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Wakkanai
Wakkanai
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    Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta

    Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta

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    Located on the only beach in the region, Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta is our all-ages luxury oceanfront resort with its own private cove. Enjoy stunning ocean vistas from our sunset bar or sneak a peak of breaching whales from our beachfront restaurants.

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    • filter_dramaUnderstand
      • History

        The city was established in the 17th century as a frontier trading post to the aboriginal Ainu people who originally inhabited much of Hokkaido. It prospered through trade and as a strategic outpost in the far flung northern reaches of the empire, in the century that followed. The modern city was established in 1900, and when Japan recaptured parts of [wiki=eedfc25c7412e7860273f001307332a1]Sakhalin[/wiki] Island after the Russo-Japanese war of 1905, it became the main transit point to the Karafuto prefecture established there with regular steam-liner operations to Otomari (today [wiki=9fe3cfeadb2b0f9e40affa232d16f239]Korsakov[/wiki]), a status that only increased when the Sōya railway was finally extended here in 1926. With the loss of Sakhalin in the aftermath of WWII the town's fortunes faded, and it reverted to being little more than a military post during the Cold War with American troops stationed here for much of the period. While the population is still dwindling, the end of the Cold War might change Wakkanai's fortunes once more: a regular ferry route to Sakhalin was reopened in the 1990s, and trade and ties with Russia are slowly but steadily increasing.

      • Climate

        The average summer temperature is around 20°C (68°F), but it can get cold at night, so you may need to bring more than a summer jacket. It's temperate enough that you don't see many air-conditioning units around town, and the ones that are there are rarely put into use. In the depth of winter the thermometer frequently drops below zero, but the −20 °C (-4°F) you see inland or across the Okhotsk bay in Russia are extreme occurrences here, as the air is heated by sea currents. The very strong winds can make it feel like Siberian winters, though.

    • filter_dramaGet in
      • By plane

        Wakkanai's tiny airport ( [url=http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~wk.air/]),]10 km (6 mi) southeast of the city, fields regular flights to [[Sapporo[/url]] and [wiki=62413a57c5e3dc51177995fa175d3286]Tokyo[/wiki] (Haneda), with additional summer-only services to [wiki=ce24e3796ff1a93ef581f14b234a5bd3]Nagoya[/wiki] and [wiki=6c8823e2938c2923ef72537cd3964e1a]Kansai[/wiki]. All flights to the airport are operated by ANA - All Nippon Airways [http://www.ana.co.jp]. The airport is 20 minutes away from Wakkanai station by bus.

      • By train

        The JR Soya Honsen line connects Wakkanai to [wiki=15c875877e633ac91ab752833a319d69]Asahikawa[/wiki]. There are two stations within the city limits, Wakkanai itself (station code W80) as well as Minami-Wakkanai (W79) to the south.

        Three daily Super Soya and Sarobetsu Limited Express trains make direct runs from [wiki=e9d6eb12ff84740501a444198e2675c2]Sapporo[/wiki] in 5-6 hours, at a hefty price (~¥10,000). There is no charge to use this train with the Japan Rail Pass.

      • By bus

        Several buses operated by Soya Bus [http://www.soyabus.co.jp] run between Wakkanai and Sapporo daily: the journey takes around 6 hours and costs ¥6000, advance ticket purchase or reservation is (at least in theory) necessary, call +81 011 241-0241 (Sapporo) or +81 0162 22-3114 (Wakkanai) to make your reservation - alternatively, the office and departure point is located within Wakkanai JR Station on the corner next to the convinience store. One of the departures is a red-eye service, which might be a useful way to save some money if you're one of those who can sleep anywhere, the service arrives Sapporo at 5:30am at the JR Station where you can cool your heels (or warm them as the case may be) until your next departure. There is also a single daily round trip to Asahikawa. Keep in mind that while this is a cheap and convenient option in summer, during the winter suspension or delays are commonplace, and snowstorms frequently close the highway altogether.

