Wakkanai Park & Gate of Ice and Snow
稚内公園・氷雪の門
A park on the hill behind the city, with the Gate of Ice and Snow commemorating Sakhalin and the Monument to the Nine Maidens, overlooking Wakkanai Port and Sōya Bay.
Wakkanai Park occupies high ground on the west side of the city and offers views over Wakkanai Port, Sōya Bay and, in the distance, Sakhalin. The Gate of Ice and Snow, erected in 1963, commemorates Karafuto (Sakhalin), lost after the Second World War, and its residents. Beside it, the Monument to the Nine Maidens honours nine telephone operators who stayed at the Maoka post office until the very end in 1945. At the summit, the Centennial Monument has an observation deck and a Northern Memorial Hall, which is open in summer and charges admission. It's about a 20-minute uphill walk from Wakkanai Station, or about 10 minutes by car.
Opening hours
Park open all day; memorial tower approx. 09:00–17:00 (closed in winter)
Nearby sights
- Wakkanai Station
- Wakkanai North Breakwater Dome
- Wakkanai Fukuko Market
- Noshappu Kanryu Aquarium
- Cape Noshappu & Wakkanai Lighthouse
- Soya Hills White Road
- Cape Soya
- Sarobetsu Wetlands