Trip Report

Japan Far North: Day 9 (Horonobe Town to Shosanbetsu)

Posted on Aug 19, 2013
4

Posted on Aug 19, 2013

At last, a full day of sunshine. And some encouraging words of wisdom from the side of a supermarket. On a hot day like today, a watermelon shared between two was the perfect snack.

Last updated Oct 14, 2018

Mural in Horonobe, Hokkaido, Japan

Fresh watermelon - a nice treat along the way near Teshio, Hokkaido, JapanAs we were now traveling along the west coast of Hokkaido, on the main route connecting Sapporo (Hokkaido’s main city) and the north, traffic was getting more frequent. To this end, we jumped off the main road to side roads, enjoying the peace and quiet of lush farmlands.

Big wide open spaces near Enbetsu, Hokkaido, JapanHighlight of the day was the hopelessly beautiful Shosanbetsu Campground. Perched atop cliffs next to the coast, this campground was idyllic. The lighthouse within the campground grounds was the icing on the cake.

Shosanbetsu-mori Misakidai Campground in Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido, JapanSituated right behind the campground was the Misaki Takadai Observatory. Coincidentally we happened to be staying on an open night; campground visitors were allowed to climb the stairs in the planetarium for free and take a look at stars and the moon through their impressive telescope.

Looking at the night sky with a telescope at Shosanbetsu-mori Misakidai Campground in Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan

Hokkaido really is full of surprises…

Shosanbetsu-mori Misakidai Campground in Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan

Comments | Queries | Discussion

4 thoughts on “Japan Far North: Day 9 (Horonobe Town to Shosanbetsu)”

  1. Are the observatory and campsite still active? I’ve had a quick google and I can’t seem to find them anymore. I’ll be cycling this route next month and this stood out as a bit of a highlight for me!

    Thanks for the fantastic blogs,
    Mark

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Japan Far North: Day 9 (Horonobe Town to Shosanbetsu) Difficulty Rating

Category

Grade

Points

Strenuousness

Vertical Gain

D

25

Time ascending

D

0

Technicality

Altitude

D

0

Hazards

D

Navigation

D

Totals

25/100

GRADES range from A (very difficult) to D (easy). Hazards include exposure to avalanche and fall risk. More details here. Rating rubric adapted from Hokkaido Yukiyama Guidebook 北海道雪山ガイド.