      • By boat

        The spanking new ferry terminal, directly east of the train station, hosts frequent (in summer) connections to the National Park islands of [wiki=2b70eb75ec60766e06e408b80af6ad13]Rebun[/wiki] and [wiki=a324866b4a90ab4016adb262347d4632]Rishiri[/wiki]; there are also a few shops and restaurants and a tourist information desk in the building. Right across from this terminal is the International Ferry terminal with biweekly departures for [wiki=9fe3cfeadb2b0f9e40affa232d16f239]Korsakov[/wiki], on [wiki=eedfc25c7412e7860273f001307332a1]Sakhalin[/wiki] Island. Journey time is 5.5 hours, and one way tickets start at ¥24,000. Note that a Russian visa is required to buy tickets bound for [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]Russia[/wiki]. Also be aware that you MUST arrive at least two days prior to departure so that you may purchase a ticket. You will NOT be allowed to purchase a ticket the same day as ferry departure. To purchase a seat on the ferry to [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]Russia[/wiki] follow these instructions:

        1. Go to the domestic terminal, across the street from the international terminal.

        2. Walk up to the front desk and ask for an English speaker. In summer 2010, a male supervisor was able to speak broken English.

        3. Just tell the customer service rep that you'd like to purchase a ticket for the ferry to Russia; also give them your passport. They will have you fill out a paper which is the request for a ticket to Russia. This will be sent over to their offices on Yuzhno and you'll then be able to arrive two days later to pick up your ticket. (Note: This may be able to be done over phone or e-mail. At my time of visit, I was unable to get in contact with them via land-line.)

        May be confusing at times but will be worth the hassle.

        Alternatively, you can have a Japanese speaker call and ask for availability. You will then fill out and fax an application form to 011-233-2783 or 0162-23-6730. They will then fax back a confirmation form, which is in Japanese and English.

        All ferries out of Wakkanai are operated by the Heartland Ferry Company [http://www.heartlandferry.jp/english/].

    • filter_dramaGet around
      Since the town itself is fairly compact, with most sights within 10-15 minutes of each other, you can easily walk through town. There is a city bus with departures every 10-15 minutes operated by Soya Bus [http://www.soyabus.co.jp], and it is also possible to walk to Cape Noshappu: it's about 4 km (2.5 mi), which should take you around 40-50 minutes. For sights further afield like Cape Soya, there are about 4 buses per day going there, but be careful not to miss the last bus, as there is no other way of getting back other than to walk the 30 km (19 mi)!
    • filter_dramaSee
      While there are plenty of attractions on paper, few of them are really that interesting, and hardly anything is worth going out of your way to see. But since Wakkanai is en route to the fascinating [wiki=d17f3a57685134f9304d20e6357439fa]Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park[/wiki] which is worth travelling for, you might want to check out the following sights, which will fill out a day or two if you are in the area waiting for a ferry. Ryuhyo (floating ice) is of some interest in winter, and occurs either in February or March. It is ice that drifts in from the sea. If you need to kill time waiting at the airport, the nearby Meguma Wilderness Garden (メグマ原生花園) is an option in spring when 300 different flowers are in bloom.
      • Wakkanai Park

        Wakkanai Kōen (稚内公園) 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 meter high Motoe Hiraku Centennial Memorial Tower (開基百年記念塔・北方記念館) 9AM-5PM (Jul-Sep until 9PM) for a 360° panoramic view of the cape, the expansive Sarobetsu Plain, the Rishiri Volcano and even sometimes to [wiki=eedfc25c7412e7860273f001307332a1]Sakhalin[/wiki] 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.

        The park also has an eclectic collection of statues and monuments - none of them are particularly pretty, but they sometimes come with interesting stories: the Statue of Nine Women (九人の乙女の碑) is a memorial to the 9 women working at a Sakhalin telegraph station who committed suicide when they learned about the fall of Karafuto (Sakhalin) to Russian troops. Less dramatic is the Ice and Snow Gate (氷雪の門), a bronze statue of a woman facing the direction of Karafuto, longing for the home she was forced to leave behind. Without the nationalistic undertones is the Monument to Taro and Jiro (南極観測樺太犬記念碑), two Siberian huskies that an Antarctic expedition was forced to leave behind. When their trainer returned with another expedition the following year to bury his beloved dogs, much to everyone's surprise he was warmly greeted by the two dogs, who had survived a whole Antarctic winter. There are some more details of their story in the Youth Science Center, and their story is detailed in the 1983 film Nankyoku Monogatari.

