Stand on top of rugged headlands, relax on beaches and soothe tired limbs in hot springs when you travel through this beautiful peninsula.
Shakotan PeninsulaExplore the majestic and eye-catching scenery of the Shakotan Peninsula, a wild and mountainous peninsula on the west coast of the island of Hokkaido. This attractive place encompasses capes, beaches and natural hot springs.
Make your way to capes and headlands across the peninsula’s scenic coastline. Walk along Cape Kamui’s clifftop trail to check out the sea views by the lighthouse at its tip. Then head to Cape Ogon for the vistas from its observation point.
Adjacent to this cape is Bikuni Port from where you can set out on aquatic adventures. Organize scuba diving and sea kayaking expeditions and explore the deep blue undersea world of the Blue Cave on a snorkeling trip. Observe underwater life without getting into the water by going on a glass-bottomed boat tour. Dolphin-watching tours are available in April and May when these playful mammals visit the local waters.
Enjoy a refreshing dip in the sea at Shimamu Beach then sit back on the shore and listen to the calming sounds of the Sea of Japan. Chill out some more at the peninsula's onsens, which are Japanese hot springs. One onsen, Misaki no Yu Shakotan, overlooks two capes and boasts awesome views of the sea. There are open-air baths and indoor baths with large windows, so you'll have gorgeous vistas wherever you are relaxing.
The Shakotan Peninsula is renowned for the quality and variety of its seafood, particularly sea urchin. Go on a culinary adventure in restaurants and feast on sea urchin sushi, sea urchin rice bowls and other specialties.
While a rental car is the most convenient way to explore the Shakotan Peninsula, you can also travel to the area by buses from Otaru and Sapporo. These two cities are 45 miles (72 kilometers) and 68 miles (110 kilometers) away respectively.
Give yourself at least a couple of days to fully discover the picturesque charms of the Shakotan Peninsula.
