One of Hokkaido's 14 regions
Hiyama檜山
Historic Esashi on the Japan Sea coast, and the island of Okushiri.
Hiyama is a region of seven towns in southwestern Hokkaido, including coastal towns, inland Imakane and offshore Okushiri Island. Esashi grew as a port in the herring trade, and you can walk past old merchant houses and the harbour and learn about local culture such as festivals and the Esashi Oiwake folk song.
Okushiri Island lies offshore, where coastal scenery and seafood are the draw. If you plan to cross, check the season's sailings first and allow for weather cancellations.
🧭 Reach Esashi from Hakodate by car or bus; ferries to Okushiri Island leave from Esashi, with sailings that vary by season.
Where is Hiyama? Historic Esashi and Okushiri Island
Hiyama is a region of seven towns in southwestern Hokkaido: Esashi, Kaminokuni, Assabu, Otobe, Okushiri, Imakane and Setana. It runs along the Japan Sea coast and includes Okushiri Island offshore, while Imakane lies inland. On a first trip, decide early between a walk through historic Esashi on the mainland and an overnight stay on Okushiri Island; the two need quite different planning. Hokkaido Government municipality list (Japanese)
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Destination | How to get there | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Esashi (mainland, historic streets) | By car, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Hakodate. By bus, route 610 from Hakodate Station via Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto takes about 2 hours 15 minutes; get off at Nakauta-cho (near the former Nakamura Residence) or Ubagami-cho Ferry-mae | Some early and late trips run on weekdays only, not on weekends or holidays; check the timetable for your date and the last bus back |
| Okushiri Island (ferry from Esashi) | Okushiri Island Ferry from Esashi port: about 2 hours 10–20 minutes one way on the published 2026 timetable, depending on the season. Esashi ferry terminal is about a 5-minute walk from the Ubagami-cho Ferry-mae bus stop | Allow time to check in after the bus arrives. On the October–November 2026 timetable the ferry leaves Esashi in the afternoon and returns from Okushiri in the morning, so plan a night on the island |
Times are estimates from the official sources; weather, traffic and winter roads can add time.
Sources: Esashi town: transport access; Esashi town: Hakodate–Esashi line (route 610); Okushiri Island Ferry timetable; Okushiri Island Ferry route guide (mostly Japanese).
What to see in Esashi
In Esashi, the former Nakamura Residence on the Inishie Kaido street is a good place to start. The merchant house runs from the main building on the street through its storehouses towards the sea, so the layout itself shows how trade linked the street and the shore. Afterwards, walk along the street and down towards the harbour. Japan Heritage: former Nakamura Residence (Japanese)
The Kaiyomaru Memorial Museum and the Yokoyama House are listed as closed in the town's guide. Choose places you can confirm are open, such as the former Nakamura Residence. Hours and closing days can change with the season, so check each facility's latest information before you visit. Esashi town sightseeing spots (Japanese)
Okushiri: check sailings and lodging first
Check sailings in both directions, then arrange your island lodging and ground transport. Vehicles and first-class seats can be reserved, but second-class seats for individual travellers cannot. If you are taking a car, check vehicle space in both directions, and for a rental car ask the rental company whether it may go on the ferry. Parking at Esashi port may be unavailable because of construction work, so check in advance if you plan to leave a car there. Okushiri Island Ferry FAQ (Japanese)
On the island, the town bus, local car rental and hire cars are the main ways to get around. What you need depends on whether you stay near the port or tour the island, so before booking, check the return bus times, where to pick up a rental car and whether your lodging offers a transfer. Sailings can be cancelled in bad weather; check the operator's current departures before you set out and keep your return flexible. Official Okushiri town and tourism site (Japanese)
Day trip or a night on the island?
For a walk around Esashi alone, a day trip from Hakodate works even by bus; confirm the last bus back first. It also fits neatly with a meal in Hakodate before or after. For Okushiri, plan at least one night and leave slack in case the weather changes the sailings. With the autumn timetable above, consider two nights if you want a full day to explore. Hakodate food guide
If the town walk is your focus, staying in Esashi gives you more time, and depending on the timetable it can also work as a base before the ferry. If you stay on the island, check where your lodging is and how you will get there from the port before you book.
Esashi · Okushiri · Hokkaido drive times
Official information checked 16 October 2026. The itinerary and where-to-stay choices are NLH editorial suggestions; recheck timetables, sailings and opening conditions with each operator.
Hiyama highlights
Historic Esashi
Walk past merchant houses from the herring trade and down to the harbour.
Okushiri Island
Clear seas and coastal sights such as Nabetsuru Rock, reached by ferry from Esashi.
Herring heritage
Historic buildings, the Esashi Oiwake folk song and local festivals keep the herring-trade story alive.
Japan Sea sunsets
On a clear evening, you can watch the sun set over the Japan Sea.
The 7 towns of Hiyama
Click a town to jump to its entry
Esashi江差町
Esashi (the Hiyama one) boomed on herring and folk song — Edo-era merchant streets, a salvaged warship museum, and Hokkaido's oldest festival.
Esashi town page →Kaminokuni上ノ国町
Kaminokuni guards the ruins of Katsuyama-date — the medieval fort where Japanese Hokkaido began five centuries ago.
Kaminokuni town page →Assabu厚沢部町
Assabu is the birthplace of the May Queen potato in Japan — buttery-smooth and beloved in every hotpot since.
Assabu town page →Otobe乙部町
Otobe's coast hides Shirafura — chalk-white cliffs straight out of Dover — and a pair of sacred katsura trees bound as one.
Otobe town page →Okushiri奥尻町
Okushiri is a Japan Sea island of uni, island-grown wine and the landmark 'kettle-handle' sea rock — with a moving tsunami memorial museum.
Okushiri town page →Imakane今金町
Imakane grows Danshaku potatoes so good they carry the town's name as a brand — river-valley farm country at its most honest.
Imakane town page →Setanaせたな町
Setana's coast stands three sea stacks in a row like giant cedars — wind turbines spin above dairy pastures on the cliffs.
Setana town page →