Cape Sōya

Overview

Cape Sōya, in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, is known as the northernmost cape of Japan. The Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan stands at the cape, drawing many travelers to this far northern edge. Facing Sakhalin Island across the La Perouse Strait, it offers a grand, wide-open setting.

Highlights

• ●The Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan at the country's northernmost cape
• ●More than ten monuments, including the Tower of Prayer and a statue of Mamiya Rinzō
• ●Sakhalin Island visible across the La Perouse Strait on clear days
• ●Benten-jima, floating about 1 kilometer northwest of the cape

History

Beyond the Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan, the cape holds more than ten monuments, including the Tower of Prayer, a memorial to the Korean Air Lines flight shot down in 1983, and a statue of the explorer Mamiya Rinzō. Together they tell the story of this northernmost point.

Map

45.5228, 141.9366 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Visit the Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan
2. 2Tour the monuments dotted around the cape
3. 3Enjoy the view over the La Perouse Strait toward Sakhalin
4. 4Continue on to sightseeing in central Wakkanai

Did you know?

💡 Cape Crillon on Sakhalin lies about 43 kilometers away across the La Perouse Strait, and on a clear day Sakhalin Island can be visible. Benten-jima, about 1 kilometer northwest of the cape, is the northernmost point under Japanese control.

Nearby spots