Backdate: Japan Hokkaido Jun 2025 Day 4

13/6/25 Fri: Ate my shrimp and maitake mushrooms spaghetti this morning before setting off for Cape Kamui at Shakotan at 8am. *toll was 1,750 yen* The weather was good during the 1 hour and 15 minutes' drive there and we passed many mountain tunnels.

Arrived at Cape Kamui's carpark at 9.45am and we took some photos before starting our walk up. It was very windy and cooling, so we thought we picked the right day for the trek! Came to a viewpoint before the "entry" that brings us further to the cape. *I was so afraid my cap would fly off because the wind was very strong!* LL only walked there because it was too much on her knees, so Dexter followed the rest of us onwards.

Women were once banned from going because of the legend of Charenka. An Ainu maiden, Charenka was deeply in love with Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who eventually departed by ship. Overwhelmed by grief and heartbreak at his departure, she cursed the cape, stating that any ship carrying a woman would capsize. She then transformed into one of the rocks at Cape Kamui. 

The sea was so blue and clear, and I was glad we came earlier in the morning because there were much lesser people compared to later, when more tourists came. MIL has a bad knee, so it was not easy for her, but she was very strong and walked with us till the tip!

Dexter took a few shots of me along the way while I also helped him.

Saw the Kamui rock, which the grieving Charenka turned into. 

Took a break on the benches with them and I really enjoyed the weather that day, one of the best we experienced in Hokkaido.

And of course I wanted to act cool here with my arms spread out, but damn the wind just made me look like I’m a duck who’s unable to fly now lol!

It's quite an easy trek. After we returned till near the starting point, Potato, FIL and I walked further up to explore higher ground for a bit. Took a restroom break nearby at 11.30am before we drove off to lunch.

Ate lunch at Restaurant Misaki at 12.15pm, and it was rather packed with customers. They were known for their fresh seafood but those expensive uni were sold out already when we were there. We had to order via their vending machine. My uni, fish roes and crab meat don (3,980 yen) was sweet, but it was not the best that I had before.

Made a small mistake there while we ordered lunch for Dexter. He doesn't take raw food, but we, as foreigners, thought the亲子don (2,600 yen) at the vending machine automatically referred to chicken and egg rice bowl, but it was actually salmon and salmon roe instead alamak! Dexter ate only a bit of it and shared some of LL’s hokke fish set, which was really value for money. The fish was very well grilled!

After lunch, we did a short drive to the Shakotan Cape Observation Deck area at 1.15pm and we had to walk a bit. The tunnel was very dark, but we caught a glimpse of the Cape once we came out of it. Small area and nothing much there.

Walked up a steep slop and soon came to what looked like a lighthouse, and little did I know this is already the Shakotan Cape Observation Deck area.

And because I was not sure, PotaTOHs ventured further with Dexter while my in laws walked back down to meet LL at a nearby restaurant to rest.

As Potato led the way, Dexter kept asking where we were going? I couldn’t tell him exactly so I told him to follow us. I myself was a little skeptical as to where the seemingly unmanned path would bring us to too. *I even imagined a brown bear appearing out of nowhere or sth lol!* Instead, we saw a huge crow and another species of bird.

Decided to turn back after some time as it was getting hotter and we realised we went beyond where I wanted to visit according to Google maps. One can't deny the views were stunning though, but the mystery and isolated path just scares me a little bit. Was 2.45pm when we met the rest at the car.

Drove half an hour to Shakotan Sightseeing Information Centre and I tried a minty milk ice-cream for 500 yen hehe~ *Not sure why the town was called美国though...* 

The place looks deserted though. We hardly see residents around. FIL and PotaTOHs then decided to go explore Cape Ogon from 3.30 to 3.50pm. The rest gave up because there were more stairs to climb up. Luckily for us, it was just a short walk up before we saw the "view of美国"from above lol.

And we heard noisy seagulls haha~ Went back to the info centre to meet the rest and we headed back to Airbnb for a rest from 4.15pm to 5.30pm.

For dinner, because Dexter was more picky with food, we ended up walking over to a nearby western restaurant called独多日at 6.30pm. It was a quaint small eatery and there's a nostalgic feel to it somehow.

I tried the seafood pilaf, but the rice was quite oily and I wished there was more seafood. Potato’s chicken katsu don was good though.

Took some photos with LL and Dexter outside the restaurant at 7.30pm before we all walked over to a nearby Seicomart, only found in Hokkaido, to buy breakfast. It was quite a cold night too.