      • Cape Soya

        Sōya Misaki (宗谷岬). about 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Wakkanai across the Soya Bay, 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.

        In the hills behind the cape near the lighthouse, there are several additional monuments. The Tower of Prayer (大韓航空機撃墜事件の慰霊塔) is a memorial to those who lost their lives when Soviet fighters shot down Korean Air flight KL007 over Moneron Island in 1983. Fittingly right next to it, you find the Bell for World Peace (世界平和の鐘) a replica of a bell located in the garden opposite the United Nations Building in New York.

        There is also the Wahoo Peace Memorial dedicated to the 1943 sinking of of the famous American submarine USS Wahoo off the coast by Japanese air and sea forces. The memorial commemorates the Wahoo's crew who was entirely lost and to the Japanese who lost their lives as a result of her attacks.

      • Other attractions

        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 meters 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.

        * 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.

        * 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.

        * Located right 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.

        * 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 [wiki=eedfc25c7412e7860273f001307332a1]Sakhalin[/wiki] and the Arctic regions. A whole hall is dedicated to the famous (in Japan) Taro and Jiro (See the [wiki=1423f80f3375ece58058852fadb4e7d9]#Wakkanai Koen|Wakkanai park entry[/wiki]). Also of some interest is the Planetarium with shows 2-3 times per day.

    • filter_dramaDo
      Try biking north along the coast to see the dozens of small seaweed drying family operations to know where the seaweed in your food comes from. At the northern tip a nice lighthouse and an excellent aquarium await you - with great views of Government radars on green hills - and the islands of Rishiri and Rebun and occasionally Sahkalin are visible. The Moshiripa Youth Hostel rents out bikes at ¥200 per hour or ¥1000 for the day, and also have some slightly more expensive mountain bikes. There are also two golf courses out on the countryside.

      * A 16 lane bowling alley claiming to be the best in Northern Japan - but then again, they might not have much competition. In any case it's a good option for a cold or rainy day, and watching the normally introverted Japanese hit a strike is fun.

      * A small ski resort in the Wakkanai kōen makes use of the lift here - 3 relatively short runs with just 150 m elevation difference and the longest at 300 m (985 ft).

      * Naturally rents out snowmobiles. Also has a snowmobile course and offers free snowshoe walking.
      • Onsen

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

        * Not so much an Onsen, more of a traditional indoor swimming pool under an impressive double domed roof. A 25 meter basin, waterslides, jacuzzi and a gym.

        * 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.

      • Events and festivals

        North Gate Shrine Festival (北門神社例大祭, Kitamon Jinja Reitaisai)
        * Uma Soya Gourmet City (うま宗谷グルメ市, Uma Soya Gorume Shi)

    • filter_dramaBuy
      Most of what you would want to buy here is seafood omiyage's, readily available, but if don't follow this Japanese tradition, there really isn't much shopping of any interest.

      * 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).
    • filter_dramaEat
      Wakkanai is known for its variety of seafood. Catching and selling sea-dwelling creatures (fish, crab, octopus, et cetera) and drying of seaweed may be considered the industry in Wakkanai. Some of the best restaurants are the local ones located around Minami-Wakkanai station. If its all just too much to cope with there is a McDonalds to rescue you from starvation.

      * 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

      * 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.

      * Soba shack with handmade noodles that brands itself as the northernmost soba shop in Japan, has its own organic farm for growing the buckwheat. Tasty!

      * 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.

      * Good beef tongue sets is the specialty, try the charcoaled ones, or you could go for the liver? Also has a good selection of spirits to kill your own.

      * Another place near Minami-Wakkanai station. Small, cozy Izakaya style eatery, with a long desk to eat at and lots of wood everywhere. Freshly caught seafood from local fishermen. Try the sea urchin tofu "Hot-pot" or the miso marinated squid.

      * Has a nice poster outside with pictures of the dishes if the Kanji's are daunting. Mainly seafood but not exclusively.

