Mikasa Footpath: Walking across the vineyards and historical sites

Japan’s second smallest city by population, however Mikasa City (三笠市) holds some of the first-in-Hokkaido: a fledged underground coal mine (1879), railway line (1882), telephone service (1883), water supplies (1888) and a roadside station (1993).

This 9.4km-long hillside footpath (三笠フットパス: 2hrs 40min) follows the old Sorachi prisoner’s cemetery (Sennin-zuka Historical Park: 千人塚史跡公園) and wineries, from the Mikasa Shimin Kaikan (三笠市民会館) bus stop to the roadside station Mikasa on Route 12. Tappu-yama (144m) is the highest point on this route overlooking the Ishikari Plain.

After a hike, catch the bus to Iwamizawa (hourly; ¥300) at the Aeon shopping mall next to the roadside station Mikasa. Otherwise, JR Minenobu Station (峰延駅) is 2.5km north of the roadside station.