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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedApr 7, 2023
How long is the drive from Toshima to Sapporo?
The direct drive from Toshima to Sapporo is 672 mi (1,081 km), and should have a drive time of 13 hrs 22 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Toshima to Sapporo, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Hakodate, Nikko, Otaru, Sendai, Aomori, Noboribetsu, Nasu-machi, Yamagata, Aizuwakamatsu, and Semboku, as well as top places to visit like Sano Premium Outlets and Mount Tsukuba, or the ever-popular Ushiku Daibutsu.
The top cities between Toshima and Sapporo are Hakodate, Nikko, Otaru, Sendai, Aomori, Noboribetsu, Nasu-machi, Yamagata, Aizuwakamatsu, and Semboku. Hakodate is the most popular city on the route. It's 10 hours from Toshima and 3 hours from Sapporo.
Nikko, a small city in Japan's Tochigi Prefecture, is nestled in the mountains north of Tokyo. It is renowned for Toshogu, a grand Shinto shrine built in 1617 to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founding ruler of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo Period. The shrine features impressive structures like the gilded Yomeimon Gate and the main sanctuary surrounded by a cedar grove.
82% as popular as Hakodate
23 minutes off the main route, 12% of way to Sapporo
Nasu is a municipality situated in the Kantō area of Japan, positioned towards the northeast of Tokyo. The town is located at the base of Mount Nasu, which consists of a cluster of volcanoes and falls under Nikkō National Park's jurisdiction. It features several hiking paths as well as a suspension bridge for pedestrians providing scenic forest views.
19% as popular as Hakodate
8 minutes off the main route, 15% of way to Sapporo
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Aizuwakamatsu is situated on Honshu island in Japan and features the prominent Tsuruga Castle with its distinguishable red-tiled roofs at its center. The adjacent park is well-known for its beautiful cherry blossom display during springtime. Aizu Bukeyashiki, a restored abode of an Edo-era samurai clan, and a classic teahouse located in Oyakuen Medicinal Gardens are close by.
14% as popular as Hakodate
32 minutes off the main route, 20% of way to Sapporo
Yamagata is a metropolis situated in the northern part of Japan. In the midst of this city lies Kajo Park, which houses the remnants of Yamagata Castle and is renowned for its springtime cherry blossoms. Located northeast of Yamagata, a lengthy staircase leads to Mount Hojusan where one can find the complex of Yamadera Temple. The Godaido observation deck at this temple presents an all-encompassing view.
15% as popular as Hakodate
28 minutes off the main route, 27% of way to Sapporo
Sendai, located in Japan's Tohoku Region, is a city with a rich history and culture. The remains of the 17th-century Sendai Castle, built for samurai lord Date Masamune on Aoba Hill, offer a glimpse into the city's past and house a museum displaying historic artifacts and Masamune’s samurai armor.
45% as popular as Hakodate
7 minutes off the main route, 28% of way to Sapporo
I'll never travel to Sapporo without this trip planner again
Located in the Akita Prefecture of Japan, Semboku is a city with an estimated population of 25,880 as of October 2018. The population density of the city is around 25.3 individuals per square kilometre along its total area of approximately 1,093.64 square kilometres.
14% as popular as Hakodate
31 minutes off the main route, 42% of way to Sapporo
Aomori is the administrative hub of Aomori Prefecture, situated in the Tōhoku region of Japan. With an estimated population of 278,964 individuals dwelling in 136,457 households as of April 2020, the city boasts a population density of around 340 people per square kilometer across its total area spanning over 824.61 square kilometers.
30% as popular as Hakodate
29 minutes off the main route, 53% of way to Sapporo
Hakodate, located on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, is a city known for its stunning attractions and sights. The 334m-high Mount Hakodate offers dramatic nighttime views from its summit, accessible by aerial ropeway gondola. The neighborhood of Motomachi features steep streets with early-20th-century Western-style buildings. A notable landmark is the grand Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward, built in 1910.
Most popular city on this route
6 minutes off the main route, 76% of way to Sapporo
Noboribetsu is a city situated in Hokkaido, Japan that boasts of its natural hot springs. The region has volcanic craters like Jigokudani (Hell Valley), which emits steam from mountains and boiling water from Tessen Ike geyser. In the center of the city, you can see stone demon statues while trails between oak trees are present in the Noboribetsu Primeval Forest.
20% as popular as Hakodate
17 minutes off the main route, 91% of way to Sapporo
Otaru is a charming port city located on the Hokkaido island in Japan. It is renowned for its glassworks, music boxes, and sake distilleries. The Nishin Goten, a historic fish processing plant turned museum, showcases the city's earlier ties to the fishing industry. The Otaru Canal, completed in 1923, is now lined with cafes and shops housed in converted old warehouses.
48% as popular as Hakodate
8 minutes off the main route, 96% of way to Sapporo
Best stops along Toshima to Sapporo drive
The top stops along the way from Toshima to Sapporo (with short detours) are Mount Hakodate, Nikkō Tōshogū, and Hotel Torifito Otaru Canal. Other popular stops include Jigokudani (Hell Valley), Hitachi Seaside Park, and Goryōkaku Tower.
Ushiku Daibutsu is a 120-meter-tall bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha located in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan. Visitors can take an elevator to an observation floor embedded in the Buddha's chest, offering panoramic views of the countryside. Inside the statue, there are opportunities to practice calligraphy, see 3,000 golden Buddhas, and have shrine books signed. The surrounding area is beautifully maintained with a park for picnics and leisurely strolls.
One of the most beautiful places I have been in Japan. The tallest Buddha which is of 121m tall and it’s also in the Guiness world records. Very calm place which has a beautiful Japanese garden with a small pond with many ducks.
If we purchase a 800yen ticket, we get to see the entire place. Especially inside the Buddha statue there will be 4 floors where there is an observatory deck too.
One needs to check the frequency of buses from Ushiku station if you are taking public transportation.
Lakshmi — Google review
120m tall Buddha is the main attraction. The buddha is very calm and one cant take eyes off from him! There is an observation desk inside buddha at 85m, some other galleries and souvenir shop. It is surrounded by beautiful Japanese style garden and offers flower beds based on the season. It also has small shopping area where you can buy local stuffs and souvenirs. Definitely a must go!
Prachi Potdar — Google review
初めて行きました。
高さ120mと世界最大でギネスに登録されているそうです。
近くに行く途中で大きな大仏が見えてくるので大迫力です。
中にも入れて、エレベーターで85mの高さまで上がれるので、大迫力で大満足です。さらに入館料800円とお安く、庭園や紫陽花も鑑賞でき、本当にお安く、大満足です。
また、猿回しショーまで見ることが出来、本当に楽しかったです。
(Translated by Google)
I went there for the first time.
With a height of 120m, it is registered in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest in the world.
It is very powerful because you can see the big Buddha on the way to near.
You can put it inside and take the elevator up to a height of 85m. In addition, the admission fee is cheap at 800 yen, and you can appreciate the garden and hydrangeas, which is really cheap and very satisfying.
Also, I was able to see the monkey show, which was really fun.
YUJIRO IGA — Google review
This Majestic statue has an elevator that brings visitors up 85 m (279 ft) to an observation floor . Visitors can even view Mt Fuji from this observatory platform if the weather is clear. As you follow the path leading to Uchiko Daitbutsu, you will also be attracted by the seasonal bloom, and this summer, we are seeing some lavender blooming along with other species such as sunflowers & fire forest. Plan your schedule or drive to Uchiko if possible as the waiting time for the public transport can be quite long. Tickets payment in cash only,
Reiko Hoshikawa — Google review
The Buddha statue with a height of 120 meters is very amazing with beautiful views around it.
And I also went inside and went up to the 5th floor.
Inside there are also lots of Buddha statues on the walls.
From the 5th floor you can see the surroundings from above.
Maybe if it comes in spring there will be lots of cherry blossoms there
Fretti Wulandari — Google review
While some reviews mention a negative atmosphere or vibe, my wife and I didn't feel that way and really enjoyed our visit. We went on 10 April 2024 and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom as well as the beautiful bright pink flowers surrounding the pond that represents the pool of life.
The statue itself is very impressive...almost awe-inspiring...as you get closer you can look up and realize just how massive it is. The park and Japanese garden are also very enjoyable to walk through and explore. If I had planned better I would have brought a blanket for a picnic!
Chris Birdwell — Google review
Very cool buddha. It's worth the trip! He is huge and you can go inside and about half way up in an elevator. Make sure it's included when you buy your ticket though. They have some nice flowers around the pond depending on the time of year. The big pond however needs some fish or something...it's nothing special. They also have picnic tables, to enjoy food while looking at buddha. A few shops are located at the entrance with souvineirs and sweets.
Caitlin Meadors — Google review
One of the most beautiful places I have been in Japan. The tallest Buddha which is of 121m tall and it’s also in the Guiness world records. Very calm place which has a beautiful Japanese garden with a small pond with many ducks.
If we purchase a 800yen ticket, we get to see the entire place. Especially inside the Buddha statue there will be 4 floors where there is an observatory deck too.
One needs to check the frequency of buses from Ushiku station if you are taking public transportation.
Lakshmi — Google review
週末に行きました。あじさいの季節で大仏手前の庭園では見事に咲き誇っていました。
拝観料がありますが、初めて行く方は絶対に大仏の中まで入れる券の購入をおすすめします。
大仏の中が寺になっており、お坊さんが毎日必ず読経をされるそうです。御朱印もありますが、大仏内のみなので中まで入れる券でないと御朱印は頂けません。
大仏の中はガイドの方が丁寧に説明をして下さいます。中は5階建てになっていますが、ビルでいう28階に相当する高さです。大仏が向いている方向は生誕の地であるインドだそうです。
お守りや数珠、御朱印帳も大仏内にありました。
途中、外へ出られる場所があり、大仏の台座の上の足元から見上げる事も出来ます。
あまりそうゆうのに興味がなかった同行者も、めちゃくちゃ楽しかった!!と言っていましたので、1度は訪れてほしいとおすすめできるスポットでした!
(Translated by Google)
Went on weekends. In the season of hydrangeas, the garden in front of the Great Buddha was in full bloom.
There is an admission fee, but if you are visiting for the first time, we definitely recommend purchasing a ticket that allows you to go inside the Great Buddha.
The inside of the Great Buddha is a temple, and it is said that monks read sutras every day. There is also a red stamp, but since it is only inside the Great Buddha, you can not get a red stamp unless you have a ticket to enter inside.
The inside of the Great Buddha will be carefully explained by the guide. The inside is 5 stories high, which is equivalent to the 28th floor of a building. It is said that the direction facing the Great Buddha is India, the birthplace.
There were also amulets, prayer beads, and stamp books inside the Great Buddha.
On the way, there is a place where you can go outside, and you can look up from your feet on the pedestal of the Great Buddha.
Even my companion, who wasn't really interested in that sort of thing, had a lot of fun! ! As I said, it was a recommended spot to visit once!
tsumi momo — Google review
Went to visit this massive Buddha in Ibaraki and the size was quite breathtaking . Interesting to be able to go up to the inside of the Buddha and observe outwards but sadly limited photography or window view.
The place was nice but quite sparse public transport towards it , roughly one every hour. Would drive up if passing by.
Nixon Tan — Google review
Huge Standing Buddha Statue. 120m tall, the tallest in the world.
You can also visit the inside however the nicest part is the outside area (park included).
If you are in the area I suggest you to stop by, you won’t be disappointed.
Filippo — Google review
One of the highly recommended place to visit in japan. It’s the tallest statue of Lord Buddha and it’s taller than Statue of Liberty. You can buy ticket and visit inside the statue. You can buy souvenirs and you can get fortune from here. The atmosphere is very quiet and has positive vibe. The surrounding area covered with cherry blossoms 🌸 so it has the most beautiful view in spring season.
Harsh Shukla — Google review
The Ushiku Daibutsu is the world's largest 120 meter bronze Buddha statue. The statue is surrounded by a flower garden and you can go to the top floor when enter and use the elevator. In the garden patio there is also a monkey stage and show that you can watch for free after you finish your time exploring the statue. This was a really cool experience and I recommend you visit, it costs ¥800 for adults to enter.
Elias Chelala — Google review
Very cool buddha. It's worth the trip! He is huge and you can go inside and about half way up in an elevator. Make sure it's included when you buy your ticket though. They have some nice flowers around the pond depending on the time of year. The big pond however needs some fish or something...it's nothing special. They also have picnic tables, to enjoy food while looking at buddha. A few shops are located at the entrance with souvineirs and sweets.
Caitlin Meadors — Google review
This is the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world. While you can see the Daibutsu from the parking lot, in order to see it head on and get close to it, you’ll need to purchase an entrance ticket. You can choose a ticket just for the grounds, or to go inside the Daibutsu. Depending on the time of year you visit, it seems like it can take a few hours to get to the museums and temple inside. During Golden Week, the line waiting to get inside was well over an hour long. One of the goshuin is only available from the 2nd floor of the Daibutsu.
The seasonal flowers planted across the park were beautiful and made for great photo opportunities. I imagine when it's less crowded this would be a very peaceful place to come and relax.
However, it is important to be respectful of the space. The park has signs and warnings about picnicking and camping out with food since this is a holy pilgrimage spot.
Rachel Boatwright — Google review
実際に間近でその姿を目にすると、思わず笑ってしまうくらいに大きい。全長120m。正に『大仏』。
…ちなみに、こちらは南無阿弥陀仏の阿弥陀佛なので、『牛久阿弥陀大仏』と呼ぶのが正しいらしい。
ともあれ、要は人の信心を集めるための宗教施設なので、周囲に邪魔になるような高い建築物も無く、綺麗に手入れされた庭園に、各施設も丁寧に整備されていて、歩くだけでも、とても気持ちが良い。
そして大仏の胎内に入ると、エレベーターで85mの高さ、大仏の胸の辺りまで登ることができるのも魅力。
ただ、仏像という性質上、さすがに大きな窓を設けることも出来ないので、十分に景色を愉しむ事は出来ない。なので見晴らしを期待する人には正直向かないかと思う。
とはいえ、雰囲気のある広い写経場や、金色の胎内仏が数千体ひしめき並ぶ空間があったりと、胎内巡りそのものは中々に愉しめる。
ちなみに、子供向けレジャー的な付帯施設は、敷地内外共に特に無いので、子供連れな人は注意。
(Translated by Google)
It's so big that you can't help but laugh when you see it up close. Total length 120m. Exactly "Great Buddha".
…By the way, this is the Amida Buddha of Namu Amida Butsu, so it seems to be correct to call it “Ushiku Amida Daibutsu”.
In any case, since it is a religious facility that gathers people's faith, there are no tall buildings that can get in the way, and the garden is beautifully maintained, and each facility is carefully maintained. I feel so good.
Once you enter the womb of the Great Buddha, you can take the elevator up to a height of 85m, which is also attractive as you can climb up to the height of the Great Buddha's chest.
However, due to the nature of Buddhist statues, it is not possible to install large windows, so it is not possible to fully enjoy the scenery. So I honestly don't think it's suitable for people who expect a view.
Nonetheless, there is a spacious sutra-copying place with an atmosphere and a space where thousands of golden Buddha statues are lined up.
By the way, there are no leisure-related facilities for children, both inside and outside the premises, so be careful if you are with children.
kibimochi — Google review
Very peaceful and nice, recommend to buy tickets (additional 300¥ ) to go inside the statue where you can go up till the heart region of the Buddha statue through elevator (5th floor) but you can board it from second floor. To come down you need to walk down steps till 4th floor. It was crazy hot on the Saturday afternoon outside but inside was having cooling. One lady had heatstroke so car plenty of water and UV/Sun blocking umbrellas. There are a lot of souvenir shops inside and a room full of small Buddha statues and one meditation room. The koi fish pond and gardens around the statue is so peaceful and well kept. We had a blissful time apart from the scorching heat.
Pavan M K — Google review
The 120m tall statue is amazing. there is also beautiful garden nearby. I visited in a rainy day in autumn. So the cherry blossom tree is not in season.
But once it is cherry blossom season, this place will be beautiful.
Winston Tjandra — Google review
Very beautiful and relaxing place. Not too crowded when I went there maybe because it was weekday. Nevertheless, this place is absolutely worth visiting during spring season in Japan. I only paid ¥500 with free parking space. Love it!
Ayie Simon — Google review
The biggest Buddha statue in Japan. It has various flowers.
Food trucks are available outside of the park.
There is no instructions about re-entering, but you can enter as many times as you want if it is in the same day.
Ryusei Ueno — Google review
Definitely worth visiting and a really good experience if you have time in Ibaraki! It was only about 500¥ or so for entry and ride up inside the Buddha. Very friendly staff and easy to navigate around the huge park.
There was also a section where you could feed koi fish and ducks. As well as a place to watch an animal show and petting zoo.
There were food and drink options along with gift shops at the main entrance of the park.
Inside of the Buddha consisted of a multi level and highly clean/ detailed museum.
Hiroki Baba — Google review
it was peaceful in the garden . Inside the Buddha was great . It had little statues of the past Buddha people, who enlightened. I made my wish and I hope it will come true. I really enjoyed my time there.
Uuganbayar Lhagvasuren — Google review
My family and I visit Ushiku Daibutsu, One of the three largest Buddha statues in the world. There is plenty of parking lots available. We walk through shopping stores, buy tickets and walk inside and high up the statue. We really enjoy exhibitions on the first and second levels. We take elevator to the observation floor. We check out surrounding sceneries. They said, on clear weather, we can see as far as Mt. Fuji and Tokyo Skytree, of course not today.
Sano Premium Outlets is a large shopping center in the Kanto region, featuring 180 local and international brand outlet stores. Nestled against the backdrop of Mt. Mikamo, this modern complex offers a wide range of brand-name items. It's conveniently located just an hour's drive from Tokyo via the express highway. The outlet is situated in a spacious suburban area, providing ample room for its many stores.
An excellent place for branded item shopping at affordable prices. Drive from Tokyo is also very convenient relative to Gotemba premium outlet mall due to less traffic towards Sano.
All these premium outlet malls are managed by MitsubishiJisho and if hold a MitsubishiJisho’s credit card then you can avail additional 5% off.
Please make sure you have the premium outlet malls app installed on your mobile and you can find some additional discount offers on the app.
This mall has got 6 big parking lots and hence you can easily get parking without much wait. Also this mall has got good food/restaurants choices … including Starbucks coffee etc.,
Atchut Killam — Google review
An excellent place for branded item shopping at affordable prices. Drive from Tokyo is also very convenient relative to Gotemba premium outlet mall due to less traffic towards Sano.
All these premium outlet malls are managed by MitsubishiJisho and if hold a MitsubishiJisho’s credit card then you can avail additional 5% off.
Please make sure you have the premium outlet malls app installed on your mobile and you can find some additional discount offers on the apps.
This mall has got six big parking lots and hence you can easily get parking without much wait. Also this mall has got good food/restaurants choices including Starbucks coffee etc.
Salahuddin asri — Google review
3.5 stars
They had many instagrammable photo areas and for some reason another photo theme was Winnie the Pooh and they had many areas set up for photos.
As with all premium outlets in Japan it's nothing compared to prices of outlets in North America. It's a lot smaller than the outlet in Gotemba or Karuizawa... But it's much more accessible because it's not too big and it's far less crowded which makes it all more pleasant.
I think outlet malls are a little bit cheaper this year maybe due to Corona and sluggish moving inventory. Most shops had additional 20 to 30% on top of the already reduced prices.
On a hot summer day it's really not recommended because there's not much refuge from the humidity and heat. It's a very dog friendly place and many owners had brought their pets.
The cosmetics shop was really crowded! Lots of discounted Clinique items. MAC eyeshadows that go for over 3000yen retail outside were selling for about 1000yen. A must stop for cosmetics-lovers.
B BB — Google review
They have about 200 stores, which is less than Gotemba Premium Outlets has, but not that busy as Gotemba.
This outlets was inspired by the east-coast of the United States in appearance since this city has a sister city in Pennsylvania, US.
There’s a few local attractions around this outlet mall like Ashikaga Flower Park, Nikko National Park, pick Strawberry at farm and even Foods like Sano Ramen, Potato Fries(called imo-fry) and Winery Cocofarm.
Atsuki — Google review
They always offer amazing discounts rvery time, food is also great.
jake de goma — Google review
Simon premium outlet brand. Similar to Shisui one near narita. Great place to hang out.
Aim Sirampuj — Google review
What a wonderful place to visit shopping poi Peaceful comfortable relaxing mind and body. Anyone can visit it’s easy to accessible. Tochigi Sano premium outlet . I have personal experience to this place. Best place for recreation for life and especially relaxing mind. I suggest to visit this place. Good luck if anyone have opportunity visit. If someone time. Seasonal shopping but bit expensive. Very nice place to visit together with family and friends. All kind of facilities available food, shopping, toilet, parking area.
Nisar Masih — Google review
Great price and value nothing more to say Just awesome and you can see mt fuji…
marcio shigueo Nakano — Google review
It is very beautiful now with Christmas lighting., many shopping options., promotions., I recommend♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪
Lete Namba — Google review
From luxury fashion labels to popular sportswear brands, Sano Premium Outlet caters to all tastes and budgets. Fashion enthusiasts can indulge in the latest trends, while bargain hunters can revel in the joy of finding incredible deals on their favorite items.
Mount Tsukuba, located in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a renowned 2,877-foot mountain with two peaks that offers stunning views of Tokyo and Mount Fuji. It features a cable car and hiking trails for visitors to explore its natural beauty. While not as tall as Mount Fuji, it still provides breathtaking scenery and is a popular destination for hikers looking for a slightly less challenging experience.
Nice and beautiful. Good for hike. The path is clearly maintained in natural way. No concrete or any other artificial material. However, in rainy days, it's muddy and slippery at some places. Anyway nice experience to hike it. For those who unable to climb it other options available. Cable car is cheap and easy. It's 600 ¥ per adult. Ropeway is what available.
There are shops around the base of mountain. And also few shops at the top. But, as expected, price is bit high. After reaching the top you can enjoy the panoramic view. That's marvelous. It will refresh you. If you can bring food and water the hiking will cost nothing.
Wash room facilities available. So I recommend this place for your next trip. Congrats
Rasanja Ranasinghe — Google review
The view from both peaks was beautiful, but the scenery the peak 女体 offered was absolutely breathtaking. The blue trail is the shortest, but a bit difficult for someone without a good physical condition.
Roxana Catalina — Google review
Very beautiful. This is my opinion on the mountain trails only. Some safety measure are lacking. I’ve worked 10years as mountain park ranger:
1. Most hiking trails/course are dangerous, some are experienced level trails. Difficultly of each trail are not labeled. Most trails are not for kids. Warnings before entering are not labeled, ask fluent Japanese speaker.
2. No park rangers monitoring entrance or exits of hiking trails/course. If you have a serious injury onsite , you will be alone. Enter at your own risk.
3. Some trails do not have access to the cable cars or rope ways.
4. No radio communication is available at checkpoints on the trials.
MM “田中” CR — Google review
We started the hike from the down , it was bit difficult and it took around 3 hours to reach the summit . Overall the hiking route was challenging and we enjoyed the hiking.
Akhil Kumar — Google review
Mount Tsukuba or Tsukuba-san is located at the northern end of Tsukuba near Tokyo. It is one of the famous mountains in Japan because of it’s two peaks (Nyotai-san and Nantai-san). It is very easy hike mountain for beginners. The trails are rocky but refreshing. Easily accessible from Tsukuba center by bus. You can reach the peaks either cable car or ropeway. From the top you can enjoy the panoramic view of Tsukuba. Even in the clear sky day, the great mighty Fuji can be seen from the peaks. I will recommend you to go there in sunny day to enjoy the mountainous environment.
