- Home / Destinations / Northern Hokkaido, Asahikawa & Furano / Mashike
Mashike (増毛) is Rumoi Region’s most historic town with fine stone and wooden buildings around the old train station. During the mid Edo to early Showa periods, this town boomed as a herring fishing. It is now a sleepy port town, but it might for an interesting stop on the coastal road trip from Sapporo or a half-day trip from Rumoi.
Around the port town, there are some great hikes on the Mashike Mountains and hidden cliffs to the scenic cape village of Ofuyu.
Sightseeing
There are some historic buildings around the 1921 Old Mashike Station (旧増毛駅: Kyu-Mashike-eki) that was the setting for some scenes such as Station and Shin Abashiri Bangaichi played by Takakura Ken. The rail line from Rumoi was scrapped in 2016, but the old train station is a good starting point for a stroll the town.
Kunimare Sake Brewery
国稀酒造
5min walk from Old Mashike Station
Rumoi Region’s only sake brewery founded in 1882, pure spring water from the Mashike Mountains go into tasty sake brewed here. The 1902 sakagura (sake stonehouses) whisks you through brewing history and processes, samples of all sake brands are available from the friendly staff.
Old Maruichi-Honma Residence
旧商家丸一本間家
3min walk from Old Mashike Station
Dating from 1875 as a marchant’s home near the old train station, the founder of Kunimare Sake Brewery who had owned a kimono shop and ships. Today it gives an insight into their life, including a cultural Japanese-style living rooms, warehouses and a courtyard. Note that the residence is closed in winter.
Moto-Jin’ya
元陣屋
7min walk from Old Mashike Station
Located at the former Akita clan’s Moto-Jin’ya (manor house) established in 1856, this culture hall has exhibits on the town’s history. You can try on samurai costume for free.
Mashike Itsukushima Jinja
増毛厳島神社
4min walk from Old Mashike Station
Constructed in 1826 by Shinoda Sokichi, this compact shrine boasts 77 ceiling paintings and wood carvings. You will need to by appointment or ask for a tourist information office if you want to see inside. It is opposite the town hall.
Ofuyu Coast
雄冬海岸
20km south of Central Mashike
At the southern side of Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park, this coastal area is some 20km south of Mashike on Route 231 (until its construction in 1992, the only access was by ship). Until the 1980s, Ofuyu Coast was called as the ‘West of Shiretoko’, one of Hokkaido’s most remote areas with its amazing cliffs and hidden fishing villages.
Ofuyu-misaki Observatory
雄冬岬展望台
20min walk from Ofuyu bus stop
The Ororon Line’s most stunning viewpoint on the super scenic hills, 135m above sea level, overlooking the ocean and coastline. A magnificent sunset on the water is beautiful. The observatory, about a 20-minute walk on the steep slope from Ofuyu bus stop, is open from late April to mid October.
Sponsored
Hotels
Photo: じゃらんnet
Auberge Mashike
オーベルジュましけ
1min walk from Shokan-bashi bus stop / 6min walk from Mashike-Shokan-cho 1 bus stop
By the sea near the town center, this is Mashike’s only Western-style hotel with a public bath. Dinner is French cuisine using local ingredients.
Map
Getting There
BUS
Kyu-Mashike-eki (旧増毛駅), the town’s main bus stop is located in front of the old train station. Intercity and local buses are operated by Engan Bus (沿岸バス) .
Local buses running from Rumoi-ekimae (留萌駅前) to Kyu-Mashike-eki (30min) continue to O-Betsukari (大別苅) via Shokan-bashi (暑寒橋). Mashike-Inaba-cho 1 (増毛稲葉町1丁目) is the closest bus stop to town’s main sights, such as Kunimare Sake Brewery and Old Maruichi-Honma Residence.
The infrequent intercity bus Tokkyu Mashike-go (特急ましけ号) runs between Sapporo and Kyu-Mashike-eki (2hr 20min), stopping at Ofuyu (雄冬) and Mashike-Shokan-cho 1 (増毛暑寒町1丁目).
Getting Around
BUS
Three buses daily run betwen O-Betsukari and Ofuyu (17min) via Iwao (岩老).
BICYCLE
Rental bikes are available at Mashike Tourist Information Center. Late Apr-late Oct.
Information
Mashike Tourist Information Center
増毛駅前観光案内所 (風待食堂)
Opposite the Old Mashike Station, this retro wooden center offers maps and brochures in English. The building has a restored Showa-style shokudo set used in the film Station.
Kyu-Mashike-eki bus stop
旧増毛駅 | 마시케
Address：Benten-cho, Mashike-cho, Hokkaido
Distance：16km from Rumoi
Elevation：4m