# Cape Soya

> The northern tip of Hokkaido's main island at 45 degrees 31 minutes 22 seconds north, marked by a triangular monument modeled on a point of the North Star. On clear days Sakhalin shows on the horizon about 43 km away. It is 50 minutes from Wakkanai Station by a bus that runs very few times a day.

- Prefecture: Hokkaido
- Type: Landmark
- Address: Wakkanai, Hokkaido, Japan
- Official site: https://www.north-hokkaido.com/spot/detail_1018.html

Most people come here for one photo: the triangular monument at the edge of the sea, its point said to be shaped after one ray of the North Star, with a large N in the middle. Cape Soya sits at 45 degrees 31 minutes 22 seconds north, the end of the line for Hokkaido's main island and the northernmost place in Japan you can simply drive to. Across the Soya Strait, about 43 km away, the southern tip of Sakhalin shows on clear days as a low gray line. Beside the monument stands a statue of Mamiya Rinzo, the explorer who crossed to Sakhalin, looking out over the water, and the hill behind has more memorials, including one to the French navigator La Perouse. The visit itself is short; half an hour covers the monument, the statue and a look at the sea. Getting here is the real commitment. Soya Bus takes about 50 minutes from Wakkanai Station, costs 1,600 yen each way and runs very few times a day, so check the return bus before you leave. By car it is about 40 minutes from the station or 25 minutes from Wakkanai Airport, with 72 free parking spaces. A few shops and small restaurants line the road, including one selling scallop ramen.

## FAQ

### How do I get to Cape Soya from Wakkanai?

Soya Bus takes about 50 minutes from the bus terminal next to Wakkanai Station and costs 1,600 yen each way, but runs very few times a day. By car it is about 40 minutes from Wakkanai Station or 25 minutes from Wakkanai Airport.

### Can you really see Sakhalin from Cape Soya?

Only on clear days. Sakhalin is about 43 km away across the Soya Strait, and when the air is clear its southern tip shows as a low outline on the horizon. Haze or low cloud hides it completely.

### How long should I spend at Cape Soya, and is there parking?

About 30 minutes is enough for the monument, the Mamiya Rinzo statue and the sea view; add time if you walk up to the memorials on the hill. There are 72 free parking spaces.

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Source: Cape Soya — Japan Voyage