Japan's northernmost station, and a breakwater dome like ancient Roman architecture
| Getting there | From Tomakomai Station: about 5 h 10 min by car (about 363 km by road). A rough guide only. Please check ferry schedules and road conditions with the operators and road information services before you leave. |
|---|---|
| Highlights | History · Rides & transport |
| Area | Soya & Wakkanai |
| Our photos | 2013, 2015, 2026 |
| Map | Open map |
What kind of place are Wakkanai Station and the North Breakwater Dome?
Wakkanai Station is the terminus of the JR Soya Main Line and is known as the northernmost station in Japan. A bus terminal and commercial facilities are gathered around the station, which is the starting point for sightseeing in Wakkanai.
Walk toward the port and you will find the North Breakwater Dome, with its long row of arched columns. It is a breakwater built in the early Showa era (from the late 1920s), and its unique shape makes it one of Wakkanai’s famous sights.
How to get there
From Tomakomai Station: about 5 h 10 min by car (about 363 km by road).
Travel times are estimates based on road distances calculated from road map data (OpenStreetMap), assuming an average speed of about 55 km/h (about 70 km/h for trips over 40 km). Ferry schedules and travel times change with the season and the weather, so please check with the ferry operator before you leave.
Highlights
The ferry terminal is nearby, so it is also good for a walk before or after crossing to Rishiri Island or Rebun Island.
Our photo record
Our president visited in May 2013, twice in May 2015, and in May 2026 and took about 175 photos.
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Photos: Banana House Inc. (taken by our president). Do not reuse without permission.
Our photo records and timestamp certificates
The 12 photos in this article were taken on site by our president. We list the SHA-256 hashes of the published files and have them signed by timestamp authorities (DateSealed, DigiCert, Sectigo)(First certified: 2026-11-03 12:40 JST). A signature shows that the same file existed before that time; it does not prove the date the photo was taken.
You can check the signature and hash of each photo from its timestamp certificate. To see whether a photo you saved matches our records, use the photo timestamp verification page (Japanese) .
Nearby spots
- Cape Noshappu and Wakkanai Lighthouse (about 4 km in a straight line)
- Onuma Pond and Meguma Pond in Wakkanai (about 8 km in a straight line)
- Wakkanai Airport (about 8 km in a straight line)
Looking for a home or selling in Tomakomai?
“Lake Shikotsu or Noboribetsu on weekends”, “I want to live near the airport”: we suggest areas that fit the way you want to live. We also help with selling and vacant houses.
Banana House Inc., 1-1-1 Honkocho, Tomakomai. We never use pushy sales. Please write in English or Japanese.