[Shiokari Pass Hitome Senbon Zakura in Wassamu] 1,600 Cherry Trees Can Be Enjoyed at Setting of Novel

Shiokari Pass

Shiokari Pass (塩狩峠) is a pass with altitude of about 260 m in Wassamu town (和寒) located in the northern direction of Asahikawa city, and is a strategic traffic point connecting the Asahikawa with Northern Hokkaido. National Route 40 (Nayoro National Route) and Soya Main Line (宗谷本線) are built on the pass, and around the top of the pass has Shiokari Station (塩狩駅). Speaking of the Shiokai Pass, Shiokari-toge (塩狩峠), a novel, written by Ms. Ayako Miura (三浦綾子), a famous novelist, is famous. Here is just a setting of the novel, and Miura Ayako Literature Museum (三浦綾子記念文学館) is built near the Shiokari Station, too. Shiokari Hut Youth Hostel (塩狩ヒュッテ) is around the station, too. Shiokari Onsen (塩狩温泉) used to be here, but it has been destroyed. A good place to see cherry blossoms called “Shiokai Pass Hitome Senbon Zakura (塩狩峠一目千本桜)” is on the opposite side of tracks, and the best time to see the cherry blossoms is about from early May to mid May. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

The distance is about 8 km away from the center of the Wassamu, and there are not restaurants and a convenience store around here. But a cafe of the Shiokari Hut Youth Hostel opens a business only during the cherry blossom season. By the way, a direct bus does not run from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport to the Shiokari Station, but Kosoku Nayoro-go (高速なよろ号), a highway bus, runs between the Nayoro and Sapporo, and it stops at the Wassamu.

List of Means of Transportation

Highway buses run between the Nayoro and the Sapporo. Refer to following the means of the transportation in the Hakodate. As for car rental comparison websites, you can compare vehicle rental prices on Jalan Rental Car (じゃらんレンタカー) and Rakutem Travel Rental Car (楽天トラベルレンタカー).

Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Nayoro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Nayoro to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyota Rental Lease(トヨタレンタリース)	Their office is near the komyo Kindergarten.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

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Cherry Blossoms of Hokkaido

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom from late April in Hokkaido. The cherry blossoms in the Southern Hokkaido including Hakodate begin to bloom from late April, and in case of late blooming, the cherry blossoms in the Eastern Hokkaido and the Northern Hokkaido seem to bloom in early June. The cherry blossoms in Honshu (the main island of Japan) begin to bloom from mid March, and tourists can enjoy the cherry blossoms until too late season. If everybody forget to see the cherry blossoms in the Honshu, please visit the Hokkaido to savor the cherry blossoms. Read More

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Shiokari Pass Hitome Senbon Zakura

About 1600 cherry trees such as Yezo Mountain Cherry Tree (エゾヤマザクラ) are planted at the site. The Shiokari Pass Hitome Senbon Zakura is one of Hitome Senbon Zakura in Japan, and a lot of the cherry trees has been planted to see a thousand of the cherry trees at first sight. The site is not well-developed as a park, so it has an atmosphere of nature. Only waking paths are built to see the cherry trees. But the paths are not unpaved, visitors should wear shoes that can get dirty. The site is not large, so it takes 30 minutes to look around on foot. The visitors can enjoy a picnic if it is fine weather. A bench and a gazebo are not built. As for the bloom condition, see a blog of the Shiokari Hut.

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Wassamu. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

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Shiokari Hut Youth Hostel(塩狩ヒュッテ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Education and Training Center Nire(研修館 楡)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Wassamu Eco Cottage(わっさむエココテージ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minamioka Forest Park Campsite(南丘森林公園キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Mikasayama Nature Park Campsite(三笠山自然公園キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten