Wakkanai is the most northern city in Hokkaido and is often referred to as the "wind town" because of the strong winds that blow on a regular basis. Wakkanai is a well known fishing port with the main catches consisting of shellfish including crab, scallop and sea urchin. Ferry boats also depart from here to visit the nearby islands of Rishiri-to and Rebun-to which are both designated as national parks.

Sights

Wakkanai Light House
Measuring 42.7m in height, the Wakkanai Light House is the second highest in the country. This lighthouse is known as the symbol of Cape Noshappu.

Memorial Tower / Northern Memorial Museum
Constructed to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the founding of Wakkanai, the Tower consists of a museum on the 1st and 2nd floors. The top floor offers visitors a 360 degress panoramic viw of the city.

Antartica Expedition Sakhalin Husky Memorial Monument
This monument was contructed as a memorial to the 2 dogs (Taro and Jiro) that miraculously survived after being left in Antartica for a whole year. The first Japanese expedition team went to Antartica in 1957 with 15 dogs which could not be evacuated at the end of the expedition due to severe weather. The following year the team returned to Antartica and found 2 of he dogs alive and well.

Hyosetsu-no-Mon
Situated in Wakkanai Park, this monument was built to honor the people who died whilst longing to return to Sakhalin. The park overlooks the sea providing a silhouette of Sakhalin Island during clear weather.

Wakkanai Port Northern Breakwater Dome
Preventing high waves and strong winds this dome shaped breakwater is one of the mostinteresting half-arch domes in the world. 427m in length, the dome is of peristyle gothic construction.

Prayer Monument
This monument  located in the Soya Cape area was constructed in memory of the civilian passengers of a Korean airplane who lost their lives in 1983 when the plane was shot down off the North-Western shores of Sakhalin.

Japan's Northern Most Point Monument
Situated 30km east of Wakkanai is Cape Soya, the northern most point in Hokkaido. The design of the pyramid shaped monument reflects an image of the Pole Star.

Accommodation

Visitors to this most northern city of Hokkaido will be comfortable at the centrally located Wakkanai ANA Hotel.

Wakkanai ANA Hotel