Located approximately 225 kilometers southeast of Sapporo, Cape Erimo is situated right in the middle of Hokkaido, at the southern end of the Hidaka Mountains, which seem to divide Hokkaido from east to west, jutting out into the Pacific Ocean.

In Shinichi Mori's hit song, "Erimo Misaki," the lyrics say, "Spring in Erimo is a spring with nothing special to see," but you might be wondering what Erimo Misaki is actually like, right?

This time, we'll introduce how to get from Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, to Cape Erimo, as well as some sightseeing spots around Cape Erimo.

We'll provide detailed instructions on how to access the area by bus as well as by rental car, so please check it out if you're interested.

<Table of Contents>
1. Travel from Sapporo to Cape Erimo by car.
2. A roadside station you'll want to visit while driving: "Thoroughbred Road Niikappu"
3. Take a bus from Sapporo to Cape Erimo.
4. Tourist attractions around Cape Erimo
Summary

The journey from Sapporo city center to Cape Erimo takes approximately 4 hours and covers about 225 km using expressways. The expressway route involves driving from Sapporo city center towards Chitose on the Hokkaido Expressway, then heading southeast from Tomakomai East Interchange, and taking the Hidaka Expressway to the final exit at Hidaka Monbetsu Interchange.

After that, the road becomes a regular road, and you travel approximately 114 kilometers along National Route 235 and National Route 336 before finally arriving at Cape Erimo.

If you use regular roads, head south on National Route 36 to Tomakomai City, then take National Route 235. The journey will take approximately 5 hours in this case.

National Route 235, which runs along the coast, is commonly known as the Urakawa National Highway and is a major thoroughfare in the Hidaka region. You can enjoy a scenic seaside drive while gazing at the white waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Across the road, a green meadow stretches out, and you can see horses grazing. This is because the Hidaka region is a nationally renowned horse breeding area. As a result, there are many ranches that raise horses.

Photo by Wikipedia/ Ozizo

If you're driving to Cape Erimo, a good place to stop for a break is the roadside station "Thoroughbred Road Niikappu." Located along National Route 235, which stretches through peaceful pastureland, this roadside station is easily recognizable by its eye-catching horseshoe-shaped sculpture, the Tower of Champions.

Located in Niikappu Village, known as a town of thoroughbreds, this facility houses a souvenir shop selling racehorse-related goods, a flower shop, and a restaurant.

It's also close to Thoroughbred Ginza, where racehorse farms line both sides of the road, so it's definitely a place horse lovers should visit.

The adjacent "Record Museum" houses approximately 90 records collected from all over Japan, and you can enjoy music through its high-performance speaker system.

High-quality music might just help you forget the fatigue of your journey.

Photo by Wikipedia/ "Kōsoku Erimo gō" Sapporo to Erim (o221.20)

Now, for those who aren't confident drivers and think, "Driving is a bit much...", taking a highway bus is a good option.

The JR Hokkaido Bus Express Erimo service takes approximately 4 hours from Sapporo Station to Erimo Station. From Erimo Station, it takes about 30 minutes by local bus. The express bus fare is 3,600 yen one way. There is one round trip per day.

Photo by Wikipedia/JR Hokkaido Bus Erimo Station in Erimo Town, Hokkaido, Japan (Yasu)

Incidentally, Erimo Station is a bus stop, but it has the name "station" even though there are no railway lines running through Erimo Town.

The reason for this is that there was once a plan for the "Erimo Coast Railway" to connect the Hidaka Main Line and the Hiroo Line via Erimo.

The JNR (Japanese National Railways) bus service, the Nissho Line, was launched before the railway, which led to the creation of Erimo Station. However, due to topographical issues and the closure of the Hiroo Line in 1987, the railway plan was abandoned.

It continued to operate as a bus stop, but the ticket office closed in 1998. After becoming unmanned, it was rebuilt in 2008 into the current stop with a waiting room.

Tragic Love Swamp

Image provided by: Erimo Town

"Tragic Love Pond" is a small pond with a circumference of about 400 meters. It is a pond with a sad legend that it was formed from the tears of an Ainu girl whose love for a Japanese young man was unrequited.

In summer, wild irises bloom profusely around the marsh, painting the area purple. The marsh is also known as a place where fireflies can be seen, and on summer nights, you might be able to witness the spectacle of a sky full of stars and fireflies.

Hyakuninhama

Image source: Erimo Town

This sandy beach stretches for about 10 kilometers from Cape Erimo towards Tokachi. While it is a beautiful beach, the waters around Cape Erimo are known as a dangerous stretch of sea, and it is said that the beach got its name because about 100 people who died in drowning accidents were washed ashore here in the past. Despite its sad origin, the beach now has an auto campsite and a park golf course, and in the summer it is bustling with families.

Mount Apoi Geopark

Photo by Wikipedia/Samani Town and Mount Apoi (wakimasa)

The Hidaka Mountains extend north from Cape Erimo. This area is a natural park composed of three districts: the Hidaka Mountains themselves, the coastline with its continuous sea cliffs from Hiroo Town to Cape Erimo, and Mount Apoi and its surroundings.

Among them, the "Apoi-dake Geopark" is a facility where you can learn more about the charm of Mt. Apoi and its surrounding area.

Through climbing Mount Apoi and visiting its famous landmarks, participants will deepen their understanding of the topography, geology, natural environment, and the history and culture of the people who live there.

Cape Erimo

Cape Erimo is the destination of this trip. Cape Erimo juts out as if the Hidaka Mountains are gradually descending in elevation and sinking into the Pacific Ocean. The sight of the rocky reefs stretching for two kilometers is simply breathtaking. With nothing to obstruct the view, it is a scenic spot where strong winds, said to reach 10 meters per second, howl. There are also tourist attractions in the vicinity, such as the "Cape Erimo Wind Museum," themed around the strong winds of Cape Erimo, and monuments to the songs "Cape Erimo" sung by Chiyoko Shimakura and Shinichi Mori. At the tip of the cape stands the Cape Erimo Lighthouse, watching over the seas around Cape Erimo.

This concludes our summary of how to get from Sapporo to Cape Erimo and the surrounding sightseeing spots.

Cape Erimo offers a glimpse into the grandeur of nature, nurtured in a harsh environment where the high waves and strong winds of the Pacific Ocean sweep across the sea. A journey that will leave a lasting impression awaits you at Cape Erimo.

If you ever travel to Hokkaido, I highly recommend making a trip to Cape Erimo, the very edge of the island.

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