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ABOUT
#YOICHI

Only one hour from Sapporo.
Yoichi is a gourmet’s delight full of food from the land and sea and tasty sake.

Yoichi is blessed with rich natural environment and various foods from the land and sea. Particularly, it is famous for fishing of herring that remains, the first private cultivation of apples in Japan, and as the top cultivation area of grapes for wine production in Hokkaido. In recent years, Yoichi is known as a place where Masataka Taketsuru, a founder of Nikka Whiskey, who is a model of the NHK serial TV drama “Massan” and also called the “Father of Japanese Whiskey” and his wife Rita started making whiskey.

WHERE IS YOICHI?

To visit Yoichi, it takes about 110 minutes from New-Chitose Airport, and about 70 minutes from Sapporo City and Niseko by car. If you use a train, it takes about 120 minutes from New-Chitose Airport, about 90 minutes from Sapporo Station, and about 90 minutes from Niseko Station. It is recommended that you use a car when you move within the town. You can reserve a rental car at Shin-Chitose Airport or rental car shops in the town (two shops are available).

140.6 km²
SAME AS Liechtenstein
latitude:SAPPORO 43.19 N
SAME AS Vladivostok 43.12 MIRANO 45.47N

The weather of Yoichi is relatively mild for Hokkaido. Temperature is about 20 degrees C in July and August, and even in the coldest winter time of January and February, the temperature is about minus 4 degrees C. There are very few days when the temperature falls below minus 10 degrees C. It is very cool and moistening in summer. Thanks to rich water resources and pure air, many fruits such as apples, strawberries, cherries, plums, peaches, grapes, and pears are cultivated there. Particularly, the cultivated amount of grapes for wine production is the largest in Hokkaido. Yoichi is the place where Nikka Whiskey was originally established. Yoichi Distillery still works and has a directly managed shop. You can go see the inside of the distillery, where approximately 550,000 people have visited annually, without having to make a reservation.
Other famous places include “Old Yoichi Fukuhara Gyojo” and “Old Shimo-yoichi Unjoya,” both of which are a national historic site of important cultural property designated by the government, showing the operation of herring fishing business in old times.

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KEYWORDS OF YOICHI

#NIKKA WHISKEY

#PHANTOM
HERRING

#SUNSET
DIAMOND HEAD

#KINGDOM OF
FRUITS

#ASTRONAUTS

#SILENCE

#ODD STONE

#WINERY

#SORAN
FESTIVAL

#NIKKA WHISKEY

Yoichi Malt of Nikka Whiskey enjoys the benefits of climate that has never been seen other places in Japan and is the origin of Japanese whiskey, and has a rich aroma and strong taste. Yoichi Distillery was established in 1934 and has a directly managed shop where approximately 550,000 people visit annually, and is a place worth visiting.

ニッカウヰスキー

#PHANTOM HERRING

Yoichi had developed and constructed the basis of town supported by herring fishing. Although the catch quantity of herring is very small recently and herring is called “phantom fish” there, marine product processing companies at Yoichi have maintained the herring culture at Maehama by producing and selling “Migaki Nishin” (dried herring) and “Nuka Nishin” (herring in rice-bran paste).

#SUNSET DIAMOND HEAD

“Shiripa” of Shiripa Cape means “Head of Mountain” in Ainu. Sunset watched there is called “Diamond Head in Yoichi” and is a symbol of Yoichi. Sometimes, you can see that the sun sets twice, in mountains and in the sea, and enjoy different sunset depending on the season. It is a mysterious power spot where the bright red sunsets in the beautiful blue sea.

GoogleMap

#KINGDOM OF FRUITS

Yoichi has eight fruit farms where you can take and enjoy various fruits during your visit: including apples (Yoichi is first place they were cultivated in Japan), early summer strawberries, cherries, plums, peaches, grapes, and pears. You can enjoy the rich taste and sweet aroma of the fruits that are brought by a cold winter time in the northern island.

#ASTRONAUTS

Mr. Mamoru Mohri, who is the first Japanese to go to space in the space shuttle, was born in Yoichi. In the urban area, Yoichi Space Dome was constructed, where you can see a message from Mr. Mohri, along with panels that introduce activities of JAXA (The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). It is now a place for disseminating information on space and the earth.

余市宇宙記念館

#SILENCE

mountains and rivers. The town is full of rich nature where many fruits are cultivated and natural sweetfishes swim in the river. You can relax your body and mind in silence and forget about your daily life.

#ODD STONE

There are odd rocks in Yoichi that are named “Ebisu Rock” and “Daikoku Rock,” as they resemble “Ebisu” and “Daikoku,” members of seven fortune gods in Japan who bring business success. Due to the twin figures appearing in the sea, they are also called “Wife and Husband Rocks.” “Ebisu Rock” and “Daikoku Rock” standing in the back of the magnificent sea and mountains are a very popular photo spot due to the mysterious scenery.

GoogleMap

#WINERY

Yoichi is the top production area for grapes for wine in Hokkaido. Recently, the yield of French grapes “Pinot Noir” that are difficult to cultivate has increased. Wine produced in Yoichi becomes popular and is highly valued by wine lovers, and currently very difficult to purchase even by the locals.

#SORAN FESTIVAL

Yoichi is the top production area for grapes for wine in Hokkaido. Recently, the yield of French grapes “Pinot Noir” that are difficult to cultivate has increased. Wine produced in Yoichi becomes popular and is highly valued by wine lovers, and currently very difficult to purchase even by the locals.

GO TO YOICHI

CONTACT

HOKKAIDO TO GO PROJECT is managed (lead) by Loftwork Inc. and is commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (FY2018 "Project to Boost Consumption by Spreading the Charms of Hokkaido"). Please contact the following for any inquiries you may have such as reproduction or uses of the articles/photos.

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