楊雅雯's Reviews Page 8/13

Hokkaido University

Hokkaido University has a huge campus and an unconstrained space. A location of the ground is accessible on foot from the Sapporo station. The campus is open to the public for tours and walking as well as students or staff do.

• Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
• Tourist Attractions

Hokkaido University really is much bigger than I imagined. Once inside the campus, all I could see were vast stretches of greenery and towering trees. It felt so spacious, as if I could walk forever without reaching the end.
The scenery changes with each season: cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, the much-anticipated golden ginkgo trees in fall, and romantic snow-covered scenery in winter.
Although I didn't visit during the season for the famous ginkgo avenue, I still really enjoyed strolling slowly around the campus, looking at the old, lush trees, feeling the pleasant breeze, and taking in the quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

Former Hokkaido Government Office Building

This government building served as the base and center of Hokkaido’s politics for almost 80 years until the current municipal office was built. Commonly-known as the Red Brick Building, this architecture was made of 2,500,000 bricks. The window glasses with distortion and American Neo Baroque style architecture radiate the history and nostalgia.

• Sapporo Station, Odori, Susukino
• Museums

In central Sapporo, it's hard not to notice this historic red-brick building.
Built in 1888, the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building has a strong European Baroque style and was constructed with about 2.5 million red bricks. The entire building is very distinctive and has become one of Sapporo's most iconic landmarks.
It served as the administrative center of the Hokkaido government for 80 years. Inside, you can take your time learning about the history of Hokkaido's development. It feels like traveling back to the Meiji era and experiencing Sapporo as it was then through the architecture and exhibits.
Admission is also **free**, and its central Sapporo location makes it very convenient to get to. It's well worth adding as a stop while visiting Sapporo.
During cherry blossom season, the red-brick building looks even more beautiful with the blossoms in full bloom. Unfortunately, my visit wasn't during cherry blossom season, but the building itself was still well worth seeing.

Hakodate Kosetsuen (Miharashi Park)

Hakodate Kosetsuen is a garden in the Miharashi Park in Hakodate City. During the Meiji Period, It was built as a vacation home for a rich merchant based in Hakodate. The name Kosetsuen is said to have been given by a Jodo Sect priest of Kyoto’s Chion-in, meaning “the garden fragrant with plum in snow.”

• Hakodate and Matsumae
• Parks & Gardens

This time I visited Hakodate Kosetsuen (Miharashi Park). Although a light rain was falling and it lacked the brightness of a sunny day, it had an added sense of tranquility unique to the woods.
Kosetsuen is a famous spot in Hakodate for fall foliage, and it must be captivating when the maples turn red. Unfortunately, my visit wasn't during foliage season, so I could only enjoy another kind of beauty in the lush greenery.
There are quite a few slopes and woodland paths in the park. At first, I was worried that the routes might be complicated and that I would get lost, but once I started walking, I found that everything was very well laid out, and I felt at ease along the way.
The light rain, the woods, and the winding paths made the overall atmosphere very relaxing. Although I missed the red maples, I unexpectedly fell in love with Kosetsuen in the rain.
If I come back in the fall, I definitely want to see the hills covered in maple leaves with my own eyes!

Lake Kussharo

Lake Kussharo is Japan's largest caldera lake, stretching approximately 20 kilometers north to south, and the largest freshwater lake that freezes over on its entire surface. Mt. Mokoto, which created Lake Kussharo, is known for its volcanic eruptions that covered the entire Hokkaido region with its ash in ancient times.

• Kushiro and Nemuro
• Nature Spots

For this trip, we drove from Lake Akan to Lake Kussharo. The scenery along the way was very pleasant, with mountains, forests, and lakes coming together to create the natural atmosphere unique to eastern Hokkaido.
Lake Kussharo is Japan's largest caldera lake. Its vast waters are surrounded by mountains and forests, and standing by the shore looking out over the expansive lake really makes you want to slow down.
That's the beauty of Hokkaido. You don't necessarily need any special attractions—just driving and enjoying the scenery along the way is already very soothing.
This Lake Akan → Lake Kussharo route is really worth including in your itinerary!

Lake Mashu

Situated in the eastern part of Hokkaido, u is a caldera lake located within the "Akan-Mashu National Park". Encompassing an area of about 19.6 km² with a circumference of roughly 20 km, the environs of the vast lake have been designated as a special protection area. Due to the steep cliffs surrounding it, direct access to the lake is restricted. However, several observation decks set up around the lake offer panoramic views of its serene surface.

• Kushiro and Nemuro
• Nature Spots

If you're visiting eastern Hokkaido, Lake Mashu is definitely worth adding to your itinerary!
Lake Mashu is a caldera lake located within Akan-Mashu National Park. It is surrounded by steep caldera cliffs, so you can't walk directly down to the lakeshore and can only enjoy the view from the observation decks. The most captivating feature is its clear, deep blue color. When the weather is nice, the sky is reflected on the lake's surface, creating a truly mysterious and peaceful feeling.
We drove here from Lake Akan, and the route was easy, with pleasant scenery along the way. When we arrived at Lake Mashu and looked down from the observation deck, the entire lake was surrounded by mountains and the view was very expansive. Just quietly looking at the lake felt very soothing.
If you're driving around eastern Hokkaido, I highly recommend visiting Lake Akan and Lake Mashu together, taking your time along the way and experiencing Hokkaido's pristine, vast natural scenery.

