Hidden Hokkaido Unmasked

Already widely popular with travellers around the world, Hokkaido is a picture of majestic snowy landscapes but there is more to Hokkaido than winter wonderlands in the other seasons that are begging to be explored.

- Raewyn Koh

Sorachi

The quiet sub-prefecture of Sorachi is a place to experience with all your senses. The eyes are given a treat no matter when your arrival with its abundance of lush nature and gorgeous scenery that can be admired all year round. The area also used to be a coal mining town and its history of its booming industry can still be experienced at its museums and even on its roads. Coal mining has even affected Sorachi’s rich produce as well. The mineral-rich soil and cool, temperate air has made it one of the top wine producing areas in Japan.

To discover Sorachi, start with Iwamizawa and Mikasa, cities situated in the south of the sub-prefecture. A large part of Iwamizawa’s history lies in its coal mining past. It is worth finding out more of the town’s coal mining industry at the Sorachi Mining Memorial Management Center. The museum introduces the valuable Hokkaido heritage of coal mining. Apart from gaining information about Sorachi mining areas, there are art exhibitions held in the 1909 stone kuras (warehouses) situated at the back of the building.

Mikasa also has a museum dedicated to the coal mining industry. The Mikasa City Museum displays machines and devices used in coal mining, which was a thriving industry during the early Meiji period. Coal mining in Mikasa closed in 1989, after which, archeologists began digging deeper into the ground to unearth fossils. Mikasa City Museum is therefore known for having Japan’s largest collection of ammonite fossils. There are about 600 locally found specimens, as well as other fossils of reptiles, shellfish, and other ancient life. The museum is perfect for young children to visit, as it allows visitors to touch most of the fossils on display.