Hokkaido_Esashi tourism,Esashi travel,Esashi oiwake music,Ubagami Daijingu,the Grand Shrine of Ubagami,Kaiyo Maru Warship,Kamome Island,Seagull Island,Inishie Kaido Street

This is UU-Hokkaido’s official tourist information about Esashi town. You will find how to get to tourist attractions.
We will assist you with your travel plans. We are looking forward to your visiting to Esashi.

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Esashi Tourist Information


Esashi Sightseeing Convention Association
193-1Nakautacho, Esashi-cho, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido
TEL: +81-139-52-4815 FAX: +81-139-52-0234


Highlights of Esashi-cho
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Oiwake Hall / Esashi Float Hall

■ Oiwake Hall / Esashi Float Hall
Informative material relating to the history and transitions of Esashi oiwake music is on display, and between the end of April to October stage performances are held showing Esashi music and Hokkaido folk songs.
In the adjoining 'Yama Kaikan' (Float Hall), you can view the floats called dashi that were used in Hokkaido's oldest festival, the Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival.

Ubagami Daijingu (the Grand Shrine of Ubagami)

■ Ubagami Daijingu
  (the Grand Shrine of Ubagami)
Hokkaido's oldest shrine. The 8 scenic locations of Esashi, Boat Ema, a votive picture of boat, Orii legend as well as many other historical materials are on display. You can see miniature floats from the Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival decorating the grounds.

Kaiyo Maru Warship

■ Kaiyo Maru Warship
The shogunate warship that played an active role in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate. The Kaiyo Maru that sank off Esashi in 1868 has been restored to its original design. Inside there are 3000 remains that have been collected from the bottom of the sea on display.

Hokke-ji

■Hokke-ji
A solemn building of the Muromachi era. The main gate is one of Hokkaido's oldest buildings built as the front gate of the Hiyama city magistrate's office more than 300 years ago. It worth seeing the 'the all-direction gazing dragon' drawn on the ceiling.

Old Nakamura House, Old Sekikawa Summer House, Yokoyama House

■ Old Nakamura House, Old Sekikawa
  Summer House, Yokoyama House
The houses of the business magnates of the times when Esashi prospered in herring fishing. Contemporary items used in daily life and ancient documents are displayed. It is a group of buildings representing the times.

Old Hiyama Nishi-gun government office (Esashi-cho Local Material Museum)

■ Old Hiyama Nishi-gun government office
  (Esashi-cho Local Material Museum)
You can see exhibits about nature, archaeology, the history, and the people of Esashi. The building is appointed as a tangible cultural property of Hokkaido. The splendid cloth designs restored on the walls and ceiling is the highlight.

Kamome (Seagull) Island

■Kamome (Seagull) Island
It was the location of herring fishing and the goods-carrying merchant ship trade called 'Bentenjima' once.
Now this island of rich nature has been appointed a reserve of the Hiyama Prefectural Nature Park, you can do one lap in around two hours.

Heishi Rock

■ Heishi Rock
When Uba an elderly woman who was a local prophet at Kamome Island, she was handed a small broad-shouldered liquor bottle in the old days of 500 years ago by an old man and threw the broad-shouldered liquor bottle to the sea, this brought large quantities of herring. There is the legend that the broad-shouldered liquor bottle turned to stone, and appeared on the sea and is still worshiped like a God protecting safety at sea and bringing in a big catch.

A Town of Historic Romance - Introduction to Esashi-cho

Do you know 'Esashi' in southern Hokkaido?
'The herring fishing' that the merchants who came on goods-carrying merchant ships gathered to Hokkaido for.
It was a town of that legend and prosperity, and it was part of the Meiji Restoration that headed Japan toward a modern nation. The location where the first huge warship Kaiyo Maru sank by the late Tokugawa period is Esashi. Today you are able to view it.
The sea of Esashi, nature, the evening view are protected carefully and are still same. You can hear about the multilayered history in Oiwake, Esashi and the Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival. 110 minutes by bus only from Hakodate. We look forward to your trip to Esashi.


