Things to Do in Muroran: A Local's One-Day Drive from Sapporo

Muroran is a port and steel town about two hours south of Sapporo, with the Pacific on one side and its industrial harbor on the other. Along its coast, sheer cliffs drop into the ocean, and its best views were chosen in 1970 as the Eight Views of Muroran. I drove down from Sapporo for the day and went around them: cliff-top lookouts in the morning, Muroran's famous curry ramen for lunch, the harbor and the Hakucho Bridge in the afternoon, and a hot spring bath in Noboribetsu on the way home.

1Is Muroran worth a day trip from Sapporo?

If you like coastal scenery and a good drive, yes. The cliffs here are some of the most dramatic on the Pacific side of Hokkaido, and most of the lookouts are small roadside spots with room for a few cars. Cape Chikyu, the best known, once topped a Hokkaido-wide poll of natural wonders. Add a bowl of Muroran curry ramen and Noboribetsu's hot springs only 40 minutes away, and it makes a full, varied day.

Still deciding where to go? I compare all the day trips I recommend from Sapporo, with drive times and the best season for each, in this guide.

Day Trips from Sapporo: A Local's Guide to Where to GoThe best day trips from Sapporo, chosen by a local who drives them: Otaru, Jozankei, Noboribetsu, Shakotan, Lake Toya and Biei, with drive times, train options and the best season for each.

2Things to do in Muroran: the Eight Views

The Eight Views were chosen in 1970, partly by a public vote. They mix natural scenery with the industrial port:

• The rock formations of Tokkarisho
• The cliffs of Kinbyobu and Ginbyobu
• The view from Cape Chikyu
• The view from Mt. Sokuryo
• The ocean view from Masuichi Beach
• Cape Etomo
• Daikoku Island, once known for its black lilies
• The night view of Muroran port

3Train or car?

The JR limited express Suzuran runs from Sapporo to Higashi-Muroran and Muroran in about 1 hour 45 minutes, but the viewpoints are spread along narrow cliff roads around the peninsula, and buses to them are few. To see several in a day, you need a car.

4Driving from Sapporo to Muroran

Muroran is about two hours from Sapporo on the Do-o Expressway, including a break. The toll from Sapporo-minami IC to Noboribetsu-Muroran IC is 2,930 yen for an ordinary car. Head toward Tomakomai and Muroran; partway along there is a fork toward Obihiro, so stay on the Muroran side.

• If you start from Tokkarisho, on the east side as I did, exit at Noboribetsu-Muroran IC and follow Route 235 along the coast into Muroran, then turn left onto Prefectural Road 919 toward the coast.
• On the way back from the Hakucho Bridge area, Muroran IC is the nearest interchange. Noboribetsu Onsen is off Noboribetsu-higashi IC on the way to Sapporo, about 40 minutes from Muroran.

Prefectural Road 919 along the cliffs is well kept, but it goes up and down and narrows in places, so drive carefully. On the way down, Tarumae service area (SA) has an observation deck with a fine view.

5A local's one-day route around Muroran

This is the order I drove, leaving Shin-Sapporo at 8:30.

If you can stay a night, you could start after lunch, watch the night view of the harbor and the bridge, one of the Eight Views, and sleep in Noboribetsu.

Tokkarisho Observatory

At Tokkarisho, green-covered cliffs about 100 meters high drop into the blue sea. The road to it runs up and down along the cape with the sea on your left, a lovely stretch to drive.

The "observatory" is a roadside space for about five cars, with no toilets, so use the facilities before you come.

Kinbyobu, the Golden Screen

Five minutes further along Road 919, at a T-junction, you reach Kinbyobu, a line of reddish-brown cliffs about 100 meters high. When the morning sun hits them they glow like a golden folding screen, which is where the name comes from, so come in the morning. There is space for about 10 cars right in front.

Cape Chikyu

Another five minutes brings you to Cape Chikyu, the big one: a large observation deck over the Pacific and the white lighthouse, with cliffs on the other side. It has toilets, a shop and a car park; since April 2026 parking costs 500 yen for a car.

Cape Chikyu in Muroran: The Pacific View and the CliffsA local's guide to Cape Chikyu in Muroran, a lookout over the Pacific and the coastal cliffs: what you see, the Eight Views of Muroran, parking (paid since April 2026) and how to drive there from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport.

Curry ramen at Aji no Daio

Curry ramen is Muroran's signature dish. It was created in 1965 at Aji no Daio in Tomakomai, and a cook who trained there brought it to Muroran in the early 1970s; Aji no Daio's Muroran main store, near Muroran Station, is the root of Muroran curry ramen. You smell the curry as soon as you walk in. The soup is medium-hot and slightly thick, clinging to thin, curly noodles, so it fills you up more than it looks; think of a curry version of thick-gravy ramen.

