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Top 10 Drive Spots Near Yoichi & Shakotan (2025 Guide): Breathtaking Views of the Crystal Blue Coastline
The Yoichi and Shakotan area is a treasure trove of attractions where you can gaze out at the incredibly clear sea, famously known as "Shakotan Blue." It's a place to savor seafood like sea urchin, fruits such as apples and cherries, and visit Hokkaido wineries and whisky distilleries. Here are some must-visit spots in the Yoichi and Shakotan area, perfect for a coastal drive.
- Cape Ogon (Shakotan Town): A Stunning "Shakotan Blue" View from the Observatory
- Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery (Yoichi Town): Enjoy a Free Whisky Tasting After Your Tour
- Cape Kamui & Kamui Rock (Shakotan Town): A Dynamic Cape Jutting into the Vast Ocean
- Noka Koen Fruits Park Niki (Niki Town): A Rural Park Themed Around Niki's Famous Fruits
- Herring Culture Museum Yamashime Banya (Shakotan Town): Step Back in Time at a Former Herring Lodge
- Cape Ryujin (Kamoenai Village): Watch the Breathtaking Sunset over the Horizon
- Fugoppe Cave (Yoichi Town): A Cave with Rock Carvings from the Post-Jomon Period
- Yoichi Space Museum - Space Dome (Yoichi Town): Fun Space-Themed Exhibits for the Whole Family
- Former Shimoyoichi Unjoya (Yoichi Town): Learn About Trade with the Matsumae Clan
- Former Yoichi Fukuhara Fishery (Yoichi Town): Witness the Prosperity of the Herring Fishing Heyday
1. Cape Ogon (Shakotan Town): A Stunning "Shakotan Blue" View from the Observatory
Located in the Bikuni area of Shakotan Town, Cape Ogon is an ocean view spot on the Sea of Japan that offers, as its name suggests, a golden, shining vista. Visitors are captivated by the dazzling, clear cobalt blue sea, famously called "Shakotan Blue." A 410-meter walking path from Bikuni Port leads to an observatory jutting out over the sea. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the transparent blue ocean, rugged cliffs, and the town of Bikuni, making it an unmissable spot in the Yoichi and Shakotan area.
■Location: Bikuni-cho, Shakotan-cho, Shakotan-gun
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2. Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery (Yoichi Town): Enjoy a Free Whisky Tasting After Your Tour
This distillery was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, known as the father of Japanese whisky. In January 2023, the former Whisky Museum was completely renovated and reopened as the Nikka Museum. Amidst nature and buildings reminiscent of Scotland, you can learn about the whisky production methods and processes. The museum features exhibits on the history of whisky and the origins of Nikka. You can also see a part of the private residence where Taketsuru and his wife Rita, the models for the main characters of the NHK morning drama "Massan," lived.
■Hours: 9:00 AM - 4:15 PM
・Guided Distillery Tour: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM *Tours start every 00 and 30 minutes (no tour at 12:30 PM)
*Reservations are required
・Nikka Museum: 9:15 AM - 4:15 PM (Tasting Bar Last Order: 4:00 PM)
・Distillery Shop: 9:15 AM - 4:15 PM
・Restaurant: 10:00 AM - 3:50 PM (Last Order: 3:20 PM)
■Closed: December 23rd to January 7th of the following year
*Closed on June 11, 2025 (Wednesday) for full facility maintenance.
■Admission: Free *Some paid tours and seminars are available.
■Location: 7-6 Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-cho
Click here for details and map information for "Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery"
3. Cape Kamui & Kamui Rock (Shakotan Town): A Dynamic Cape Jutting into the Vast Ocean
You can walk to the tip of Cape Kamui, which juts out into the vast ocean. Following the "Charenka's Path" promenade, which offers a magnificent view of the Sea of Japan, you'll be greeted by a 300-degree, curved horizon. In early summer, the beautiful Ezo-kanzo daylilies are in full bloom, delighting visitors.
■Opening Hours: Annually
April 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM / May 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM / June 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM / July 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM / August-October 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM / November 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM / December-March 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
*Last entry is one hour before closing time.
■Location: Cape Kamui, Misaki-cho, Shakotan-cho, Shakotan-gun
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4. Noka Koen Fruits Park Niki (Niki Town): A Rural Park Themed Around Niki's Famous Fruits
Inside the spacious park, fruits famous in Niki Town, such as cherries and apples, as well as flowers like lavender, are cultivated. You can enjoy fruit picking and flowers from early summer to autumn. The park also features a giant slide for both children and adults, a cafe-restaurant, a shop selling local products, and accommodation facilities. You can fully enjoy the great nature of Niki Town.
