Hokkaido · Wakasakanai–Kohone no Ie
Ororon Line A straight road, with a tune on my lips
A straight road with Rishiri Fuji across the sea. One summer morning, I set off in my red convertible and fell in love with the journey before I even reached the end. Come along for the drive where I found myself humming.
A coastal drive on a summer morning. I kept my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel, enjoying the stretch that seemed to go on forever.
SummerA July morning
The road just kept going, and I found myself humming
I was driving along the Ororon Line in my red convertible that morning. The sea opened up beyond the low grassland, and the road ran straight ahead for miles. I kept my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel, but the sky seemed bigger than usual. I was glad I'd lowered the roof; I thought so almost as soon as I set off.
Across the sea, I could see Rishiri Fuji. It's not as though the road runs all the way to the island, but somehow I felt I could keep driving right up to the mountain. I had to laugh at myself for thinking that. The road was right here; the island across the sea was way over there. I was just happy to see them both at once.
I readjusted my grip on the wheel with both hands and followed the straight lane. On the mountain roads I usually drive, I'm always waiting for the next bend; today, I was enjoying the long straight stretch itself. It kept going, even as I moved forward. Every time I saw that the road still went on, my heart leapt at the thought that I could enjoy this scenery a little longer.
At some point, I realised I was softly humming. A moment ago, the tune had been only in my head, and somehow it had slipped out. If someone had been sitting beside me, would they have heard? But it was just me that morning. I tried to remember how the song went and turned my attention back to the road ahead.
As I drove between the grassland and the sea, the time it took to reach my destination no longer felt wasted. I wasn't thinking about how I'd fill the time until I arrived; I was thinking how lucky I was to be able to keep driving this road all the way there. Before I knew it, I was gripping the wheel a little tighter. I was so happy to be driving this straight stretch in my own car.
Even after the coastal drive was over, the tune stayed in my head. When I got back, maybe I would tell my friend that the road had made me feel I could drive all the way to the mountain. She would probably laugh and say, “You can’t drive across the sea.” I know, I know. Still, that morning I was looking forward to the road ahead so much that I even found myself imagining it.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialities
Freshwater clam ramen and surf clam curry at Roadside Station Teshio
Roadside Station Teshio, on the southern part of the same west coast drive, features freshwater clam ramen and surf clam curry as local specialities. If I were planning a coastal trip, I'd add this stop too. It would be lovely to choose a taste of the region before setting out along that long straight road.
Highlights
Straight between the sea and the pastures
On the stretch heading north from Wakasakanai to Kohone no Ie, a straight road runs between the Sea of Japan on the left and pastures on the right. I loved how the road kept going, even as I drove farther along; before I knew it, I was humming.
Rishiri Fuji across the water
Across the sea, you can see Rishiri Fuji. With the road, sea and mountain all in view, it makes my heart leap to think I can drive my own car somewhere like this. I still remember that morning, when the road seemed to run all the way out to the island.
Views of the Sea of Japan from Kohone no Ie
Kohone no Ie is a place to rest with views of Rishiri Fuji across the Sea of Japan. You can also look out from its rooftop observation deck. Next time I plan a drive along the coast, I'd like to get out of the car and take in the view.
The route and the drive
Straight stretch from Wakasakanai to Kohone no Ie
- By car from Sarobetsu Wetland Center
- About 20 minutes
- Direction of travel
- North along the Ororon Line
The official sample route is about a 20-minute drive from the Sarobetsu Wetland Center. Continue north along the Ororon Line to the straight section of the Soya Sunset Road. I loved the coastal drive from Wakasakanai to Kohone no Ie, keeping my eyes ahead and my hands on the wheel.
This story takes place along the stretch from Wakasakanai in Toyotomi Town to near Shimo-Yuchi in Bakkai, Wakkanai City. Open the location on the map below. I can still picture Rishiri Fuji across the sea and that straight road stretching into the distance.
More Spot Guides
If you enjoyed this story, you might like these places too. I've gone back to each of them in different seasons, again and again.