Arifa Jannat — Google review
Japan’s one of the most beautiful mountains in Mt Tsukuba. There are 6 courses on Mt Tsukuba and the most difficult course is Miyukigahara course. It was difficult for me because I don’t have much experience in hiking, hence I found it a bit difficult.
This course takes us to the peak directly and on return it’s easy to take the cable car to descent if you are tired or lazy.
There are lot of eateries around the Tsukuba shrine. Also there is a small restaurant at the peak.
Depending on the interest, you can choose any of the 6 courses to truly experience the picturesque views.
If you are using public transportation.. make sure to note the timings to and from Tsukuba station.
Also there is a Tourist information centre near the Mt Tsukuba, they are really helpful. We missed the last bus to Tsukuba station, and they helped us in booking a cab to Tsukuba San guchi bus stop as there will be buses every 30 mins to Tsukuba station.
Lakshmi — Google review
Very picturesque mountain known for its two peaks, Nyotai-san and Nantai-san. The names translate to female body and male body respectively, related to Izanami and Izanagi. The peaks themselves are very accessible with many hiking trails, a cable car, and a ropeway. The walk between the two peaks isn't too long and there is a nice area in the middle with some small shops and snacks. Apparently on clear, sunny days you can see Mt. Fuji and other Tokyo landmarks.
It seems that the view from Nyotai-san is a very famous photo spot. When we visited during Golden Week, there was a long line waiting to get photos and signs asking guests to keep the photo-taking time to about 3 minutes per person. The shrine next to the photo spot sells goshuin and a commemorative towel.
Getting up to Nantai-san was more steep, but the views were stunning! When we visited, the shrine here was closed, but you can still get the goshuin from Tsukubasan Shrine at the base.
The seasonal flowers were beautiful as well, with the whole trail lined by azaleas (late April 2023).
Rachel Boatwright — Google review
Mt.Nyotai&Mt.Nantai, the 877m of hike to the top of Tsukubasan. We park at tsutsujigaoka parking lot, we pass the famous “benkei-nanamodori”, we had our lunch at Koma view terrace and we ride the ropeway going down. A beautiful, fulfilling & challenging family bonding.
cheianakaely family — Google review
The ropeway will take you up to the summit with ease! There are several restaurants at the summit. It should be noted, however, that most of them only accept cash. We then walked down from the summit. It was exciting, with steep slopes and lots of huge rocks. This is a great place to enjoy nature.
Rintaro — Google review
Simply beautiful, we loved our time hiking along the Mt Tsukuba loop trail ❤️ Mt Tsukuba has two peaks - Nyotai and Nantai. This mountain is believed to be blessed by the deities 1000 years ago when this mountain hosted the deities with great care - the mountain is always filled with green vegetation and beautiful flowers and so many variety of birds and insects live here. There were many shrines along the way of the climb. All this reminded me of Thirupathi’s Thirumala in India : almost all aspects of this mountain seemed very similar to Thirumala. Highly recommend visiting if you’re around the area 🌸
Arunothia Marappan — Google review
This is perfect time of the year for hiking. They have several trails to get to the top and cable car/rope way are available every 10’ too.
The path can be steepy and rocky at some points but overall the trails are so beautiful.
There’s terrace in the between of 2 tops and it offer food with reasonable prices.
Jupiter Nguyễn — Google review
Twin mountains in which one is male and another is female.
Though a lot of stories, and folklore there are many history behind these mountains and many spots to visit. It is a very easy hike mountain even for a beginners, the lovely weather and trails are quite refreshing. Anyone of any age will enjoy the mountains trail. And there are small shrine or rocks along the shrine with history written on it.
Hitachi Seaside Park, located near Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture, is a vast park known for its seasonal flower gardens and greenery. It features a variety of flowers from spring to autumn, with highlights including 4.5 million nemophila flowers covering the entire park in late April to early May, as well as narcissus flowers, tulips, and kochia bushes during different seasons.
We went there in the peak of the Nemophila blue flowers. Trust me, the spread of these flowers along the small mountain gives a picturesque view which is second to none. It is better to wear comfortable shoes since there is a vast area to visit. walking is feasible. The park itself is very big, lots of green areas, there's also a small amusement for children as well, a great place to go if you are visiting with your family.
Aye K Khine — Google review
Definitely a must visit place.. we visited this place during the summer season and unfortunately it was terrible weather.. But there were completely lush green bushes everywhere which was a pleasing experience for everyone. We can borrow bicycles for 3hrs and it costs around 400¥.. apart from this there is a water play area, small eatery shops, small golf area, ATV, dirt racing as well. The entry ticket is 450¥/adult.. no tickets for kids below 4yrs.. This place is well maintained and has a lot of activities to enjoy for everyone...
Srinath R — Google review
Such a gorgeous park! Even in March on a cloudy/rainy day I really enjoyed my time here. The daffodils were in full bloom, and they were beautiful. Lucky for us, the nemophila bloomed early and we got to see a nicely bloomed hill of them. Absolutely worth the trip!
Avalon Nielsen — Google review
The overall experience was good. It was really lucky that we rent bicycles at the entrance of the park (600yen/3hr). The park was too big to travel by walking, and there was a convenient network of bicycle track around the park.
I took many photos of the sunflowers and “grass balls”. The regions were well maintained and the plants were well grown. The “grass balls” covered the whole hill and the view is just marvellous.
It definitely worth visiting again in other seasons.
P.S. The combined ticket for the train + entrance ticket was on discount (700yen) remember to grab it at the Katsuta station. You can travel to the fish market to have lunch in Nakaminato Fish Market, and hop on the train again to the final station. From there, you can walk around 20 minutes to the South Gate of the park.
Ng Turtle — Google review
Excellent park for cycling, walking every season with different flowers blooming throughout the year.
Even the wheelchair bound and elderly can enjoy this beautiful place
Many activities for kids as there's BMX trail, Mini Golf, Amusement Park and Trampoline.
Extremely enjoyable experience as even food stalls serve delicious Ibaraki food and souvenirs makes great 🎁
Yi Lin Sng — Google review
I went to see to see the Kochia plants in the middle of October.
This is a massive park with many activities so it’s a great place to bring children.
The Kochia is grown on a hill and it’s about a 10min walk up to the top of it. It is easy to walk and there is a very nice view from the top, so it’s defiantly worth walking up.
There is a large grass area so also nice to bring a picnic.
If you don’t like walking there is a train (bus) and bicycles to ride.
Angus Miyaji — Google review
Really nice place to visit. Perfect if you like walking. However autumn is done here so not the best moment to come if you are planing to see its flowers or leaves changing colour. The place is great for BBQs and spending a nice time with family or/and friends.
Edwin LLATAS BUSTAMANTE — Google review
Really enjoyed this park and got some really beautiful pictures during our time there. The park itself is massive and we spent the better part of a day exploring it. Lots of great good options in the park with relatively reasonable prices. The blue flower fields did appear to have quite a few weeds, although I’m not sure if this was due to our coming late in the season or due to a lack of maintenance. Overall definitely worth seeing if you are in the area while the flowers are in bloom.
Jeffrey Holmes — Google review
We got off at Katsuta station, a small station compared to the other stations.
In front of the station there is a bus with the final destination to Hitachi Seaside Park. Combined tickets for the bus and entry to the park. For seniors aged 65 years and over, tickets are free. The bus journey takes about half an hour.
The garden is quite wide but still comfortable on the feet. There are also bicycle rentals or a small train ride around the park.
The flowers are very beautiful and colorful, topped off with a beautiful seaside. There are many photo spots with excellent views.
In certain places there are also stalls selling food and drinks.
Iskandar Zulkarnain — Google review
Amazing flower park. It is a definate must see. The nemophilia flower hill is just rolling with beautiful views! The park is huge and has lots of foods stands, a bike area, an amusement park, and a large pond with a fountain.
Caitlin Meadors — Google review
Very beautiful park, lots of big red Kocia, flowers and whole area are very scenery. Many food trucks are in the park selling all kind of street food. You can rent bicycle to cycle around the park or take the electricity cute train to travel around. Highly recommended.
Derek Lim — Google review
The nemophilia are finished now for the season, but it's still a great place to visit. My highlight was the aroma garden which was full of herbs, roses and berry trees. Walked around the whole park which took about 2 hrs - didn't go on any of the rides etc. Lots of toilets around the park.
Alix — Google review
Couldn't enjoy the park due to the number of crowds - likely thousands of people - even before 9:30am (park opening time). While the park was spacious and had many flowers. It was clear that nemophila baby blue flowers were their main attraction, so the rest of the park felt quite empty and barren, especially in April. Many parts were also closed off due to gardening work(?). I rented a bike (600¥ for 3 hours) and it was enough to see everything. A big part of the "park" is actually filled with amusement rides. The gift stores were also disappointing compared to other flower parks in Japan, only 10 - 16 types of gifts.
I would still recommend a visit to those who also love flowers and nature in general, they were beautiful. But if seeing the baby blue nemophila is your main priority, you will likely be disappointed and end up waiting for photos etc. It won't be an enjoyable stroll or even peaceful time. And definitely not worth it for tourists on a tight schedule - it did not feel worth the 2+ hour commute from Tokyo (5 hours if round trip). It's okay if you're on a longer trip or a resident.
Debbie Foong — Google review
Having visited in autumn, I was treated to a sea of blossoms, but I've heard the park transforms magically in each season, making it a year-round destination for nature enthusiasts.
Navigating the park was a breeze with clear signage, and the availability of amenities. Families can enjoy various activities, from picnics in the open spaces to the excitement of the playgrounds.
Every corner seemed to be a perfect photo opportunity, and I found myself capturing the vibrant scenes at every turn.
Local Guide Recommends — Google review
Admission to the park for adults is 450 yen and parking for a car is 400 yen. The park is very large and beautiful. I went in early October so the kokia bushes weren't quite red yet. but very suitable for picnics, dates and great for walking in the park, very quiet, gentle and beautiful in 4 seasons!❤️❤️❤️ Hitachi park in Ibaraki💯
Cherry Lady — Google review
I went to see Kochia at peak time of autumn (19 Oct 2023). It’s beautiful flower field but quite hard for taking good pictures because many people and there are big space between each kochia. There are plenty of food carts there and delicious
Fun park is for kids, not for teenagers
There is bus directly from Ibaraki station to the park and the way back too.
Preaw Felionajj — Google review
Beautiful autumn season to see hitachi seaside park! Less crowded if you come early in the morning or later in the afternoon 1-2 hours before closing. You can get solo shots without people by waiting a few minutes. I have several great solo pictures! You can spend an entire day here, there is an amusement park, various food around the park, and a huge park where you can sit and enjoy some picnic or play with your kids.
V M — Google review
I went there on 17/October/2023. Kochia was almost completely red, along with the cosmos flower field.
The park area is very big, you can enjoy the sight seeing train ( seaside train), it is 600 yen for 1 day pass. For bus ticket ( from katsuta stat to park) including park entrance fee are 930 yen for adult. And 800 yen for Ferris wheel.
It’s the weekday, but still a bit crowded.
There are many food stalls inside the park with reasonable price and delicious.
Gemini Woman — Google review
Hitachi Seaside Park offers a diverse landscape that may take up to 3 hours to fully explore. The park's expansive grounds provide a variety of attractions, from wide open spaces to themed gardens. However, my visit was marred by the disappointment of finding no flowers planted in the usually vibrant Miharashi Hill. Despite this setback, the park's other features, such as its cycling paths, sand dunes, and amusement facilities, contribute to a generally enjoyable experience.
The Oya History Museum, a one-of-a-kind attraction, is situated in an old quarry that boasts an impressive system of giant underground chambers used for exhibitions and concerts. The sheer size of the interior and its fascinating history will leave visitors stunned. It's advisable to bring warm clothing as it can get quite chilly inside. This is a perfect meeting place with convenient parking facilities available nearby. Visitors should also remember to bring a light shirt as the caves are typically around 6 degrees Celsius in temperature.
great place to meet. easy parking. take a thin shirt because inside the caves the temperature is around 6 degrees.
Marco Santos — Google review
Visited in October 2020
The quarry-turned-cavern museum is a bit far from Utsunomiya downtown, connected by just a narrow prefectural road and if you bother to use public transportation, an hour bus ride from the central station.
Nevertheless it's a unique experience because to my knowledge, it's the only subterranean museum in Japan. Worth a visit especially if you are into history and art. The cavern turned out to be much bigger than what I expected. It's said it started relatively small since the Edo period and later the exploitation of the stone picked up during the industrialization of Japan afterwards (AFAIK it was only closed for commercial quarrying in 1970s). In some places, the differences of the etched bedrock and walls due to manual and modern mechanical masonry techniques are shown.
There were also interesting permanent art exhibitions inside the cavern. They also exhibited the photos of films and TV series that took place in the cavern, one of them is cult TV series Yuusha Yoshihiko (I think it was one of the episodes in 1st season).
lontongstroong — Google review
The outside is beautiful but I enter the underground museum itself. There is a weird photo I have captured and it’s pretty cold. And I felt something and had a bad headache after the sightseeing.
Super Loise — Google review
3.5 stars
It's a great place to visit during the hot summer. The whole tour only takes about 30 minutes so don't plan on it taking up a lot of your day.
It's like a cave so it's really chilly and you might want to prepare a light windbreaker or jacket. It's amazing to imagine that people carried such heavy rocks on their backs.
The cave was the location for many movie shootings or music videos and so on. Even Enya visited a few years ago, it seems?
You should make this one part of your whole day itinerary. There is a nearby Stone Temple and a stone quarry also not too far away.
B BB — Google review
Lovely place, worth to go. The huge cave have treated with soft background music and lighting effect. It’s cold inside the cave, which likely a super large fridge to freeze people 😂
Kenneth Ip — Google review
Wonderfully unique experience. A welcome break from the heat of summer. Bits of information are posted throughout the many caverns. Worth a quick visit if passing through the area or visiting Nikko.
kwrmmr — Google review
Beautiful place,you can ride by bus but I suggest on time because many people’s visit here.
Max Talatagod — Google review
Very unique destination!!! I was shocked by the size of the interior and the history behind everything. (Pro tip) - it is cold inside so bring a jacket.
Thomas Pike — Google review
An awesome place to take beautiful photos of nature (and of course ourselves as well). It is literally a natural refrigerator so please do wear a thick clothes when you visit here.
There's a cafe outside the cave that sells delicious gelato ice cream and the best coffee I've ever had in my life.
Kevin Yapri (?????) — Google review
A somewhat quirky spot for a foreign tourist, but glad I discovered this place on the drive back from Nikko. There is ample free parking and a short walk will take you to the cave entrance. Upon entry, there is a small museum with artifacts from when the cave was constructed. The real attraction however begins when you descend a staircase into the cool depths of the old quarry. Neutral and coloured lighting creates a mysterious scene, illuminating the scarred walls and exhibits scattered about. I ended up spending a decent amount of time here, exploring each nook and cranny as I went. Upon exit there is a shop and restaurant where you can buy Oya stone keepsakes, the very material which was mined from within. Definitely worth a look if passing by.
Life's Abroad — Google review
It takes approximately 32 minutes to reach the awe-inspiring Oya History Museum (大谷資料館, Ōya Shiryōkan) from Utsunomiya. Situated in the picturesque Tochigi prefecture, this remarkable museum is ingeniously nestled within an expansive, abandoned stone quarry. The sheer craftsmanship and ingenuity displayed within this man-made marvel are nothing short of extraordinary, leaving visitors in a state of awe and disbelief. Exploring the museum's intricate stone formations and learning about its fascinating history is an experience that truly defies imagination!
Kim Kuenga — Google review
It’s the massive underground network of caverns with more than 20,000 square meters of open space. Its scale is equivalent to Metropolitan Area Outer Waterway in Saitama, which is another place I would recommend. For 800 yen it’s very much worth visiting as it will give you an one of a kind experience you can’t handle elsewhere.
Ryo Flying — Google review
A very large stone quarry of Oya stone, which is considered quite famous in Japan and is used in many important buildings around the country.
Matan Katz — Google review
This place is super unique. It’s basically a walk-through cave where they used to mine stones used in building, and it kind of looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. It’s underground, so it feels nice and cool during the hot summer. :) It’s also a short walk to some other cool historical areas such as the giant Buddha statue.
David Kellin — Google review
We Bsoluyely love visiting this quarry. It's about 50 deg F inside the quarry. The massive space and its history is a reflection of japanese craftsmanship. We highly recommend this place, especially in the summer.
Joseph Sosa — Google review
Great underground former digging place. Watch your steps. Isn't cold as some say.
Ninjitso — Google review
Pretty awesome place to pay a visit with family! Cool underground old stone mine, the temperature underground is cool and comfortable. The view here is pretty awesome, lots of movie and advertisements are filmed right here! It is definitely worth taking a visit here with family. There is a restaurant right in front of the mine entrance, so you can enjoy a meal or ice cream here nearby. We pretty love it!
Personal recommend: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Family-friendly: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Date for couples: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Parking lot: ◯ free
Services/meals/products/design: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Period for stay: 2-3 hours
Charge: adults 300 yen kids, free
Baby room/accessible toilet: ◯
Cleanness: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Shinkyō Bridge, a striking black-and-red bridge surrounded by dense forests known for their vibrant fall foliage, is widely regarded as one of Japan's top three bridges. It sits in a picturesque location with thick forests flanking the Daiya River below. Serving as an entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples, the bridge has a rich history dating back to feudal times when only the Shogun was permitted to cross it.
In Nikki there are a huge amount of sights and temples to see. Walk back Don and you will pass by the bridge that you can photograph from all directions. The picture perfect location with its bright red color against the lush green forest with the river running below and fish jumping out of the water while hunting.
Donatella Polizzi — Google review
Famous bridge. They charge you ¥300 to walk on it. You don't need to do that, you can get nice shots from the street.
📣tip: walk up the hill to kanaya hotel. On the right of the main building there is a garden and tiny path with a sign. Walk down the stairs, it's free and you don't need to be a guest. When you walk down you'll get all the way to the rivers edge where you'll get a great unique shot of the bridge.
Kevin Kwok — Google review
Since you're paying 300¥ for this, I expected a better restoration/maintenance over the bridge. There were unpainted zones, and a wooden floor over the sidewalk so it was impossible to had an experience as it was on the past. The shrine is just crossing the street but the fence is closed on the bridge side, so you have to make a U turn, to the entrance and then cross to the shrine.
Matias Sebastian Romero — Google review
One of the attraction spot in Nikko. Easily accessible by Bus using 2days Nikko pass.
Its has entry fee of 300¥ at the time but you cannot cross the bridge. Its only for tour and photo-shot. You can take pictures from outside and road too, so need to enter if you don’t have any historical values to Bridge. I think, it looks great in Autumn.
Rahul Bam — Google review
Very beautiful bridge, but also good enough to see from the bridge next to it. It's still nice to walk over the third most beautiful bridge in Japan
Gamory — Google review
The bridge and surrounding red leaf landscape are beautiful in autumn. There are so many tourists that it is difficult to take commemorative photos.
Phung Hoang Phi — Google review
Legend says that when the first head priest asked the mountain deities for a way to cross the Daiya river, two snakes appeared and transformed into the crimson bridge we see today.
There is an entrance fee if you want to walk and cross over on the bridge. It should be a great photospot if you are attired with props and all. Otherwise, taking a photograph from the modern bridge nearby will justify its beauty just as much. Admission closes at 3pm if I recall correctly.
Alvin Li — Google review
It was very beautiful and rests over the leanest running water I’ve ever seen…. I so wish we could walk all the ay to the sides of the bridge, but I understand for protective reasons why you walk on this mat type thing, it because of the barriers I couldn’t get the beautiful picture I wanted of this beautiful bridge. It was truly a beauty in the middle of this highway looking road.
NervousBunnyGaming — Google review
A quick photo spot if you are in Nikko. Not worth it to pay to cross the bridge as taking it by the street is so much nicer. There is no parking nearby so you have to park else where.
Celestine — Google review
Famous spot for most tourist who visit Nikko before they went up to enjoy the rest of attractions. Take a moment to enjoy the view at the bridge and encapsulate it in your moments at Nikko. This Iconic bridge remains well maintained and the vicinity was clean. I trust you will enjoy the view even more when it comes to autumn soon.
Reiko H — Google review
Small bridge with a mesmerizing view behind. It is the first station before heading up the stairs to see the shrines and temples or keep on walking down the road to the Kanmangafuchi Abyss.
Walking on the bridge requires a ticket, 300 yen, which is sold at the adjacent ticket booth .
Ilan Kader — Google review
When I first saw this bridge in person last fall, I was inside a bus. On April 9, 2024, my wife drove near it and asked me to capture an image of it. We have seen many red-painted bridges and this one was still so close but so far away from us.
Peter Kam Fai Cheung — Google review
Well it may seem strange but of all the sights of Japan this one has left a lasting impression. So small but just so beautiful as we walked from Joshuya Ryokan to the temples. The Bridge over the Daiya River is a sacred and is designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The bridge spans the Daiya River and connects the Futarasan Shrine with the Toshogu Shrine. It was originally built in the 8th century, but was destroyed by a flood in the 17th century. It was rebuilt in 1636 and has been preserved in its current form ever since. T
Ross Daniels — Google review
The bridge is beautifull to see and we understand they make you pay to civer maintenance. However it’s definetly not worth paying 300 yen to walk the bridge for some minutes. What more the pictures are best from the main bridge so you don’t really need to pay.
Carla Casino Vivas — Google review
Visited late Nov, the bridge is beautiful from the outside. Did not pay to enter the bridge. Continued the walk up to the Toshogu Shrine which was littered with beautiful autumn colours.
I find the least tiring way is to take the bus to Shinkyo bridge then visit the temples and walk downhill back to Nikko Station.
Henry W — Google review
Bridge walk experience is ¥300 for adults, ¥200 for teenagers and ¥100 for children
Autumn colors were good, but may be this weekend would be peak.
Good view of river flowing bridge and the colorful mountains behind.
Reshma Soiru — Google review
Such a beautiful spot for photographers and models or people who love nature. Went at the wrong time though. Should have gone during peak winter or during Autumn to see the true beauty.
Best time to visit: early November or late January- mid February (when it snows or after snow)
Mohan Babuji (zymuz) — Google review
4.1
(8270)
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4.0
(932)
Kamihatsuishimachi, Nikko, Tochigi 321-1401, Japan
Nikko Toshogu is a magnificent 17th-century shrine complex in Nikko, Japan, dedicated to the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. The temple's opulent and colorful buildings are adorned with intricate carvings, creating a palace-like courtyard that feels like another world. A must-see is the renowned Yomeimon Gate, celebrated as one of Japan's most beautiful gates.
It is a beautiful temple but if you are are visiting with a baby don't come with stroller. There are many steps to climb. Get a ergo baby or any inter carrier. You can get also for 1300 yen a your photo with temple background. They are providing also digital version with printing
Pelin Tozman — Google review
It's one of the most impressive shrines I've been to. Amazing architecture and detailing. The location is also beautiful and vast, there is plenty to see that's worth visiting for. There are several admission fees for the different temples/shrines, but overall, I think it was worth it.
Georgia Ramsamy (GG) — Google review
It has great trails to hike on sunny days. So many stores and restaurants on the way too where you could get refreshments or you may use the washrooms if you needed. Keep in mind as usual, there are no garbage bins in japan so you would have to carry your litter with you until you get to the station or home.