■Opening Hours: Annually from April 20th to the end of October, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
■Admission: Free *Some fees apply for fruit picking, equipment rentals, etc.
■Location: 16-121 Higashi-machi, Niki-cho, Yoichi-gun
Click here for details and map information for "Noka Koen Fruits Park Niki"
5. Herring Culture Museum Yamashime Banya (Shakotan Town): Step Back in Time at a Former Herring Lodge
The Herring Culture Museum Yamashime Banya is a facility that preserves and utilizes the Yamashime Fukui residence, which prospered as a herring fisherman's lodge (banya). It conveys the history of Shakotan, which flourished as a major herring fishing ground from the Meiji to the Showa period. There is also a cafe, allowing you to relax and feel as if you've traveled back in time.
■Opening Hours: Annually from May to late October, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
■Closed: Tuesdays, Wednesdays
■Location: 39 Funama, Bikuni-cho, Shakotan-cho
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6. Cape Ryujin (Kamoenai Village): Watch the Breathtaking Sunset over the Horizon
This cape is colored by the village's legend of a dragon god who lived in Tomaru Pond and ascended to the heavens from Cape Ryujin. It has served as a navigational landmark, saving the lives of sailors both in the past and present. On a clear evening, you can watch the stunning view of the sun setting beyond the horizon.
■Location: Torase, Kamoenai-mura, Furuu-gun
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7. Fugoppe Cave (Yoichi Town): A Cave with Rock Carvings from the Post-Jomon Period
This cave contains over 800 rock carvings believed to have been made by ancient people during the late Post-Jomon period, about 1,300 to 1,600 years ago. The carvings depict figures that look like costumed people, as well as boats, fish, sea creatures, and four-legged animals. The cave also contains pottery, bone and antler tools, and hearth remains discovered from the sedimentary layers, making it a nationally designated historic site of global importance.
■Opening Hours: April 12 (Sat) - December 14 (Sun), 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
■Closed: Every Monday, the day after a public holiday, mid-February to early April
■Admission: Adults 300 yen / Elementary, Middle, and High School Students 100 yen
■Location: 87 Sakae-machi, Yoichi-cho
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8. Yoichi Space Museum - Space Dome (Yoichi Town): Fun Space-Themed Exhibits for the Whole Family
This museum was built to commemorate the achievements of Mamoru Mohri, a native of Yoichi Town, who became the first Japanese scientist to fly into space in 1992. Inside the "Space Station," you can learn about the mysteries of the universe and the latest information on space development. It's a particularly recommended spot for children who love space.
■Opening Hours: April 19 (Sat) - November 30 (Sun), 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission 4:00 PM)
■Closed: Every Monday (if Monday is a holiday, the next day), April 22 (Tue), May 13 (Tue), August 26 (Tue)
■Admission: Adults 500 yen / Elementary and Junior High School Students 300 yen / Preschoolers are free
■Location: Inside Michi-no-Eki Space Apple Yoichi, 6-4 Kurokawa-cho, Yoichi-cho
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9. Former Shimoyoichi Unjoya (Yoichi Town): Learn About Trade with the Matsumae Clan
During the Edo period, this building served as a base for merchants commissioned by the Matsumae Clan to conduct trade with the Ainu people in Ezochi (the former name for Hokkaido). These trading posts, called Unjoya, were built throughout Ezochi, but the Former Shimoyoichi Unjoya is the only one still existing in Hokkaido today. The interior space is vast, and the pillars and beams seen from the wooden floor are thick, with many of the original materials still intact.
■Opening Hours: April 12 (Sat) - December 14 (Sun), 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
■Closed: Every Monday (open if Monday is a public holiday), the day after a public holiday
■Admission: Adults 300 yen / Elementary, Middle, and High School Students 100 yen
■Location: 10 Irifune-cho, Yoichi-cho
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10. Former Yoichi Fukuhara Fishery (Yoichi Town): Witness the Prosperity of the Herring Fishing Heyday
This nationally designated cultural property conveys the prosperity of the herring fishing heyday. It also served as the model for the interior of the herring mansion featured in the NHK morning drama "Massan." On the spacious grounds, you can learn about the layout and roles of each building, getting a sense of the bustling activity of the time. It is also a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in the spring.
■Opening Hours: April 12 (Sat) - mid-December, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
■Closed: Mondays (open if Monday is a public holiday), the day after a public holiday
■Admission: Adults 300 yen / Elementary, Middle, and High School Students 100 yen
■Location: 150 Hamanaka-cho, Yoichi-cho
Click here for details and map information for "Former Yoichi Fukuhara Fishery"
*All information is current as of May 2025.
*All information is subject to change. Please check official websites for the latest details.
