• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Wakkanai (稚内, [1]) is the northernmost city in Japan. It has a population of about 42,000, and is in the subdistrict of Soya in northern Hokkaido.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Wakkanai's tiny airport (WKJ) fields regular flights to Sapporo and Tokyo (Haneda), with additional summer-only services to Nagoya and Kansai. The airport is 20 minutes away from Wakkanai station by bus.

[edit] By train

The JR Soya Honsen line connect Wakkanai to Asahikawa. There are two stations in city limits, Wakkanai itself as well as Minami-Wakkanai to the south.

Three daily Super Soya and Sarobetsu Limited Express trains make direct runs from Sapporo in 5-6 hours, at a hefty price (~¥10000). There is no charge to use this train with the Japan Rail Pass.

[edit] By boat

Template:Infobox The spanking new ferry terminal hosts frequent (in summer) connections to the National park islands of Rebun and Rishiri.

Right across from this terminal, is the International Ferry terminal with weekly departures for Korsakov, on Sakhalin Island. Journey time is 5.5 hours, and one way tickets starts at 24.000 Yen. Note that a Russian Visa is required to buy tickts bound for Russia.

All ferries out of Wakkanai, are operated by the Heartland Ferry Company http://www.heartlandferry.jp/english/]

[edit] Get around

[edit] See

Template:Infobox

Ryuhyo (floating ice) is of interest in winter, and occurs either in February or March. It is ice that drifts in from the sea. Dog sled races are also held in February.

[edit] Do

Wakkanai has a variety of stores and bars, a shopping mall, and a bowling alley. It does not have a movie theater, probably due to the fact that it is a small city, and movie theaters in Japan are expensive, one ticket costing 1800 yen (about 15-16 American dollars).

[edit] Buy

[edit] Eat

Wakkanai is known for its variety of seafood. Catching and selling sea-dwelling creatures (fish, crab, octopus, et cetera) may be considered the industry in Wakkanai.

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

There are three large hotels in Wakkanai, the ANA hotel, the Wakkanai Sun Hotel and the Dormy Inn. The Wakkanai Sun has free wifi in the lobby, however non smokers be warned, every room is a smoking room.

[edit] Get out

• Rebun and Rishiri - Japan's northernmost national park