I recommend having sunblock with you because it's quite an exposed area and you need that protection.
Moe A — Google review
Went on a weekday just after the rain so no queue. A magnificent temple to worship the most famous army general, Ieyasu Tokogawa. The signs are clear. The site is well-managed and clean. Happy that we got to see this world heritage.
Gladys Houwen — Google review
This was just lovely after we passed the historic red bridge and began our exploration with Tosho-gu Shrine. It is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built in 1636. I try to imagine who was here a few hundred years ago.
Ross Daniels — Google review
One of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful shrines in Japan, having visited now for the second time. The historical significance of being the final resting place of Tokugawa, the shogun who unified Japan and brought about two hundred years of peace is incredible.
Adrian Rieck — Google review
The Toshogu shrine in Nikko is one of these historical landmarks you must see while in Japan. It is one of the most beautiful and revered places in Japan. It is situated in the Nikko natural park and is surrounded by a beautiful nature. Parking is between 600 yens and 1000 yens depending the place. The shrine entrance is about 1300 yens, I don't remember clearly.
TominJapan — Google review
Even during bad weather it was a breathtaking sight. It really feels like you’re entering a different world, especially with all the stairs. The price was very reasonable and even without the audio guide there is a lot of information presented in English.
You also get to see the „see nothing, hear nothing, say, nothing monkeys“ and other iconic statutes and imagery. Definitely a must-see spot
Robert Wawrzyniak — Google review
This is the most famous temple at Nikko and rightly so, for it is a treasure trove of lacquer work, wood carving and traditional architectural styles. There are a great variety of structures at the site, ranging from tombs to stables and ornately decorated gateways. The whole complex is surrounded by majestic cedars, which greatly contributes to the atmosphere. Entrance costs 1300 yen.
Raymond Lind — Google review
I didn’t get to take a picture of the red bridge which I was really looking forward to and one of the reasons why I booked this tour. So I’m pretty bummed. The trip felt was rushed. I still give 4 stars because the shrine was really wonderful. It was so big that takes more than just 1 hour and half. It wa raining that time too so better not come in the summer is was so hot and bipolar rain.
Iron Shine — Google review
Here is another World Heritage site for its masterpiece's architectural and decorative. Prepare for a long walk and many steps to cover all the shrines and temples around the area. To get to Inner Shrine Pagoda, you have to climb up another 200+ steps. Take your times and Enjoy!
Noppadol L. — Google review
I'm not big on shrines and temples but this was a nice visit. Entering the main shrine was surreal. You have to remove your shoes and keep your phone away. It was quiet even with all the visitors, and just imagining what it was like centuries ago is just a different experience altogether.
I went on a Monday afternoon, it wasn't crowded. A lot of locals and just a few chinese and western people. There are audio guides you can rent for 500 yen.
Rica Rica — Google review
The most beautiful temples I’ve visited in Japan so far. The protection of these buildings is immaculate and they weren’t burnt down in some fire and rebuilt in the 1900’s they are actually four hundred years old and are just taken care of and repainted very well. I could feel the history breathing in and out of this place. Tokugawa’s treasures were well kept and I just can’t describe in clear words how happy that I, a history lover, was to to be able to touch and be so close to something so old and well taken care of for the public. I think Tokugawa would be proud at how many people love and respect his family’s heirlooms and resting places.
NervousBunnyGaming — Google review
Of all the shrines and temples I've visited in Japan, this could be one of the most beautiful I've seen. Set amidst the lush greenery in the mountains of Nikko, the intricate and elaborate construction and design is really awe inspiring. It really helps to put into clarity how much Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu is revered as a deity by the locals.
Johnathan Tan — Google review
December 2021 the main gate was still under construction :( sad but this shrine is still worth visiting, amazing sights and colors. Admission is worth it. You can easily spend 2 hours here.
Kevin Kwok — Google review
Definitely worth the entry fee and trouble getting here. Highly recommended to visit here if you're staying in Tokyo. This is the best temple you can see from Tokyo without going half way across the country. Origin of the three wise monkeys, has a lovely pagoda. You can pay with an IC card. Very intricate carvings and painting in a fantastic gold and black color scheme. There are details everywhere you look. There is a photoservice that also takes a picture with your phone for free. The inner part can only be entered without shoes and no pictures can be taken inside the building. The steep stone steps to the northern part of the temple become extremely slippery when wet.
Tobias La? — Google review
You can purchase the entrance ticket on the spot. I would recommend visiting this temple. It covers a wide area and has a lot of architecture to look at. It can be a bit challenging to walk around, especially when the ground is wet, so do be careful. Temple closes on time, so don't be late.
Lea L — Google review
A beautiful shrine with lots to see, definitely worth a visit. Quite a lot of walking with steps so be aware if you have trouble getting around. It was very busy especially with groups of school children so a weekend visit might be quieter. Unfortunately, the day we visited we had torrential rain so not great.
Moira Rathbone — Google review
Amazing experience.
Take your time and explore
Be prepared to walk up steep steps. It’s not easy to get to some of the places. If you have issues with steps, might be better to wait at the bottom.
James F — Google review
One of the best. I loved the calm atmosphere, large trees, and minimal tourists. Maybe I was early at 930AM? It was perfect to take my time, take photos, and explore all sites.
Kimi Lucy — Google review
The temple complex comprises several temple areas, each of which requires a separate entrance fee. Nikkō Tōshogū is the most popular, the most expensive, and the largest. Tickets must be purchased from a machine, which accepts cash, Suica card, and credit card. All other temple areas have cashiers to handle ticket sales.
We spent approximately two hours visiting three paid areas. My favorite was Nikkō Tōshogū, followed by Taiyu-in Temple and Nikko Futarasan jinja Haiden.
The ticket to Nikkō Tōshogū included a second ticket for entry to a building. They gather you into a group, as the guides explain the exhibits in Japanese only. At the end, the guide clapping two wooden sticks together to produce a surprisingly loud but crisp echo within the building, something about sending wishes to the dragon in the sky. We had almost forgotten about the second ticket until we heard the pleasant sound and followed it to the building.
At the Taiyu-in Temple, visitors can purchase a ticket for admission to the temple only, or a combination ticket that also includes admission to the Nikkozan Rin’nōji Temple, which was not particularly interesting. The Taiyu-in temple was intricate and worth the visit.
We drove to the temple and paid 700 yen to park our car in one of the 3-4 parking lots. You can take a bus from town for 300 yen one way per person.
The map may give the impression that the temples are a considerable distance apart, but in reality they are quite close. Walking between them did not take a long time, but visiting the interior of each building took up the majority of our time.
This is truly a beautiful UNESCO site.
Janet Harr — Google review
Very beautiful place. There are many marvelous carvings, statues, buildings...etc. It has display boards with English translation giving introduction and special features of these items. Do not rush, take your time to watch.
Rasanja Ranasinghe — Google review
It's beautiful and interesting at the same time. Very beautifully decorated shrine. We went on a weekend and just before the New year came so it was really crowded. It was quite hike though, it was a long stair. Lol
Natasha Tagle — Google review
No wonder this is considered 1 of the most important places in Japan. The artistry and beauty of this shrine is amazing. It is truly a place to visit and admire the craftsmanship of an awesome culture.
Justin Ewing — Google review
It was such a treat to be able to enjoy this wonderful historical site. Many beautiful buildings with gold leaf and carvings and colorful designs with flowers and animals and such. Many stairs to climb with varied heights involved. The shines were impressive going back to the first Shogun in his honor!
Fukuroda Falls is a renowned natural wonder in Japan, often considered one of the country's top three waterfalls. Its impressive 120-meter height and 73-meter width are divided into four levels, offering breathtaking views. The site features a tunnel leading to viewing platforms and an elevator to the top, making it easily accessible for visitors. Throughout the year, Fukuroda Falls showcases different forms of beauty, from vibrant autumn foliage to a spectacular frozen ice fall in winter.
Very beautiful place. The falls are amazing! Note: There can be a lot of walking to make it up to the Summit, so wear some good walking shoes!!
F Hunt — Google review
Nice Water falls just walking 300 m tunnel. Great view. Elevator to next level with majestic view.
Euk Taa — Google review
Heeeeey guys.
Here is big shutout for fukuroda water fall🌊 🍂
First there is have to parking areas with free above 1km far away.also have parking near the fall but you must be pay 500yen for it.
Then you go to the fall the ticket price 300yen for one adult.
There is lots of shops for eat and buy something memorable
Fall is so beautiful either it's winter
There is lights there r gave the way to waterfall
We can see fall 3 or 4 places clearly also you can take photos.i think fukuroda water falls beauty come with nature in September and October
I recommend this beautiful place with very friendly nice staff...
Go and fell that nature's beautiful feeling
,❤️👏🎇
Nimeshika Madushani Weerathunga — Google review
I love the uniqueness of this falls.
Unlike the other falls I've visited, on your way there, you'd have to go inside the cave and at the end of it is the magnificent waterfalls which had parts of it frozen during winter!
Another surprise was some people were climbing the icy falls.
Zoom in on 1 of the pictures... yep, those in the picture are huge hard-rock ice with people in it!
Breughel Macabuhay — Google review
This is a must-go tourist attraction here in Ibaraki. One of the nice falls that can be seen here. Its quiet far though so, you need a car or private ride for you to get there. There is an entrance fee here. They have two observatory viewpoint. One facing in the middle of the falls and one on its top view. The falls is really enchanting.
Ardith Telewik — Google review
Great outdoor waterfall, kid friendly hiking. Many tourists shops and delicious food. Enjoy the local apple pies 🤤
Martin Casco — Google review
The falls were lovely but not majestic. I think we should have waited for rain
Vern Seebara — Google review
Absolutely beautiful place. We visited on golden week first week of may. Not crowded area, fresh air and wonderful views .
Rahul Sk — Google review
It's a breath taking place. Picturesque. nice if you visit this time of Autumn. You can find the falls in a mountainous area of Ibaraki.You can also see there a tunnel of colorful dancing lights, a hanging bridge. You must visit there. It has a entrance fee for only ¥300 that time. I don't know now. Thanks.
juicy tacatani — Google review
It's a nice spot to go and be with the nature with lovely attraction of water fall. It's an amazing place to be with anyone. You can also enjoy the fish tandoori in shops there. It's really delicious.
Naresh Kumar — Google review
One of the popular tourist attractions of Ibaraki prefecture.There is an entrance fees of ¥300 (¥50 discount for JAF members) and one can reach the observatory through a tunnel. There is a second observation post on a upper level accessed through a elevator. Return can either be through the tunnel or the old walkway after crossing a suspension bridge. There is a free public car park approx 1 km away or one can park at many of the privately owned car parks that charge ¥300~¥500 a day or for 2 hours in busy seasons. Some shops would give you discount coupons , so your parking fees can be adjusted when you buy some souvenir from the shop
Naresh Deora — Google review
The place were beautifully lighted and decorated and the walkways are improved and easier for children and elderly people.
Cristobal R — Google review
We have visited the falls during the winter and fall you could enjoy the different scenery every season.. for 300 or 350yen entrance fee it is worth visiting with family and friends.. they were renovating the tunnel when we first visited the place but the 2nd time it was all done and was amazing..
Arisa Kobayashi — Google review
Fukuroda Falls in Ibaraki is a breathtaking natural wonder that leaves visitors in awe of its majestic beauty. As a nature enthusiast, I was eager to explore this renowned waterfall, and it exceeded all expectations.
Located in Daigo, Ibaraki, Fukuroda Falls is renowned for its four-tiered cascade, standing at an impressive height of 120 meters and stretching 73 meters wide. The sheer force of the water as it tumbles down the rugged cliff creates a mesmerizing spectacle, particularly during the lush greenery of spring or the vibrant foliage of autumn.
The viewing platforms strategically placed around the falls offer panoramic vistas, allowing visitors to marvel at the mesmerizing flow from different angles. The sound of rushing water and the refreshing mist that caresses your skin add to the immersive experience.
During my visit, I took a leisurely stroll along the well-maintained walking paths that meander through the surrounding forest. The peaceful ambiance and the harmonious blend of nature's sights and sounds created a serene escape from the bustling city life.
Fukuroda Falls is a year-round destination, each season offering a unique charm. Whether you visit during the blossoming cherry blossoms of spring, the verdant greens of summer, the fiery hues of autumn, or the serene icicles of winter, the falls never fail to captivate and enchant.
In conclusion, Fukuroda Falls in Ibaraki is a natural wonder that should be on every traveler's bucket list. Its awe-inspiring beauty, surrounded by the tranquility of nature, makes it an ideal destination for those seeking a serene escape and a memorable encounter with one of Japan's most beautiful waterfalls.
Ngọc Phan — Google review
4.3
(12083)
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4.5
(541)
3-19 Fukuroda, Daigo, Kuji District, Ibaraki 319-3523, Japan
Nasu Kogen Minamigaoka Dairy is a delightful destination to spend quality time with loved ones. The ranch offers numerous activities such as feeding horses and donkeys, petting rabbits, fishing, and even archery for an affordable price. The dairy on the premises serves excellent food and delicious ice cream making it a perfect spot for lunch. During winter months, the farm remains open to visitors who can enjoy snow photography and purchase souvenirs while relishing their famous pudding.
Dec 27, 2021
The farm is open to the public but most restaurants are closed and few animals can been seen from the outside.
You can go there just to take some snow pics and buy souvenir.
Their pudding is very famous and tasty. Recommended that you get one.
To Mo — Google review
Great milk ice cream in the cafe, cute small animal play pen area! Got to see horses and donkeys too.
Musho Pea — Google review
A really nice experience to see a ranch, they have plenty of activities to spend the time with family and/or friends. Among those, feeding donkeys and horses, petting a rabbit, fishing, etc., They also have a small archery field where you can have the experience for only ¥700! Really worth trying!
The dairy is excellent, and the ice cream is really delicious. You can also have lunch here!
Pleasant place for a Saturday or Sunday
Diana Gómez — Google review
This place is a lot of fun. It’s free to enter and there’s lots to see and do. You do have to pay for each experience but if you wanted to, you could just walk around and not spend anything. Our toddler loved this place; he fished for trout, rode a horse and a donkey and ate some really great soft serve ice cream. Would definitely come back here!
Kenji Onozawa — Google review
Really good day out with plenty of activities to introduce your children to farm animals. Milk and ice-cream were great too!
Atif Khan — Google review
Very peaceful and pacific farm where you can find a lot of animals if you come around this area and if you are looking for the place where you can get relaxed with the family this is the place highly recommendable to visit. Good destination for family excursion! And here they have a good produce of milk that you can buy in the souvenir shop.
Jun Amano — Google review
Free visit with free parking ....
Lot of diary product ... can’t stop having ... enjoy guys
Neparujin family in Japan — Google review
not so big farm, but nicely maintenance.
Cabala Feng — Google review
Nice place which you can enter for free with your dog and walk around. Although only one restaurant (bbq) is allowed with pets.
- Ymg — Google review
4.0
(3001)
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4.0
(515)
579 Yumoto, Nasu, Nasu District, Tochigi 325-0301, Japan
Ouchi-juku is a preserved post town that showcases charming Edo-period buildings along its main street. This historical landmark offers an authentic experience of old small village life in Japan, complete with traditional houses and friendly locals. The atmosphere is peaceful and calming, providing a glimpse of the past. Be sure to try the famous soba dish, which is eaten using scallions as chopsticks, as well as other tasty Japanese snacks like tochi-mochi and fried mochi.
Lots of fun old fashioned Japanese snacks/street food to try! Lovely buildings, great place for a stroll. Shops are all located owned and run so they kind of set their own hours. Between 11am to 4pm is probably when most shops are open, but some may open sooner or later depending on the day.
Reagan B — Google review
A historic village popular with tourists and locals. There is a large parking area just across the street but there’s a fee for parking. The street itself is only one walking path and many stores are not even open. You can expect to spend about 1-2 hours here. There is nothing much to see. The view is also quite normal so I would recommend you to go only if you have time or you’re passing by.
Celestine — Google review
One of the traditional villages in Japan. Not too many visitors, you can enjoy it very much. Walk up to the observation deck and you will have great view for the whole picture of the village.
Chris CHEUNG — Google review
Experience old small village life in Japan.
The traditional houses, smile of oba-chan, and chatting with neighbours, brings you to the feeling of peaceful old days. It's truly cozy, warm and calming.
Try famous soba which you eat with scallion as kind of chopsticks! There are some yummy Japanese snacks including tochi-mochi and fried mochi (age-mochi.
The area itself is not so big but there is a nice walk (about 10 mins) up to the hill (a great photo spot). Parking available at 500 JPY.
Aya Murakami — Google review
The view would have been fantastic during winter. Now in early May, I wouldn't come to the area by train just for this. I went up the view point and browsed the shops within 45mins. If you had a meal then perhaps a little longer. Suggest to also stop by Tonohetsuri.
Monica C — Google review
It was an OK experience. Nothing bad but also nothing amazing. It was nice to see the history of this place and walk up the street to see the shops and restaurants, but at the same time, I feel like it is quite empty from the inside since there isn't much to do besides a few photos and some shopping of time that aren't even special to the town it self. I wouldn't suggest this place to a friend, but I would say that this place is available if they had extra time on their plate.
Tir Irani — Google review
The ancient village … There is a souvenir shop, a sake shop… The day I travelled, the weather was bad…The walkway is full of ice, making it slippery. A moment that should be immersed in the surrounding beautiful atmosphere.
Natthajak San — Google review
So beautiful place..I love it soo much .I went there on summer too ,but I find it much nicer on winter..For me it's like a winter wonderland
Glenda Agustin — Google review
It's a popular tourist spot. From the large parking lot (parking fee is 500 Yen), cross the road and walk up to the observation platform and then back. The old houses are on both sides. If you wish to try the soba with spring onions as chopsticks at the founding shop Misawaya, prepare to queue up and wait. It is not really a photographic place for fall foilage. 1105
So Jo Urn — Google review
Rich in culture and very unique items and fare. Everyone is very friendly and the negi soba is a great experience. We tried many different Sake and Shochu and picked up a few bottles of different varieties at very reasonable prices. There was lots of parking when we arrived and it was easy to navigate the wide walkways. There are multiple restrooms available and we found great places to sit and rest. A great experience 👍
Chad Middlesworth — Google review
The ancient houses looks very good in the evening. They are now function as Omiage stores, restaurant and hotels. Lots of tourist on weekends so it's very crowded.
Saurabh Sutradhar — Google review
A beautiful little village set out and built traditonally. The surounds are stunning and the people so warm and welcoming. There are a lot of little shops to look at and plently of small restaurants serving really nice food; mainly soba noodles.
It is a perfect place for a day trip. We opted to stay overnight which would not have been worth it had our hosts not been so amazing and our room so warm and comfortable.
Micah Kujawski — Google review
I had a lot of fun here with my friends. I enjoyed the snow man making, snow festival, fireworks and foods for sure . The village is beautiful, Japanese people there are nice too. It was a kind of experience!
Enzo Wong — Google review
The view in winter is wonderful when there is snow.
It can get slippery so make sure to wear non slip shoes in winter.
There is only a single bus from the local station (Yunokamionsen) so access is a little limited but there is a taxi available for around 2500 yen one way.
If you come here I suggest you also visit Tonohetsuri station and check out the river, Ouchi juku is not that large so you can check out the entirety of the village in an hour.
thebigwarthog — Google review
Difficult for access with myself, train and bus has limit per day. Need good plan prior if you no need missing bus and train go there. JR East not cover Aizu line, need paid 2,200 per two way from Aizukawamatsu-Ouchi juku.
Narong V — Google review
After parking at Ouchi-juku Parking Lot nearby, My family and I come over an Edo style village, once the center of a walking route where samurai used to rest. There is no admission. We try Negi Soba, using giant scallion stalks to scoop up soba noodles and eat with chopsticks.
We buy local products such as cloth dolls, pottery, cotton, red cow dolls, called Akabeko (symbol of the city) There are various shops setting tables for sitting and resting. They even serve free tea service when we buy snacks from them. Villagers are nice and very welcome.
We walk to the back of the village and climb up to Ouchi-juku View Point
Piyawat B — Google review
A small former postal town from the Edo period with the traditional thatched roofs. Went in December, so the snow covered village was quaint, but several shops closed. Was happy to try some negi soba (green onion soba), and wander through the few temples in the quiet of the snow. The cat in the photo was the friendliest and softest cat there is, so if you see him do stop for a scratch: you'll find you can't stop smiling after.
Ambra Dickie — Google review
4.2
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4.0
(682)
Ouchi, Shimogo, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima 969-5207, Japan
Tsuruga-jō is a reconstructed castle, resembling a 14th-century structure that provides picturesque views and encompasses five floors of historical exhibits. The museum offers insights into the region's crucial role in the country's history for hundreds of years, including its significance as the last fortress of the old regime. Visiting on a rainy Monday morning meant no lines or wait times, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this area's past.
It’s basically a five story museum with a really nice view at the top. I learned a lot about the local history. I had no idea how important and strategic this region was for the country for hundreds of years. I also didn’t know that it was kind of the last hold out of the old regime. I came in on Monday morning when it was raining so there was no line and no wait. I’m really glad I spent a few hours here. I learned a lot and would happily recommend it to anyone in the area. Not sure how it is on the weekends once the cherry blossoms start to bloom but I can say for sure that in early April on a weekday it is a must see destination.
Vince Prep — Google review
This castle is one of the plain looking ones that I’ve been to but it does look elegant. You won’t need to spend too much time here, maybe just an hour. There is a gift shop at the castle where you can buy some souvenirs. There is also parking nearby.
Celestine — Google review
戊辰戦争の地、鶴ヶ城でいかに激しい戦闘だったのかがよくわかる。駐車場がわかりやすく、本丸奥あります。石垣の壁を越えてお堀の中に入り、また石垣を越えてその奥に駐車場がある。この段々城に入っていく流れがいい。このような石垣内の堀の中にある駐車場は数少ない。そこから徒歩で数分で場内に入れます。最上階からの眺めも大変いいです。戊辰戦争の説明は、詳しく、会津藩の立場がよくわかります。戊辰戦争は、なぜ起きたのかと、読む人の胸に迫ったくる。会津藩出身の偉人が明治期に入って多数輩出されたことの説明もあり、明治期の日本の勉強になる。城主が、保科から松平に姓が変わった背景にも説明してあった。
(Translated by Google)
You can clearly see how fierce the battle was at Tsuruga Castle, the site of the Boshin War. The parking lot is easy to find and is located at the back of the main enclosure. Go over the stone wall and enter the moat, then cross the stone wall again and there is a parking lot behind it. I like the flow of entering the castle step by step. There are only a few parking lots like this inside the moat inside the stone wall. From there, you can enter the venue in a few minutes on foot. The view from the top floor is also very nice. The explanation of the Boshin War is detailed and makes it easy to understand the position of the Aizu clan. The reader will be struck by the question of why the Boshin War occurred. There is also an explanation that many great people from the Aizu domain were produced during the Meiji period, and this is a great way to study Japan during the Meiji period. It also explains why the castle lord changed his surname from Hoshina to Matsudaira.
トオルイカラシ — Google review
One of the 100 famous castles. Located in the city, it is easily accessible. From the parking lot in the moat, it is a short walk up Umezaka to the castle tower. The vast grounds of the palace ruins and the location of the castle tower are excellent. Starting from the salt storehouse inside the stone walls, you can view the historical documents on each floor before heading to the top floor. You can see Mt. Iimoriyama.
