Hokkaido is a vast region. Because of its size, the climate and topography vary greatly from place to place.
Even we locals are often surprised by the difference!

Cities located in southern Hokkaido, such as Hakodate, experience little snowfall and are pleasant to live in throughout the year.
Among them, there is a town known as the "Shonan of the North."

That's Date City.

Image provided by:Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Muroran Development and Construction Department

Although it's still relatively unknown outside of Hokkaido, this town is gradually gaining recognition for its heartwarming scenery and delicious food.
This time, I'd like to introduce you to Date City.

1. What kind of town is Date City?
1-1 Profile
1-2 Location and Access
2. Highlights of Date City
2-1 Usuzan Service Area
2-2 Michi-no-Eki Date Rekishi no Mori (Roadside Station Date Historical Forest)
3. Healing spots in Date City
3-1 Usu Zenkoji Temple
3-2 The Batchelor Memorial Church
Summary

1-1 Profile

As its name suggests, Date City has ties to the prestigious Date family of the Tohoku region.

This town was developed and established in 1870 by Date Kunishige (the 14th head of the Watari Date clan, a branch of the Sendai Domain) and his retainers.

Date Historical Park, Otemon Gate

Furthermore, since it is one of the areas in Hokkaido where people settled relatively early, Date City is characterized by its historical attractions such as the Kogane Kaizuka Park and Usu Zenkoji Temple.

1-2 Location and Access

The Date district (city center) faces Funka Bay (Uchiura Bay) and is surrounded by famous tourist spots such as Toyako Onsen, Mount Usu, and Showa Shinzan.
Noboribetsu Onsen is also about an hour away by car.

Image provided by:Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Muroran Development and Construction Department

Furthermore, Date City has another exclave called "Ootaki Ward," which was created during the large-scale municipal mergers of the Heisei era.

This area is located inland and is blessed with dynamic nature, so much so that it has been designated as a "special heavy snowfall area."
Kitayuzawa Onsen (hot springs) and outdoor activities are the main attractions for tourists.

Access from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport is relatively easy compared to other parts of Hokkaido; it takes 1 hour and 40 minutes from Sapporo via the Hokkaido Expressway towards Hakodate, or 1 hour and 30 minutes by JR express train.

2-1 Usuzan Service Area

Usuzan Service Area is one of the sights to see in Date city.
Both the ascent and descent routes are located on high ground, offering panoramic views of Mount Usu, Mount Showa-shinzan, and Mount Yotei from the center of Date City.

The food scene is also fantastic. I highly recommend the soft-serve ice cream from "bocca," a popular brand in Hokkaido with its headquarters in Date.

Also, the Usuzan Special Soy Sauce Ramen, served on the downhill side, is a popular menu item.

This bowl of ramen, featuring noodles made from Hokkaido-grown wheat and topped with char siu (roast pork) from the local Date region's specialty, Kogane-ton (golden pork), offers a simple yet nostalgic taste.

[Access information]
Access by car: Located between Muroran IC and Date IC.
Sapporo area: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Kitago IC, Oyachi IC, Sapporo Minami IC, and Kitahiroshima IC.
New Chitose Airport... Approximately 1 hour from New Chitose Airport Interchange
Hakodate area... Approximately 2 hours from Onuma Park Interchange
For inquiries, please call 0142-25-1938 (NEXCO East Japan Retail Co., Ltd.)

2-2 Michi-no-Eki Date Rekishi no Mori (Roadside Station Date Historical Forest)

"Michi-no-Eki Date Rekishi-no-Mori" is located in a corner of Date Rekishi-no-Mori Park. It is a popular facility that consistently ranks high in roadside station rankings on tourism websites and travel magazines.

Because you can find fresh local produce here at reasonable prices, shoppers come from far away on weekends.

The parking lot was full shortly after opening!

[Merchandise sales area]

Upon entering the store, you'll be greeted by a spacious vegetable section. A colorful array of vegetables, mainly freshly picked that morning, are on display!

The Date area is known for its thriving vegetable farming industry, taking advantage of its warm climate throughout the year.
"Date vegetables," known for their excellent flavor, are a major brand and highly regarded by culinary professionals.

Each block has a plate with the producer's profile written on it.