• Hours: 11:00–14:30; closed on Tuesdays
• Curry ramen: 1,000 yen
• Parking: the shopping street's customer car park nearby, about 20 cars

From Cape Chikyu it is about 10 minutes along Prefectural Road 919.

Mt. Sokuryo Observatory

Mt. Sokuryo is only 199.6 meters high, but it looks over the whole of Muroran port, with the sea on the other side and Cape Chikyu in the distance. You can drive to the top, where there is parking for five to seven cars, but the road up is steep and narrow.

Masuichi Beach Observatory

About 10 minutes on along the cape, this lookout faces the Pacific, the cliffs and Elephant Rock, shaped like a lying elephant; turn around and you can just see the top of the Hakucho Bridge. About 300 meters further is the Candle Rock lookout. There is space for about five cars and no toilets.

Ginbyobu, the Silver Screen

About 15 minutes on, Ginbyobu is another sheer cliff about 100 meters high, named because it shines silver in the evening sun. The road here is narrow and steep, with lookouts such as Harukaramoi to stop at on the way. There is no car park; pull over at the side of the road where you will not block traffic.

Cape Etomo and Daikoku Island

About 10 minutes down the cape, Cape Etomo looks out over the Pacific, the entrance to Muroran port and the Hakucho Bridge. You also see Daikoku Island, a small island about 700 meters around at the harbor mouth, named after the god Daikoku enshrined there for safe voyages; it was once known for black lilies. There is parking for about 10 cars, and toilets that close from November to mid-April.

Shukutsu Park Observatory

Up a slope from the houses, this lookout above the harbor gives a close view of the Hakucho Bridge and the port, the setting of the harbor night view. The car park is large; there are no toilets.

Roadside Station Mitara Muroran

A roadside station (michi-no-eki) is a highway rest stop with local shops; this one is a good place to buy Muroran souvenirs, with views of Daikoku Island and the Hakucho Bridge close up. It is open every day from April to October and closed on Thursdays from November to March.

Hakucho Bridge Observatory

On a small hill right next to the Hakucho Bridge, this is the best place to see the bridge and the factories of the harbor up close. The 1,380-meter suspension bridge across the harbor mouth is on Route 37 and free to drive across, and it is lit up at night. Park in the car park under the bridge and climb the steps. To reach it, do not drive onto the bridge: take the side road just before the bridge entrance. Your sat-nav may think the car park is on the bridge and send you over it, so watch for the turn.

A bath at Dai-ichi Takimotokan, Noboribetsu

From the Hakucho Bridge, Noboribetsu Onsen is about 40 minutes on the expressway (an hour without the expressway): take Muroran IC toward Sapporo and exit at Noboribetsu-higashi IC. Dai-ichi Takimotokan has five kinds of spring water in 35 baths across the men's and women's sides, with big windows over Hell Valley. A day-visitor bath is 2,500 yen for adults, with reception from 9:00 to 18:00 and towels included.

Dai-ichi Takimotokan Day Bath: 35 Baths Over Hell Valley in NoboribetsuA local's guide to the day bath at Dai-ichi Takimotokan in Noboribetsu Onsen: five kinds of spring water in 35 baths with a view of Hell Valley, price and hours, tattoos, and where day visitors park and go in. Noboribetsu Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: Hell Valley, Onsen and Where to ParkA local's day trip from Sapporo to Noboribetsu by car: Hell Valley, Oyunuma, the bear park and a day bath at Takimotokan, with tolls, parking and winter driving tips.

6Muroran in winter

Snow and ice are possible from November to April. The expressway and main roads are cleared, but the cliff roads around the peninsula are narrow and hilly, so drive slowly, and some lookout toilets close in winter.

7FAQ about a Muroran day trip by car

Q1. How far is Muroran from Sapporo?

About two hours by car on the Do-o Expressway, including a break.

Q2. What is Muroran known for?

Its coastal cliffs, the Eight Views, the Hakucho Bridge and the harbor night view, its steel industry, and curry ramen.

Q3. Where can I eat curry ramen in Muroran?

At Aji no Daio's Muroran main store near Muroran Station, the root of Muroran curry ramen: 1,000 yen, 11:00 to 14:30, closed on Tuesdays.

Q4. Can I combine Muroran and Noboribetsu in one day?

Yes. Noboribetsu Onsen is about 40 minutes from Muroran on the way back to Sapporo.

Q5. How long do you need in Muroran?

About five hours to see most of the Eight Views and have lunch, as in the route above.