Youji Nomo — Google review
When visiting the castle in the early morning we had a great time. With a permission we could fly our drone around the castle and inside we could enjoy the detailed museum without crowds. The content explanation is in Japanese but also various other languages like English and Chinese, so many people can enjoy it
Japan meine Liebe (Sayu) — Google review
The castle looks fantastic at night with the spotlights on during the autumn season. In comparison, the day views of the fall foliage in the Tsurugajo City Park are more appealing. Parking fees are 300 Yen for 2 hours. Or, it takes about 30 minutes (2.8km) to walk from the Aizuwakamatsu Station. 1105-06
So Jo Urn — Google review
One of the pretty decent castle in Japan. Not as nice as osaka castle but very similar in size and shape. Did not get to enter but just looking at the surrounding area from the outside. You just need to pay for parking for 300 yen. Need to buy another ticket to enter. We arrived late at 4pm. Places starting to close but we are allowed to wonder around outside the castle.
Budiyono Ong — Google review
鶴ヶ城
🐶ワンちゃんも入城できますが、お城の中まで、入れません。
🏯お城の周りをのんびりと散歩できます。
🏯有料駐車場があります。
🏯会津の有名なお城
🏯お城は、改装が終わり綺麗になっています。
😊 白虎隊で有名なお城
(Translated by Google)
Tsuruga Castle
🐶Dogs can also enter the castle, but they cannot go inside the castle.
🏯You can take a leisurely walk around the castle.
🏯There is a paid parking lot.
🏯Famous castles in Aizu
🏯The castle has been renovated and is now beautiful.
😊 Castle famous for Byakkotai
katsu Katsu — Google review
It was a really nice place to go have a look around. The tickets were more than fairly priced and castle grounds themselves were extremly neat and well cared for. The history of the castle was very interesting and well presented. I had a really nice time.
Its a shame that so many tourists around japan are rude, especially at tourist attractions.
Micah Kujawski — Google review
Don’t need to buy ticket in advance. From outside, it looks beautiful but inside is a bit disappointed. I expect to see how did the Lord live in the past, for example how did they eat and work. Inside is just a list of history events.
V? Minh Th?ng — Google review
The outside of the castle is beautiful. The museum inside is well made, but I don't know if it's worth it if you don't speak japanese. Very few of the information were translated in english.
Sophie Solioz — Google review
Beautiful grounds. Not much English written on the descriptions inside the castle so you might want to read ahead to have an overview of what happened. 30 minutes walk from Aizuwakamatsu station. There’s also a tour bus with single tickets 270 yen or a day pass 600 yen that stops at the main tourist sites.
Nicole Carr — Google review
2023.11
新潟からワンコと共に。
🅿️西側の駐車場、舗装はされてない🅿️で料金は300円。
反対側の方が舗装されてる駐車場が有ります。
城内は無料で、お城の中に入るのに料金がかかります。
城内には、自販機や茶屋が有ります。
紅葉時期なので、けっこうなお客さん。
また、🌸春にでも来たいですね。
(Translated by Google)
2023.11
With a dog from Niigata.
🅿️The parking lot on the west side is not paved🅿️ and the fee is 300 yen.
There is a paved parking lot on the opposite side.
Admission to the castle is free, but there is a fee to enter the castle.
There are vending machines and a tea shop inside the castle.
Since it's the autumn leaves season, there are quite a few customers.
I would like to come again in the spring.
かずよ — Google review
The castle was opened at night from 3/2-10/2 for winter festival. Tickets were sold on site without a queue. It was a completely different experience with lights up compared to daytime. There was a mini festival with food stalls and an area for people to eat. Amazing place to visit!
Venus Lee — Google review
It was really pleasant walking around the Castle grounds and admiring the Castle's magnificence. Luckily for us the weather was unseasonably warm and dry with sunshine.
Inside the Castle itself there is lots of historical information and plenty in English too, all wonderfully presented. We learnt an extensive amount about the Castle, the Boshin War, the Byakkotai and more. It was quite an emotional journey through history.
The gift shop was well stocked with souvenirs, foods, sake and other drinks.
Jenny D — Google review
Very beautiful castle for an Autumn visit. I also believe in Spring it is surrounded by cherry blossoms. Included in the ticket price for the castle is entry to the tea ceremony garden, where for an extra 800 yen you can actually have some tea and dessert. What really disappointed me about this castle was the lack of translation available. That sounds so pretentious going to a foreign country and expecting English everywhere, but the Japanese government wants to encourage tourism outside of the major cities. Through the castle grounds most signs had English, Chinese and Korean (as well as Japanese of course). But inside the castle was only Japanese. I love history, and the history of this castle is very interesting, but trying to Google translate every single thing is annoying. Even if I could purchase an audio guide I would be happy. At the end of the day I would definitely still go. I also timed it badly as I thought I could go to the museum next to it for a bit more info of the area, but I didn’t realize it closes on Monday.
Thomas Cullen — Google review
Beautiful and easy to reach by bus. Great for cherry blossom viewing & has a really awesome gift shop!
Celi Reeder — Google review
Really scenic place, good for an afternoon walk around the area before picking up some souvenirs and moving to your next destination. You can also go to the top of the castle with a small entry fee.
Russell Huang — Google review
Beautiful place. Base of the castle is still remaining and most of the other parts are renewed. Lot of historical items are divided floor wise and showed in a nice order. Some of the ruins, old stories and etc. photos are not allowed inside. View of city from the top floor is very beautiful.
Entrance fee is ¥520.
Chaminda Madugalle — Google review
4.2
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4.0
(979)
1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima 965-0873, Japan
Goshikinuma Ponds is a charming destination that showcases a sequence of lakes. These bodies of water were formed by volcanoes and are widely known for their varying hues. It's an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll, particularly on a sunny weekday as it offers hassle-free access from the parking lot situated at both ends. For added convenience, visitors can take the bus back to the trailhead after hiking one way for 250.
Absolutely beautiful hiking spot. You can easily walk along multiple lake on foot. Round trip to the parking spot can be adult done in 2hrs or less. No need to have heavy hiking gear and can be done with small children too. There are few boat rental and cafe and restaurant too. Parking was free. Totally recommended.
Sayaka S — Google review
A great walk on a sunny weekday, easy access from the free parking lot on either end. We hiked one way and took the bus back to the trail head for ¥250. We ate a delicious lunch at the west entrance, highly recommend the Aizu sauce katzu cutlet
Our 9 year old daughters did the hike without difficulty. Lovely boardwalks protecting the marsh lands and gave perfect photo platforms. Beautiful temperature compared to the valley. 100% recommend it for families or really anyone.
The visitor center at the other end of the trail was great, but not a lot of English interpretation. Clean bathroom!
Gillian Wackowski — Google review
Really awesome view. There is a 4km trail people can walk in the woods and alongside the lakes. Would love to walk more but there is still snow in early April so make sure you wear the right boots.
Eunice Huang — Google review
I went in winters, January start - it was snow everywhere. The autumn colors were obviously not seen. I saw something different. The place is totally a hidden trek during this time, no one to be seen around and the bus timings are with long gaps. Just look at the view - Photos are not black and white. I saw the bear sign late and nobody was there and the heavy snow was falling from the trees, it made me ache. Follow here in autumn season for the fun. Wil be going back again, it was beautiful with the frozen lakes too.
Kanishk Pipariya — Google review
Absolutely stunning hiking trail in winter. The snow makes the area stunning. And walking through the snow with snow boots(needs rental of wide racket like shoes) is great. Doing the entire trail is better than returning after slight ventures into either end. Snow is deep in winter and boots/guide is mandatory. We did it without a guide.
Check beforehand if the visitor centre is open or not. We had to rent from a far away shop. Taxis can be booked from the nearby kankou centre.
Sutirtha Das — Google review
Great little hike, two and a half hours return even if you walk and photos slowly, very Beautiful if you come in fall season, overflow parking is very close to the entrance, so no need to wait your parking at the main lot.
Somonica Sa — Google review
A round trip will take around 2 hours, but you can turn around mid-way as well. Quite peaceful and beautiful, definitely recommend.
Viraf Patrawala — Google review
Beautiful place to hike, especially in the fall, although it gets crowded during the peak season. The lakes have some of the biggest koi fish I have ever seen.
N M — Google review
Scenic lakes pepper this 1.5 hour, 2.5 mile hike. The trail is fairly easy and wide, though muddy in places if it has recently rained. I recommend parking at the 裏磐梯高原駅(バス停) bus stop and taking the ¥250 ride to 五色沼入口駅(バス停). From there, you can begin the hike and eventually end up back at your car. Great way to spend a morning!
Jacob Shuart — Google review
If you are an able body you should do this beautiful wander. It’s not for wheelchairs or prams. Every season has something to offer. It’s well serviced with tourist cafes at either end. There is a lot of info about the volcano on signs and online.
Anand OHara (Anand) — Google review
4.5
(1891)
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4.5
(613)
Kengamine Hibara, Kitashiobara, Yama District, Fukushima 966-0501, Japan
The Okama crater lake is a stunning attraction located on the summit of an active volcano. Accessible by road, hiking trail, or ski lift, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of nearby mountains and natural surroundings. It is recommended to visit on a sunny day and climb the trail to reach the top. A restaurant serving delicious foods like sausages, nikumaki, and edamame ice cream is also available on site.
Unforgettable experience! 😍
I recommend going on a sunny day to climb the trail.
On the top, there is a restaurant that serves delicious foods, like sausages, nikumaki and edamame ice cream.
Aleth?ia Hori — Google review
arrived okama carpark
pay ¥550 toll for fee 100m road to carpark
had a great view of okama
we walked along the stretch of unpavrd rocky path to see okama from different angle quite a long walk about 3km 1hr40mins with lots of photo stops and rest
3.11.2023
chefquak — Google review
One of the nice place. You can see all mountain near by. You can see wide view of sky, cloud, mountain. Parking available.
Dr. Rashedul Islam — Google review
There will be a sunny day at the foot of the mountain but a completely different weather on the top.
Suggest arriving here before the noon.
Yue — Google review
I’ve skied at Zao several times, but this was my first summer visit. I have always wanted to hike and see Okama, and I would recommend this spot if you can. We drove up in a personal vehicle, but there are hiking trails and a chair lift a bit below the uppermost parking lot if you’re not driving. We also saw some cyclists biking up! There are many great hikes around, and of course, you can see the famous snow monsters without their snow!
Mary — Google review
May be 20+ times at this place, but whenever you come, nature will welcome you open arms,
Avoid 11am - 3 pm time, that time I found it always cloudy & you can't see anything.
Sanjeev Kumar (Sanju) — Google review
It was very cold and raining on this place. We could only see the lake for just a moment.
Saurabh Sutradhar — Google review
Fantastic view on top of mountain including the way coming up. the closed time is a bit early so may need to be aware.
Visit around noon in autumn, but still cold with strong wind. Better get prepared before visit.
Chelsea Chen — Google review
It's not often you can get views like these, especially of two prefectures at once. It takes a while to get up here, but I think it's worth the effort. The crater itself is so cool; we saw it still half frozen over during Golden Week. You can walk up pretty close to it, but if you come when there's still snow make sure you're dressed for it.
The shrine at the top is neat as well, and the gift shop has lots of cute stuff. Unfortunately, we didn't notice the shop closed around 3:45pm and missed our chance to go back in to grab souvenirs. If you come later in the day, make sure to stop in first, as the crater isn't going anywhere. If you come by car, be careful to leave before the gate closes, I believe at 5pm.
Rachel Boatwright — Google review
Amazing views. Public transportation access is not always available. But it is worthwhile.
Richard He — Google review
One of my favourite places in Japan so far. There is a free shuttle bus from Kaminoyama tourist information centre. Take the left hand trail to avoid the crowds and make sure you bring waterproof footwear if there is still snow!
Rachael — Google review
It's a great place to visit. Emerald lake in volcano crater looks so magic.Amazing view from top of mountain. But Weather may be really unpredictable.So be aware about it and ready for any case. There are many ways to reach the place:by car, by free shuttle, by rope way or hiking. Parking place usually gets full very quickly,it's better to come before 10am. Hiking courses to the Okama crater are very good for any age and conditions. Never have try so enjoyable course.
Marina Matyushina — Google review
One of the most beautiful crater in japan ... I went there on my birthday. Although the weather was cloudy, and it was my wish to see the crater even if it’s for a moment. And behold! My wish was granted ... I feel so lucky that sun shone so bright for a moment and I could get the glimpse of this beautiful crater and clicked several pics ...
later, it rained heavily there though. But it proved to be such a beautiful day. I will go again and again.
Manjit Grewal — Google review
4.5
(1715)
•
4.5
(404)
Japan, 〒989-0916 Miyagi, Katta District, Zaō, Togattaonsen, 倉石岳国有林内, 蔵王の御釜
Rissyakuji Temple, also known as Yamadera or the Mountain Temple, is a centuries-old Buddhist temple located on a mountaintop outside of Yamagata City. The temple was founded in the 9th century and has been visited by famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho. To reach the temple, visitors must climb 1,100 steps along a mountain path that offers panoramic views. The temple is especially beautiful during autumn when the leaves change color.
First of all. If it is winter, get GOOD SNOW SHOES. The past is extremely slippery to the extent you cannot stand straight if you wear normal shoes. Stairs are non existent and you will have to crawl up holding the rails. Unless you have good shoes. Coming down is bad no matter what. Just slide your way down without losing control. The free shoes they give at the base are useless. Both in terms if heat protection & grip.
The view from the side temple before the main area is amazing. The main temple is pretty meh. The side temple has a overlook area looking into the valley. It is stunning. Is it worth the death climb? Who knows. It was fun.
Sutirtha Das — Google review
This picturesque temple has become one of my favorite locations in Japan. The journey up the mountain requires you to climbs countless stairs but the statues, carvings, shrines, and nature that surround you make the impending cardiovascular explosion worth every step. Once you reach the top you are treated to an astonishingly beautiful view of the valley. I went in November and the trees were all showing their autumn splendor.
If you are able to make the hour long train ride from Sendai, then you should seize the opportunity to make a lasting memory at this magical temple.
Jason Camorlinga — Google review
Such stunning scenery! We went early in April and it was still snowing. Got here just before 8am where there is no one but just the locals. The climb was easy to the top and you're rewarded with an amazing view of Yamadera. Highly recommend coming here for a little stop, especially with a bit of snowfall in the morning.
Lex Xiao — Google review
Beautiful. You will climb up 1085 steps up, so be prepared. I came in early, so there were not many people, but the elderly who climbed up with me taught me what to do in some temples and shrines.
There is also an admission fee to go up. Amulets and other things are also sold at the top and downstairs.
Denisse Fernandez — Google review
Love this place! It was snowing but still possible to climb up the stairs to the top. Obviously need to be careful as steps could be slippery, but totally worth it for the view.
Norris C — Google review
Hiking through the cedar forest to see the various shrines is fun and provides some great views of the area! A few spots were under construction when we visited, but you were still able to see most of the different sights. Be prepared for walking as you will need to go up many steps to reach the top!
Mary — Google review
Don't be intimitated about the 1100 steps of stairs. Take your time and you will be rewarded. People say this is one of the most beautiful place to visit and experience in Japan, yet it is so underappreciated. Perhaps it is a little hard getting to without a car, but the flip side is that it's not too crowded. Take your time, take frequent stops along the way, breath in the fresh air, enjoy and meditate on whatever spiritual journey that comes to you - it's a hugely and surprishgly rewarding experience.
People say it normally takes 1.5 hours to go up to the top and back down. I took a full 4 hours - it was right after a heavy rain so the air was so fresh and sweet. A few of the cherry trees were blooming. It was quite magical.
Oh, highly recommend taking a couple of hiking sticks with you. It really helped my old knees going up and down those steps.
Paul YYZ — Google review
The historic Rissyakuji temple complex atop of a mountain, with glorious views across the valley below. Wooden structures well trodden by the plentiful tourists, yet well maintained by the staff. Make a small donation and say a small prayer at the numerous shrines along the route.
Jason Chuei — Google review
Gather all your energy before coming here, must be well rested to enjoy the long stairway hike. Ahh 😳 summertime heat+humid will tire anyone out so easily ..
But but!!!.. baby it’s worth it 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼🥵🥰
Hazel — Google review
Beautiful temple set atop a mountain. I’ve been now in winter and autumn and so far don’t think the scenery can disappoint. Please be respectful when you go. Too many noisy people running around screaming. This is a sacred place, be quiet and calm.
Thomas Cullen — Google review
April 16th, 2024. Challenges and worthwhile to visit. Thousands steps to climb up. 😅😅 Very tired but very happy to go up around the forest and Japanese style sculpture amongst the way.
Banyen Sae-Lee — Google review
Absolutely stunning in the winter. The hike up is barely 30 mins, but slippery so hiking boots + crampons recommended.
Viraf Patrawala — Google review
It takes ~30 minutes to hike up the stairs very slowly with breaks, so it's a definitely on the easier side of moderate hikes at least in fall with better temperatures to keep cool. I would not come here in summer. The sweeping views were great at the top, and I saw a Japanese serow on my hike up! Fall foliage was already well past peak.
Tori H — Google review
Beautiful temple on top of the hill in Yamagata.
The access is super easy. Only a couple of minutes of walking from the station to the entrance.
Only 20 minutes are required to reach the top. You will be rewarded with an amazing view of Yamagata city once you reach the top.
Entrance fee of ~200 yen is required to enter.
Hadid Windoro — Google review
Amazing shrine/temple with a quiet little town to walk around. I rode the train from Sendai to Yamadera, which took about an hour, and got there at about 1:30PM. The train ride was not crowded, and takes a really cool route through mountain forests and past some small stations.
Unfortunately, I arrived in Yamadera just as about 3 or 4 busloads of tourists unloaded, so the walk up the mountain was slow and crowded. Once at the top, it was again crowded and full of people taking selfies and glamour poses, which killed any kind of peacefulness that I was seeking. I went back down to the start and waited it out a bit; once all the other tourists departed, it was very nice and enjoyable and was able to wander around alone. The shops at the bottom are very quaint and sell souvenirs, and everyone was very friendly.
I highly recommend checking out Yamadera, but suggest going early in the morning or late afternoon to beat whatever crowds might show up. If you're staying in Sendai, it's a can't miss!
Justin Crowe — Google review
This is truly and amazing and unique experience. It’s not just one temple but a group of temples. Not to difficult to get to the top. From the train station it is an easy walk. ¥300 to enter. Very well kept and the views from the top are amazing. Set aside at least two hours to check out the whole complex.
Daniel Scott — Google review
This place is absolutely beautiful. The entrance fee (very cheap, around 500 yen if i recall correctly) and the long, hard climb is incredibly worth it. The views of the mountains are spectacular, and the best time to go is during fall leaves time. Everyone else knows this, though, so it may be a bit busy.
Unfortunately, it is completely inaccessible to those who can’t climb a lot of stairs.
Ethan M — Google review
Admission fee ¥300 for adult.
To reach the top you need to take the stairs and the view is mesmerising. Also, there are a few shops on top selling souvenirs.
Mualifah — Google review
Amazing place, I really recommend it, I was lucky to have a sunny day, but it was really cold. You have 1500 steps to go up crossing the forest, and then you will arrive in so many beautiful Temples and with an amazing view. The Shrine is unique.
Mari Palma — Google review
Located a short train travel away from Yamagata station via the train headed towards Sendai.
I visited as a little spot of sightseeing following some climbing the previous day. There are 1,000 steps to ascend so I would recommend footwear that is appropriate, as well as bring along some form of hydration as there is only one vending machine near the top.
The view from the pagoda at around the 800 step mark offers a pleasant panorama of the Yamadera area.
The entrance fee is just 300 yen, located at the foot of the mountain as a part of the main shrine.
AJT — Google review
Such a beautiful temple in the hills of Yamadera, 100% worth the journey from Sendai as even the train ride had some stunning views.
The hike up to the top was stunning and was quite easy (although someone was throwing up from exhaustion) and the view from the top was also amazing.
Definitely recommend bringing a snack to reward yourself at the top as I did since it makes it so much better.
Pracso Gamings — Google review
Nothing to not love. Easy hike up, 40 minutes slowly, with beautiful views. Autumn colors even in spring. Do it!
Richie Henry — Google review
Check for snowfall/snow accumulation before coming in winter. Without snow, it's a lot less impressive with all the dead trees, even on a sunny day. The steps are well defined and easy to walk on (about 1000+!)
Shalom Alexandra — Google review
Highlight of our driving holiday!
The hike actually only takes no more than 30-45 minutes and the scenery is definitely worth it!
Mickey Cheng — Google review
Beautiful venue to watch Autumn foliage. About 1,000 steps up to this temple on a mountain. Worth the visit if you are in Tohoku region. Don't forget to have some soba and soft cream while here.
Livvy Tan — Google review
8.3.24 many buildings are covered with plastic panels due to renovations, but still beautiful. The ice on the stairs was quite bad, we managed, but several older people fell. The couple that made it look effortless had those shoe spikes strapped on. 2 hours between train arrival and departure was the perfect amount of time for us
Michal Turcel — Google review
I've always wanted to visit Yamadera, the thousand-year-old mountain temple 350 kilometers (220 miles) from Tokyo. Basho, one of Japan's most famous haiku poets, even wrote about it. Climbing the 1,015 stone steps to the summit was worth it for the spectacular views. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to visit again, but I'm so glad I did.
Ryo Flying — Google review
I came during winter, and braved the slippery, snowy, wet treacherous climb (then descent) to get to Yamadera. I was justly rewarded with beautiful views and the experience of having accomplished something special. It rained, then snowed, so I probably picked the worst weather, but the views are worthwhile seeing no matter the season. I couldn't access the closed trails but the rest of it was lovely.
After you finish your climb, you should definitely reward yourself with a hearty bowl of noodles at a nearby place. There's a restaurant with 4.5 stars on google maps at the foot of the mountain on the shopping street - I highly recommend it.
The JR local train is awfully infrequent - when you get to Yamagata station, go inside the shelter on the platform and learn the schedule so you can time yourself to catch your train. The trains towards Sendai are frequent enough, but going the opposite direction, only one arrives per hour.
Aoba Castle Honmaru Hall, also known as Sendai Castle, is a national historic monument located on a hilltop. Built 400 years ago by Date Masamune, it stands as a symbol of Sendai's prosperity. Although the original castle no longer exists, visitors can still see remnants such as the outer stone walls and guard tower. The site offers spectacular views of the city and on clear days, even the Pacific Ocean.
One of my fav. Place when I want to take a small break from my work, I visit here quite a lot!
I was there on New Year Count down as well 😂🌟✨🌸.
For reviews, check others’ not mine! All i can see is that it is one of my spot for hang out! I feel attracted to one of the eagle statue that stand erected and has escaped all natural disasters (mostly earthquakes). It is one of the power spot!
The castle ruins are easily reached by the local sightseeing bus “Loople Sendai” which does a circuit around the city centre of Sendai. But otherwise, It’s a walking distance (20-30 min walk from Tohoku university, Katahira campus).
I love the view of Sendai city from there. The castle hill overlooking the Sendai city is just popular for its panoramic night views but you can come here anytime to enjoy beautiful view by yourself or with your lover. I have tried several times :)
Food court is there for a little refreshment 🥗🥙🍜🍣🥟🧇🧂🥤, I love zunda shake there.
Enjoy snapshots from 9 April 2021!
And remember, spread ❤️, not Corona 🦠
Stay healthy and happy 🍎🌟❤️,
Love Happy
Manjit Grewal — Google review
The ruins of Aoba Castle which was built by Date Masamune over 400 years ago. I recommend visiting near sunset or sunrise so you can take in the beautiful scenic views of Sendai. You can still see some of the Castles historic walls, a turret, and the old foundation.
