1-Day Cape Shakotan Scenic Tour (From Sapporo to Otaru/Sapporo)

1. Experience the majestic blue waters of Cape Shakotan, and enjoy your share of fresh seafood with a local cuisine specialty lunch.
2. Visit the Hokkaido distillery for world-renowned Nikka Whisky!
3. Sample the company’s famous Single Malt Yoichi, a bold and distinctive single malt whisky.
4. Experience all that Shakotan has to offer with a cruise around the coastline on a glass-bottom boat. (Additional charges apply.)
5. Look forward to shopping at Yoichi Roadside Station which offers over 10 kinds of space food!

08:15 – 08:30
Meet at Sapporo Station Terminal & Depart
The bus will depart at 8:30. Multilingual guidance system will not be available on this tour. A Japanese-speaking guide will accompany the tour.

Please check in at the 2nd floor regular sightseeing bus window at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. At reception, please show a printed copy of the reservation confirmation sheet or a printout of the reservation confirmation e-mail. Simply showing the confirmation on a mobile device screen will not be accepted. The bus will depart at the scheduled time regardless of latecomers, so make sure to be on time.
10:00 – 10:45
Nikka Whisky Hokkaido Yoichi Distillery, Hokkaido (45 min)
Visit the home of Nikka Whiskey’ Single Malt Yoichi, a bold and distinctive single malt whisky brewed by skilled craftsmen whose techniques have developed over long years of experience. Participants on this tour can look forward to viewing the distillery’s coal-fired pot stills, a practice that is now rarely seen even in Scotland. Enjoy sampling some products at the tasting corner and shopping for souvenirs at the gift store.

Taste-testing tickets will be handed out by distillery staff to participants, so please hand the ticket to staff if joining the taste testing activity. Participants who will drink non-alcoholic drinks only do not need a taste-testing ticket.

At Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery, participants will not go on a tour of the facility guided by distillery staff.
Participants will tour the facility, have taste testing, and shop for souvenirs on their own.
11:45 – 12:10
Shimamui Coast (25 min)
Selected as one of the best 100 beaches (coasts) of Japan, Shimamui Coast in Shakotan Cape is renowned for its majestic translucent blue sea and beautiful scenery. Gaze upon the numerous rock formations which peer out from the clear ocean waters and relax to the peaceful sound of waves lapping against the shore.
12:15 – 13:00
Lunch at Rinkouso, Irika (45 min)
Savor seafood cuisine prepared with fresh seafood from Hokkaido.

Please understand that there is no vegetarian option available.
13:25 – 14:35
Cape Kamui (70 min)
Kamui rock stands directly below the edge of Cape Kamui in the clear blue waters and is said to be the incarnation of a young maiden transformed into stone. During the walk along the path around the cape, participants can marvel at Tateiwa of Mizunashi, a large stone which towers over the sea, and other formations on the way.
15:15 – 16:20
Board the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise (additional charges apply) or Explore Bikuni-cho (65 min)
Customers have the option to board a Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise. (Additional charges apply)
Experience all that Shakotan has to offer with a cruise around the coastline. View the various rock formations and dynamic coastline from aboard the deck, and witness the underwater habitat of the local fish and sea urchin from the glass-bottom boat that appear close enough to reach out and touch.

Participants that do not ride the boat can enjoy free time in Bikuni-cho.

Fare for the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise is not included. (Cruise time: 45 min, Additional Charge: JPY 1,100/adult, JPY 550/child)
*The cruise cannot be boarded if the bus will not arrive in time for cruise departure. In this case, participants will have a stroll around Bikuni-cho (Cape Ogon).
Also, participants not boarding the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise (charged separately), will be free to have a stroll around Bikuni-cho (Cape Ogon).
*On days when the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise is not operating, the cruise will be omitted and the itinerary will be as follows.
Cape Kamui (Stroll) (13:25 ~ 14:35) → Yoichi Roadside Station (15:45 ~ 16:15) → Otaru Station Bus Terminal (option to end tour here) → Sapporo Clock Tower (option to end tour here) → Sapporo Station Bus Terminal (17:55)
16:50 – 17:10
Yoichi Roadside Station (20 min)
Situated adjacent to the Yoichi Space Museum, this shop offers over 10 kinds of space food as well as a variety of local fruit, vegetables and seafood specialties. The store’s handmade ice-cream and apple pie which are prepared using fresh fruit and wine are also popular amongst visitors.
– 17:40
Drop off at Otaru Station Bus Terminal
Participants may get off the bus here.
– 18:45
Drop off at Sapporo Clock Tower
Participants may get off the bus here.
– 18:50
Drop-off at Sapporo Station Bus Terminal (Tour ends after drop-off)
Participants may get off the bus here.

1. Conducting Company: Hokkaido Chuo Bus
Address: 1-3 Odori-higashi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal (Tel. 011-231-0500 / 7:30-18:00)

2. Depending on operational circumstances, certain tour dates may be cancelled, or tour operation may cease entirely.

3. Please check in at the 2nd floor regular sightseeing bus window at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. At reception, please show a printed copy of the reservation confirmation sheet or a printout of the reservation confirmation e-mail. Simply showing the confirmation on a mobile device screen will not be accepted. The bus will depart at the scheduled time regardless of latecomers, so make sure to be on time.

4. The bus guide provides guidance in Japanese only.

5. The time spent at destinations may be extended or shortened due to road conditions, number of participants, etc.

6. Infants (ages 0-5) may ride for free if they do not require lunch or a bus seat. However, only 1 infant per adult (12 years of age or older) may ride for free.
If an infant age 0 to 5 requires a lunch and their own seat on the bus, please make a booking for them at the child rate (6 to 11 years old).

7. The tour may end early due to facilities being closed, destination tour time, etc.

8. The bus may be delayed for reasons such as traffic and inclement weather, so please allow for plenty of time for your transfers to other modes of transportation.

9. The bus service may be suspended in case of a disaster, abnormal weather, or traffic restrictions due to events, so please call the conducting company’s phone number and inquire of the tour status in such cases.

10. Please understand that there is no vegetarian option available.
11. At Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery, participants will not go on a tour of the facility guided by distillery staff.
Participants will tour the facility, have taste testing, and shop for souvenirs on their own.
12. From June 1 to late August, participants who wish may purchase Shakotan’s fresh sea urchin (100g per plate, price varies depending on market price).
*Separate shipping charges apply if using the shipping service (No overseas shipping)
13. Fare for the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise is not included. (Cruise time: 45 min, Additional Charge: JPY 1,100/adult, JPY 550/child)
*The cruise cannot be boarded if the bus will not arrive in time for cruise departure. In this case, participants will have a stroll around Bikuni-cho (Cape Ogon).
Also, participants not boarding the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise (charged separately), will be free to have a stroll around Bikuni-cho (Cape Ogon).
*On days when the Shakotan Underwater Observatory Deck Cruise is not operating, the cruise will be omitted and the itinerary will be as follows.
Cape Kamui (Stroll) (13:25 ~ 14:35) → Yoichi Roadside Station (15:45 ~ 16:15) → Otaru Station Bus Terminal (option to end tour here) → Sapporo Clock Tower (option to end tour here) → Sapporo Station Bus Terminal (17:55)