Yoichi

Yoichi (余市) is a small city in Hokkaido, with two claims to fame: whiskey and ski jumping.

Understand

The local sightseeing association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Yoichi is about 70 minutes from Sapporo by train, with a change to the Kutchan Line at Otaru (24 min).

Nikka Yoichi Distillery. 9AM-3:30PM. Founded in 1934 by the Scottish-Japanese husband and wife duo of Masataka Taketsuru and Jessie Roberta Cowan, the Nikka distillery produces whiskey in the traditional manner, and offers free tours. The distillery is within sight of the main exit from the station, about a three minute walk away. Guided tours are in Japanese. English speakers can tour the distillery with the help of one of the pamphlets printed in English and distributed at the entrance. The distillery makes single malt and blended whiskies. It offers generous free samples and cask-strength samples for a small fee. The store on the distillery's campus sells the locally produced whiskey. Free. (updated Feb 2021)

Yoichi Ski Jump Museum (2nd floor of Yoichi stn). Yoichi is home to not one but two Olympic gold medalists for ski jumping, Yukio Kasaya and Kazuyoshi Funaki, who are commemorated in this small display above the station. Worth a peek if you have some time to kill before your train. The rather modest facility they trained at is on a hill not far from the city. Free. (updated Feb 2021)

Try the sea urchin flavored ice cream at the convenience store attached to the station.

Routes through Yoichi

Sapporo ← Otaru ←

N

S

→ Kutchan → Hakodate

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