Japan Diaries 4: Day 363

Japan Diaries 4: Day 363

Day 363: October 30, 2022

Sunday – Tomamae Gang Goes to Wakkanai

The two other ALTs in Tomamae and I were invited by Hasegawa-sensei to travel to Wakkanai City (稚内市) last Friday. We were all free today, so we went on our road trip as scheduled. 

With Hasegawa-sensei
Off on a road trip with Hasegawa-sensei. We will pick up Jon and Mike at Tomamae

Toilet break at Obira Roadside Station
Toilet break at Obira Roadside Station

Route 239
Route 239

Tomamaeda Bear
Tomamaeda Bear

Around seven in the morning, Hasegawa-sensei picked me up from my house, and we headed to Tomamae City Hall in the town of Tomamae (苫前町) where Jon and Mike were waiting. It was a long drive to Wakkanai City and there were several places worth checking out along the way. Hasegawa-sensei told us that we should just inform him if we wanted to take a picture of something. 


Otonrui Wind Farm
We passed by Otonrui Wind Farm. We didn't stop though as it was drizzling. 

45°N Latitude Monument
We made a brief stop at 45°N Latitude Monument

45°N Latitude Monument
There were no parking areas nearby but we were able to park on the side of the road since there were very few vehicles passing through

Hamasato Parking Shelter
Hamasato Parking Shelter (浜里パーキングシェルター)

We made a quick stop in the town of Horonobe (幌延町) to take photos at the 45°N Latitude Monument before proceeding to our next destination which is the Sarobetsu Wetland Center in the town of Toyotomi (豊富町).

Sarobetsu Wetland Center
Sarobetsu Wetland Center was still closed when we arrived...

Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden
...so we explored the Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden first

Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden
Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden

We saw a peat mining machinery along the wooden pathway

Venturing along the elevated wooden walkway behind the center, we immersed ourselves in the captivating landscape of the wetlands. The scene was truly breathtaking. Being the sole visitors during our excursion, we relished the luxury of time, capturing countless photographs of the enchanting Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden

Inside the Sarobetsu Wetland Center
Inside Sarobetsu Wetland Center

We watched a promotional video about Rishiri Island and we were convinced that we should visit it in the future
We watched a promotional video about Rishiri Island and we were convinced that we should visit it in the future

The Sarobetsu Wetland Center was already open by the time we finished strolling the wooden pathway of the Sarobetsu Primeval Flower Garden. We spent some time there learning about the flora and fauna of the area. 

Back to Route 106 to Wakkanai City
Back to Route 106 to Wakkanai City

Turned to Route 254 to Cape Noshappu
Turned to Route 254 to Cape Noshappu

Cape Noshappu
Cape Noshappu

Wakkanai City colored manhole cover
Wakkanai City colored manhole cover

Subsequently, we retraced our route to Route 106, tracing the coastal road towards Wakkanai City (稚内市). After a further 50 minutes of driving, we arrived at our destination. Our initial stop was Noshappu Cape, where we snapped some photos before proceeding to the heart of the city for a late lunch.

Late lunch at Dino's
Late lunch at Dino's

Look at the size of that burger
Look at the size of that burger

Following Hasegawa-sensei's recommendation, we settled at Dino’s, a quaint eatery renowned for its delectable burger offerings. I was pleasantly surprised when my order arrived, as it surpassed the proportions of my hand.

Driving along Route 238 to Cape Soya
Driving along Route 238 to Cape Soya

Cape Soya
Cape Soya

Cape Soya is our main destination
Cape Soya with the Tomamae Gang

Statue of Rinzo Mamiya
Statue of Rinzo Mamiya

Kashiwaya
We went to look for souvenirs at Kashiwaya

Is that seal meat and bear meat in a can?
Is that seal meat and bear meat in a can? 😱😱😱

With daylight waning, we made our way to Cape Soya, the farthest point on our itinerary, ensuring we captured its essence through photographs. Luckily, the site was relatively quiet, allowing us ample opportunity for snapshots. Before leaving Cape Soya, we visited Kashiwaya to buy some souvenirs. The store is marketed as the northernmost store in Japan

The Northernmost Mail Box in Japan
The Northernmost Mail Box in Japan

The Northernmost Public Toilet in Japan
The Northernmost Public Toilet in Japan

Speaking of northernmost things, I made sure to take photos of other "northernmost" things in the area. It's not a joke but they are definitely branded as such by the tourism board of Wakkanai. 

Next stop: White Path
Next stop: White Path

It was hard to find a parking spot here
It was hard to find a parking spot here

White Path
White Road / White Path

White Path
It's nice to have the road all for ourselves

Continuing our exploration, we drove to White Path, a scenic route adorned with crushed scallop shells at Soya Hills. While originally designed for pedestrians, the path accommodated vehicular traffic, leading us back to Route 238 and subsequently back to Wakkanai City.

Quick stop at the Northernmost McDonald's of Japan
A quick stop at the Northernmost McDonald's in Japan

Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower
Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Hasegawa-sensei seems to be enjoying this adventure as much as we were
Hasegawa-sensei seems to be enjoying this adventure as much as we were

The northern view from the observation deck
The northern view from the observation deck

Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower
I learned a lot from the museum displays inside the Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower

Our final destination for the day was Wakkanai Park, where we ascended the hill to behold the magnificent view from Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower, encompassing the city, port area, and surrounding hills. We also checked out the museum display on the ground floor of the Wakkanai Centennial Memorial Tower. It was here that my phone's battery ran out. This meant that I wouldn't be able to document the next part of our trip. Thankfully, Hasegawa-sensei said that we'd only have dinner before we drove back home.

Before concluding our journey, we savored a hearty dinner of ramen at Etchan in the city center, graciously covered by Mike. Hasegawa-sensei then chauffeured us home, narrowly avoiding encounters with wildlife on the outskirts of Embetsu, Haboro, and Obira.

Gratefully, we reached home without incident, reflecting on the joy and indelible memories of our road trip with my Tomamae JTE and ALT colleagues. Eagerly anticipating our next excursion, I reminisced on the unforgettable experiences shared during our adventure.


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