Places to go Mashike, Teuri, Yagishiri (Asahikawa Airport)
Experience the historical townscape of communities that thrived along the Sea of Japan, and the unique islands here
Travel about 2.5 hours by car west of Asahikawa Airport to reach the Ororon Line, a route along the Sea of Japan. This route is very popular to drive along between Otaru and Wakkanai, as it plies a path along the lovely Sea of Japan coastline. Each of the towns you pass through is very unique in its own way and full of highlights. Mashike has prospered as a fishing port since the Edo period, where sweet shrimp and octopus remain local delicacies. Many of the buildings are quite old, with the former Maruichi Honma residence being designated an important cultural property of Japan. It is definitely worth taking a stroll here to see the sights. Ascend north from Mashike via the Ororon Line to reach Haboro, where a large monument to the "Ororon Bird" (common murre) awaits you. In fact, Teuri Island in Haboro is Japan's foremost breeding ground for the birds. It is also the world's largest breeding ground for rhinoceros auklet, a relative of the puffin, and is a paradise for seabirds. Yagishiri Island, also floating in the Sea of Japan alongside Teuri Island, has name-brand recognition for the Suffolk sheep here that graze the land and eat mineral-rich grass. You can tour the islands, walking through the virgin forests while admiring the wild birds and wildflowers.