Elias Chelala — Google review
Thoroughly enjoyed walking the grounds and visualizing the space. The VR tour may sound gimmicky, but was very nicely done (note: it is an additional fee), and really helps with the visualization.
The gift shop features lots of neat memorabilia, so don't pass it up!
Karl — Google review
It has an exhibition hall showing the history of the feudal lord at that time. It was built 270 years ago but the main building is still well maintained. People could made wishes for a small donation.
mimi wong — Google review
Pretty cool place to visit, about 1,500 yen taxi ride from Sendai station. I didn't realize there was no Castle! Just the two status. The museum is only Japanese, no English.
Brandon Calabro — Google review
Cool place to learn about the history of Sendai and the castle ruins.
Also cool to learn about the founder of the city.
The original route is closed off but goes via the Sendai City Museum and it takes you up a path to the top.
Ignore Google Maps for now until the original route is back!
Savan Gandecha — Google review
We stopped at the Sendai Castle area. We took the city bus and we would suggest for you to pay the day's pass instead of paying one stop with th IC card. Spend the day and be ready to hop on and hop off at the interesting sights. We went on Monday and unfortunately many of the sights were closed. The other downside was there were lots of tourists and not enough busses. Otherwise an ideal transportation as there are many ups and downs and quite difficult to walk the distance.
Susan Lam — Google review
The Road to the castle is very steep and slippery when rainy. In case you didn't know: there is no standing castle, it burned down to the ground. But you can make a VR tour if you want to. Besides that there isn't really much to do, but the view over the city is pretty nice and the Zunda Shake (Milkshake with Soybeans) tastes amazing! Like Vanilla Ice with a hint of Hazelnut. And there is a very detailed Samurai/Horse Statue.
Kai Liesbrock — Google review
This place is huge with lots of spots (museums, gift shops, food stalls, temples, etc.) and it's free! The view of Sendai City from above and the Date Masamune statue are the main attractions of this place, imagining the sunset from up here must be very beautiful! You can get here via the Sendai loople for 260¥ one way, or you can walk from the Tohoku University Kawauchi campus for about 15-20 minutes.
A'isyah Kartika Sari — Google review
Only the castle foundation is left. Do not try to attempt the climb up. "Loople Bus" is available, but be sure to check the timetables. Last bus down is always packed.
Ann We — Google review
Good views and intersting historical site. Ancient Sendai castle stood here but during WW2 american troops destroyed it and burned to ashes the city. Very sad story about lost historical and cultural heritage.
Volodymyr H — Google review
Visited on a Saturday yet it wasn't overly crowded. Sometimes they hold costumed shows here (no translation) but otherwise this offers a great view of the city. Unfortunately the statue of Masamune was under maintenance when we visited but there was plenty of other things to look at.
Definitely worth the visit - the gift shop is quite sizeable as well.
You can take the exit from the rear to get to the trains station or visit the nearby amusement park (after a decent uphill walk)
K B — Google review
Majestic walls. Compared to Sendai castle, it is better known amongst locals as Aoba Castle ruins. A little steep climb up in the beginning....
Rose Chuang — Google review
Provides a nice view of the city but on the castle site itself is nothing to see except two statues. The shrine next to it is only okay too. The statues are facing north, meaning taking a picture from the front is going to be against the sunlight, very unfortunate.
Tobias Lass — Google review
The ruin itself was nothing spectacular. The view of Sendai was nice. It is worth to make a bus stop to have shot stop. But it is not worth to take a taxi to visit this site. It cost us 2000 Yen one way from city because the main entry was closed.
K C — Google review
Amazing site of Sendai Castle with great views of the amazing city of Sendai. The real attraction is the statue of Date Masamune, samurai warlord and founder of Sendai. While there isn't much "castle" to see (it's mostly foundation), there is still a lot to see and do with some temples on site and markers explaining the various monuments.
Recommend that you get there early to beat the crowds, and be sure to swing by the large and well-stocked gift shop for souvenirs. Also, if able, I recommend walking the ~2km from the train station to the castle. It's a nice and relaxing walk, plus it affords the opportunity to walk by the Sendai City Museum and Sendai International Center.
Justin Crowe — Google review
You can walk from Tohoku University Kawauchi campus. Not too far but the road is uphill. Breathtaking view of Sendai-shi from above. The entrance fee is free of charge.
Yunisa Z — Google review
The site of the former castle of the Date clan is often described as a must visit, but I found it somewhat lacking.
The view of Sendai is nice to have, but not.very spectaculair, and other than the statue of Date Masamune, there's not much there.
We tried a zunda shake, but it was quite an expensive vanilla milkshake with bits of soy beans in it (not really worth the name zunda).
The gift shop is nice, and not too overpriced. But the food in the stalls and eateries (the ones that were open anyway) was massively overpriced though.
I'd still say it is a must visit, but I'd say, don't expect too much (although I did get a juvenile laugh out of the anatomical correctness of Date-sama's horse)
Max Jensch — Google review
Aoba Castle and Honmaru Museum
Opened in 1979. Located on the ruins of Sendai Castle (Aoba Castle Ruins) overlooking the city of Sendai, this is a history museum approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Exhibits focus on Sendai Castle, city founder and feudal lord Date Masamune, and the Date Clan.
Norman Rabaýa — Google review
A short bus ride on the loop city bus from the station. No castle as such, just ruins. It is completely free. Statues and a shrine and the views of the city from the top make it worth the trip.
Timothy Campbell — Google review
4.0
(9608)
•
4.0
(1049)
1 Kawauchi, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0862, Japan
Breeze Bay Seaside Resort Matsushima is a brick hotel that offers simple and spacious rooms with complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel provides excellent quality and service, along with a casual restaurant and a relaxing spa area. The staff is extremely kind, and the food served at both breakfast and dinner is of good quality, offering great value for money. Guests can also enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the onsen. The wide rooms feature comfortable beds that provide guests with an enjoyable stay experience.
従業員の方々が若い方が多く活気のあるホテルだなと感じました。接客もとても気持ちの良いものでした。貸切風呂も無料だったのですが、宿泊客数の割に利用枠がそこそこ空いておりこのことを忘れていましたが難なく利用することが出来ました。またウェルカムドリンクもありますので早めのチェックインをオススメします。
(Translated by Google)
I felt that most of the employees were young and the hotel was lively. The customer service was also very pleasant. The private bath was also free of charge, but there were quite a few spaces available considering the number of guests, so I had forgotten about this, but I was able to use it without any difficulty. We also offer a welcome drink, so we recommend checking in early.
kumatta — Google review
夫婦で利用
朝食のバイキングは7:30頃行きました。種類も豊富でどれもとても美味しかったです!!トロトロ丼のサーモンが甘くて美味しかった〜!パンもトーストして食べましたがサクフワでした!
朝食会場からの景色がキレイでした!!
夜は卓球、ビリヤード、カラオケをして楽しみました。
貸切風呂もとても良かったです!
トロピカルの方の客室は値段相応って感じです。
とても楽しめるホテルでした!!
(Translated by Google)
Used by a couple
I went to the breakfast buffet around 7:30. There was a wide variety and they were all very delicious! ! The salmon in the melty bowl was sweet and delicious! I also toasted the bread and it was so fluffy!
The view from the breakfast venue was beautiful! !
At night, we enjoyed playing table tennis, billiards, and karaoke.
The private bath was also very nice!
The tropical rooms feel like they are worth the price.
It was a very enjoyable hotel! !
Ance — Google review
The rooms are definitely dated, mine also had a really strange smell that really didn't help, not sure if it came from humidity or the air conditioning unit.
The location is fine, make sure to ask the hotel to arrange a taxi pickup for you from the nearby train station because accessing the hotel by foot is inconvenient to say the least.
The baths are also fairly dated, the individual baths that can be booked are a nice touch.
The included dinner and breakfast are decent, not that there would be anything to compare them to in the neighborhood because the hotel seems pretty isolated. Also note that there are lots of families with kids, if you're looking for a peaceful and quiet retreat, this might not be it.
Léo — Google review
Overall a good hotel for a short stay in Matsushima. The staff was welcoming and accomodating, and the breakfast is good. The public bath is clean and warm enough, the private baths are a tad too hot for my taste. There are free welcome drinks and free pudding and oden available in the lobby. Unfortunately, the other guests were not very considerate of others.
Kevin E. — Google review
チェックインから夕食までの間
ラウンジでアルコール類
ソフトドリンクなどが飲み放題
この日のはおでんが食べ放題でした!
子供が遊ぶスペースやマッサージチェアもあり
ゆったり出来ます。
夕食は予約していたコースにプラス
ビュッフェを利用出来ますので
質、量共に満足出来ると思います。
(Translated by Google)
From check-in to dinner
Alcohol in the lounge
All-you-can-drink soft drinks etc.
On this day, we had all-you-can-eat oden!
There is also a play area for children and a massage chair.
You can relax.
Dinner is added to the reserved course.
You can use the buffet
I think you will be satisfied with both quality and quantity.
Tohru Senza — Google review
Dinner is great (small hot pot came with crab legs and oyster, BBQ beef tongue, and buffet). However the Japanese -style room is not comfortable since the air-condition system is terrible. Can you imagine cigarette smoke smell is all around in a non-smoking room? The smell was ok when we just got into the room, but when we were sleeping the room was filled with the crazy smell, so we believe it's from air condition system. Not recommend at all for people who hate the smell. Other than this, the hotel is great - food, onsen, and the room....was very clean.
W.W. H. — Google review
Great quality and service. Staff is very kind.
Food is good (both breakfast and dinner).
Onsen is very nice atmosphere.
Marco Palmieri — Google review
Private Hot Spring is good. Dinner buffet very nice. Services excellent.
Kwok HC — Google review
Room was great, wide and the bed was good. The food was extremely worth the money.
Nhu Hoang — Google review
Friendly staff, shuttle service, good infrastructure, relaxing
Sebastiano Fasanella — Google review
Horrible place. Stay away.
Kami Sama — Google review
4.0
(458)
•
4.0
(582)
Inuta-1-10 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan
Chūson-ji is a renowned temple that has a museum, Noh stage, and mausoleum showcasing 12th-century mummified remains. It was established in the year 850, and its main attraction is the Konjikido, also known as the Golden Hall, which was built in 1124. The first Ou Fujiwara lord Kiyohara visited this place on May 2nd and admired it greatly.
Quite a nice small trek to the temple. I think the walk to the temple is more enjoyable than the destination.
In winter the snow is very slippery so you need snow boots. They offer ropes to tie to your shoes for grip. The road up initially is VERY slippery.
Sutirtha Das — Google review
Amazing view and historical site, came on fall season 2023, not a very touristy place hence can feel the more serenity side of Japan. Use comfy shoes coz slight hike is needed from gateway.
If you came from hiraizumi station, use bus or bike, you can walk and enjoy the road (just like we did) but it’s quite far
Adi Nugraha — Google review
I love this place when I visit on May 2nd. The maple trees are in shining green so I can imagine it must be gorgeous at Koyo season which is beginning of November. I came by bus from Ichinoseki Shingansen station but I recommend to go through hiraizumi JRstation and get the information about how to get around the world heritage site . You can walk 10 minutes from JR station to Chuson ji.
Annie Chang — Google review
A very comfortable place. Trees are beautiful. A good place to spend time to visit slowly.
Pure Weiss — Google review
A delightfully simple but very beautiful place especially as we visited there in winter. The simplicity of the building temple itself is wonderful. I certainly can see why it is designated as a National Treasure of Japan. The temple was founded in 1105 by Fujiwara Kiyohira, the founder of the Northern Fujiwara clan. Chuson-ji was the clan's菩提寺 (bodaiji), or mortuary temple, and was used as the burial place for many of the clan's members. The temple complex includes a number of important buildings, including the Konjikido, which is a National Treasure and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Japanese Buddhist architecture.
Ross Daniels — Google review
I am glad I visited this majestic place during fall. The buildings seamlessly blend with the surrounding nature. Compared to Yamadera, another well-known temple of Tohoku which was originally constructed by Enin, Chuson-ji spans across a wider area and offers a real glimpse of the past. Unlike other places listed as UNESCO world heritages, this one isn’t “branded” as such through posters and signboards (I personally didn’t see the symbol of UNESCO anywhere) and may be that’s the reason why one can feel the authenticity and simplicity of the place as it had been throughout the years.
Maya Kenova — Google review
Beautiful and historic temple complex with the surrounding nature. The museum and konjikido paid area is worth for visiting. Recommend going early in the morning because there’s less people. As April 2023, loop bus runs only weekend and holidays. I prefer to take a bus (run every hour) from Ichinoseki sta. that connects to the shinkansen or use a taxi in front of Hiraizumi sta.
chamniphol taechaworaphong — Google review
14/11/2023
Plenty of autumn leaves out definitely head there now if it's on your bucketlist!!
Bit of a steep climb up to it so be prepared! There's benches to rest on the way up anyways
sinéad n — Google review
Wow. We must said that as per many of shine there to pray respects and really interesting spots for tourists. Hence less of foreigners here main majority are local citizens which language may difficult for those who not familiar with it. But we passed.
Location: The cleanliness were excellent and amazing set up foe those required.
As of more than 950 Years old temples 🛕. It might do something right to keep themselves as of today.
Kwanchai Quinzy Yokto — Google review
This Temple is a large comlex so allow about 2 hours to visit. It is so beautiful in late autumn.
Russell Bell — Google review
The atmosphere is super nice, good spot to see red leaves in November period. A bit far away from station but you can rent a bike to look around. There are free parking under care in front of the temple. Clean toilets.
Eiffel — Google review
This is definitely a 5-star spot for seeing
fall foliage in Iwate prefecture. Entrance is free of charge except you wish to see the Konjikido. The temple also illuminated the maple leaves in every evening for nearly 2 weeks during the peak of fall foliage. We were so lucky we could be there during the time. Unlike other temples which might charge you an additional fee for entry in the evening, the entry in the evening is free here👍👍👍
Ballchi Chan — Google review
There are many national treasures and important cultural properties.
Yuko Koda — Google review
4.4
(10079)
•
4.5
(802)
Koromonoseki-202 Hiraizumi, Nishiiwai District, Iwate 029-4195, Japan
This museum features an interesting ecological display and local photography. It has good service and the hot spring is wonderful. There are a lot of cute souvenirs to buy here.
Interesting place. Good coffee shop inside
Andy McDonald — Google review
Came here to start my Oirase gorge walk. Dropped my luggage in the coin locker (it was empty). The cafe sells apple pies, which is just okay for me because it’s very tart and the crust is very thin. Toilets are clean and modern with bidet. Ample parking. Took the JR bus from Aomori to get here and then back to Towada city. There’s some apple souvenirs sold inside as well.
Hani D. S — Google review
There's so many cute souvenirs stuff
Alin leonardo — Google review
Good stop if you're driving the Oriase gorge. Not really a museum but an adventure center for winter (snow shoe tours) and summer activities, and a store specializing in apple products and elegant (but expensive) moss terrariums. Lots of maps and hiking guides as well. There are some displays of the local flora and fauna and microscopes for the kids to examine moss up close. Did I mention the area is famous for moss? There are also apple snacks and a cafe next door.
Douglas Aberdeen — Google review
Good service and the hot spring is wonderful
Ho Joanna — Google review
Neat little museum.
Tony Wang — Google review
The weather is all important for a good time and taking photos.
paul mah — Google review
Beautiful little rest area! They sold ice cream and had a small convenience store. Beautiful place to take pictures. Best times to go are April-October!
Jamie P. (Jam.Phi) — Google review
Good stop for a coffee before your walk up the gorge. Apple pastries were yummy too, just pricy but that's expected for a place like this
Jia Tsing Ng — Google review
An interesting place to learn more about the wildlife and nature from the surrounding areas.
Samuel Ng — Google review
Just general information about the area Oirase, not worth the visit but there is a bathroom you can use here free of charge. There is also a shop selling cakes and drinks
Raymond Hung — Google review
A good place for you to learn a story in this area.
Oscar Chang — Google review
This is more of an information center than a museum, but it has some interesting ecological displays and local photography. It also seems like you can rent bikes from here to ride along the stream.
Adam Butterworth — Google review
3.9
(1398)
•
4.5
(1075)
Tochikubo-183 Okuse, Towada, Aomori 034-0301, Japan
The Nebuta Museum WA RASSE showcases the colorful Nebuta festival parade floats and taiko drum displays with a historical context. The museum is conveniently located a few minutes walk from the Japan Railways Aomori train station.
Awesome modern museum that tells you the history of these traditional parades and floats. It's not very big but lots of detail and history. They have a few live shows and demonstrations per day. Check the time table so you can catch a show. Your ticket allows for re-entry.
Free lockers available on the first floor. Tickets can be purchased on the second floor.
Kevin Kwok — Google review
It's a genuinely unique experience. The museum has recent year lanterns and provides full details about Nebuta history.
Even if you didn't catch the Nebuta festival, they show a 10-minute show every 30 minutes. The entrance fee is 620 yen (2023 Oct)
Rahal Jayawardane — Google review
Good to visit when you are in Aomori . Extensive art done with bamboo and wired frames papered in 3D . The entrance fee is 620 yen for each adult, and you can spend about 2 hrs to admire the artwork. They also activities for the guests to take part .
Choo HengHeng — Google review
Really different vibe inside the museum, really enjoyed every minute here. The Nebuta statues are so intriguing with interesting facial expressions and stories to tell. If you visit around 11:00, 13:00 or 15:00 you can witness a small performance too. The workshops are not on at the moment due to Covid.
Viraf Patrawala — Google review
Unique architecture from the outside. Impressive displays inside. The floats on display change every year so you get to see different floats depending on which year you go. There’s a section on Nebuta Festival’s history but it’s in Japanese. One can appreciate the photos though and see how the festival has grown.
Angelo (?????) — Google review
It was great to know more about Nebuta History and begin. I never knew Nebuta celebration before I stepped into this museum. The creation and lantern does give me a whole new level of experience and creations are so nice. Amazing stunning.
Alan Yeong — Google review
We ended up here half by accident while making our way to A factory and it was totally worth it. A great display of the floats of the Nebuta festival that are amazing pieces of art. I would say the top site to visit in Aomori if you cannot go to the festival itself.
Pedro — Google review
Well curated, maintained and affordable to visit! Why would you NOT stop into this place while in Aomori!? See the famous floats used in the parades of past years, get up close and personal with the inner workings and read about the creators/sculptors and past winners. Their shop isn't to be missed, you can easily spend 1-2 hours here if time allows. It's a large "open warehouse" style museum, great for kids to aw at the wonder of these hand created floats. It was a perfect stop for our all too short day in Aomori.
Brittany Sharpe — Google review
Absolutely fell in love with this form of art, I was very excited to visit this place, and words nor photos can truly capture how I felt looking at these mind blowing works of art.
I felt so drawn into these, I’d imagine it’s what a mosquito feels like as the glow of a bug zapper draws it in.
The museum is spacious in terms of available space to walk around the main floats, with high ceilings and perfect dimmed lighting, it provides these lantern sculptures a real nice space to truly shine.
It seemed like most visitors walked through it in less than an hour, but I easily spent 2 and a half hours walking around. Not just for the chance to try and capture what I was seeing in photo and video, but just simply admiring the detail and craftsmanship of the art.
The staff are kind as well, eager to capture a photo of you with the floats of you want or even share a little history about the festival, art form, etc. One lady was cool enough to not only share details about the art and the work one of the artists was doing in a studio beneath the entrance stage, but she even gifted me some of the paper used in making these. I listened carefully, gave her my undivided attention as she was clearly pouring her heart out about the love she had for this work, but I understood nothing she said from the words she spoke, but sometimes you can understand someone by just how they talk with their gestures, and it all made perfect sense, I think 😅
Two take aways, one was I want to now desperately make my own, and it seems very doable, but I won’t know where to put it. And two, I want to not only attend this festival next summer, but I want to participate in it if possible. I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way.
Love this place, love the art, love Aomori, want to move here and raise a family of Nebuta craftsman and sleep under the warm glow of these magical lanterns.
Moh — Google review
This museum is just 3-4 min walk from aaomori station. We paid around 1500yen ticket which includes other two museum including this.. This museum is super amazing which had huge collection of 3D floats which are used in aaomori traditional matsuri event..
great work of art 🥰😍😍
Bijay Thulung Rai — Google review
A great place to visit if you aren't able to see the Nebuta festival itself. This museum gives you a chance to view the floats up close and really take in all of the details. Photos don't do justice to how enormous and complex they are.
N M — Google review
A love letter to the nebuta festival. Beautiful exhibit and they put on a show a few times per day. Worth stopping by if you you're on your way through Aomori.
Houssam H — Google review
Fabulous displays of the Nebuta sculptures. There are mixed language short movies to explain the history. Great photo opportunities. Good for those of us not lucky enough to get tickets for the festival.
Gene Genie — Google review
While my shipmates were visiting this place, so why not visit this place and meet with them. It did charge an admission fee but not too expensive. Inside had some drum playing for visitor. Several amazing float or that may be some other name. Good experience. The Apple juice that they sell near the entrance was very sweet.
Kevin Lai — Google review
I think I don't need to say anything about it. It's a must go to appreciate the art and culture that's been kept for hundreds of years. Just share a couple of the pictures taken. Come and see it for yourself and you'll be amazed at the persistence of the Japanese to pass on their valued traditions from generation to generation. Valuable culture is never lost but destroyed.
Upasaka Aruna — Google review
Absolute must visit for anyone coming to Aomori. The intricate artwork took my breath away. I was teleported to those ancient mythological times while marvelling at the magnificent craftsmanship. If there is only one thing one must not fail to visit in Aomori, it is this place. Hands down!
Sourav Dey — Google review
Fun and great museum about "big illuminated paper lanterns". It's showcasing the history of the nebuta festival and their floats. There is also a movie showing about the last festival.
It has a great merchandise shop with nebuta merch, shirts and other aomori specialities.
I recommend going there when you are also visiting the A-Factory or the ASPAM. It's like 2min away from the aomori station. Apparently you can also buy a ticket set with Museum, ASPAM and the ship museum.
Waldemar Synkow — Google review
A really cool experience to get to see these up close! Not a lot of descriptions or things in English to read but just being right next to the floats and seeing the details is amazing.
Josh Rose — Google review
A must stop during your time in Aomori as it's very close the train station. A small museum but with huge impact about the cultural significance of this art form. Entry and ticketing is easy and there is usually no wait. Try to catch one of the live performances if your schedule allows.
Sean Crook — Google review
Must visit musuem with the famous nebuta floats. It's not a big museum, but you can view a few of the larger floats and they are massively impressive.
Definitely something to visit, not expensive, doesn't take long and right next to the station.
Max Jensch — Google review
This museum showcases the Nebuta festival paper floats that are paraded around Aomori prefecture every year.
When people think of Aomori, they think of Apples, and these beautiful floats. They depict stories and fables from Japanese folklore, and are extremely vibrant, colourful and intricate. It is a must see if you are in the area, and it is also very affordable.
There are also periodical demonstrations of the music and dancing that would accompany the floats in the festival.
Lorne Inglis — Google review
A no-brainer to visit if you're in Aomori. It's right next to the A-FACTORY and very close to the JR station.
Showcases the history of the festival in Aomori and has a number of full-size floats from previous festivals on display. A unique experience and definitely well worth the admission fee.
