Herring Cultural Historical Park - Hokkaido

The Herring Cultural Historical Park (にしん文化歴史公園) is a seaside park just in front of the Roadside Station Obira Nishin-banya. It is located along the Ororon Road Route 239 in Onishikahirotomi in the town of Obira in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

Herring Cultural Historical Park

Herring Cultural Historical Park Details

Established in 1996 to coincide with the opening of the roadside station, Herring Cultural Historical Park features a bronze statue of Hokkaido's founding father Takeshiro Matsuura, and a Twilight Arch that was inspired by the setting sun. 

Herring Cultural Historical Park - Obira Town, Hokkaido

Takeshiro Matsuura was born in Mie Prefecture in 1818. He was a Japanese explorer, cartographer, author, and painter. He worked for the Hokkaido Development Commission during the early Meiji period and has visited Ezo (the old name of Hokkaido) many times. He is sometimes referred to as the "godparent of Hokkaido" because he was instrumental in naming the island and many of its locations.

The map of Rumoi Subprefecture and Obira

Herring Highway Signpost

You would surely enjoy the view and the cool breeze during summer.

Waiting for sunset at the Herring Cultural Historical Park

Statue of Takeshiro Matsuura

As its west side faces the Sea of Japan, the Herring Cultural Historical Park is also known for its stunning sunsets. The Herring Cultural Historical Park also includes a stone monument of peace prayer and a Mifune Memorial Monument. 

Team Nicerio visits the Herring Cultural Historical Park

A monument bearing the poem "Oath to the Sea of Wailing" and a compass indicating the sunken location of the Taito Maru has also been erected in the park to remember the sinking of the ship and another Japanese refugee ship which were torpedoed a week after World War II ended, killing 667 people, mostly women, and children. 

Team Nicerio visits the Herring Cultural Historical Park

A photo with Takeshiro Matsuura

My family and I visited Herring Cultural Historical Park for the first time last August 12, 2022, which was my 41st week here in Japan as an ALT under the JET Programme. It was one of the destinations that we visited on the 1st day of our 5-day "Drive Up North" Road Trip.  We were lucky to have been able to visit the park on a clear sunny day. Although there is nothing much to do in the Herring Cultural Historical Park, we still enjoyed our time there because of the beautiful view.

Herring Cultural Historical Park Admission Fee

It's FREE to visit and explore the Herring Cultural Historical Park. Parking is also FREE.

Herring Cultural Historical Park Operating Hours

The Herring Cultural Historical Park is open 24/7. 

Why visit the Herring Cultural Historical Park?

Roadside Station Obira Nishin-banya as seen from the Herring Cultural Historical Park

The Herring Cultural Historical Park is a great place to have your stopover if you are driving along the long stretch of Ororon Road Route 239. It is just across the highway from the Roadside Station Obira Nishin-banya and the historic Former Hanada House Banya. On a clear day, the Herring Cultural Historical Park is one of the best places to view the sunset. 

Getting to the Herring Cultural Historical Park

From Rumoi JR Station, ride the Engan bus heading for Haboro or Toyotomi. Board down at Hanada Banya Mae bus stop. 

Fare from Rumoi Station: 660 yen

Travel time: 30 minutes

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