[Cape Ogon in Shakotan] Blue Sea and Ranging Capes of Shakotan Peninsula Can Be Seen from Observation Deck

Cape Ogon

Cape Ogon (黄金岬) is a cape jutting out into the Sea of Japan in Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-national Park, and is adjacent to Bikuni Port (美国港), and is one of 3 major tourist attractions together with Cape Kamui (神威岬) and Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) in the Shakotan Peninsula. Bikuni used to be flourished by herrings, and a lookout for the herrings used to be built on the cape, and the Cape Ogon was named after the shoals of the herrings glowed gold in the sunset. The Ogon means "Gold color" in Japanese. At present, Ogon-Misaki Observation Deck (黄金岬展望台) is built at about 30 m above sea level, and the Bikuni Port, Mt. Shakotandake (積丹岳), Takara Island (宝島), Gome Island (ゴメ島) and ranging capes of the Shakotan Peninsula can be seen. Admission free. As for a parking lot, the visitors can park their cars at Shakotan Tourist Information Office (積丹観光協会) freely. By the way, In the Bikuni Port, Underwater Cruise Ship New Shakotan-go (水中展望船★ニューしゃこたん号) that can see the blue sea in the sea is in serve. In addition, an activity such as Blue Cave Snorkelling (青の洞窟シュノーケリング) is served, too.

Movie of Blue Cave Snorkelling

The Peninsula Shakotan is famous for Sea Urchin Rice Bowl (ウニ丼), and is well-known for tasty sea food, too. Misaki (みさき), Nakamuraya (中村屋), Uminoya (海のや), Iida (いい田), Shokudo Ushio (食堂うしお), Rinko (鱗晃) and Rinko-so (鱗晃荘) are popular in particular. I ate the sea urchin rice bowl at the Misaki, and it was tasty. The Bikuni is the center of Shakotan town, a convenience store and souvenir shops are built, and there are tasty restraunts such as Bikuni Kanko House (美国観光ハウス), Tamura Iwataro Shoten (田村 岩太郎商店), Fuji Sushi Shakotan Head Office (ふじ鮨 積丹本店) and Miharashi-so (みはらし荘). In addition, Misaki-no-Yu Shakotan (岬の湯しゃこたん) is between the Cape Kamui and Shimamui Coast, and visitors can take a day trip bath. The Cape Kamui from the open-air bath is very good. By the way, Highway Bus Shakotan-go (高速しゃこたん号) runs between Sapporo and Cape Kamui from April 21 to October 21.

Cape Kamui

Cape Kamui (神威岬) is a cape with steep cliff jutting out into the Sea of Japan from Shakotan Peninsula (積丹半島) in Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-national Park, and is one of 3 major tourist attractions together with Cape Ogorn (黄金岬) and Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) in the Shakotan Peninsula. The kamui means a god in Ainu language. The distance is around 1.5 km away from a traffic gate along National Route to the end of a road, and there are a public parking lot, a public restroom and a rest house named Kamui-Banya (カムイ番屋). A restraunt and a souvenir shop are at the building, and seafood rice bowls or a soft serve ice cream can be eaten. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Shimamui Coast

Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) is a superb coast chosen as "100 Best Beaches in Japan (日本の渚・百選)" in Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-national Park, and is one of 3 major tourist attractions together with Cape Kamui (神威岬) and Cape Ogorn (黄金岬) in the Shakotan Peninsula. Shimamui means "Rocky inlet" in Ainu language. A public restroom, a public drinking fountain and a restraunt named Rinko (鱗晃) are built around a public parking lot. A restraunt and a souvenir shop are at the building, and seafood rice bowls or a soft serve ice cream can be eaten. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Shakotan Onsen

Shakotan Onsen (積丹温泉) in Shakotan town is a hot-spring place at the tip of Shakotan Peninsula, and Misaki-no-Yu Shakotan (岬の湯しゃこたん) beside Nozuka Primary School (野塚小学校) is built on a hill at 43 m above sea level. There are Cape Kamui (神威岬) and Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) that are representative famous sightseeing spots of Hokkaido around the Shakotan Onsen. Nozuka Campsite (野塚野営場) is close to the Shakotan Onsen, too. The Cape Shakotan is famous for Sea Urchin Rice Bowl (ウニ丼), and is well-known for tasty sea food, too. Misaki (みさき), Nakamuraya (中村屋), Rinko (鱗晃) and Rinko-so (鱗晃荘) are popular in particular. Unfortunately, convenience stores are not built. Nonstop buses do not run from the Shakotan Onsen to Sapporo or Otaru. Article is here

Sea Urchin Rice Bowl

Misaki (みさき) is a restaurant in Shakotan and was founded in 1973. An owner is a fisherman and is famous for eating a seafood dish. It opens only during summer season (from late April to October). Because a fresh sea urchin can be eaten from mid June when the sea urchin fishing is released, visitors seem to increase. Because it started a bussiness at 09:00, 6 groups of visitors have already lined up when I arrived around 08:40. It is really popular. Article is here