Mount Hakodate, standing at 1,096 feet tall, is a popular spot for taking in stunning city views. Accessible by cable car or hiking trail, it offers a breathtaking panorama of the city lights below. The area also holds historical significance as a cemetery for foreigners with Western religious beliefs dating back to the late 19th century.
View was great during sunset and early evening. Actually got quite busy up on the observation deck as some school tours all arrived around dusk. Make sure to bring a jacket as the deck is outdoor with not much cover from the elements.
Norris C — Google review
I came here just for fun seeking to find a nice view and serene calm everything. And this area did not disappoint. I got to see an amazing view of the mountain. I got up to the mountain but using the rope lift which is basically a ski lift. And while riding the ski you will get insane views of the ocean, buildings, random floating things and etc. If you go to hakodate you HAVE to come here, it's a must.
ivangun0213 — Google review
Breathtaking view at sunset. The sunshine pierced through the perfect opening of clouds today, giving us all an awesome view of Hokodate and its surrounding area.
I could spend an entire day up here just looking out as far as the eye can see. I love winter and the cold, so it was perfect timing for me, snow blanketed the ground and fell gentle from the sky. The cold air blowing ranges from gentle frosty breeze to bull whip to the face; reminds you you’re alive, ha ha.
But I’d imagine any season you visit would be beautiful. Don’t worry about crowds, sure there are other people there, work your way around the entire 360° of the top and you’ll find a turn to take photos or just look out at a majestic view. Enjoy it within the company of fellow humans. Go, now, don’t be shy, worth the trip.
Moh — Google review
To get a bird's-eye view of Hakodate Bay, you must take a cable car to Mount Hakodate. Especially at dusk, the city lights will make the view of the whole bay very beautiful. And in winter, if you're unlucky, you won't see anything but the fog that covers the bay.
Amnat Wangboonkerd — Google review
I believe that Mount Hakodate offers a great view of the city on good days but unfortunately, it was extremely misty during our visit there. We could hardly see the view and it was covered with thick clouds.
Mount Hokodate is another inactive volcano in Japan. The 3 minutes ropeway was enjoyable and there is a decent size souvenir shop, a restaurant, and an event hall at the peak of the mountain.
Ting Ting — Google review
The view is... incredible, from almost every angle, especially in the late afternoon and at night. The biggest down side are the crowds. Other tourists may or may not give you a chance to get to a decent spot to see or take pictures. It's very crowded...
David Schooley — Google review
A really memorable scenic view from the observation deck. Unfortunately I had to miss the sunset view due to the vast amount of tourists there but it ok. It kind of make no sense not to visit the place if you stepped into Hakodate for sure.
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I created a video tour of the Mount Hakodate via. my YouTube channel: WhenaGeekTravels. Feel free to check it out. Thanks☺️
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#函館山 #函館市 #hakodate #mounhakodate #tttvlog
Nicholas Lo — Google review
breathtaking view. keep warm at the top of the observatory or there’s a shop inside for rest as well
Grace Lee — Google review
Great landmark for photos, it's the best spot for pilgrimage trip to. Love Live Sunshine is here on Hakodate ep 8-9 🤩👍
David Hartono — Google review
From my travel diary - "We had our breakfast near the markets on the wharf and then left for Mount Hakodate. You get to it by cable car and I think that Sharon and I may well have conquered our fear of this type of travel. The view from the top of the mountain over Hakodate was just beautiful with the city nestled in between a huge range of snow crested mountains and the Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It was really very beautiful"
Ross Daniels — Google review
Wonderful views of Hakodate city and the ocean, but the place is extremely crowded though. Be there before sunset so you can enjoy both day and night views.
A P — Google review
The Ropeway to Hakodate is about 8 to 10 mins drive from Hakodate Train Station & it costs about JPY1000… Therefore I suggest just pay for the ride & go to the ropeway if you have a tight schedule.
The view up there is spectacular but you probably won’t spend more than 10 mins due to the crowd and wind.
阿宝 — Google review
Great views but you’ll be fighting over photo spots with bus loads of organized tour groups. I’d really like to recommend this place but it’s too touristy and at least when I went the other tourists weren’t very friendly and didn’t allow to take turns often staying put after taking photos and only letting others from the same tour group occupy the spot. I believe more can be done to make this a better experience
Ricardo Seah — Google review
Great view over the city and the best thing to do in Hakodate. Also quite cheap to get here. Fully recommend it.
Willem F. — Google review
A quick ride on the Mt Hakodate Ropeway and we got to enjoy the beautiful view of Hakodate.
LG Tan — Google review
4.6
(2443)
•
4.5
(3683)
Hakodateyama, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0000, Japan
I'll never travel to Sapporo without this trip planner again
I used it a lot when I went to Hakodate. It is convenient because you can go to tourist spots such as Goryokaku and Mt. Hakodate.
Michael — Google review
Hakodate eki mae trem station. So minimum protection from wind, rain and others. But it's still fine to wait for a couple minutes.👍👍
Ferry Tjahjadi — Google review
Rudimentary stop. The tram has a great potential, it it rests unused. Very old school operational model, ticketing, tracks, stops. It cannot attract passengers used to either the high-quality trains or private cars.
Daniel Brvni??an — Google review
History and convenient
Kevin Kaku — Google review
Most convenient to the train station. Has some protection from the weather.
Villagemayor — Google review
Close to everything, markets, restaurants, minimarts, train stations, sea
Chuang Vesvarut — Google review
(Translated by Google) How can you come to Hakodate and not experience riding a streetcar?
(Original)
來函館怎能不體驗搭乘路面電車呢
Grace Cheng — Google review
(Translated by Google) There are many new barrier-free trains in Kyushu...
This place is full of tanks that remind me of the Showa era...
(Original)
큐슈쪽은 베리어프리 되는 신형 전차들도 많은데...
여기는 쇼와시대가 생각나는 전차들 투성이네요...
minhyuk i — Google review
(Translated by Google) It's very convenient because you can use transportation IC cards that can be used nationwide!
Transfers will be automatically calculated.
(Original)
全国相互利用できる交通系ICカードが使えるのでとても便利!
乗り継ぎも自動計算してくれる。
kkkaz — Google review
(Translated by Google) I stayed at the Comfort Hotel.
It’s right in front of the hotel and right in front of Hakodate Station.
Directions to Goryokaku, Akarenga, and ropeway
I used it very often as it was an advantageous location from both sides.
(Original)
컴포트 호텔에 묵었는데
호텔 바로앞, 하코다테 역 바로앞이기도하고
고료가쿠, 아카렌가, 로프웨이 가는 방면
어느쪽에서도 유리한 위치라 정말 자주 이용했다
이승재 — Google review
(Translated by Google) Exit JR Hakodate Station 🚉, walk 3 minutes 🚶♂️,
You will need to transfer to the tram station!
You cannot change trains inside the station building, so
You need to be careful 👍
(Original)
JR函館駅を出て🚉、徒歩3分🚶♂️で、
市電の駅に乗換えとなります!
決して駅舎の中で乗換えはできませんので、
注意が必要です👍
望月弘 — Google review
(Translated by Google) I think the curved roof is distinctive. There is also the starting point of National Route 5 and Hakodate City's colored manhole nearby. I often use it to go to Goryokaku Park or Suehirocho Station.
(Original)
湾曲した屋根が特徴的だと思います。近くには国道5号の起点と函館市のカラーマンホールも有りますね。よく五稜郭公園前や末広町駅まで行く時に利用します。
けん坊 — Google review
4.0
(138)
•
4.0
(1622)
15 Wakamatsuchō, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0063, Japan
Goryōkaku Tower, standing at 107 meters tall, features an observatory offering stunning views of the star-shaped fort below and the surrounding mountains. The fortress was strategically designed to accommodate more gun turrets and minimize blind spots along its walls. Visitors can take a lift to the observation deck for panoramic vistas before exploring other nearby attractions such as Mount Hakodate, Hakodate Morning Market, and Onuma Quasi-National Park.
Fun touristy site with a great 360° view of Hakodate, including Fort Goryokaku. It is a little out of the way to get to, but it is worth a visit.
It also has many eats in the lobby area!
Jimmy Hu — Google review
Amazing view at the top. Pay 950 to visit the top level is a must. U can have 360 view of the Hakodate area with the mountains as the backdrop.
Car park is opposite the tower. So park and walk across the street to the tower entrance.
The lift to go up is fast.
The view is really great. Highly recommend.
ThianYong Chan — Google review
Adult ticket prices are at 1,000 yen each. View at the top of the tower is picturesque and worth the money! There’s a mini cafe and store at the top of the tower. Souvenir shop is at the entrance.
James Khoo — Google review
Beautiful tower with great elevator service. There is an elevator attendant that gave a talk as you ride the elevator up to the top. The top features a 360 view of the surrounding city and goryokaku fort. It also has cute comics explaining the history of the fort.
You can buy tickets at the first floor and there is also a large gift shop on the first floor with lots of souvenirs and some food as well.
Ava Wu — Google review
五稜郭ですが、タワーとしては見ごたえは、五稜郭を見るなら高さ的にもここに登るのが最適です!ただ、タワー上層記念メダル販売機の補充が従業員が少ないからなのか、週末にもかかわらず売り切れが多く人気と貼り紙して有るのになぁ〜と、少し思う所は有りました、同じ階で食べたソフトクリームはそこそこ美味しくラムネ味を何人かでシェアーし、タワー中層のジェラート屋さんで、桜とミルク系のフレーバーをシェアーし、こちらはめちゃめちゃ美味しかったです!(お勧めです)1階のお土産屋コーナーで買い物したのですが、近隣の駐車場の値引は出来ませんでした。
(Translated by Google)
Although it is Goryokaku, it is impressive as a tower, and if you want to see Goryokaku, this is the best place to climb in terms of height! However, I did wonder if it was because there were not enough employees to replenish the commemorative medal vending machines on the upper floors of the tower, as they were often sold out even on weekends, even though there was a sign saying that they were popular, on the same floor. The soft serve ice cream we ate was pretty good, and we shared the ramune flavor with a few of us, and at the gelato shop in the middle of the tower, we shared the cherry and milk flavors, which were really delicious! (Recommended) I went shopping at the souvenir shop corner on the 1st floor, but I couldn't get discounts for nearby parking lots.
0093 ASK — Google review
Great place to see the famous star shaped Goryokaku Fort! I was impressed by how much history they have shared in the museum - all of it provides in multiple languages. The view was impressive and it was nice to be able to learn a bit about the historical significance as well!
Erin Power — Google review
Beautiful view from the tower, you can see the whole city panorama. There are souvenir stores, coffee and food places too. I went during winter, but really want to come back during spring.
Monika Bednarczyk — Google review
Amazing view. Amazing food. Amazing location. One of the best sites I have been, during Sakura full blossom - Although a long line, it went really quickly.
Ate a squid that was much fresher than what you get on the main island. Also the Sakura icecream on top of the tower was amazing!
Arie Platkov — Google review
Beautiful place to visit. Ticket is 1000 yen per adult.
They accept credit card.
John Z — Google review
1000 Yen / adult was worth it.
At first I put my bag in the locker - which was too expensive (400 Yen) compared to other facilities.
The view is quite nice especially the seeing the park from above. There is also a small history about the park available in several languages, also in German.
If I had the choice between 2 observatory platforms, I would definitely choose Mt. Hakodate at night.
Leo Adolf — Google review
Goryōkaku in Hakodate is an impressive star-shaped fort offering a glimpse into Japan's history. The Goryōkaku Tower provides a panoramic view, allowing visitors to appreciate the fort's design and surrounding landscapes. It's a must-visit for history enthusiasts and anyone seeking stunning views of Hakodate.
Jun — Google review
展望施設は90mの高さから見る四季折々の五稜郭が堪能できる。タワーは1回フロア、2階は飲食店3階~4階にあたる展望施設は有料大人1000円にて行くことが出来る。
高い安いは人それぞれですから。
駐車場は近郊に有料施設何カ所かが有りますので特に問題は無いかと。
(Translated by Google)
The observation facility allows you to enjoy the seasonal views of Goryokaku from a height of 90 meters. Adults can access the observation facility on the 3rd and 4th floors of the tower once, on the 2nd floor, and on the 3rd to 4th floors.
What is high or low is different for each person.
There are several paid parking facilities nearby, so I don't think there will be any problems with parking.
ちょもらんま2号 — Google review
Such a pretty place. The family loved it. Their is a nice place up top to get an ice cream. We will come back again.
Christopher Walters — Google review
Goryokaku Tower is not a very high tower at 107 meters but the observation deck offers a spectacular view of Goryokaku park and its beautiful star-shaped fort completed in the year 1866.
Apart from the view, visitors will also find exhibits on Goryokaku stories from the observation deck. It was a pleasant experience overall and is recommended for anyone who is interested to learn more about the fortress.
There is also a souvenir shop at the entrance of the tower which sells locally produced food products such as seaweeds and other cooking ingredients.
Ting Ting — Google review
The park where various flowers planted. When arrived there, only few trees with sakura flowers still blooming, but no time to get there. We got lucky to find one sakura tree near the parking lot when going back to the bus. The souvenir shop also sell various items from cakes, snacks, tshirts, etc. View from the tower is also nice. You can see the park in 360 degree from above.
Widi B — Google review
Absolutely breathtaking sight during cherry blossom season! Super easy to get to and an amazing place for a picnic or just to go lay down in the grass and enjoy the amazing sights
Tom Corvi — Google review
Well worth a visit. Great views overlooking Goryokaku fort. Interesting historical site of significance. Bilingual signage telling the history of the battle of Hakodate.
Johnniewon — Google review
The tower offers a 360 degree view of Goeykaku star shaped park.
There are 2 elevators going all the way to the top floor.
Tickets can be bought inside of the building, usually the queue is not long.
There is a restaurant, coffeeshop and souvenir store on the first and second store
Ilan Kader — Google review
Easy access from Hakodate Station through trams. There are also busses avail and near the tower itself. There are lot of history here and k did not had time to read all the sighs, i want to come back when i have time.
Sake Navigator — Google review
Goryokaku Fort, historic site, park blessed with nature. You can enjoy walking around through beautiful scenery in four seasons: Cherry blossoms in spring, green trees in summer, autumn leaves in fall and snow in winter. The observation floors of adjacent Goryokaku Tower command a sweeping view of the huge star-shaped fort.
Pon Peng Leong — Google review
We came here on a Sunday and the place was not too crowded. The entry fee was around 7 USD, pretty cheap compare to the ones at Tokyo City. Overall the scenery was very nice, we can saw whole city, the large and beautifully lanscaped garden, and we even saw the mountains. Worth every penny!
Sharron Sharron — Google review
五稜郭の南側に立っています。
タワーに登ると
五稜郭の魅力である外形がここから一望できます。
五稜郭の城郭として特異なのがよくわかります。
勿論函館全体も美しいです。
ここから見る箱館山方面も面白いですね。
タワー自体も五角形の形でユニークです。
タワーの中にも五稜郭の模型があったり、
当時の五稜郭作成時の状況模型もあったりします。
(Translated by Google)
It stands on the south side of Goryokaku.
when you climb the tower
From here you can see the attractive outline of Goryokaku.
You can clearly see that it is unique as a Goryokaku castle.
Of course, Hakodate as a whole is beautiful.
The view of Hakodateyama from here is also interesting.
The tower itself is also unique in its pentagonal shape.
There is also a model of Goryokaku inside the tower,
There is also a model of the situation when Goryokaku was created at that time.
武蔵弾正 — Google review
函館に観光に来た際、函館市や周囲の景色を眺めることができる良いスポットがいくつかありますが、そのひとつとして外せないところだと思います。五稜郭の形を見ることができるのはもちろん、函館山の方向には市街地が広がり、その他の方角には海や山。旅行のプランを立体的にイメージできることを考えると、函館に行ったら、まず、五稜郭へ、となるのではないかと思い、旅の最初に訪問しました。
(Translated by Google)
When you come to Hakodate for sightseeing, there are several good spots where you can see the scenery of Hakodate city and its surroundings, but I think this is one of them that you can't miss. Not only can you see the shape of Goryokaku, but you can also see the city area spreading out in the direction of Mt. Hakodate, and the sea and mountains in other directions. Considering that you can visualize your travel plans in 3D, I thought that when you go to Hakodate, the first thing you should do is go to Goryokaku, so I visited it at the beginning of my trip.
Tad Edamura — Google review
五稜郭(ごりょうかく)は、江戸時代末期に江戸幕府が蝦夷地の箱館(現在の北海道函館市)郊外に築造した稜堡式の城郭です。
五稜郭タワーには、新選組副長・土方歳三のブロンズ像(立像・座像・胸像)があります。
制作はすべて、函館出身の彫刻家・小寺眞知子さんの作品です。
タワーからの眺めは星形がよく見えます。
行った時は雪が積もっていたので、余計に綺麗でした。
その時代を生きた人々の真摯な思い、私たち日本人は忘れては行けないなあと思いました。
(Translated by Google)
Goryokaku is a fortress-style castle built by the Edo shogunate in the suburbs of Hakodate in Ezo (present-day Hakodate City, Hokkaido) at the end of the Edo period.
Goryokaku Tower has bronze statues (standing, seated, and bust) of Toshizo Hijikata, vice-commander of the Shinsengumi.
All of the pieces are created by Machiko Kodera, a sculptor from Hakodate.
The view from the tower gives you a good view of the stars.
It was snowing when I went, so it was even more beautiful.
I believe that we Japanese cannot forget the sincere thoughts of those who lived through that era.
ひめみこ — Google review
函館初めてで、外せない!と思い五稜郭タワーに行きました。週末で人混み心配でしたが、季節?のせいか、閑散に近い状態でした。タワー前にラッキーピエロと塩ラーメンのあじさいがあるので、そこは、いいかなと感じました。
五稜郭タワー自体は、大人向けです!
子供連れの方だと子供がすぐ飽きちゃうんじゃないかなぁと感じました。
上階の景色と五稜郭を一望できるところは、いいなと思いました。
またあまり知らなかった(忘れていた?)歴史も紐解いて解説してくれていて、少し時間かけてそこを、しっかり見れれば面白い!と思います。
日本にもあまりない景色だなとは、感じたので一度は、見てみると!いいかなと思いました。(*^^*)
(Translated by Google)
This is my first time in Hakodate and I can't miss it! So I went to Goryokaku Tower. I was worried about crowds because it was a weekend, but is it the season? Perhaps because of this, it was almost deserted. There is a lucky clown and a salt ramen hydrangea in front of the tower, so I thought that was a good place.
Goryokaku Tower itself is only for adults!
If you were traveling with children, I felt that the children would get bored easily.
I thought the view from the upper floor and the view of Goryokaku was great.
He also explains the history that I didn't know much about (or forgot?), and if you take a little time to look at it carefully, it'll be interesting! I think.
I felt like it was a scenery that doesn't really exist in Japan, so I thought I'd check it out at least once! I thought it was okay. (*^^*)
チャンネルレッドピース — Google review
五稜郭公園に隣接して建ち、展望フロアから五稜郭跡の星形を俯瞰できるタワーです。
2006年4月1日にオープンした現在のタワーは2代目です。
初代タワーは五稜郭築城100年を記念して1964年に建造されたものですが、2006年にパワーアップして現在のタワーがオープンしました。高さは107mです。
(Translated by Google)
This tower is built adjacent to Goryokaku Park and offers a bird's-eye view of the star-shaped Goryokaku ruins from the observation floor.
The current tower, which opened on April 1, 2006, is the second generation.
The first tower was built in 1964 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the construction of Goryokaku Castle, but the current tower was upgraded in 2006 and opened. The height is 107m.
Teruya Koga — Google review
10月下旬の函館五稜郭は、秋の深まりを感じさせる、風情あふれる観光地です。この時期、五稜郭の周囲に植えられた木々は紅葉が進み、美しい景色を作り出しています。特に、五稜郭タワーから見下ろす星型の縄張りとその周囲を彩る秋の色彩は、訪れる人々を魅了します。
歴史的な背景を持つこの場所は、幕末に建設された独特の星形の要塞で、日本の歴史における重要な役割を果たしました。タワー内の展示は、五稜郭の歴史を詳しく学べる点で評価できます。ただ、展示内容はやや古臭さを感じさせる部分もあり、特に若い世代にとってはもう少し現代的なアプローチがあればより興味を引きつけるかもしれません。
また、五稜郭公園内を散策するのもおすすめです。秋の涼しい風が心地よく、公園の中で過ごす時間はとても穏やかです。しかし、観光客向けの土産物店や飲食店は限られており、もう少し多様性があれば訪問者はさらに楽しめるかもしれません。
全体として、五稜郭は歴史好きな人には特におすすめの場所であり、秋の紅葉はその美しさを一層引き立てています。現代的なアプローチや設備の更新が進めば、さらに多くの人々を引きつけることができるでしょう。
(Translated by Google)
Hakodate Goryokaku in late October is a scenic tourist destination that gives you the feeling of deepening autumn. At this time of year, the trees planted around Goryokaku are turning red, creating a beautiful scenery. In particular, the star-shaped territory seen from Goryokaku Tower and the autumn colors surrounding it fascinate visitors.
This historical site is a unique star-shaped fortress built at the end of the Edo period and played an important role in Japanese history. The exhibits inside the tower are highly praised for allowing you to learn about the history of Goryokaku in detail. However, some of the exhibits feel a little old-fashioned, and perhaps a more modern approach would have been more interesting, especially for younger generations.
We also recommend taking a walk around Goryokaku Park. The cool autumn breeze is pleasant, and the time spent in the park is very peaceful. However, there are limited souvenir shops and eateries for tourists, and visitors might enjoy more if there was a little more variety.
Overall, Goryokaku is a highly recommended place for history buffs, and the fall foliage only enhances its beauty. With modern approaches and updated facilities, we will be able to attract even more people.
Jin MISHUKU — Google review
4.3
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4.0
(2188)
43-9 Goryokakucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0001, Japan
Onuma Quasi-National Park, located just 20 kilometers north of Hakodate, is a picturesque forested park known for its island-dotted lakes and the majestic dormant volcano, Mount Komagatake. The park offers hiking and cycling trails, campsites, and boating opportunities on several lakes. It's easily accessible from Hakodate or Sapporo via limited express trains that stop at Onuma Koen Station.
Beautiful scenery with peaceful vibes around this place. They have several trails you can follow and for a beginner like me, it was a great experience. I came here on Autumn and honestly I was not disappointed! Very worth it to came here.
Sharron Sharron — Google review
Beautiful park! I visited in December - I really enjoyed my walk in the snow and would still recommend it - but I think it might be more enjoyable in other seasons! I recommend checking visibility prior to visiting - I didn't get to see the volcano, but walking around the small islands and over the picturesque bridges in the snow was a really beautiful experience! I also would note that in this off season, the majority of restaurants were closed - making the trip a bit less convenient. I still highly recommend going! One of the highlights of my trip to Hakodate!
Erin Power — Google review
Even on a rainy, cloudy day, the mountain was still so majestic and beautiful. I had to wait a few minutes to get a good view through the clouds. But it was worth it. The air smells so clean and fresh. The bridges are beautiful.
Karine Wilson — Google review
A lovely national park with beautiful landscape, lakes, islands and spectacular view of active volcano mount Komagatake!
In Onuma Quasi-National Park, visitors can enjoy various activities such as relaxing boating around the serene lake, cycling, canoeing, and more. Highly recommended to visit this lovely place!
Ting Ting — Google review
Absolutely wonderful and peaceful nature without the crowds. I can not say that it is more than half a days trip, but the nature is certainly worth the travel. It is free admission with plenty of touristy stuff nearby. Additionally, plus is that it is dog friendly, but note, some of the trails might not be improved enough for smaller breeds. The biggest advantage, though, for me over other tourist sites in Japan was that the crowds were not there like most other places.
