In Wakkanai Park, at Japan’s northernmost point, you’ll find not only stunning views overlooking the Soya Strait and Sakhalin, but also several memorials standing quietly throughout the park.
They silently tell the heavy history of the final days of World War II and the early postwar period—a time filled with heartbreaking separations and circumstances beyond people’s control.
Karafuto Islanders Memorial – Gate of Ice and Snow | Review by 10BRENDA
Other Reviews by 10BRENDA
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Wakkanai Station
Wakkanai Station is the famed, northernmost railway station in Japan, located on the JR Soya Main Line. It sits just a 20-minute drive up from Wakkanai Airport, a 2-minute drive from the ferry terminal, and a 40-minute drive to Cape Soya, Japan's northernmost point. Swing by here for a smattering of different sightseeing delights, a bus terminal just off the front doorstep for routes to get you going, intercity buses to Sapporo, and regular sightseeing buses. For an added perk, check out Roadside Station Wakkanai just next door, the northernmost roadside station in Japan.
The northernmost station.
When you arrive here and walk toward the station, what greets you is definitely not the noise of a big city or crowds rushing by, but a quiet atmosphere wrapped in the sea breeze of the north and a slow, easy pace of life. -
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Ueno Farm
A garden unique to Hokkaido, adorned with plants centering on perennial grasses that grow in the northern climate. The flowers bloom with different colors dramatically according to season, hence the name “Dramatic Garden”.
Stepping into Ueno Farm feels like falling into a European fairy tale in an instant.
The owner has brought a warm English-style garden to Hokkaido, and the biggest surprise is the many little fairies hidden among the flowers and greenery. These delicate art installations add a fun, treasure-hunt-like fairy-tale charm to a walk through the garden.
Following the path up the hill, the row of colorful rainbow chairs at the top is a photo spot you absolutely shouldn’t miss. Sitting here and looking down, you can take in the patchwork-like garden and the wide-open rural scenery all at once. When the breeze blows through, being surrounded by all those colors and nature feels so soothing that it makes you want to sit there and lose track of time. -
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Cape Soya
Cape Soya is the northernmost tip of mainland Japan. The monument "Northernmost Point of Japan" stands proudly at latitude 45 degrees 31 minutes 22 seconds, making it an excellent photo spot. The monument is designed as a cone that reflects the facet of the North Star, a symbol of the northern lands.
I finally had the chance to stand at the northernmost tip of this island—Cape Soya. For travelers who love Japan, this is a sacred place you have to visit at least once in your lifetime.
The triangular monument standing at the meeting point of sea and sky was inspired by a ray of the North Star, a symbol of the north, sharply and firmly pointing due north.
Looking out from here, there’s a real sense of being at the edge of the world. The moment I stepped onto this land, the coordinates on the map finally became real.
I truly can’t put into words how moved I felt in that moment. -
