[Soya Hills in Wakkanai] All Things Such as Hills, White Road, Windmills and Hay Are Picturesque Views

Soya Hills

Soya Hills (宗谷丘陵) is nearby Cape Soya (宗谷岬) located in the northeastern part of Wakkanai city. Soil repeated freezes and fusion in the ice age, and the waved surface of hills named "Periglacial Landforms" was born. Here is a viewing spot for beautiful sceneries with gentle hills with about 400 m in height, Mt. Maruyama, White Road and windmills. About 3,000 Soya Black Cattles are bred on the gentle hills, and 57 windmills stand on the gentle hills. I think that an inimitable superb view in Japan can be seen only here. It is said the views look like the sceneries of Iceland or Siberia in Russian, and it can also be said that foreign sceneries can be enjoyed here while visitors are in the Japan. In addition, it is said that the game venue of Anime "Girls und Panzer der Film" uses the Mt. Maruyama as a motif. A parking lot is free of charge. There is no facility except the parking lot.

Footpath "Soya Hills Course (宗谷丘陵コース)" is through the Soya Hills, and hikers can enjoy amazing views while walking. Some restaurants such as Shokudo Saihokutan (食堂最北端), Minshuku Soya-misaki (民宿宗谷岬), Mamiyado (間宮堂) and Guest House "Armeria" (ゲストハウスアルメリア) are built at the Cape Soya, but a convenience store is not built. I ate famous salt broth ramen with scallops at the Mamiyado, and it was tasty.

Cape Soya

Cape Soya (宗谷岬) is a cape, the Japan mainland's northernmost point, located in the northeastern part of Wakkanai city, the Japan's northernmost city, and a lot of visitors come. In addition, the cape is one of 3 major tourist attractions that the globe looks round in Hokkaido together with Cape Chikyu (地球岬) and Kaiyoudai (開陽台). The Cape Soya is roughly divided into 2 places, one is the Cape Soya that the Japan mainland's northernmost point is overcome by deep emotion on the flat, and another is Soyamisaki Park (宗谷岬公園) that Sakhalin Island (サハリン島), the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan can be looked over on the hillside. Soya Channel (宗谷海峡) separates the Cape Soya from the Sakhalin Island, and the distance is around 40 km. The Cape Soya is connected Cape Nishi-notoromisaki (西能登呂岬) in the Sakhalin Island with a line, and the left side is the Sea of Japan, and the right side is the Sea of Okhotsk. The cape is one of 3 places that 2 seas can be viewed at the same time in Hokkaido together with Cape Esan (恵山岬) and cape Nosappu (納沙布岬), too. Read More

Mamiyado

Mamiyado (間宮堂) is a popular ramen restraunt in Soyamisaki park, wakkanai city and is known for a catch phrase "The more ramen is served at the north, the better ramen is tasty (北へ行くほどラーメンがうまくなる)". A building is located on a hill, so view from the ramen restraunt is good. Dishes using seafood such as a sea urchin rice bowl as well as the ramen are served. By the way, they open a bussiness from mid April to mid November and close in a winter. Read More

As for Onsen, Wakkanai Onsen (稚内温泉) is famous. In addition, there are Wakkanai Natural Onsen "Minato-no-Yu" (稚内天然温泉「港のゆ」) and Wakkanai Grand Hotel (稚内グランドホテル) near Minami-wakkanai Station. By the way, a direct bus does not run between Sapporo or New Chitose Airport and the Wakkanai. But an express bus Hamnasu-go (はまなす号) runs between the Sapporo and the Wakkanai. Besides, Rent-a-car can be rented around Wakkanai Station, Minami-wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.

List of Means of Transportation

Refer to following the means of the transportation in the Wakkanai. As for car rental comparison websites, you can compare vehicle rental prices on Tabi-Plaza Rental Car Reservation (旅ぷらざレンタカー予約), 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).

