Day Trips from SapporoRoadside Station Obira Nishin Banya: Herring Soba and an Old Fishery House
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- Next door: the Old Hanada Family Herring House, the northernmost Important Cultural Property in Japan (400 yen)
- Herring soba (1,000 yen when I went), herring rice bowls and sanpei-jiru soup
- A seaside car park looking straight out over the Sea of Japan
- About 2.5 hours from Sapporo; the restaurant is open for lunch only and closed on Mondays except early July to mid-August
Obira, on the Ororon Line north of Rumoi, grew rich on herring fishing, and this roadside station is built around that history. Next door is the Old Hanada Family Herring House, and the restaurant serves herring.
The Old Hanada Family Herring House
Built around 1905 for a herring-fishing family who employed more than 200 workers, it is the largest surviving herring fishery house in Hokkaido, and the northernmost National Important Cultural Property in Japan.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | 400 yen adults, 150 yen children |
| Hours | 9:00–17:00 (May to September); 9:00–16:00 (April, October, November); last entry 30 minutes before closing |
| Closed | Mondays, except from the third week of June to the second week of August; it may close in winter, so call ahead |
Herring soba
The restaurant's herring dishes include herring soba, a herring and roe rice bowl, and sanpei-jiru, a local herring soup served in its own special dish. The photo is the herring soba (1,000 yen when I went): the herring, simmered until it falls apart, goes perfectly with the noodles.
The sea view
The roadside station sits right on the coast. Across the road, the Herring Culture and History Park has a steel arch and a statue of Matsuura Takeshiro, the explorer who named Hokkaido, with the Sea of Japan behind.
Hours and parking
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Shop and rest area | 9:00–17:00 (16:00 on the last day of each month); closed over New Year; toilets open 24 hours |
| Restaurant | Lunch only: 11:00–15:25 last order (May to October); 11:00–14:25 last order (April, November, December); 11:00–13:45 last order (January to March); closed on Mondays, except from early July to mid-August |
| Parking | Free, about 70 cars |
How to get there
From Sapporo: about two and a half hours including breaks. Take the Do-o Expressway toward Asahikawa, keep left for Rumoi at Fukagawa JCT, leave at Rumoi IC and follow the coast road north (Route 232, the Ororon Line). Obira is about 30 minutes north of Rumoi IC.
From New Chitose Airport: add about half an hour; at Sapporo JCT keep right for Asahikawa.
Near Obira Nishin Banya
Further up the coast are the Ororon bird monument in Haboro and Roadside Station Enbetsu Fujimi, with its view of Rishiri Fuji.
Sapporo to Wakkanai by Car: The Ororon Line Coast Road to Cape SoyaDriving from Sapporo to Wakkanai up the Ororon Line, the Sea of Japan coast road, from a Sapporo local who did it: the stops, the closest view of Rishiri Island, sunset at Cape Noshappu, and Cape Soya and the White Road the next morning.
Roadside Station Enbetsu Fujimi: A Lookout Toward Rishiri FujiA local's guide to Roadside Station Enbetsu Fujimi on the Ororon Line: the hilltop lookout toward Rishiri Fuji, local seafood and Enbetsu scallops, hours and parking.
FAQ about Obira Nishin Banya
Q1. What should I eat there?
Herring: the herring soba, the herring rice bowl or sanpei-jiru soup.
Q2. How much is the Hanada Herring House?
400 yen for adults.
Q3. How far is it from Sapporo?
About two and a half hours by car.