Sarobetsu wetland
30/01/2020 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Wakkanai to Asahikawa, Scenic Drive　　稚内から旭川

June 2019, Cold and windy night in Wakkanai, but warm enough in the car. By morning, the breeze is still chilly but the clouds are breaking up and the sun is making the effort to break through. By the time we are ready to leave, it is a warm, sunny day. Sarobetsu wetland by Ororon line We take the coast road – Ororon line (R.232) back towards Sarobetsu. This is a great road, following the coast with splendid views of Mt. Rishiri and with flowers busting through the sasa on either side. As we head south, we can see the array of wind turbines standing tall and hazy in the […]
Lake Kusu
24/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Kushu Course in Rebun　久種湖

June 2019, Wake, a little stiff from yesterday’s hike, on the  cold, grey morning we leave Rebun Island. We must catch a bus at noon, in front of our hotel, in order to make the 1.25 pm. ferry that goes by way of Rishiri. The morning, is ours to fill. Kushuko Hiking Course Consequently, we opt to walk around Lake Kushu, the Kushuko Course (4.2km). This walk is very gentle and, as it follows the lake closely, has no inclines to test your aching limbs. It is a pleasant, if unremarkable walk, following a mown grass trail along the lakeside and through an area of marsh and reeds. This section […]
Cape Gorota
19/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Cape Sukoton Hiking Course in Rebun 礼文島スコトン岬ハイキングコース

June 2019, A little rain in the night but the morning is dry, if overcast. Cape Sukoton　　スコトン岬 We take the bus from Rebun-so Hotel to Cape Sukoton, the start of the Cape Tour hiking course . This is a hike of some 12 kilometres. The bus is very expensive, so the day passes that are available are probably a good idea if you are likely to take the bus more than once. Arriving at Cape Sukoton we join the bus tour groups gazing across the water to Todo Island. This is a wintering spot for sea lions, but they left in April. It is also the location of the most […]
Rebun island
18/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Rebun-Floating Island of Flowers, Hiking the Momoiwa Observation Course　礼文島

June 2019, Up at 6am after a quiet night at Wakanai michi no eki. It is a long trek to the toilets in the night but, at least, when you get there, they are modern and clean. Ferry to Rebun Island We drive the short distance to the ferry port, about 2 minutes, and buy our tickets. We then return to the michi no eki for breakfast with 30 minutes to spare before boarding. Back at the ferry terminal, we leave the car in the pay car park. People do leave their cars in the michi no eki car park; we feel, probably stupidly, that this is a bit rude. […]
Wakkanai Kohoku Breakwater Dome
06/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Kutcharo and Wakannai　クッチャロ湖から稚内

June 2019, Kutcharo Kohan Campsite The Kutcharo Kohan campsite stands the test of an overnight stay. In the morning, we look at the nature centre. This has a wide selection of stuffed bird and animals. Not hunter’s trophies, I hasten to add, but rescue animals that didn’t make it. From bears to weasels from Stella’s Sea Eagle to Goldcrest. It is the wrong time of year for most of these species, unfortunately. It was also the wrong time of year for the famous Lake Kutcharo swans. These throng the lake in spring and autumn. ＊Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observatory ; free Wakkanai From the campsite, we make our way to Wakkanai […]
06/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shosanbetsu, Sarobetsu and Lake Kutcharo　初山別、サロベツ

June 2019, Shosanbetsu – michi no eki, Onsen and Campsite Cloudy morning and quite cold in Shosanbetsu. This is a good place to stay either down by the onsen hotel or up on the headland by the observatory and camp site. From the headland there are wonderful sea views and a choice of campsites. The onsen has left no particular impression, though I have been there twice. It is definitely not bad, I would have remembered that. We spend time watching a couple of hares that are not so timid, so it is possible to get fairly close to them. Ororon Line, Otonrui Wind turbines　オロロン・ライン From Shosanbetsu we stop at […]
Mashiki
01/01/2020 / Last updated : 20/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Yoichi Nikka Whiskey and Hamanasu no Oka Koen　余市ニッカウィスキー

June 2019, Yoichi Nikka Whisky Museum Being a Monday, the space museum is closed so we opt for the Nikka Whisky factory/museum instead. This is, surprisingly, busy quite early in the morning. The popularity of the place is probably due to an NHK drama based on Taketsuru Masataka. And his Scottish wife Rita. Taketsuru is the father of Japanese whisky. By chance, we stumbled upon his birthplace (also popular) Takehara in Hiroshima on a previous trip. I had expected to see a working factory as the Nikka Yoichi factory is operational, but the public viewing is confined to historical or replica buildings. Hamanasu no Oka Koen　　ハマナスの丘公園 From Yoichi we move […]
giraffe road sign
25/08/2019 / Last updated : 20/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Timber Wolves at Asahiyama Zoo 旭山動物園

Day 7 September 2016, Today is zoo day, so we drive back towards Asahikawa. This involves driving down the long valley of rice fields that stretch to the wooded hills that rise sharply on either side. Tacky tin buildings, farm house and sheds dot the fields. There are also many abandoned structures too. Some of these completely collapsed presumably by the weight of winter snow. Asahiyama Zoo The zoo is well signposted and there are many large car parks. Asahiyama zoo is famous, at least in Japan, for the ingenuity of some of its enclosures. This zoo attempts to shows the normal behaviour of the animals. Impossible, of course, in […]