Ganbou Rock is a 78-meter-high rock located near the town of Engaru in Noboribetsu county, Hokkaido and is designated as one of Hokkaido’s 100 Natural Spots.
There is an observation deck at the top of the rock, which is a 15-minute walk up.
This rock is the symbol of Engaru and is popularly known as ‘the rock that is the first place to receive the morning sun in this town’ or ‘the rock that is settled warmly in the evening sun’.
The name ‘Ganbou’ is derived from the Ainu word ‘Ingarushi’ (which means ‘the place with a fine view’). It is also known as an historic battlefield of the Ainu people. The view from the observation deck gives a marvelous 360-degree panoramic view.
Sun’s Hill Engaru Park, much loved by the town people, marks the starting point of the hike to the top.
Lake Kuccharo in Hamatonbetsu-cho, Esashi-gun in the northern part of Hokkaido is a brackish lake composed of two sub-lakes of Onuma and Konuma. It is the lake located in the northernmost part of the country and is a part of Kita-Okhotsk Prefectural Natural Park.
This is Japan’s largest resting ground for tundra swans; about 80% (approx. 20,000 in number) of tundra swans migrating to Japan make a short stay in this lake during their migration. Other than swans, over 280 species of wild birds including geese such as widgeons and ladybirds have been confirmed so far. The lake and its surrounding area were collectively designated to be a Ramsar Site in 1989. This is the 3rd designation in Japan after Lake Utonai and Izu-numa and Uchi-numa Ponds.
The whole surface of the lake is frozen from the end of December to the end of March. As camping sites are provided on the lakeside, a lot of families come to enjoy their summer. The sun setting in the lake is magnificent.
Nagaiso Beach in Taisei-cho, Hokkaido is dotted with a lot of oddly-shaped rocks created by erosion of sea water. The most famous among them is the Mother and Child Bear Rocks.
According to a local legend, starving mother and child bears left their home mountain and reached this beach at last. When the child bear was eating a crab, he fell into the sea. Trying to save her son, the mother bear dived into the sea, but both were drowned to death. Deeply impressed by the affection of the mother bear, the god picked their bodies out of the sea and turned them into rocks.
The silhouette of the rocks is so real that it looks like a real mother bear embracing her son. Especially in the sunset, the outlines of their loving figures appear clearly.
Cape Sukoton is located at the northernmost point of Rebun Island in Hokkaido. As it is the 2nd northernmost point in Japan, after Cape Soya, it is one of the popular sightseeing spots in the northern part of Hokkaido. From here, you can see the uninhabited Todo (northern sea lion) Island, where it is said that sea lions indeed come and land on this island in winter.
On a fine day, you can see the Sakhalin islands in the distance. You will feel refreshed to see white caps of waves glinting in the blue ocean. This is the best spot to see the sunset. Standing atop of this cape and viewing the rolling waves in the strong wind, you will feel that you have really come to the farthest land.
The stone monument inscribed with the words meaning “This is the northernmost point of Honshu” stands on the extensive beach of Omazaki Cape at the tip of Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. The streets of Hakodate City, about 18 meters away across the Tsugaru Straits, can be viewed on a fine day. The magnificent ocean view from Omazaki Cape will make you realize you are standing at the end of the farthest land. The sun setting in the land of Hokkaido is a superb view.
The town of Oma is famous all over the country as the base port of Ipponzuri (fishing one by one with one pole) of tuna. The monument of huge tuna is erected at the cape and it is a popular photogenic subject. The area around the cape is arranged into a park, which is alive with tourists during summer.
Futo Coast on the west side of Izu Peninsula is a scenic coast with a total length of 900 meters. It is a beautiful coast with shining ocean and indented coastline with bizarre stone formation.
At low tide, pools of seawater are formed in the cove on the other side of the bathing beach, where you can enjoy watching or catching inshore fish and sea shells. With clear sea and good natural environment, it is one of the few distinctive diving spots in Izu Peninsula, a good hidden spot for surf fishing and marine sports. It is also a fine place to view the sunset. The sun setting among small islands is absolutely beautiful.
As the promenade is set out from the northern end of the coast to Tago, you can enjoy 1 hour walking while viewing oddly-shaped stones and the indented coastline with colonies of sea plants on the way. There are other sightseeing spots such as Dogashima and Cape Koibito-misaki in the vicinity.
Cape Koganezaki is a scenic spot in Ugusu in Nishiizu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. It features the rugged surface of the cliff, which was formed by the volcanic fluid from Mt. Nekko flowing down into Sagami Bay.
Cape Koganezaki is known for its magnificent view of the ocean and the beautiful sunset. As the name “Koganezaki (the gold cape)” implies, the cliffs shine gold at the sunset. This is because weathered andesite was uniquely altered into yellowish brown propylite, which is prefecturally designated as a natural monument.
Cape Koganezaki is full of charms including flowers that come into bloom from spring through fall, the view of Mt. Fuji on a fine day, the stone monument in memory of Yukio Mishima, the fine promenade and colonies of wild plants.
Cape Koganezaki in Ugusu in Nishiizu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture、is known for its magnificent view of the ocean and the beautiful sunset. The cliffs shine gold at the sunset because weathered andesite was uniquely altered into yellowish brown propylite, which is prefecturally designated as a natural monument.
The whole part of the cape is designated as a public park named Koganezaki Park, where the promenade, the turf field and the observatory are set out among naturally grown pine trees. In Collection Garden, which is a 17 hectare botanical garden, visitors can enjoy viewing various flowers from spring through fall.
From the middle of February to the beginning of April, as many as 15 species of cherry trees come into bloom. Koganezaki Cherry Festival is held on the 1st Sunday every year.