Joe Riggert — Google review
It reminds me of the 100 Acre Woods from Whinnie the Pooh. So many beautiful different bridges!
Mariah Gardner — Google review
One of the best memorable place.lake virw is awesome.one whole day is needed to walk around the lake & boating
Speed boat option available
You can rent bicycles to roam.
Renga raj — Google review
Highly recommend taking the walk 1 to 7 over the many bridges between the islands and ponds full of lillies. Very different from the normal views you get in Japan
Ivon Robson — Google review
Nice place.. small little trails to walk around... you can rent bicycles.. tricycles and even paddle a boat.. came with my elderly parents.. they enjoyed it.. Wil definitely l come back again if I am back in Hakodate.
Kimberly Yer — Google review
We came here during Japan’s public holidays, it was crowded but we really enjoyed the atmosphere, seeing kids playing around with snow and surrounded by laughing was so fun! 🇯🇵
PingYew Tan — Google review
Awesome place, beautiful and peaceful park close to Hakodate, Hokkaido.
It has a huge, two story restaurant with all kinds of seafood dishes and other regional specialties. We had a feast of a meal after our walk!!!
E C — Google review
Visited on a Friday late morning late Sep.
Plenty of free parking onsite.
Took the shorter route as we were on a schedule. Nice easy walk in abt 20min.
Good place to stop and stretch those legs a little.
Melon soft serve afterwards is a treat!
V Chua — Google review
Very beautiful public park that includes many cool bridges and provides great views of Komagatake and Lake Onuma. There are three main walking routes which are all great and well maintained! There are also several places to eat and a places for boat rentals.
Cai Davis (Max) — Google review
I went there during winter can see large plain of white snow, beautiful scene.
Ong Gim Seng — Google review
Beautiful scenery in Onuma lake. Also there is monument of thousand winds. But the wheather is quite windy, and little hot. Also there is restaurant with seafood menu there, they also sell soft ice cream, try their melon soft ice cream. Nice flavour.
The Usuzan Ropeway is a recreational tramway that affords its riders stunning views of Lake Tōya and Mount Usu's volcanic crater. A visit to this attraction is essential if you are in the Lake Toya area. The cable car takes about six minutes to reach the top, where visitors are treated to a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and lake. Adjacent to the observatory deck, there is a hiking trail that passes by a large crater.
An absolute must if you’re in the Lake Toya area. The ropeway takes about six minutes. At the top you’re greeted with a gorgeous panoramic view of the surrounding lake and mountains. There’s a hiking trail off to the side of the observatory deck that passes by a large crater. The cable car rotates every 15 minutes, so you have plenty of flexibility on how much time you want to spend in the area. Highly recommend.
Marklin Nixon — Google review
以前より、とても綺麗になった。頂上についたら展望テラスになっててスムージーとか軽食がある。そこから遊歩道を歩き、登山道に続く先のほうからの景色は格別です。風が強く、気温が低いので上着が要ります。久しぶりに自然を楽しみながらの散歩は気持ち良い♪
(Translated by Google)
It has become much more beautiful than before. When you reach the top, there is an observation terrace where you can enjoy smoothies and light meals. From there, walk along the promenade and follow the mountain trail, and the view from the end is exceptional. The wind is strong and the temperature is low, so you'll need a jacket. It feels good to take a walk while enjoying nature after a long time ♪
ねこ小雪 — Google review
This is my second visit to the mountain because on my first visit, I could only stay there for about five minutes before I had to go back to the tour bus.
On my second visit, I could be more relaxed and take my time to explore the area. As I was up in the mountain, I took the time to breathe in fresh air and enjoy the peace and quiet.
There is a long flight of stairs to go up to the observatory and get back. So, if you do not have the physical stamina, please stay near the cable car station.
Atsuta Toda — Google review
A must-visit around Toya lake area. The ropeway to the top of Usa mountain is for panoramic view of lake, ocean, and other mountains. The ropeway fee is 1,800 yen round trip, the cable leaves every 15 minutes. We went there in winter so it was really cold and windy on the top. Very nice scenery!
Pavinee — Google review
The ropeway is worth a visit to see Mount Usu. There are 2 observation decks, and a 1.1km track for those who wish to walk around the foot of Mount Yotei but the foot path is closed in winter. It is good for a 40 min to 1 hour visit, including taking the rope way up.
Se Yean Leong — Google review
A great place to visit if you are touring the area. Seems like having 2 hours available is good to do the whole walking trail at the top.
Nicholas Valentine — Google review
Great View and a short easy hike
Nathanael Tan — Google review
リニューアルされてとても綺麗になってました。
スロープあるから車イス&ベビーカーも行けて助かる!
広めのテラスにはガーデン家具が並んでて、併設されているカフェで飲み物買って景色を見ながらくつろげて最高。ホットココア450円…山価格。けど量多めだからいいかな。ホットサンドとか軽食もあり。
火口も歩いて見に行けるけど、階段、上り坂結構しんどかった〜
新しいゴンドラは窓が大きくて景色たくさん楽しめる!紅葉時期オススメ!
お土産も充実〜。
(Translated by Google)
It has been renovated and is very beautiful.
There is a slope so wheelchairs and strollers can access it!
Garden furniture is lined up on the spacious terrace, and it's great to buy a drink at the attached cafe and relax while looking at the view. Hot cocoa 450 yen...Mountain price. But I guess it's okay because it's a large amount. Hot sandwiches and light snacks are also available.
You can walk to see the crater, but the stairs and uphill were quite tiring.
The new gondola has large windows so you can enjoy a lot of scenery! Recommended during the autumn leaves season!
Lots of souvenirs too.
夜型わがままボディ — Google review
I visited this beautiful place yesterday and I must say that it was truly magnificent, I’ve seen many places in Japan that have breath taking views and this place is up there with the best of them, in all fairness the views and scenery in Japan are all truly unique. When you first arrive you see this beautiful green area at the bottom of one of the mounts, there’s a big car park which will cost 500yen, you then make your way up to the cable car booking office and purchase your tickets at 750yen each then it’s climb aboard for the trip to the top. The further you climb the better the views, once at the top there’s a very big viewing platform and an area where you can maybe enjoy an ice cream whilst taking in the panoramic views. You then follow a trail that leads to another viewing area, be warned the steps up to the area are a tad bit gruelling-it took the wind out of my sails but when atop there are 270-degree views of the towns below, breath taking vistas on a beautiful clear day are second to none. I really hope that you take the opportunity to visit Mt Usu Ropeway Observatory I promise you that you’ll not be disappointed.
Shinboner — Google review
Beautiful views with the option to hike around the outer rim. You get lovely views coming out of the cable car, sit at the cafe to soak in said views. The cafe takes only cash.
It gets really sunny, bring hats for sun protection. After the cable car station, there is are steps to hike up to the volcano’s rim. And then another hike to go around the outer rim. The pathway isn’t stroller friendly although we did see a couple carry up their baby stroller (10/10 effort).
Payment for rope way tickets available via cash and credit card.
E Chong — Google review
Mt.Usu Ropeway
Recreational tramway providing rides to elevated views of Lake Tōya & Mount Usu's volcanic crater. Breathtaking mountain/ lake toys / volcano view.
A 40-minute/70-minute drive (with toll/without toll) from Noboribetsu is a famous caldera, Lake Toya. The best view of the caldera is from the top of Mount Usu via the Usuzan Ropeway (¥1600) which leaves every 15 minutes. ¥500 for Parking. Though, it’s really only worth the trip if the weather is sunny. If it’s cloudy, give it a miss.
Lee CK — Google review
You either walk/hike up or by ropeway(cable car) 1800¥.2ways.
On mountain peak, there's a trail walk to see volcano crater or near ropeway station can see birdseye view of lake Toya.
Ng Wayne — Google review
For 1800 yen (2 way), you can take the cable car up to Mt Usu. The staff are friendly and able to speak in English abit. Do note of their last timings for cable car rides down the mountain (5.45pm on summer, 4.30pm on winter), otherwise you will get stuck!
Liau Yuan Wei — Google review
Pretty cool way to climb up the mountain time and energy-efficiently, obviously, but not the most reasonable cost-wise just as how other cablecars aren’t. Still quite worth it and you’ll get to see thins you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Kyuwon Lee — Google review
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4.0
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184-5 Showashinzan, Sobetsu, Usu District, Hokkaido 052-0102, Japan
Jigokudani, also known as Hell Valley, is a striking crater featuring sulfurous hot springs, volcanic steam columns and scenic hiking paths. This famous local attraction in NoboribetsuOnsen serves two popular dishes named after it: jigoku ramen (hell ramen) and Enma yakisoba. The former comprises spicy red soup that resembles something the devil would offer while the latter is named after Enma, the god who judges souls in the underworld.
A must-visit place in Hokkaido. There is a parking lot nearby for 500 yen. The scenery is just stunning! The valley with hot water runs in creating steam and sulfur smell.
Pavinee — Google review
I don’t know how famous or popular this place is. But it is still well maintained and I have seen a lot of kids here to learn and to experience the natural resources that Japan has.
Mostly here has local visitors. Most of the texts here are in Japanese without English. It seems a local attraction. We still can see the educational meaning of the natural resources without understanding the language. And that is how good Japan is.
I don’t see people cooking with the hot water here though.
Richard Wu — Google review
Interesting view of sulphur (it legit smells like rotten eggs) and its gas coming out from the ground. Beside the valley, there’s a few hikes you can choose to take! I took one path to a stream that has fine grey sand for us to soak our feet in (hot water) and it felt so good!
Liau Yuan Wei — Google review
I visited here because of a day tour package. You can smell the sulfur odor here. The place is clean, and there are some convenience shops nearby the area.
The entrance is free here.
Coby Khor — Google review
It was walking distance from our hotel.
It has a strong sulphuric smell. Thanks to the fall season, it had a beautiful backdrop.
It was crowded with bus loads of tourists, but I was still able to walk around and take amazing pictures.
Try to avoid peak periods.
It's worth a visit if you are around the area as it is free to visit.
Sara MJ — Google review
Such nice place and worth visiting. Indescribable volcanic eruption scenes around this place recalled me a trip of Bromo in Indonesia. You may need a mask if you could not stand Sulfur smell, or even you could; mask is also required when you go outside now ;)
Subhakrit C. — Google review
Hell Valley" is a spectacular, appropriately named valley just above the town of Noboribetsu Onsen, which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity. It is a main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters.From the valley, there are attractive walking trails through the wooded hills above Noboribetsu. If you follow them for about 20 to 30 minutes, you will get to Oyunuma, a sulfurous pond with a surface temperature of 50 degrees Celsius and a smaller, even hotter, mud pond nearby. Stunning scenery!!
Simone Artuso — Google review
Easy access from the car park (¥500 parking fees). Interesting landscape with easy walking paths and boardwalk along and into some parts of the volcanic area.
Mihwa Lee — Google review
Strong smell of sulfur which some people might feel sick from it (personally i was fine)
If u want to experience onsen or bathhouse you should probably make sure to come during its season.
Very mesmerizing place something you can not see often. Fascinating to know about the boiling water underneath and how its producing steam due to it.
fatiha AS — Google review
This spot didn’t disappoint me. Not so crowded, maybe because of the day I visited was weekday. It has a sulfur smell which some people may not like. Another point is that if you want to park your car here, you need to buy a ticket by 500 yen. Better not to lose the ticket, because you can use the ticket one more time in another parking spot.
Samimuzzaman — Google review
A little touristy but otherwise really amazing to see! The smell is what you would expect from a volcanic place, lots of sulphur.
There were a lot of great places nearby to take photos and have amazing food.
A lot of the walking paths are shut in winter.
Katie Bun — Google review
What a exotic place in hokkaido.
If anyone visit here, they can feel the power of our land, earth.
Hot spring always boiling on the ground(Not danger actually lol).
??? — Google review
This was my first experience at one of these sites, the sulphur smell is the first thing to hit you as you get out of the car. We visited here when it was raining but the scenery was still really good and it was likely less crowded. You can see the mountain at low level viewpoints pretty much straight away as you enter the park. There are some walking trails around the park which we would recommend trying as you get to some higher viewpoints and the walks don’t take too long (each section was maybe 10-20mins), you also walk through some wooded and more scenic areas. If you are not interested in walking, you can drive to two other car parks using the same parking ticket (500yen). However, the one place you will need to walk to is the footbath (10-15min walk from the car park next to the lake), this is a popular spot where you can dip your feet into the hot water and there is also a good photo opportunity next to a small waterfall.
Rohatash Chaudhary — Google review
We walked on the boardwalk, and it was magical to see the volcanic area. We hired a walking tour guide with adex base for 1 hour, and he gave us a very good narration. It cost us yen 2000. We think it was worth the money since we got a good narrated value of the place.👍 Definitely recommended to do the walk and hike if you have time.
Susan Lam — Google review
I thought there would be Hot Springs that you can go into, but that is not the case. It is a series of hiking trails that are a lot of fun and easy to use. You can go to different lookouts and see the sulfer pools from different places. A place of beauty. The spas and restaurants in the area are great. I spent two days here and it’s really great.
David Mayberg — Google review
Other than the hordes of tourists, the visit to this place was well worth it. It lived up to its name indeed, as you see plumes of steam arising from the ground around you. It smells of sulphur of course, but the sight is unique.
Steven Lee — Google review
Very interesting place, fuming coming out of the rocks, the colors, the odor. Would recommend doing onsen in some of the hotels. You can do this as a one day trip or spend a night as part of a larger Hokkaido trip. It’s not worth it to travel to Hokkaido just for this.
peterlow01 — Google review
Easy parking with car ( 600 yen ). 5 minutes walk and the access is free. We were lucky to have such sunny moment of time. Nice place to have a walk. I can imagine in the summer this is an awesome place to picknick.
Gee-Kin Lam — Google review
Assuming that you stay near by, wake up slightly earlier than the normal tourist and head over to this area for a quick walk around the Hell's valley where you wouldn't be bogged down by the waves of tourist and enjoy some peace and quiet.
1. We headed over at around 7am to the park, spent sometime around the main area which was pretty relaxing
2. Subsequently we drove up to another valley just about 7 minutes in which is also walkable (but will take you around 25-30 minutes)
Generally quite a nice place given our hotel was just beside it, very convenient.
If you're lucky you would be able to catch wild deer's grazing.
Jon Song — Google review
A popular tourist attraction in the form of a crater with boiling sulfuric hot springs, volcanic steams and hiking paths.
Enjoy a hike around the Hell Valley, and then go to any nearby hot spring to relax your muscles; my friends and I had a wonderful experience doing so 💯
Nicholas Tan — Google review
Dear San Franciscan,
Friday 12.8.23 @10 am
The sky is a tad cloudy, no rain nor wind. The weather was just perfect.
The night before the snow fall, not a lot but made it looks pretty.
We explore the area up to the steam vents.
The sulphuric smell gets stronger as you walk closer to the source.
It was about 5 mins walk from our hotel. The sunrise is about 7.30 am and. Sunset about 4 pm.
lalamiumiu ieie — Google review
Came here on a gloomy weather and when it was snowing. Not the best time to capture nice scenes.
Walking path was done well. Some areas are off limits during winter due to heavy snow. Managed to walk about 500m of trail only.
Quite impressed by this geological wonder of a hot spring.
KF Yoon — Google review
Unless u happened to be nearby, then this is a nice place to visit due to the scenic views else the travel and time taken just to see this is not worth it. Me thinks.
When I was here in early December, the views were magnificent as the place is partly covered with snow and gives me a sense of calmness and peaceful feeling. The weather was also nice to stroll along the guided path especially with light snowflakes falling on me.
Those who dun like the strong smell of sulphur, then have to skip this cos the smell is very very strong and, worse, if the wind directions is to wards you.
Jimmy Ang — Google review
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4.0
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無番地 Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0551, Japan
Rusutsu Ski Resort, located in Hokkaido near Niseko and Sapporo airports, offers an exciting powder skiing and snowboarding experience. The resort features Disneyland-style attractions alongside its beautiful tree runs and stunning views. While not as large as some other resorts, Rusutsu offers plenty of tree areas to explore with easy options for beginners on all chairs.
We had so much fun! Good quality powder snow, trails are mostly very wide so less crowded. Almost all the lifts have covers to keep you warm and dry in the snow.
Heavenly area in Mt isola and the tree area in West mountain are gold
Susan Liu — Google review
Great lunch spot, good place to meet people that don't ski/board, or got injured. Free gondola ride to East mountain.
Katsu curry for ¥1700
Debbie R — Google review
Epic Pow and terrain. Great views on clear days. No ski baskets for powder skis. 3/4 days I visited, half of mountain closed because they can't figure out how to work Gondola (or don't have enough staff?). Increasing price, but not investing in resort infrastructure.
Brian Tynan — Google review
Great tree and off piste skiing particularly when it’s been snowing.
You need to get a long gondola to connect west and east sections and the line to it can be very busy.
It’d be nice to have a cafe at the top of the runs to better enjoy the views.
Despite those things I’ll come again!
Monika — Google review
Great snow and value compared to Niseko. Many tree skiing options off Mt Isola.
Stuart Dunbar — Google review
Wonderful experience! Everyone is so nice and welcoming 🙏
adam pirtz — Google review
The best day of skiing in my life! There are multiple runs for all abilities. The runs are well groomed & lots of snow around. The runs weren't crowded. Lifts were quite quick. Friendly staff around the mountain too.
Melanie Simpson (Foreverbruching) — Google review
Older lifts and buildings but perfectly groomed and well designed slopes, 5 days in a row no waiting time at the lifts, as known from Hokkaido plenty of snow, most of the time the slopes were deserted ... perfect!!!
Diethard Rüger — Google review
Great resort, lots of tree runs, beautiful views on a nice day. Not too large but a lot of tree areas to explore. There are also easy options on all chairs for beginners.
Nice break from skiing in Niseko. Lifts were not busy, no wait, during my visit. I prefer this resort over skiing in Niseko.
That said, there is no night skiing here. Food options close just before the last lifts close so if you plan to eat you must do it during the day. Food options and bathrooms at each of the 3 main areas.
Katrina S — Google review
This would be considered Atla regarding old lodges and basic food. Fun mid skiing. Nothing real steep. Trees would be fun if powder but not very steep to rip.
Almost 2xs the cost of Niseko and not great anything. Really fun terrain. It is a fun resort but not Niseko. They do not have the easy facilities either. Limited food selections.
Mitchell Spence — Google review
4.4
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4.5
(453)
13 Izumikawa, Rusutsu, Abuta District, Hokkaido 048-1711, Japan
Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu Ski resort is a top-notch, all-inclusive ski destination that offers a range of activities and amenities for visitors. The resort boasts numerous shops, eateries, snow parks, and hiking trails for summer adventurers. On a perfect day, the snow conditions are excellent with no long lines to wait in. Renting equipment is an easy process thanks to the friendly staff who are always ready to lend a helping hand.
Best powder snow in Japan. The weather was not great on the day we got here. Many lifts were closed due to strong wind. However we still enjoyed the course. My advice is plan your play a head by checking weather n current lift status on website.
Faiz — Google review
Powder and lots of of it! Worth a visit and feels like something everyone should experience if you're seeking deep lines of powder.
Things I wish I knew before: Runs are short compared to North America, restaurants are very crowded, rentals are okay, and there is a free shuttle that is available throughout the town. Lunch options on the hill are awesome and much better than most resorts in North America.
Jason — Google review
This ski resort deserves the world wide fame it gets, snow is amazing, views are amazing and the terrain is amazing. It is on the expensive side compared to other Japanese resorts but it’s the most famous so they charge what they want.
The little villages at the base are amazing but it’s way more expensive, food and drinks are double what you will pay in other places.
First day we were stuck in just HIrafu as the wind had the top of the mountain in hold.
Night riding was an incredible experience and it started snowing just as the sun went down.
Second day was 5-10cm of fresh snow and the riding was incredible. Hiked to the summit pf the resort and ride fresh lines on the return.
We can’t wait to come back to Niseko.
Mikal Fulton — Google review
Fresh powder, and amazing slopes. The food at the restaurants were pretty good too. Getting rental equipment was easy and the rental shop staff were very nice and helpful!
Richmond Manzana — Google review
Very good location and nice setup. This is a great place for those who love skiing and snowboarding. They have areas with all kind of skill levels. Niseko area is known for one of the best ski resorts and this one won’t disappointed you. Parking can be difficult at times but you they have staff that help directing the traffic.
Dr. Piya Chayanuwat — Google review
Amazing powder! Hirafu is the largest of the 4 mountains it seemed and the most to explore. Some trees. Still smaller than US mountains in UT, CO. It is fairly easy to navigate despite minimal signage. Often snowing (visibility can be tough momentarily if it's windy). Hirafu is connected to one other mountain in the set of 4, the other 2 are a 15 min drive. Above the tree line is accessed by a single lift with a small back at both Nisseko and Hirafu. It was easy on and off even for the kids (8, 10). Vegetarian food is limited even at Hirafu. Some food can sell out even on low volume days.
Nadine Wilches — Google review
Variety of groomed runs, tree sections all offer the best powder snow I've seen anywhere.
If the weather is kind to you, you'll wake up to a morning with the slopes coated by fresh snow, often more than 20cm and then the bright sun offers such spectacular views!
If the weather reminds you it's winter after all, the snow is still there in abundance, but it can get blustery at the mid-top mountain.
A winter wonderland!
Must visit place for all those enjoying skiing/snowboarding.
Bonny Rais — Google review
Excellent snow on a perfect day. No lines when I went, base camp restaurant has pretty good lunch food too.
Rental equipment staff were helpful and friendly.
The higher up lifts actually have windshields installed on the chairs which is surprisingly convenient too.
Rich Manzana — Google review
Powder snow and breathtaking sights make this ski resort amazing. Lots of people travel here because it has some of the best snow in the world.
A 5 hour pass / full day pass is recommended when you are able to ski well. It can also get particularly crowded on the beginner slope with people sitting around.
Royce Ho — Google review
Stunning resort with amazing skiing. A must, and the powder when it snowes is amazing Village is nice as well, with many shuttles going around (though they are very crowded). Would recommend staying on the hill or renting a car if you can because of the crowded buses.
Mackenzie Johnson — Google review
The slopes were amazing. Powder day was incredible.
Staff at the Annex rental store were lovely and so helpful (best to know some basic Japanese though, as some of the staff aren't English speakers).
Over-priced food for Japan at least at the cafe/ restaurant ($25 for a beef burger and wedges). Knowing this, buy food at the Lawson convenience store down the road from the Annex rental shop and save yourself heaps of money. Just don't go to the Lawson after a day of skiing (>6:00pm) and expect there to be food left. Massive lines and most of the food gone. Save yourself the trouble and buy it in the morning before you head up to the mountain.
Facilities are plentiful. Lots of info desks, toilets are easily accessible, lifts are very easy to catch, ski passes and rental stores are easily accessible/ easy to purchase on the day. Places are nicely heated and comfortable to rest in after a few hours of skiing/ snowboarding.
A few down sides. The place is absolutely overrun with tourists (specifically Aussies and Americans). I'm an Aussie so no prejudice here. Some of us can be a bit...much, especially when drunk, which is a frequent occurrence here. The problem is that the Japanese staff that operate the buses and convenience stores have to put up with this, day in and day out, so expect some staff to be snappy or even yell at you if you step out of line, even a smidge. I asked a bus driver in Japanese if the bus was going to a particular stop. He death stared me for about 3 seconds and suddenly started yelling at me, waving his arms around. He obviously wasn't having a good day. Not a big deal, just be prepared for it.