Approximately 80 farmers supply their produce to this store, so one of the pleasures of shopping here is being able to see photos and messages from the producers while you make your purchase.
Of course, we have a wide selection of not only vegetables, but also fruits, meats, and seafood.

[Snack Corner]

On the opposite side of the direct sales area, there is a snack corner.

"boulangerie ibox"

A shop filled with bread that is kind to both mind and body.

There's a constant stream of people in front of the display case filled with bread made with homemade natural yeast.

"Handsome Diner"

"Handsome Yaki" is a visually unforgettable dish.
It has already been featured in the media many times, and its popularity is spreading far beyond Hokkaido.

These small oyaki (Japanese sweet buns) are filled with a fluffy dough and either just the right amount of sweet red bean paste or a smooth, creamy filling.

[Michi-no-Eki Date Rekishi no Mori]
Approximately 13 minutes from the Date Interchange on the Hokkaido Expressway, along National Route 37.
Address: 34-1 Matsugae-cho, Date City
Regular holidays: Year-end and New Year holidays
Opening hours 9: 00 to 18: 00
For inquiries, please call: 0142-25-5567

3-1 Usu Zenkoji Temple

Usu Zenkoji Temple is the oldest temple in Hokkaido.
It is a historically significant temple, designated as one of the three official temples of Ezo (Hokkaido) by Tokugawa Ienari, the 11th shogun of the Edo shogunate, in the first year of the Bunka era (1804) of the Edo period.

This ancient temple has suffered damage from numerous eruptions of Mount Usu since its construction, but has risen again each time.

Zenkoji Temple is also known as one of Hokkaido's leading cherry blossom viewing spots, and during the Golden Week holidays in May, which is Hokkaido's cherry blossom season, many people come from the surrounding areas to enjoy the blossoms.

Image provided by:Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, Muroran Development and Construction Department

Furthermore, from early summer through the Obon festival, which is hydrangea season in Hokkaido, hundreds of hydrangea plants bloom throughout the temple grounds.

Image provided by:Usu Zenkoji Temple Homepage

Being in the temple grounds, which have the atmosphere of an ancient temple—a rarity even in Hokkaido—you'll find yourself feeling a sense of tranquility before you know it.

[Usu Zenkoji Temple]
Address: 124 Usu-cho, Date City, Hokkaido
Admission is free, there is a treasure hall, and the entrance fee is 200 yen for adults, 150 yen for high school students, and 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
TEL 0142-38-2007
The homepage isCLICK HERE

3-2 The Batchelor Memorial Church

About a five-minute drive from Usu Zenkoji Temple, on top of a small hill, stands a small stone church.

"The Bathorers Memorial Church." This church was built in 1937 (Showa 12) to commemorate the Bathorers, a British couple who dedicated themselves to supporting the Ainu people during the Meiji era.

The stonework of this church, which exudes an exotic atmosphere, is made from volcanic rocks from Mount Usu.
It's such an attractive building that it's often visited by architecture enthusiasts and amateur photographers.
The interior of the church is not open to the public, but it is still used as a chapel.

The author happened to visit on a day when the building was open to the public, and was able to tour the interior.

The tranquil atmosphere of the church and the view from the hilltop bring a sense of peace to the soul.

[Bachelor Memorial Church]
Approximately 25 minutes from Date Interchange on the Hokkaido Expressway.
Address: 119 Mukai-Usu-cho, Date City, Hokkaido
*We do not have a telephone or fax number.

The building is not open to the general public, but it is possible to visit on Saturdays from April to October each year on days when there is a worship service, with permission from the administrator.

For inquiries, please contact: 011-747-7339 (Pastor Omachi, Sapporo Christian Church)

Summary

That concludes our highlight guide to the must-see sights of Date city!

Rather than being a "tourist area," Date City gives the impression of a quiet healing town where you can be soothed by beautiful scenery and delicious local food.
In fact, this town is characterized by a large number of migrants from other regions, including Honshu, and also by its abundance of welfare-related facilities.

During this interview, I drove through the Date area for the first time in a while, and I felt that it was the perfect area to relax and get away from everyday life, as the roads are neither too wide nor too narrow, and the climate is mild.

It's only a half-day trip from the Sapporo area, so please come and relax if you have the chance!

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