Wakkanai in Hokkaido is the most northern city in Japan and air, rail and ferry travel hub for visitors wanting to visit nearby Cape Soya (Soya Misaki), which is the northern-most point in Hokkaido. It is also the starting point to the offshore islands of Rebun and Rishiri in the beautiful Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. Wakkanai has a population of just over 40,000 people. It faces harsh winters and a lot of snow, making it an ideal winter destination. Tourism, seaweed harvesting (kombu), and fishing are Wakkanai’s major industries. Given its location between Japan and Russia, this area is an interesting clash of cultures. Wakkanai is a must-see for people interested in the historical side of Hokkaido or the indigenous populations of Japan.

Airports in Wakkanai

1. Wakkanai Airport (WKJ)

This airport is located 10 km southeast of Wakkanai, Hokkaidō, Japan. Wakkanai is the northern-most airport in Japan which is capable of handling jet aircraft; due to its small size but is susceptible to closures during the coldest winter months, in which case incoming aircraft are often diverted to Asahikawa Airport. It has one jet bridge, one apron gate for mid-sized jet aircraft, and two apron gates for commuter aircraft. All Nippon Airways offer flights from Manila to Wakkanai with ticket price ranging from PHP 41,980 to 42,199 per pax. The flight will have two transits, first in Fukuoka and Sapporo, before reaching Wakkanai.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Wakkanai?

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travelers to find the cheapest flights to Wakkanai. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Wakkanai.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Wakkanai?

The best time to visit Wakkanai for good weather is during July, August and September. The best months for swimming are August and September. On average, the warmest months are July and August. However, travelers are to expect rain during these months, especially from July until September and will usually continue until December. The coldest months, on the other hand, are in January and February

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Wakkanai?

1. Cape Soya - Cape Soya is also known as Soya Misaki and is around 30 kilometers outside of Wakkanai. Cape Soya looks out over Soya Bay and this is also known as the northern-most part of Hokkaido, which also means that it is the northern-most part of the entire country. To mark this spot a Northernmost Point Monument and a Statue of Mamiya Rinzo, who was a famous Japanese explorer, was built here and many domestic tourists consider this the prime attraction in the area, so be ready for some crowds. On fine days, if it’s not foggy, they will be able to see the ex-Japanese territory of Sakhalin (now in Russia) on the horizon 43 km away to the north.

2. Wakkanai Park - Wakkanai Park is also called Wakkanai Koen and you can spend time here walking past some 4,000 cherry trees for which the park is famous. One of the great things about the park is that it is located on a hill and this affords you the chance to take in the spectacular views across the city. You can also walk to the Hokumon Shrine which sits at the top of the hill and there are many trails to explore on your way down.

3. Soya Hills - Soya Hills boasts of hilly green landscapes that somewhat resembles the mountains of Europe. It is a perfect place for grazing cattle and is home to about 3,000 Soya Black Cattles. There are about 57 wind turbines scattered on the top of the hill which generates electricity enough to power the region. In 2004, it was designated as a Hokkaido Heritage. Travelers who visit in June will be able to admire the flowers in bloom along the hilly slopes. On a sunny day, the view of green hills along with grazing cattle is amazingly impressive. It is said that the whole area was formed more than 10,000 years ago during the Ice Age through the movement of glaciers.