About Cape Soya
Cape Soya (Soya Misaki) sits on the northernmost tip of Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture. The cape is marked with a beautiful monument that celebrates the spot as the northernmost point in all of Japan.
Across the street is the Cape Soya Park which sits on a hill overlooking the sea. The park is famous for its collection of buildings and monuments. Views from the top of the hill give amazing views of Japan’s northernmost point as well as the coast. The area is quite remote. The nearest city is Wakkanai which is over 27 km away.
Numerous small herds of deer freely roam the area and forage for food. In our experience, they were pretty docile and didn’t seem to pay to much attention to humans.
On a clear day you can see the Russian Island of Sakhalin which is only 43 km away.
Fun Fact: Due to its promxity to Russia, road signs in the area are in Japanese, English, and Russian.
Key Features of Cape Sōya
Northernmost Point
The northernmost point of Japan is marked with a beautiful monument. The pyramid shaped monument represents the North Star and points to the most northern point of Japan.
Statue of Mamiya Rinzo
The statue honors Mamiya Rinzo a Japanese explorer who was the first to traverse the Mamiya Strait. The statue faces the north and the gaze of Mamiya Rinzo looks out over the strait.
Cape Soya Peace Memorial Park
The Cape Soya Peace Memorial Park is located on the hill across the street from the Northernmost Point Monument. It features a number of monuments promoting peace in the world.
Cape Soya Lighthouse
The Cape Soya Lighthouse was constructed in 1885. It is the northernmost lighthouse in Japan and the third oldest in Hokkaido. The bright red and white lighthouse stands at 17 meters tall. It sits about 40 meters above sea level and its light can reach up to 32 km away. It’s a important landmark for ships navigating the Soya Strait.
Monument to Peace
The Monument to Peace remembers those lost during the battles of the Pacific war that took place in the Soya Strait. Both Japanese and American flags fly next to the monuments.
Akebono Statue
The Akebono Statue commemorates Hokkaido’s dairy heritage. In 1971, Hokkaido reached the milestones of half a million head of dairy cattle and a million tons of milk produced.
Tower of Prayer
The Tower of Prayer commemorates Korean Airlines Flight 007 which was shot down over the waters west of Sakhalin Island. The monument was established in 1985 and seeks to console the spirits of the victims and hope for a world of lasting peace. The design features a crane spreading its wings and lifting its head towards the sky. The towers height is 19.83 meters tall representing the year of the incident, the 16 feathers represent the victims home countries, and 269 white granite stones represent each of those lost.
Other Features Include: Music Monument of Cape Soya, Rest House Armeria, La Pérouse Monument, Former Navy Watchtower & 2 Peace Bells
Nearby Attractions in Wakkanai
Path of White Shells, Wakkanai Fukuko Market, Cape Soya Drift Ice Museum
Best Times to Visit Cape Soya
- Spring/Summer
Spring/Summer
Spring and Summer are the Best Times to Visit Cape Soya. The weather is moderate and not too cold during the day. The area around the peace park is covered in lush green grass and small herds of deer can be seen foraging.
Note: While Cape Soya is beautiful during the winter, the peace park is covered in snow and drift ice can be seen in the sea. However, the locations remoteness and infrequent public transportation system make it inadvisable to travel to in winter. We recommend travelling by car during the winter season.
Unique Reasons to Go
- Most Northerly Point in Japan
- Beautiful Views of the Sea During Sunset
- Certificate of Arrival to the Northernmost Point in Japan (Wakkanai Sightseeing Association)
- Special Commemorative Stamp at the Soya Misaki Post Office
Admission Fee & Hours
Cape Soya Admission Fee
Free
Cape Soya Hours
24 hours
How to Access Cape Sōya
By Public Transportation
From Wakkanai (Wakkanai Station) take a Soya Bus bound for Onishibetsu/Hamatonbetsu (Platform #1) getting off at Soya Misaki Bus Stop (50 minutes, ¥1,420 one way per person, ¥710 for children)
Note: Beware! Buses to and from Cape Soya are infrequent.
By Car
Accessed via National Route 238
Best Cape Sōya Parking Lots
- Cape Soya Parking Lot (72 Spaces, Free, Public Restrooms) *Closest Parking Lot to the Northernmost Point Monument
- Soya Misaki Park Parking Lot (~63 Spaces, Free, Public Restroom) *Closest Parking Lot to the Cape Soya Peace Memorial Park