai Youth Science Center

稚内市青少年科学館

Inadvertently cute museum, it opened in 1974 - and it shows - since many of the exhibits are really retro. The science section set up to teach kids about the "latest" progress in science you can skip, it's out of date, and any kids won't understand the Japanese anyway. More interesting is the Arctic section with details of Japanese exploration of Sakhalin and the Arctic regions. A whole hall is dedicated to the famous (in Japan) Taro and Jiro (See the Wakkanai park entry). Also of some interest is the Planetarium with shows 2-3 times per day.

Apr-Oct 09:00-17:00, Nov-Mar 10:00-16:00, closed on Mon·¥150 (¥50 for just the planetarium)

Yamuwakkanai Onsen Minato-no-yu

ヤムワッカナイ温泉 港のゆ

The most expensive and exclusive of the options, boasts some large open-air baths overlooking the sea.

10:00-22:00 daily·¥1000

BB Music Club

A small bar and live music venue with a quirky design. The drinks are nothing special, but the staff are friendly and you can chance into performances by local musicians, including the owners.

Closed · opens 8 pm

Bukkakedon

ぶっかけ丼

Serves nice bowls (dons) of seafood and rice as well as soups and some packed lunches you can take on trips. No, the name is not a joke, it actually just means pouring something over something

Closed · opens 11 am·¥750–1600

Daisuke Matsuzaka Museum

松坂大輔スタジアム

A museum dedicated to the city's most famous offspring, Matsuzaka Daisuke, starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox - baseball is huge in Japan, as this museum is a testament to. Videos, photos and other memorabilia. If you are not a fan, the interactive "Fastball LIVE" is probably the most interesting part, experience how it's like to have a 156 km/h ball thrown right at you.

Closed · opens 10 am·¥200

Densuke

でんすけ

Nice place dishing up homey seafood, quirky decoration with wooden figures and Buddha watching over you so you don't choke on the fish bones.

Irohanihoheto

いろはにほへと

Part of a national chain, but it's actually quite nice, and the menu has pictures of nearly all the items. A good place if you are fed up with seafood. Western fare with a Japanese twist.

Closed · opens 11 am·¥700–2500

Kamui

カムイ

Some nice casseroles and pots here with both seafood and meat, as well as à la carte fish and beef.

Closed · opens 5 pm·¥400–1600, some seafood up to ¥4000

Lake Ōnuma Bird Observatory

大沼バードハウス

Lake Onuma, a small lake east of the city, is a migratory stop for the Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) on their way to or from Siberia, sometimes numbering tens of thousands. There is a Swan Festival (大沼白鳥まつり) held here in May. Other species that can be observed here include Herons and White-fronted Geese. The city has set up a log cabin with a large platform, an observation room and a small exhibition, and there are a free telescope and binoculars available to loan. Sometimes nature guides are present to answer questions, if you speak Japanese.

Closed · opens 9 am

Suimukan Pool

温水プール水夢館

Not so much an onsen, more of a traditional indoor swimming pool under an impressive double domed roof. A 25-m basin, waterslides, Jacuzzi and a gym.

May-Oct: Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-21:00; Nov-Apr: Tue-Thu 10:00-21:00, Fri 13:00-21:00, Sun 10:00-18:00·¥800

Tokkari Snowmobile Rental

スノーモービルランドとっかり

It rents out snowmobiles. Also has a snowmobile course and offers free snowshoe walking.

Closed·2 laps for ¥1000

Wakkanai Onsen

稚内温泉

The town's largest onsen sits on the west coast and would have had some impressive unobstructed views of Rishiri Mountain, were it not for a huge blunder from the architect, though it is still visible from parts of the bath. A few indoor pools, and some outdoor ones which are unfortunately fenced in by hedges.

¥600

Wakkanai Port Market

稚内副港市場

Opened in 2007 this indoor market-mall hybrid, is lined with souvenir shops, food stores, restaurants - including a Russian one, izakayas, a small gallery that exhibits the history of Wakkanai and an Onsen (see do section).

08:00-20:00, some stalls until 23:00

Wakkanai Karafuto Museum

1-6 Minato

Closed · opens 10 am

Wakkanai Post Office

稚内郵便局

2-15-12 Chuō (中央2丁目15-12)

ATM: Mon-Fri 08:45–19:00, Sat Sun 09:00–17:00, Post office Mon–Fri 09:00–19:00

Wakkanai South Post Office

稚内南郵便局

3-6-34 Daikoku (大黒3丁目6-34)

ATM: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:30, Sat 09:00-12:30; Post Office: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00