{"id":72593,"date":"2020-12-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=72593"},"modified":"2020-12-02T15:09:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T06:09:50","slug":"wakkanai-island-hokkaido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/wakkanai-island-hokkaido\/","title":{"rendered":"Wakkanai: The Great Outdoors and Curling on the Northern Tip of Hokkaido"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learning the art of curling<\/b> from a 79-year-old Japanese man had never really been on my bucket list, but it was turning out to be one of the best things I\u2019d ever tried. I was awful \u2014 that was a given \u2014 but even as I fell for the fifth time, my instructor and his wife dusted me off, took me through the moves again, and off I launched \u2014 another inevitable fall only seconds away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wakkanai<\/strong> (\u7a1a\u5185\u5e02) had been full of surprises, and its little-known destination status in Japan, even among domestic tourists, seemed like a shame. The northernmost tip of the Hokkaido’s northernmost island <\/strong><\/a>has everything from rolling green hills<\/strong> to Roman-inspired architecture<\/strong>, with shell-lined roads<\/strong> and scallops galore <\/strong>to boot. There was an intriguing backstory to this seemingly quiet corner of Japan, with battled-over islands and a growing bond with the not-so-distant neighbour, Russia. I was their newest fan, and whether it was shelling a scallop for the first time or sending a rock sliding across an Olympic-size ice lane, my time in Wakkanai was to be defined by being in the middle of the action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hokkaido’s Northernmost Island of Wakkanai City & Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A quietly busy hub home to the main JR station, Wakkanai town is a great gateway to the region. After admiring the old station signs, we headed around the corner to the imposing North Breakwater Dome<\/strong><\/a>. Inspired by the past’s Roman arcades, it stretches over 400m long<\/strong> and protects the town from the sea’s strong wind and waves. While it once housed a station, it is now better known for its appearance in films and was one of the first spots designated as part of the Hokkaido Heritage Project<\/strong>.<\/a> As I stood in the shadows, the endless stream of arches transported me temporarily to the remnants of ancient Europe, but the distant crashing waves soon bring me back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"North
North Breakwater Dome was inspired by the past’s Roman arcades and stretches over 400m long.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Above the town, Wakkanai Park offers ocean views<\/strong> and a collection of statues<\/strong> to commemorate this now-quiet area’s historical importance. Crafted by Shin Hongo, the <\/strong>Nine Maidens Monument remembers the call operatives who sacrificed their lives and decided to remain at their post during Sakhalin Island’s takeover. Standing tall, the Hyosetsu Gate<\/strong> dedicated to those who died during the island\u2019s evacuation, caught my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hyosetsu
Hyosetsu Gate is dedicated to those who died during the island\u2019s evacuation during Sakhalin Island’s takeover.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We hopped back into the cars and began a drive out to Sarufutsu<\/strong> (\u733f\u6255\u6751, Sarufutsu<\/em>–mura<\/em>) \u2014 a region known for movie-like stretches of road popular with bikers, with rather un-movie-like piles of scallop shells beside them. Crushed and used for scenic roads, they\u2019re a sign of the lunch that\u2019s soon to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scallop Shelling Experience at Sarufutsu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer a hands-on approach to your lunch, then the scallop-shelling experience at Sarufutsu Marugoto Kan<\/strong> is too good to miss. I had only ever seen scallops neatly presented on restaurant plates before now, so donning gloves and being handed a shell was a little intimidating. As the staff walked me through the whole process, it was smooth and surprisingly simple, from prising open the shell to sliding the tool under the fleshy scallop<\/strong>. Once you\u2019ve separated the two, you can rinse it gently in your hands and prepare it before replacing it into the shell and carrying it to the table for lunch! <\/p>\n\n\n\n