Xingcheng Dahai

Wakkanai City (わっかないし) is the capital of Soya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, and is the northernmost city in Japan. As a result, many things in the area are given the title of "Japan's northernmost." The city faces the Sea of Okhotsk to the east, the Sea of Japan to the west, and the Soya Strait to the north. The distance from Cape Soya, the northernmost point, to Cape Noshappu, the southernmost point of Sakhalin, is about 43 km. Wakkanai Station on the Soya Main Line is the northernmost railway station in Japan, and there is a monument at the station for tourists to take photos. The average annual temperature is only about 7°C. If you want to go, you can refer to my three-day itinerary. Day 1: Fly from Sapporo to Wakkanai in the morning. There is a bus from the airport to Wakkanai Station. After walking to the hotel and dropping off your luggage, join the Wakkanai B Line tour, which will take you to several attractions in the city, including Cape Soya (the northernmost point in Japan) and Cape Noshappu. Day 2: If you get up early, you can visit two islands in one go! You can refer to the bottom half of the picture in picture 7 for the specific itinerary. I took the Wakkanai-Rebun-Rishiri-Wakkanai line, which requires three ferry rides and two sightseeing bus tours. The bus tours will take you to the main attractions on both islands in half a day. The scenery is so beautiful that it can rival the Great Ocean Road in Australia in my mind. Day 3: Wake up naturally and enjoy the hot spring at the hotel, then take an afternoon flight directly to Tokyo. Friendly reminders: 1. There are not many restaurants in Wakkanai, and the city is quite desolate. The two restaurants I tried were not as good as the pre-made dishes from the supermarket, but these are nothing compared to the stunning scenery. 2. You don't need to buy ferry tickets in advance. You can buy them on the day of travel. Just check the schedule and arrive at the pier half an hour early. You can buy all three ferry tickets for the day at Wakkanai Pier. You can find your own seat on the ferry. The total cost for three ferry tickets is about JPY 8,000 per person. You can refer to picture 8 for specific information about ferry tickets in Wakkanai. 3. The ferry is quite bumpy, and the waves are big, so it is recommended to prepare seasickness medicine in advance. 4. It is recommended to buy sightseeing bus tour tickets online in advance. Search for "Japan Bus Online" and follow the instructions to buy tickets. You only need a credit card. After a successful purchase, an e-ticket will be sent to your email, and you can board the bus with the e-ticket. The tour fee is about JPY 3,000 per person per tour, which I think is very worthwhile. Each guide is very dedicated and provides commentary for 3-4 hours. The selected attractions are really beautiful and very worthwhile! You can also find specific information about each tour on the website, and you can search for details yourself. 5. Most tourists here are locals, so English is generally not very good. There are not many hotel options, so it is recommended to stay near JR Wakkanai Station, which is also close to the pier. 6. It is windy here, so it is recommended to bring a windbreaker and not just wear a single layer. 7. You can buy a certificate of reaching the northernmost point of Japan for JPY 200 at the shop next to Cape Soya in Wakkanai. 8. You can go to the deck to watch the sunset on the ferry from Rishiri to Wakkanai at sunset.