I Drove to Japan's Most Extreme North | Hokkaido Road Trip

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Embark on a three-day, 500-kilometer winter road trip across Hokkaido, from Hakodate to Cape Soya, experiencing remote landscapes, unique accommodations, and unexpected sights.

1 plan · 9 places · 3 experiences

Plan · 5 places · Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido's Extreme North Road Trip

“This three-day, 500-kilometer journey took us across Hokkaido to Japan's most extreme northern point, Cape Soya, battling blizzards and discovering incredible sights along the way.”

Experience · 1 place
Seafood Breakfast at Hakodate Morning Market
Before hitting the road for our long journey, we grabbed a much-needed breakfast at Hakodate Morning Market. It's 7 AM, and this place is famous for its seafood, so we made sure to get some. It's a great way to fuel up before a big drive.
1
Hakodate Morning Market
Fresh food market · Hakodate
4.0 (868)Open · until 3 PM
Creator's voice
An iconic seafood market in Hakodate, famous for its fresh catches. It's a bustling place perfect for an early morning breakfast before starting your day.
Hakodate Morning Market Square, 9-22 Wakamatsucho, Hakodate, Hokkaido 040-0063, Japan
2
Otaru Brick House Hostel
Pub · Otaru
4.5 (249)
Creator's voice
A traditional brick house converted into a hostel in Otaru, offering a unique accommodation experience that feels more like a pirate's lair than a typical Japanese inn. It features rare brick walls and a cozy atmosphere.
Otaru Tap Room - Craft Beer & Hostel, 2 Chome-4-8 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0031, Japan
- Master Bedroom (Otaru) — The master bedroom in the Otaru Brick House Hostel is described as 'very cozy' and is shared between the two travelers. It's part of the unique converted barn accommodation.
- Shower Bath Combo (Otaru) — The hostel features a shower bath combo, which is humorously compared to a capsule hotel due to its compact size, but it's a functional amenity within the unique accommodation.
- Third Floor Loft (Otaru) — The third floor of the Otaru Brick House Hostel is described as 'amazing' and 'quite romantic,' featuring amenities like Tabasco, salt and pepper, a Rough Guide to London, and bean bags, making it a comfortable and unique space.
Experience · 1 place
Exploring Makomanai Takino Cemetery's Art Installations
Pete inadvertently led us to Makomanai Takino Cemetery, which is half burial ground, half art exhibition. It's a really trippy cemetery where you can see a replica of Stonehenge, dozens of Easter Island heads, and the impressive Hill of the Buddha. It's a unique experience, especially with the snow blowing across the statues.
3
Makomanai Takino Cemetery
Cemetery · Sapporo
4.3 (539)Open · until 4 PM
Creator's voice
A unique cemetery that doubles as an art exhibition, featuring a replica of Stonehenge, numerous Easter Island moai heads, and the impressive Hill of the Buddha. It's a trippy and impressive site, especially when covered in snow.
Makomanai Takino Cemetery, 2 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862, Japan
Stonehenge of Hokkaido — A faithful, to-scale recreation of Stonehenge located within Makomanai Takino Cemetery. It looks eerily like the real thing, albeit much newer and often covered in a meter of snow.
Easter Island Moai Heads — Two dozen, to-scale replica Moai heads from Easter Island, found within the cemetery. They are often covered in face masks and buried beneath snow, offering a bizarre and unique sight.
4
Hokkaido Barn Accommodation
Serviced accommodation · Furano
4.6 (13)
Creator's voice
A 'Kansas-style' barn accommodation in Furano, offering a cozy and comforting stay despite the freezing temperatures outside (minus 12 degrees Celsius). It has a 'Stephen King vibe' but is a welcome shelter after a long drive.
Japan, 〒079-1582 Hokkaido, Furano, Yamabe, Higashi 22 Sen−2−番地富良野の星空の下で楽しむ自然体験の隠れ家『ファームリゾート』Furano Log House Farm Resort
- Master Bedroom (Barn) — The master bedroom in the Hokkaido Barn Accommodation features two beds, which the travelers share. It's part of the 'classic Kansan home' experience.
- Kitchen Table — A kitchen table with perfectly lacquered and original wood, part of the 'classic Kansan home' aesthetic of the barn accommodation.
- Standing Shower — The barn accommodation includes a standing shower, which is a welcome feature after the previous night's compact shower bath combo.
- Beer-like substance · ¥110 — A cheap alcoholic beverage (around ¥110) that exploits a tax loophole in Japan, allowing it to be sold as a 'beer-like substance' due to its low malt content. It tastes like 'dog piss' according to the creator, but is 6% alcohol and gets the job done for a low price.
Experience · 0 places
Cup Noodles in the Snow
I've always wanted to have ramen in the snow while it's snowing, so we stopped at a convenience store to make this dream come true. You can get cup noodles filled with hot water there, which is super convenient. Pete prepared ours, but unfortunately, the boiling water froze quickly in the minus 12-degree weather, so we ended up eating cold noodles. It sounds good on paper, but in practice, it doesn't really work.
- Curry Cup Noodles — A cup noodle flavor chosen by Pete for the 'ramen in the snow' challenge. Despite the cold, it was part of the experience.
- Standard Cup Noodles — The creator's choice of cup noodle flavor for the 'ramen in the snow' challenge. The noodles quickly froze in the extreme cold.
5
Cape Soya
Tourist attraction · Wakkanai
4.4Closed
Creator's voice
Japan's most extreme northern point, located 1,000 kilometers north of Tokyo and just 45 kilometers south of the Russian island of Sakhalin. It's a remarkably desolate and cold place, especially in winter, offering views of the sea and, on clear days, Sakhalin.
Cape Sōya, 3-3 Soyamisaki, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 098-6758, Japan

Also in this video

6
Otaru Canal
Tourist attraction · Otaru
4.4 (28,272)Closed
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Finished in 1923, this picturesque canal is lined with stunning historic warehouses, giving Otaru a steampunk vibe thanks to its old-world European architecture. It's a quiet and idyllic place, perfect for strolling around, especially beautiful in winter.
Otaru Canal, 5 Minatomachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0007, Japan
7
Hill of the Buddha
Buddhist temple · Sapporo
4.5 (12,264)Open · until 4 PM
Creator's voice
An impressive 13.5-meter Buddha statue encased in a post-modern missile silo-like structure, designed by legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The minimalist design makes it blend into its natural environment, with only part of its head poking out from an artificial hill covered by 150,000 lavender plants (dead in winter). It offers a real 'wow' factor.
Hill of the Buddha, 2 Takino, Minami Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 005-0862, Japan
8
Northernmost Point Monument
Cultural landmark · Wakkanai
4.5 (1,195)Closed
Creator's voice
A monument marking Japan's northernmost point at Cape Soya. It's a significant landmark, though the area is very cold and desolate in winter.
Landmark of The Northernmost Point in Japan, 3-3 Soyamisaki, Wakkanai, Hokkaido 098-6758, Japan
- Cape Soya Commemorative Mug — A mug commemorating the northernmost point of Japan, purchased by Pete as a treasure. It's a souvenir from Cape Soya, replacing the original broken mug that was the catalyst for the entire trip.
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Korean Air Flight 007 Memorial
memorial

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