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South of Toya-ko facing the Uchiura Bay, Date (伊達) is a coastal agricultural city rooted in the culture of the Ainu and samurai, with a scenic Jomon site and a tasteful temple.
The city center retains its 19th-century castle-town style grid pattern pioneered by the Watari-Date family and their immigrants from the present-day Miyagi Prefecture.
Sightseeing
Date City Museum of History and Culture
だて歴史文化ミュージアム
30min walk or 10min by bus from Date-Monbetsu Station
Inside Date Rekishi-no-mori, this museum tells the city’s history and culture, including archaeological finds from the Jomon sites, Ainu artifacts, samurai armor and makeup tools related to the Watari-Date family.
Usu Zenko-ji
有珠善光寺
22min walk from Usu Station / 8min walk from Zenkoji-iriguchi bus stop
One of Hokkaido’s most atmospheric temples stand by the pretty harbor, Usu Zenko-ji has a history stretching back to 826. The temple was named by the lord Matsumae Yoshihiro in 1613, and the current buildings were reconstructed in 1804. You can see a wide variety of flower, such as cherry blossoms (early May) and hydrangeas (July), in the extensive wooded grounds. Don’t miss the replica of Virgin Mary’s stone lantern donated by hidden Christian.
Kitakogane Shell Mound Park
北黄金貝塚公園
25min walk from Kogane Station / 3min walk from Kitakogane-Kaizuka-koen-mae bus stop
Designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site, this coastal Jōmon site (7000-4500 years ago) contains reconstructed pit-dwelling houses, shell mounds and cemeteries. Kitakogane Site Information Center showcases a number of stone tools, earthenwares and models. It is about 2.5km north of JR Kogane Station.
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Hotels
A few basic hotels and ryokan are found in the city center. If you have time, Kitayuzawa Onsen (北湯沢温泉) has excellent resort hotels and nostalgic ryokan.
Photo: じゃらんnet
Hotel Royal
ホテルローヤル
14min walk from Date-Monbetsu Station
The best stay among the hotels in Date, this place has 30 rooms. It is a 12-minute walk north of the train station, opposite the 24-hour convenience store Lawson on Route 37.
Photo: じゃらんnet
Nishiki Ryokan
錦旅館
5min walk from Date-Monbetsu Station
Located in Nishiki-machi nightlife district, this family-run ryokan offers Japanese-style rooms and a 24-hour shared bath.
Photo: じゃらんnet
Midori-no-Kaze Resort Kitayuzawa
緑の風リゾート北湯沢
50min by bus from Date-Monbetsu Station
This Japanese-style hotel features large-scale open-air baths, contemporary spacious rooms and pleasant facilities. There are Japanese and Italian dining options.
Map
Getting There
JR TRAIN
The limited express train Hokuto runs to Date-Monbetsu (伊達紋別) from Sapporo (1hr 45min) and Hakodate (2hr).
There are also local trains from Higashi-Muroran (27min), stopping at Kogane (14min) and Usu (35min).
BUS
From Muroran Station or JR Higashi-Muroran west gate, a Toyako-bound Donan Bus stops at Kitakogane-kaizuka-koen-mae (北黄金貝塚公園) in front of Kitakogane Shell Mound Park, and Date Michi-no-eki & Culture Center (伊達道の駅・カルチャーセンター) in front of Date City Museum of History and Culture.
Getting Around
BUS
From JR Date-Monbetsu Station (伊達駅前: Date-ekimae), Donan Bus runs to the following destinations:
● Toyako-onsen (洞爺湖温泉: 35min) via Usu-Zenkoji-iriguchi (有珠善光寺入口), or Sobetsu (壮瞥).
● Otaki-Honcho-higashi-danchi (大滝本町東団地: 58min) via Sobetsu (壮瞥) and Kitayuzawa-onsen (北湯沢温泉).
Information
Date Tourism Association
だて観光協会
Date-Monbetsu Station
伊達紋別 | 다테몬베쓰
Address：Yamashita-cho, Date-shi, Hokkaido
Distance：151km from Sapporo
Elevation：2m
北海道 伊達 旅遊觀光 飯店住宿 | 홋카이도 다테 여행 호텔