Climate of Esashi-cho

  Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Average temperature
(℃)
-0.8 -0.5 2.5 7.5 11.8 16.1 20.1 22.6 19.1 13.4 7.2 1.7 10.1
Precipitation
(mm)
85.5 58.8 61.9 75.9 97.6 68.1 130.5 162.8 133.2 109.3 115.3 98.5 1197.3


Events of Esashi-cho

Winter Esashi 'Bimihyakusai' Hot Pot Festival in February Winter Esashi 'Bimihyakusai' Hot Pot Festival in February
Hot pot is perfect in Winter. More than 30 kinds of hot pots assemble in full force. You are able to taste and compare between the steaming hot pots.
Kamome Island Festival in July Kamome Island Festival in July
Praying for safety at sea and big catches, it is considered heroic to cover 'the broad-shouldered liquor bottle rock' which is the guardian angel of the sea with a Shinto straw festoon. There are spectacular events such as Esashi 1,000 people lead parades and a goods-carrying merchant ship boat race.
August 9 to 11, Esashi - Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival August 9 to 11, Esashi - Ubagami Daijingu Togyo Festival
Hokkaido's oldest festival. 13 luxurious floats (called yama) parade around the town. It is designated as Hokkaido heritage. In the 'Float Hall', you can see the floats used in the festival and the appearance of the festival.


【13 luxurious floats (yama)】


Matsuhoumaru

Gikouzan

Homareyama

Shoumuzan

Genjiyama

Seishouzan

Masamuneyama

Shinneizan

Jinkouzan

Houeizan

Ebisuyama

Hounenyama

Nankouyama
 
From the 3rd Friday to Sunday of September - Oiwake, Esashi National Tournament From the 3rd Friday to Sunday of September - Oiwake, Esashi National Tournament
'Oiwake, Esashi' born and rooted into the long history and climate of Esashi. It has become traditional culture worthy of boasting to the world to the extent that there are branch offices not only in Japan but also in foreign countries. The big event where 440 people chosen from the whole country compete at singing 'Oiwakebushi' (Hokkaido folk tale).

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Popular Cuisine, Souvenirs

Nishin Soba - soba with herring
Nishin Soba
Nishin Oyakodon
Nishin Oyakodon
Osuimono Keiran
Osuimono Keiran
Gokatteyayoukan
Gokatteyayoukan

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Recommendations of Esashi-cho


The setting sun at
Kamome Island

Inishie Kaido Street

Oiwake, Esashi Demonstration

Basic points of
Okushiri Island

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Esashi-cho Recommended Walking Course

Esashi-cho Recommended Walking Course

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Start at the Old Hiyama Nishi-gun government office, then walk to the Old Nakamura House, then Oiwake, Esashi Hall/Festival Car Hall,
then the Yokoyama House, then the Kaiyou Maru.

Approximately three hours walking slowly.



Esashi, Matsumae Meisho Shuyu Bus (Famous Location Tour Bus) from Hakodate

Departing from Hakodate at 7:00 (a.m.) in the morning, visiting the Trappist monastery, Matsumae-cho, Kaminokuni-cho, and going around Esashi-cho then arriving back at Hakodate at about 17:00 (p.m.).
A one-day trip to feel the historic romance.

Operation Period: April 1 to June 30, reserved Service (available up to 3 days prior)
July 1 to October 31, everyday Servic
Fee: 6,500yen (Children 4,000yen)


Traffic information of Esashi-cho

Traffic information of Esashi-cho

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It takes approximately 2 hours 20 minutes by ferry (from Esashi to Okushiri Port).

Approximately 2 hours from Hakodate by bus.
Approximately 4 hours from Sapporo by JR (train) to Yakumo, then by bus from Yakumo.

By car
Approximately 70 minutes from New Hakodate Hokuto Station
Approximately 70 minutes from Kikonai Station
Approximately 70 kilometers, about 1 and a half hours from Hakodate
Approximately 300 kilometers, about 4 and a half hours from Sapporo



Major tourist cities in Hokkaido




Bus lines connecting Hokkaido

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Questions about travel to Hokkaido

We accept questions about Hokkaido trips.
Please let us help you preparing for your individual trips,
small-group trips, observation tours, etc.

Please use the inquiry form.

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