Cape Sōya — Attraction in Wakkanai

It's probably a place you can only go to once in your life (or not?). I've visited Hokkaido many times, but I never think about making Wakkanai my destination. Wakkanai City's website explains Wakkanai City's location as

Wakkanai City, located at the northernmost tip of Japan'' and

A border town that overlooks the island of Sakhalin (formerly Sakhalin), just 43 km from Cape Soya''. The highlight is the "border town." Living in Japan, you almost never feel the existence of "national borders." When I stand at Cape Soya and look out over Sakhalin, I am deeply moved and realize that I am at the border.

If I could go more easily, I would really like to visit Cape Soya again and again. But in reality, it doesn't work that way. I visited Soya Bus on their ``Active Bus that goes straight from Wakkanai Airport to Cape Soya'' at the top of Japan.

From Wakkanai Airport to Cape Soya in one go. Buses are a great option when traveling without using a rental car. Since it only runs for a limited time during the tourist season, I can't go there all the time, but I'm grateful to Soya Bus. I pray that it will continue to operate for those who will be visiting...

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We were fortunate to visit Cape Soya when the conditions were perfect. Sunny, cool, cloudless, and still. The island of Sakhalin is only about 45km north of this most northly point of Japan, and we could just see this Russian island in the far distance! It's exciting to stand on this point, and the drive north along the coast is absolutely beautiful and wild, but this is a sad place. The hillside above the point has an amazing view, but it's also a memorial to lives lost in that sea as a result of war and aggression, and a hope for peace. Given that the once vibrant economic and cultural exchanges between Hokkaido and Sakhalin have been suspended indefinitely (I'm writing this in September 2024), these hopes for peace appear...

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Cape Soya stands proudly as Japan's northernmost point, marked by an iconic monument that is arguably the most frequented landmark in Wakkanai City. Visitors often capture the moment with a photograph as a memento of their journey to this symbolic location.

Despite its popularity, the site tends to draw crowds. Yet, a noteworthy aspect of the experience is the admirable behavior of Japanese tourists, who demonstrate remarkable responsibility and etiquette by patiently queuing up after disembarking from their tour buses.

When the weather is clear, the panoramic view from Cape Soya extends across the sea, offering a glimpse of Sakhalin, Russia, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this already captivating...

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