Cape Ogon in Shakotan: Clear Blue Water and Where to Park

Cape Ogon (Ogon Misaki in Japanese) is in Bikuni, the first town you reach on the Shakotan Peninsula, and it is a quiet place where you hear little but the gulls. From the wooden lookout tower at the end you see a line of sheer cliffs, and water so clear that the rocks on the bottom of the shallows show through: Shakotan blue at its best. You park free at the Shakotan Tourist Center and walk about 15 minutes.

What is Cape Ogon like?

Cliffs along the coast and clear blue water at Cape Ogon

The coast here is a line of cliffs dropping straight into the sea, and in the shallows the water is clear enough to see every rock on the bottom.

Clear water over the rocks in the shallows below Cape Ogon

Parking and the walk to the viewpoint

Park in the free visitor car park next to the Shakotan Tourist Center, then walk about 15 minutes. Leave the center, walk along Route 229, and at the big bend in the road take the side road that climbs to the cape.

The walking route from the Shakotan Tourist Center to the Cape Ogon viewpoint, on a map

The junction on Route 229: the near right turn goes to the Tourist Center, the further right turn to Cape Ogon

In the photo, the right turn nearest you goes to the Tourist Center; the next right leads to the Cape Ogon entrance. Walk up the slope from the entrance.

At the entrance there is a donation box for looking after Shakotan's coastline (100 yen or more per person is suggested), and you will see the same boxes at Shimamui Coast and Cape Kamui. The tourism association lends bear bells for the path free of charge, and the toilets are in the Tourist Center.

The donation sign at the entrance to Cape Ogon

At the top of the slope stands a wooden lookout tower about 10 meters high, and the view from the top is the best part of the visit.

Sections of the path are sometimes closed for repairs; the Shakotan town website lists the current status.

The Shakotan Tourist Center

The Tourist Center has a market selling Shakotan's local products, a good place to pick up souvenirs. It is open from 10:00 to 17:00, closed over the New Year holidays.

How to get to Cape Ogon

From central Sapporo it is just under two hours to Bikuni, including a break. Take the Sasson Expressway and then the Shiribeshi Expressway (signed for Yoichi) to the end at Yoichi IC; where the road splits toward Otaru and Yoichi, keep left for Yoichi. The toll from Sapporo-kita IC to Yoichi IC is 1,750 yen (1,220 yen with ETC). From Yoichi, follow Route 229 along the coast to Bikuni. For breaks, there is Kanayama PA on the expressway and the Space Apple Yoichi roadside station about five minutes from the Yoichi exit.