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

      * A Russian restaurant located outside of the Fukukou Ichiba complex. Offers generous set menus and a seasonal menu. If you're lucky, you'll get hear restaurant owner Nina sing in Japanese and Russian.
    • filter_dramaDrink
      The night life of Wakkanai is hardly the most happening in the world. For a regular bar visit some of the large hotels; the ANA and Wakkanai Grand hotels have some decent ones. Many of the restaurants listed above also serve alcohol, commonly Izakaya style, so that can be an option if you're in a group. There are also a number of Izakayas (居酒屋) located along the central street (Nakadori, 仲通り) and in the south along Oranjidori (オレンジ通り) - none of them really stand out, so just pick one and hope for the best.

      * A small but very foreigner-friendly izakaya. The owners don't speak very much English but are very friendly. There is an outdated but helpful English menu.

      * A small bar slash 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.

      *
    • filter_dramaSleep
      There are three large hotels in Wakkanai: the ANA hotel, the Wakkanai Sun Hotel and the Dormy Inn. They are all quite pricey, however. Expect ¥8000 for a single room and ¥16,000 for a double. One can wonder why a small town with 40,000 inhabitants needs a great luxury hotel like the ANA hotel. The answer is probably an influx tourists. All directions given below assume you're starting at the main railway station.
      • Budget

        Tricky to find, but a good hostel. Large common area with a big TV, games and books. Friendly managers, one of them speaks English surprisingly well, though not fluent by any means. The shower times can be a bit annoying, and it can get a bit cold at times. This hostel is closed in winter - check before you go, the alternative (below is a long and cold walk away - 40 mins without backpack - uphill).

        * Big hostel, up on a hill behing Wakkanai Minami Station with great views over the city, nice big bathtub to splash in and has recently built some private western and Japanese style rooms (¥4200). Coin laundry. Really nice and homey feel but it's far from the ferry terminal. This place is open year round, although in winter it does resemble the hotel in The Shining, although less fancy, and without Jack Nicholson. If you do go in autumn or winter the dorm is likely to be closed, they will try to charge you ¥4200 for a private room, try negotiating the price down to ¥3300, the private rooms are new and very comfortable and come with a great shower and heater like a furnace. The major pitfall of this hostel is it`s location, although very much still in Wakkanai it`s a　40 minute walk to Wakkanai JR Station if you`re heading to the islands. There are locker facilities at the station though.

      • Mid-range

        Fairly large business hotel, which has a nice spa on the top floor, both indoors and outdoors with views over Wakkanai, which are free for guests. Small rooms, but no smaller than usual in Japan, and a great breakfast buffet.

        * Central no frills business style hotel, small basic rooms with even smaller windows, but the singles are OK for the price.

        * Definitely not a pretty hotel, but a large section is recently refurbished so it's not so bad on the inside. The hotel's private spa is nice, and they have a large restaurant and bar as well.

        There are also 3 hotels out of town, one each at Cape Soya, Cape Noshappu, Fushimi. The two latter options provides great views over Rishiri if you get the right rooms.

        *

        *

        *

      • Splurge

        The most upscale hotel in town, and also the most expensive. But you pay for the very good facilities and common area's, not the rooms which are fairly standard, although some with nice views over the sea or Wakkanai koen. The main restaurant is very good, and so is the complementary breakfast.

        * Has free wifi in the lobby, however non-smokers be warned: every room is a smoking room.

    • filter_dramaCope
      The only ATMs in town that takes international credit cards are those of the post office, no Citibanks or 7-11s here.

      *

      *

      There is also a small hospital with an emergency room.

      *

      There are public showers and a coin-op laundry at the Port Service Center, located on the street leading to the ferry terminal.
    • filter_dramaGet out
      [wiki=d17f3a57685134f9304d20e6357439fa]Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park[/wiki] - Japan's northernmost national park.
      * Fascinating [wiki=eedfc25c7412e7860273f001307332a1]Sakhalin[/wiki], [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]Russia[/wiki] is just a short ferry ride away, but visas are complicated.

      [wiki=28d1ae02da8496e56d0ff8afd8652434]ja:稚内市[/wiki]
      [[WikiPedia:Wakkanai]]
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