Yoichi | Travel

Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery

ニッカウヰスキー余市蒸溜所

3min walk (main gate for guided tours) or 10min walk (Nikka Kaikan) from Yoichi Station

Founded by Taketsuru Masataka in 1934, this 13-hectare Scottish-style distillery is home to Japanese whisky. The Nikka Museum has interesting exhibitions about whisky-making and also has an atmospheric tasting bar. Permission to visit the distillery facilities (including the tasting hall) are granted by the free guided tours (well book in advance). If you don’t participate in guided tours, enter from the Nikka Kaikan, about 700m southwest of the train station.

Yoichigawa Onsen

余市川温泉

14min walk from Yoichi Station

The NASA’s first Japanese cosmonaut Mori Mamoru lived in this town and studied at a local high school. This riverside bathhouse was once owned by Mamoru’s parents, so you will find a space shuttle model on the rooftop. Local specialties, such as apples and mini whisky barrels, float in an indoor bath. There is also a laundromat.

Yoichi Fisheries Museum

よいち水産博物館

30min walk from Yoichi Station / 10min walk from Yoichi-yakuba-mae bus stop

This outdated museum sits on the hilltop near the town hall, about 1.8km northwest of JR Yoichi Station. There are exhibits on old fishing gear, archaeological finds, gorgeous platters, and large paintings of the herring fishing drawn in the early 20th-century. The nearest bus stop is Yoichi-yakuba-mae, a 10-minute walk away.

Old Shimo-Yoichi Unjoya

旧下ヨイチ運上家

27min walk from Yoichi Station / 10min walk from Yoichi-yakuba-mae bus stop

Built in 1853, this building is the Matsumae clan’s only existing trading post (unjoya) faces the fishing port. It has a drawing room with a household shinto altar, samurai’s offices, guest rooms and a quaint Japanese garden. A ticket office is on the opposite side.

Old Yoichi Fukuhara Herring House

旧余市福原漁場

30min walk from Yoichi Station / 1min walk from Hamanaka-cho bus stop

About 2km northwest of the train station, this herring house amid the Fukuhara family and fishermen’s home, historic warehouses and archives used until 1903. You can see old fishing gear, photos and landscape paintings.

Fugoppe Grotto

フゴッペ洞窟

22min walk from Ranshima Station

About 1.7km west of Ranshima Station on Route 5, this small grotto contains more than 800 ancient etchings curved by Jomon people (1300 to 1600 years ago), as well as potteries, animal bones and fireplaces.

Photo: じゃらんnet

Loop

1min walk from Yoichi Station

Immediately to the right as you exit of JR Yoichi Station, this hotel is a great spot for wine lovers. French dinner and local-grown wine are served in the atmospheric hall. The rooms are inspired by the winery.

じゃらんnet

Photo: じゃらんnet

A-brand Hotel

エーヴランドホテル

10min by taxi from Yoichi Station

This fantastic resort hotel is modeled after European Castle on the scenic hillside overlooking the town. The facilities include cottages, a communal bath and a golf link. There are no shuttle services from Yoichi Station.

じゃらんnet

Photo: じゃらんnet

Yu Kiroro

55min by bus from Yoichi Station, get off at Kiroro-chapel-mae bus stop

This modern ski-in, ski-out condominium right in front of Kiroro lift has spacious rooms with functional kitchen and washing machines. Communal facilities include an onsen, gym and children’s room.

じゃらんnet