Hokuto Kotsu(北都交通)	From Wakkanai to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokuto Kotsu(北都交通)	From Sapporo to Wakkanai	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nippon Rent-a-car(ニッポンレンタカー)	Their offices are near Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Times Car Rental(タイムズカーレンタル)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyota Rental Lease(トヨタレンタリース)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nissan Rent-a-car(日産レンタカー)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Orix Rent-a-car(オリックスレンタカー)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chiseki Sekiyu Choinori Rent-a-car(チセキ石油・ちょいのりレンタカー)	Their offices are near the Minami-wakkanai Station and Toyotomi Onsen.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

WAKKANAI

Wakkanai (稚内) that about 35,000 people live is the 21th largest fishery city in Hokkaido, and was named after Yamuwakkanai that means "A river with cold water" in Ainu language. It is one of regional hub cities of the North Hokkaido area, and is the northernmost port town in Japan. A catch of Octopus Dofleini (ミズダコ) is the largest in the Japan. In addition, a lot of people run a dairy farm, and the Wakkanai is one of tasty milk‐producing distlict in the Hokkaido. My grandmother was from Keihoku (恵北) in the Wakkanai, and I remember that the milk was very tasty when I visited parents' house of my grandmother in the old days. As for climate, the Wakkanai faces the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, so a wind blows hard. Average annual temperature is 7 degrees, and it is chilly in a summer, and it does not relatively snow hard in a winter. Wakkanai Peninsula (稚内半島) is in the west side of the city, and Soya Peninsula (宗谷半島) is in the east side of the city, and the downtown is in the west side of the city. Various things is the northernmost in the Japan, for example, Japane's Northernmost Railway Monument (日本最北端の線路の碑) is built beside the Wakkanai Station, too. Read More

Soya Hills Trip

In the Soya Hills, there is no facility that visitors can enter, so the visitors enjoy views along some roads. The only parking lot is built along Hokkaido Road 889, and Soya-misaki Ranch can be seen from here. The Sea of Okhotsk can be seen through the cattles and the hills. I think that here is the place that the visitors can feel the Periglacial Landforms the most. By the way, Pasture Land No Trespassing !

Some narrow roads are built, and White Road covered with crushed scallop shells is very popular. A conbination of green grass, the blue sky, the blue sea and the white road is a non-daily life view. In addition, I love a conbination of the Soya Hills and Hay very much. Maruyama Radar Site is a good accent, too. Drive safety because of the narrow roads, and please find your favorite views.

Atmosphere of Soya Hills Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Soya Hills

List of Accommodations

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

SURFEEL HOTEL WAKKANAI(サフィールホテル稚内)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Wakkanai Onsen Hotel Kito(稚内温泉 ホテル喜登)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Dormy Inn Wakkanai(天北の湯 ドーミーイン稚内)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Wakkanai Grand Hotel(稚内グランドホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Misono(ホテル御園)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Miyuki(ホテル美雪)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Okabe Shisaitei(ホテルおかべ汐彩亭)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Sakhalin(ホテルサハリン)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Okudaya(ホテル 奥田屋)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sakae Hotel(さかえホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Yamaichi(旅館山一)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Ikoi(旅館 以木以)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Taisho(ホテル大将)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kokumin-shukusha Hyosetsuso(国民宿舎 氷雪荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Takikawa(ホテル 滝川)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tabi-no-Yado Ubukata(旅の宿 うぶかた)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel New Chikou(ホテルニューチコウ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Meguma(ホテルめぐま)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Kiku(旅館希宮)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Matsumura(旅館まつむら)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Tohokan(旅館東方館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Bokyo(旅館望郷)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Farm Inn Yuyu Farm(ファームイン悠遊ファーム)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tabibito-Yado Bacchus(旅人宿ばっかす)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Shizuya(民宿しずや)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Nakayama(民宿中山)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Satsuki(民宿さつき)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Ryokan Yamachan(民宿旅館やまちゃん)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sudomarikan(すどまり館)	Tel:+81-80-3295-6191
Guest House Moshiripa(ゲストハウスモシリパ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Saihokutan Michubachi-no-Ie(最北端みつばちの家)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Rider House Midori-no-Yu(ライダーハウスみどり湯)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Shimizu(民宿 清水)	Only Tel:+81-162-76-2152
Saihoku-no-Yado(最北の宿)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tomu-soya(斗夢ソーヤ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Pension Kaikyo(ペンション海峡)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Soyamisaki(民宿宗谷岬)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Pension Arumeria(ペンション亜留芽利亜)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Onsen Minshuku Kita-no-Yado(温泉民宿 北乃宿)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Wafu Pension Fujikado(和風ペンション 富士門)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Soya Palace(宗谷 パレス)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Small Hotel Akari(小さなホテル燈)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten