Earth Looks Round -Muroran Cape Chikyu-

Cape Chikyu (地球岬) is a beauty spot in Muroran city. With Cape Soya (宗谷岬) and Kaiyoudai (開陽台), it is famous as a tourist spot that the earth looks round. In addition, it is one of the three major secret capes with Cape Ochiishi (落石岬) and Cape Ofuyu (雄冬岬) in Hokkaido. It got the first place in "100 Nature Selections in Hokkaido (北海道の自然100選 * Asahi Shimbun, 1985)" and "You Chose Hokkaido Beauty Spots (あなたが選ぶ北海道景勝地 * Hokkaido Postal Service, 1986)". The first place attest popular spot. A little less than 100,000 tourists come now. Admmission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

Cape Chikyu are cliffs with 14 km in range and 100 m in height, and Chikyumisaki Lighthouse (チキウ岬灯台) is built on the tip. It is a white lighthouse with an octagonal shape and started lighting in 1920. It has already kept safety sea transportation for nearly 100 years. This Chikyumisaki Lighthouse was chosen as "50 Best Lighthouses in Japan", too. Chikyumisaki Observatory (地球岬展望台) is built at 147 m above see level and visitors can look over Shimokita Peninsula (下北半島) and Cape Esan (恵山岬) if it is fine. The visitors seem to be able to see a swimming whale and a swimming dolphin in Gulf of Uchiura (内浦湾) if the visitors are lucky. In addition, the Chikyumisaki Observatory has "Bell of The Happiness (幸福の鐘)", and many couples ring a bell to wish their happiness. Of course the happiness comes even if singles ring a bell.

A walk path with 2.1 km in total length is built near the Chikyumisaki Observatory and the tourists can watch flowers such as Dianthus superbus and wild birds such as Falcon or Woodpecker while taking a walk through woods. It is the place of recreation and relaxation for Muroran citizen. There are a restroom, stores and a globe-shaped telephone booth on the site, too.

Cape Chikyu Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Cape Chikyu

Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around Cape Chikyu.

Muroran Youth Hostel(室蘭ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Muroran Hills(ホテル室蘭ヒルズ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Muroran Prince Hotel(室蘭プリンスホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Escale Muroran(エスカル室蘭)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Booking.com

A page of Muroran is here