Shakotan, Hokkaido
Cape Kamui The sea breeze made me want to spread my arms wide
In late July, I got out of the car to take in the sea at Cape Kamui. The time I spent walking into the sea breeze stayed with me long after I got home.
At Cape Kamui in summer, you can take your time looking out at the sea or walk along the Charenka Trail. When the wind caught me, I wanted to take home the feeling as well as the view in my photos.
SummerLate July
I spread my arms a little into the wind
In late July, I got out of the car at Cape Kamui. After being in the car, I felt the breeze against me as I walked towards the sea in my white hat. I’d thought I’d reached my destination, but once I started walking, I began looking forward to this part, too. With every step, my eyes kept wandering back to the sea.
Looking out at the water, I saw the cape stretching a long way out to sea. While I was driving, I’d been thinking about the next bend and where I was headed. Now all I could do was catch my breath at how vast the sea was. Even looking a little farther out, the view felt completely different from the ones I know. I nearly said out loud, “I’m so glad I came all this way.”
I opened my arms a little towards the wind. When the sea is this wide, I guess I want to stretch out a little, too. I’d barely spread my arms, but my shoulders felt lighter, and I laughed again. Standing there in my hat and letting the sea breeze wash over me felt so good.
If I showed my driving friend the photos, she’d probably say I looked more interested in feeling the wind than seeing the view. And yes, I want to remember that part, too. The photos will show the sea and the cape, but I’ll remember how the breeze felt after the walk. I think I’ll stay here and take it in a little longer.
When I looked towards the cape, I could see Kamui Rock in the distance. I gazed at the rock out in the sea, then looked back across the wide water. I didn’t want to rush around looking for every highlight; I wanted to take my time with what I could see right then. I love travelling by car, but stopping to take in the view after a walk made me so happy, too.
Before heading back, I looked out at the sea one more time. Remembering how good it felt to spread my arms into the breeze made me smile. When I tell people I made it to Cape Kamui, I want to tell them not just about the view, but about walking there and feeling the wind, too. I hope I can remember that breeze whenever I look at the photos.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialties
Shakotan sea urchin bowl
Wild sea urchin from the Shakotan Peninsula is in season from June to August. In summer, sea urchin bowls are a local specialty here, too. Just thinking that I could enjoy a taste of Shakotan after my walk by the sea made me look forward to the drive back. I’d love to choose my next meal while remembering the view.
Highlights
A cape reaching out from the Shakotan Peninsula into the Sea of Japan
Cape Kamui juts into the Sea of Japan from the northwestern tip of the Shakotan Peninsula, surrounded by cliffs 80m high. The sea opens up before you in what’s known as Shakotan Blue. Standing there in the sea breeze, I wanted to spread my arms a little just to take in all that space.
A walk along the Charenka Trail
The Charenka Trail runs about 770m from the car park to the tip of the cape, and the walk takes about 20 minutes. From the tip, the view sweeps across 300 degrees. Getting out of the car and making your way closer to the view on foot is part of the fun here, too. After the walk, looking out at the sea made me feel glad I’d come all this way.
Getting there and enjoying the drive
From Yoichi or Otaru to Cape Kamui
- Route estimate
- About 70 minutes by car from JR Yoichi Station
- Another way to get there
- About 90 minutes by car from JR Otaru Station
Cape Kamui is about 70 minutes by car from JR Yoichi Station and about 90 minutes from JR Otaru Station. The destination is Shimatsunai, Kōzaki, Shakotan Town. Once I arrived and felt the sea breeze, the drive and the walk by the water felt like parts of the same journey.
Open Cape Kamui on the map below. If you’re coming from Yoichi or Otaru, you can plan for both the drive and some time to walk around the cape and take in the sea.
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