Akanko Ainu Kotan

The Akanko Ainu Kotan, located in the southern area of Lake Akan-a famous freshwater lake and a top tourist destination in Eastern Hokkaido-serves as a vibrant hub for experiencing Ainu history and culture.

• Kushiro and Nemuro
• Tourist Attractions

While visiting Lake Akan, we also stopped by Akanko Ainu Kotan.
Maybe it was the off-season, and we arrived around 4:00 p.m., but the whole village felt very quiet. There was hardly anyone on the streets, so it lacked some of the lively atmosphere we had imagined. We walked around the village, looked at the distinctive buildings and small shops, and then started looking for a place to have dinner. But the Ainu village really does close early—by around 7:00 p.m., the entire village was almost completely quiet.

Lake Akan

Lake Akan is Hokkaido's fifth largest freshwater lake and is known as a habitat for marimo moss balls. Marimo moss balls can be found in freshwater lakes all over the world, but the ones in Lake Akan have international significance due to their beautiful spherical shape with a diameter of more than 15 cm.

• Kushiro and Nemuro
• Nature Spots

The Lake Akan sightseeing cruise is a classic activity when visiting Lake Akan. The boat leisurely circles the lake, offering views of majestic mountains and beautiful scenery along the way. It also stops at Churui Island, where you can visit the Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center and learn about Lake Akan's precious marimo up close. The entire trip takes about 85 minutes, with a comfortable pace that doesn't feel rushed.
Surrounded by Mount Oakan and Mount Meakan, Lake Akan offers captivating volcanic lake scenery and is also an important home of marimo and Ainu culture. After the cruise, take a walk along the lakeshore, soak in the Lake Akan hot springs, and sample the local food. It's a leisurely, relaxing trip where you can enjoy nature, culture, and food all at once!
A sightseeing cruise is well worth taking when you visit Lake Akan. Taking your time to look around and explore is the best way to travel here.

Nossapu Cape (Nosappu Misaki)

A cape in Nemuro, Hokkaido, known as the easternmost point of Japan’s main islands. It’s famous as one of the earliest places in Japan to catch the sunrise, and on New Year’s Day in particular, many people come from across the country to see Japan’s earliest first sunrise of the year. At the tip of the cape stands Hokkaido’s oldest Western-style lighthouse, the “Nossapu Cape Lighthouse,” built in 1872. From the cape, you can also view the “Kaigarajima Lighthouse” in the Northern Territories, “Suisho Island” in the Habomai Islands, and the mountains of “Kunashiri Island.”

• Kushiro and Nemuro
• Nature Spots

If you come to Nemuro, Hokkaido, be sure to make a trip to Nossapu Cape! This is **the easternmost point of mainland Japan**, and from the eastern tip, you can gaze out over the vast ocean. When the weather is good, you may even get to see Japan's earliest dawn. I originally thought there would be very few people in such a remote place, but surprisingly, quite a few people visited even on a weekday, with more than ten other tourists there.
Besides the ocean view at the easternmost point, there is also a lighthouse to see, as well as several restaurants nearby. I especially recommend the building next door, where you can get an “easternmost point” certificate for free instead of having to buy one at a store. Remember to pick one up as a souvenir! If you're traveling to Nemuro, Nossapu Cape is definitely worth visiting in person. Standing at the easternmost point of Hokkaido and feeling the sea breeze makes for a truly unforgettable travel experience.

Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples

This museum focuses on the cultures of "Northern Peoples" who inhabit the Northern Hemisphere, ranging from the Ainu, Japan's indigenous people, to the Eskimos living in Greenland and the Sami in Scandinavia. It is Japan's only museum of its kind and one of the rarest in the world, since it opened in 1991.

• Shiretoko and Abashiri and Kitami and Monbetsu
• Museums

The Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples is a great place to slow down and explore at your own pace.
Through exhibits on everyday tools, clothing, hunting methods, and spiritual traditions, you can learn about Hokkaido's Indigenous Ainu people and the wisdom of northern peoples around the world in living in harmony with nature.
On your first visit, you'll realize that many details of everyday life are rich in culture and history.
If you're visiting Abashiri, I really recommend setting aside 2–3 hours. Don't just rush through it. Take your time to look around and learn, and you'll get more out of it than you might expect.

Lake Furen

Spanning Nemuro City and Betsukai Town in Hokkaido, Lake Furen is a brackish lake with a shoreline of Approx. 96 kilometers. This lake, where seawater and freshwater mix, is protected as part of the Notsuke-Furen Prefectural Natural Park and supports a richly varied natural environment. Around the lake are coastal sand dunes, grasslands, wetlands, and forests, where you can see a wide variety of plants such as rugosa roses, Ezosukashiyuri lilies, and Sendaihagi.

• Kushiro and Nemuro
• Nature Spots

This time I visited Lake Furen, a place with relatively few tourists. Without bustling crowds, it was easier to quietly appreciate the beauty of Hokkaido's untouched nature.
Lake Furen is known as a wintering ground for whooper swans, and if you're lucky, you may see flocks of them resting by the lake. The vast lake, wetlands, and surrounding natural scenery create a very peaceful atmosphere. There are none of the crowds found at popular attractions, giving it a more relaxed and unspoiled feel. If you enjoy natural scenery, this place is definitely worth saving.