Some buses just don't arrive, are full of people and so you can't get on or in some cases, just don't stop in one rare case.
Overall, a great experience. Just tailor your expectations, so that you're not surprised by an ocean of tourists, lack of restaurants that don't require a reservation or angry bus drivers. Otherwise, an amazing time. (Take the gondola up to the green King run).
Luca Moschenski — Google review
Excellent runs and good tree area. Many different runs has views of Mt. Yotei which is magnificent. You can easily spend few days just explore this area. The runs are super fun for snowboarders. The only bad thing is way too many people here. Nieseko area had been getting so popular that getting to lift is long wait. When we were here 6 years ago, it was so quiet. Big portion of beginners are at the lower area, I saw someone got ski over and broke her arm. It become a bit chaotic. This is the reason I gave this area 4 stars. If you are advance skiers/ riders, spending all your times in tress area, this is less of problem. But again, you still need to deal with insane amount of the people at lift.
The Foodie Architect — Google review
Excellent snow condition, fresh powder everyday. A large variety of runs.
Good food.
The night session is super fun, it's not cold. Don't miss it!
My only complaint: stickers and magnets price are too high and only limited selections.
Leo Shi — Google review
Even when the forecast calls for limited or no snow, there’s still powder to be found.
The hikes are amazing. Be sure the pack your beacon and ride with a friend, but you can’t beat the back country access.
The town itself leaves a lot to be desired. Impossible to get in anywhere without a reservation, so you really have to script your trip.
Very touristy, so if you’re looking to experience Japan, this is not your resort
Chris Nielsen — Google review
Fabulous place for skiing and snowboarding! The gondola is amazing, great food, some shopping but mainly aimed at snowboarding and skiing. One little souvenir shop above a restaurant called Tozanken that was so popular the wait was up to 2 hours but highly recommend the wait! Had Christmas lunch there and it was delicious!
Annette Scott — Google review
4.5
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4.5
(798)
2-chome-9-1 Nisekohirafu 1 Jo, Kutchan, Abuta District, Hokkaido 044-0080, Japan
The Nikka Whiskey Yoichi Distillery is a top-notch distillery located just outside of Otaru in Yoichi. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the grounds and then sample different Nikka whiskeys in the tasting room. If you're interested in whiskey, this is definitely worth a visit!
They have a brand new museum that just launched a couple of months ago (aug 20121) that has a lot of interesting info about Nikka (like how they created the logo, other alcohol they’ve made: gin, vodka even).
The tour is free but you have to reserve in advance. Make sure you don’t drive if you want to have a sip as they have stickers to indicate you’re not drinking
They have a limit of how many bottles each person can buy at the shop, but they sell the limited Yoichi distillery editions!
Taisuke Yamamoto — Google review
Fantastic place to visit if you are a whisky lover. The free tour requires booking ahead of time (I did it online via their Japanese website with the help of google translate). Note if you are travelling from Sapporo via train, there are very limited trains heading to Yoichi and can restrict what tour times you can make. I booked a 9:00am tour and caught a 7:14am train from Sapporo to Yoichi arriving at 8:30am. It is a short 5 minute walk from Yoichi station to the distillery grounds.
Tour is all spoken in Japanese but the tour lady and security guard have these little laminated cards in English explaining each stage of the tour which was helpful. At the end of the tour they provide three free whisky tastings as well which is nice. Whisky for breakfast. Breakfast of champions =)
After the tour you can then visit the museum and tasting bar (can only taste a maximum of 3). You can also visit their shop for well priced bottles of whisky's. Tip - there is also a restaurant as well which you can further order a whisky tasting set to sample three more Nikka whisky's, I cannot remember which whisky's they were though on the menu.
Johnny Cong — Google review
Manage to get a booking to enter the distillery tour in advance. Advance reservation required. It was free. It was a great experience and seeing the history and process of whisky making. The free tasting was such a treat. I wouldn’t come again though because I think it’s good enough to come once and experience it all also because it’s much further out from the city.
Lee Chalyn — Google review
Great side trip from Sapporo. The guided tour is only in Japanese, but the videos and pamphlet are more than required. The tasting room is amazing. You can get whiskey that can be found no where else at minimal cost. I only wish you could buy the bottles of what you enjoyed.
Chad D — Google review
This distillery brought back bittersweet memories of my first trip here back in 2016. A guided tour is available but needs to pre-book way ahead. While I took JR from Sapporo to Yoichi 7 years ago, this time I drove a rental car all the way here.
Without guided tour, we just walked around admiring the powdery view of the distillates covered in snow; then I went to their tasting room while the kids played with snow outside. They had changed a lot since my last visit and it’s more elegant and bigger space displaying the whiskies and history of the distillery. I paid for whisky tasting flight before buying the distillery exclusive whisky from the retail shop.
Boon Loong Leo — Google review
Representing Japanese whiskey made in Japan.
Museum where you can feel the effort and talent of the makers is free to see.(booking required for tour)
There is a paid tasting corner where you can try some whiskies that you can only try here. It is not that crowded in the afternoon on weekdays.
The souvenir store is well stocked with original goods, and many wealthy Chinese buy the limited edition whisky.
The restaurant is delicious! However, there is no children's menu. This place is not big, so the seats were almost full even on weekdays.
chunenma-i — Google review
Reservations required, usually one month in advance. But worth it if you're a whisky lover. Distillery was beautiful in the winter snow. Free tasting of apple wine, super Nikka, Yoichi single malt. Paid tasting for some never to be seen elsewhere whisky such as Yoichi Single Cask 10 years. Museum was very informative too.
Lim Chong Yan — Google review
Best place to visit when you are in Yoichi! We came especially to visit the distillery and it worth a visit!
Free admission to enter, wonderful environment, the building are well planned, good floor plan and most important, spectacular whiskey!
The distillery offers free whiskey tasting, although the selection of the free tasting are more entry level bottles, the quality is still good! On the other hand, the distillery also offers a separate bar area for paid tasting which includes selective award winning bottles, this is definitely one of the best places to go if you are a whiskey lover!
Don’t forget to purchase souvenirs at the merchandise store when leaving!
Luis Hsu — Google review
A nice visit for those who enjoy whiskey.
A lot of the buildings were closed due to snow/winter but we still got a good view of the grounds.
If you don’t speak Japanese, stay at the front of the tour as the guide will have a sheet explaining what is being said in English.
The tour guide and staff were very kind and generous, squeezing me into a last minute tour.
Make sure you try the samples, I’d recommended the Apple wine or Highballs.
Stuart Harper — Google review
The tour is speechless — it’s thorough, time-efficient, well-organized, and takes you to a really close look of the whisky making process. And it’s for free? I’ve lost my words. The whole place, aside from and on top of the tour experience, is simply inspiring and extraordinary. So much worth of your two-way train ride from Otaru even just for this distillery tour itself.
Kyuwon Lee — Google review
This is a very interesting place to visit, I believe that you don’t have to be a whisky drinker to appreciate the history behind this fascinating company, I’ve often seen the logo and the neon sign in Sapporo but never gave any thought about the product. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get on the 70-minute tour as it was fully booked but I strolled through the museum to see the different whiskies that have been produced over time, this company actually started out as a fruit juice company while waiting for the whisky to mature, after the museum stroll I couldn’t resist spending some time and money in the souvenir shop where I bought a single malt for 68,000yen which I believe is quite reasonable. This is a must visit destination but book early to avoid the disappointment of missing out on the tour.
Shinboner — Google review
While there was no English tour available when we were there, one of the security staff held cards with information about the distillery while the tour guide talked. As I have visited many distilleries, I was more interested in seeing the site than learning about the distillation method anyway.
It was a pleasure to visit Nikka and learn more about the founder and his wife Rita. Their story would make an excellent movie. The obstacles they overcame for Nikka to become the first Japanese whisky distillery are many.
Wonderful place to visit, and Yoichi is a nice place as well.
Rick L — Google review
The distillery is very conveniently located just across the Yoichi railway station. However trains are not very regular, so it takes some planning to match the train arrivals with the time of the tour. The tour is free, though reservations must be made in advance on their official website. There are many time slots each day to choose from, but it gets filled up fast, so if you have decided a date to visit, be sure to make the reservation 4 weeks earlier (as they accept reservations up to 4 weeks in advance). The tour is in Japanese, but instructions will be provided for downloading the "MyGuide" app and connecting to the pre-recorded audio guide. The grounds are beautiful, and at the end of the tour you get to sample 3 drinks (Apple Wine, Super Nikka, and Single-malt Yoichi) for free. If you are into collecting stamps, then there are supposedly 4 locations with stamps of different colors that will complete the "Thank you for coming!" picture. Unfortunately we only realized this when we were leaving, so could not get the other colors stamped on the card. Highly recommended.
WL Lim — Google review
Amazing whiskies! Some of my fav and the sole reason I got into fine whisky! It was a bottle of 21 year old Nikka Taketsuri that really opened my mind and changed my taste buds from Johny Walker Black to single malts! Since then I’ve embarked on a deep and expensive journey of enjoying fine whisky from the around the world!
Petko Petkov — Google review
The tasting bar was the highlight. Just come here and taste it. Not an alcoholic, it’s a museum after all. The whiskeys are amazingly tasty and amazingly cheap.
Jumi — Google review
We went there without knowing that we needed to get tickets for guided tour in advance. Thank God the counter lady managed to slot us in. The whiskey tasting is the main highlight of the day!
Jun Yea Chai (dLOFT architects) — Google review
It’s been years since I wanted to come here and I finally made it.
Highly recommend it to any whisky / Nikka lovers.
I arrived in Yoichi at 8:30am but my tour was only at 10am. They allowed me to cruise around the distillery grounds, Museum, tasting bar and gift shop.
Tour start at 10am and it was brilliant. You’ll have to see if for yourself when you come.
Staff were super helpful and friendly. Perfect side day trip if you’re staying in Sapporo.
A few days ago I went also to Nikka Miyagikyo distillery in Sendai. They’re both wonderful. There were a bit less option of tasting premium whiskys here at Yoichi, also the gift shop had less options of bottles. I guess because Yoichi is busier.
Overall, amazing! Worth coming all the way up here and taste the best whiskys and learn a bit of these masterpieces!
Jorge Taconelli Saito (Jimi Loudie) — Google review
took the whisky guided tour (70min, free drinks, advance reservation required) and was definitely worth it. beautiful place, lots of things to learn and see especially if you are Japanese whisky lover. highly recommended. Thank you Takahashi-san!
George Yap — Google review
4.4
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4.5
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7 Chome-6 Kurokawacho, Yoichi, Yoichi District, Hokkaido 046-0003, Japan
Cape Kamui is a stunning peninsula with steep cliffs and breathtaking sea views. It boasts a lighthouse and a hiking trail that offers unparalleled vistas of the Japan Sea. While the main trail leading to the tip of the Cape is well-defined, parts of it can be slippery due to moist sea wind, making it unsuitable for wearing nice shoes. Visitors can explore different trails near the car park to see the Cape from various angles. The whole experience including photo time takes about 1.
Stunning wild scenery blown by the wind to get to the last point but well worth it.
Paul A — Google review
A beautiful little hike to do while exploring the Shakotan Peninsula. Although it wasn't very crowded (at the beginning of July), from looking at the size of the parking lot and the fact that the other places we stopped off at were less crowded, I don't think I would enjoy going during peak season because the trail is quite narrow for 2-way traffic and so you regularly have to make room for oncoming people to get by.
Rory Rosszell — Google review
Stunning views and amazing sea wind blowing directly from the Japan Sea (hold on tight to your cell phone when you selfie 😅). The main trail going to the tip of the Cape is not long and very well defined but it could be muddy and certain sections with metal mash bridges could be slippery under the moist sea wind, so it may not be a good idea to wear lovely shoes (I saw ladies wearing high heels 🤔). The other trails next to the car park are also short, you can see the Cape from different angles which also worth exploring.
Exploring the whole trail, including photo taking time shall be around 1.5hrs. There is a restaurant at the car park or few good options down the driveway.
Rohatash Chaudhary — Google review
It’s really beautiful but unfortunately when we visited there was a sign stating that it is closed until November 30 for maintenance so we couldn’t walk out!
Mabel Lam — Google review
Stunning views and amazing sea wind blowing directly from the Japan Sea (hold on tight to your cell phone when you selfie 😅). The main trail going to the tip of the Cape is not long and very well defined but it could be muddy and certain sections with metal mash bridges could be slippery under the moist sea wind, so it may not be a good idea to wear lovely shoes (I saw ladies wearing high heels 🤔). The other trails next to the car park are also short, you can see the Cape from different angles which also worth exploring.
Exploring the whole trail, including photo taking time shall be around 1.5hrs. There is a restaurant at the car park or few good options down the driveway.
Mabel Sin — Google review
Sometimes windy with breeze, sometimes hot 🥵 af, requires physical strength as it is similar to hiking with lots of stairs and trails
I was sweaty so I'm not posting any pictures of me
Cosmas Chan — Google review
Amazing views of the Sea of Japan and the Shakotan coast! It's an easy albeit a bit long walk to see the cape. There are lots of beautiful views along the way (but not the plastic rubbish brought in by the tides on the shores below the cliffs). After the walk and feeling peckish you can have a meal, snack or ice cream at the shop next to the parking area. They offer quite a few seafood meal sets (local specialty seems to be the sea urchins) that are reasonably priced.
Jelly Mae Moring — Google review
Went to this cape with not a lot of info. about it but this spot exceeded my expectations. The scenery along the hike to the end of the cape is really breathtaking. Not only that, the road we took to get there has stunning ocean view and was a scenic drive.
Mai T. — Google review
A wonderful walk out to the lighthouse, if only one could do it alone!
Hotel Torifito Otaru Canal is a charming and unpretentious hotel that has been reimagined from the vintage Hokkaido Echuya Hotel, which was originally built in 1937. The hotel holds historical significance as it was the first hotel in Hokkaido exclusively for overseas visitors and later repurposed by the military during wartime. Designated as a historical building, it has undergone a bold renovation while preserving its historical aesthetics.
My wallet was lost on 19 Feb 2024. After thorough check in our own room, we didn't find it and proceed to seek help from the Front Desk Officer.
These two kind gentlemen (who refused to be named) assisted me to contact local authority, and confirmed that the wallet was found in local police station. They were highly effective and diligent, and I truly appreciate their assistance. They were on duty at 8:50pm 19 Feb 2024. My heroes of the day!
Of course, my gratitude to the person who reported the lost wallet to local police
I would like to highly recommend this hotel to all visitors who stay in Otaru.
Soo Sing Choi — Google review
Newly-opened, clean and comfortable hotel with reasonable price. The location is just nearby the Otaru canal (5 minutes) and in a walkable distance to the Sakaimachi street (15 minutes), a strategic location for restaurants and shopping. The room was very comfortable and quite spacious. Overall, I had a really pleasant stay here except that they charge 1000 yen parking fee while the other hotels normally offer free parking space for guests.
Pavinee — Google review
Good location and comfortable beds this hotel is a great choice if you are in Otaru.
The room was a bit small, as well as the bathroom but in line with the Japanese standards.
No complementary water provided, 1000¥ for the parking.
Pier RK — Google review
We booked two rooms and both rooms smelled. The bathroom also had a strange odor. Bathhouse was crowded in the evening. They charged us 1500 yen per night for parking. We left the car in the parking lot after checking out and visited the museums nearby. Upon leaving, they charged us an additional 3000 yen (1000 yen per hour), which they didn’t tell us about when checking in. The only good thing was that the hotel was in a convenient location.
Esther Kao — Google review
Excellent modern hotel with a great location. A walkable distance from Otaru Canal and the historic areas downtown. The rooms are comfortable and spacious. The bathing area in the room is separate from the toilet, which makes it much more pleasant to use. There's also a large communal bathing area on the 1st floor which is open late and immaculately clean.
Nishant Annu — Google review
Staff are friendly and the room is big with tub very nice and cozy
However the people who have tattoos are unable to enter the osen which it's a culture of Japan
But it didn't show on the website so kinda unfair.
And I don't want to bother other people so I stay in my room.
Tattoo unfriendly
??? — Google review
Nice big rooms, close to the canal with a delicious breakfast. They have an onsen and someone at the front desk, no automated checkin. A big sink and separate toilet room. Plenty of electric outlets. They have parking next door. Hot water and fast WiFi.
James Wernicke Sr. — Google review
The hotel is more a boutique styled one however without the perks such as a bar or communal areas. There was a set of public baths which we didn't get a chance to use.
The hotel is located perfectly as it is right near the famous Otaru Canal and other tourist hotspots, and the room is 17m2 which is typical of Japanese hotels. We had a problem with the water pressure in our bathroom, which would ease off for minutes at a time and then restore itself.
We visited Otaru during the peak season and paid accordingly, however I wouldn't say its the best value - but it is recommended due to its location and cleanliness. Also, we would like to specially thank the manager Shinji Okuda for handling the minor issue we had upon check-in in a professional and accommodating manner.
CC Wong — Google review
Hotel room is extremely small but consider he price we pay, it’s really live up the value.
We stays in the western tatami room, it’s nice and clean. Public bath is small but there ain’t much hotel offer public bath in Otaru at this price range, so it’s totally acceptable. (Check out the painting the the bath, one paints Canal, lower right is so funny and doesn’t make sense!)
But mine the car park. It offer indoor parking for a fee. We rent a 2019 FIT, a very popular rental car, they tried but the parking elevator keeps on saying it’s over hight thus forced us to pay extra to use the outdoor parking. Result is pile of snow every morning and we wasted a lot of time to wipe the snow.
And the staff.... not exactly hospitality staff.... the females staff are pretty nice but male... we though we are in US Motel.... that should say how the male staff attitude.
Sbug Sbug (Oki-Family) — Google review
The hotel itself was ok and clean.. no wow but ok.. the location was great as it was very near to the Otaru Canal BUT the service was very bad.. most of the staff was ok but there are a certain staff was quite rude even for non japanese standard. After taking bath at the communal bath.. I was probably dipped too long and get a bit dizzy and disorientated so I took a seat outside the communal bath to rest a bit. Then when we walk to the lift to go up the room. Instead of asking if I am feeling alright I was asked our room number and to show our room card by one of the lady staff from the front desk. We was wearing their hotel pyjamas and who else will have their pyjamas? We felt offended as we have booked 3 nights at the hotel and that was our 2nd night..
Then, the other day we wanted to use the washing machine and there are clothes inside which has already done. As per instruction on the washing machine, we asked the front desk to help where one of staff wanted to help to take the clothes out but the same lady staff asked us to wait for another 15mins. There are a clear instruction that if the clothes in the washing machine is done and other guest wanted to use the machine, they will help to clear it out. We felt offended for the 2nd time. Its not like our time is worthless as we need to go out to enjoy our day in Otaru also.
The rate of the hotel and service doesn't justify. Better just book other similar rate hotel nearby. Other than that particular lady staff from the front desk, the other staff were quite ok and friendly
Ryan P — Google review
Parking slots are limited, need to park at the opposite lot with 1000 yen charge per day. People with tattoo are not allow to enter the public bath, quire unfair as they didn't mention in their webpage.
PUAN YEE HONG — Google review
Would like to give a huge compliment to the wonderful staff of Hotel Torifito! We are grateful for the warmth and kindness of Japanese people here, especially the young lady at the check in counter (sorry I couldn't get your name!) who helped us with dinner reservations and answered our queries. The reservation manager Okuda San was also very helpful with changing our room type even though we have already checked in. Everyone from the counter staff, cleaning staff, breakfast staff were so friendly and helpful.
Thank you for the beautiful surprise to celebrate my parents anniversary too, we are very touched. The breakfast spread was so delicious and generous, with sashimi, Hokkaido vegetables, ankesoba with mapo tofu, hokkaido milk and yoghurt, and my favourite salted squid and sakura ebi pasta!
Rooms were clean, new and very exquisitely decorated with the port town theme. Best CP value hotel in Otaru. You have made our short stay in Otaru so pleasant and happy, and we hope to visit again.
LX — Google review
Good hotel with comfortable Beds. Rooms are spacious and the staff is nice.
TV isn't the best but big and usable.
Manuel Kunze — Google review
The rooms are comfy and great value for what you are paying for. Carpark is available at 1500yen per day
Henry Chan — Google review
Room was pretty good and location is great for visiting the canal area. Reception desk service not so great, maybe only one person seemed friendly, everyone else was cold and unwelcoming. Probably not a hotel that I would book again, even though it was good otherwise.
Angela Pan Art — Google review
I tried to book a room on Agoda, and the system encountered an error. I accidentally booked two different rooms without realizing it. Although a service agent from Agoda attempted to help me negotiate with them, the efforts were unsuccessful. In the end, I had to pay for both rooms.
They will issue you a ticket and get your car keys away, you have to show your ticket to them to get your car key everytime
fffvej — Google review
Title: Convenient Location with Room for Improvement
Period of stay: Dec 10 to 12, 2023
Room Type: 1 X Family 4 persons (24 m²/258 ft² | Non-smoking | 1 bunk bed and 2 single beds)
My recent stay at Hotel Torifito Otaru Canal offered a mix of convenience and drawbacks, making it a reasonably satisfactory experience overall.
Pros:
1. **Prime Location**: The hotel's greatest asset is its convenient access to Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Sankaku Market, and other popular attractions. This made our exploration of the city seamless and enjoyable.
2. **Onsen Availability**: Although we didn't get the chance to enjoy it due to our packed travel itinerary, the presence of an onsen is a welcome feature for those seeking relaxation after a day of sightseeing.
3. **Friendly Staff**: The hotel staff were consistently warm and accommodating, contributing positively to our overall experience.
4. **Easy Access**: The hotel's accessibility was commendable, allowing for effortless travel arrangements and quick entry and exit.
Cons:
1. **Cramped Rooms**: One notable downside was the size of the rooms, particularly for a group of four with five 28" luggages. The limited space made it challenging to move around comfortably.
2. **Inefficient Washing Facilities**: The hotel's washing machines, although available, proved to be a disappointment. The machines were not industrial-grade, and after the wash and dry cycle, clothes remained damp. Additionally, the machines were dirty and poorly maintained, leading to long wait times due to the limited availability.
3. **Charges for Parking**: The hotel charged for parking, following a first-in, first-out (FIFO) system. While this might be standard, it's worth noting for travelers on a budget.
While the rooms may not be ideal for families with numerous luggages, the hotel's strategic location compensates for some of its shortcomings. The proximity to key attractions, friendly staff, and ease of access make Hotel Torifito Otaru Canal a viable option for those willing to compromise on certain amenities. However, improvements in room size and laundry facilities would significantly enhance the overall guest experience.
Jason Lim — Google review
hotel is new,
staff explanation is clear, polite.
follow the in house rules and it wont goes wrong.
for parking, park at opposite is cheaper, pay by cash when exit.
onsen area is small( can skip), checked out BEFORE 11am.
lawson is near, highly recommended
honey bee — Google review
The location of the hotel was convenient and near to the Otaru Canal. The staff was nice and the service was excellent. Check-in and check out procedure were smooth and fast. The room was cozy and clean. Recommend to stay in this hotel.
sf c — Google review
Staff are friendly and helpful with a lot of patients. Enthusiastic on helping to answer all the queries. Rooms are clean and big. The mini Mart is just located beside the hotel. 10mins walk to the Otaru station.
T Ch — Google review
4.2
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4.0
(3136)
1 Chome-5-7 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0031, Japan