Wakkanai-Shi, Japan

The windswept port of WAKKANAI, 320km from Sapporo, is the gateway to the far northwestern tip of Hokkaidō and the idyllic Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park. The main reason for coming here is to access the islands of Rebun-tō and Rishiri-tō. There's little reason to linger; the overnight train from Sapporo will deposit you in Wakkanai in good time to board one of the early ferries. There are a few places of minor interest in the area, however, that provide a diversion if you've got time to kill waiting for a ferry.

The town's most impressive spot is by the northern flank of the port, which is protected by the North Breakwater Dome, a 427-metre-long arched corridor supported by seventy concrete pillars. In July and August, a local market is set up here, along with a karaoke stage and barbecue pits where you can sizzle your own seafood and meat. For a longer walk (around one-hour round trip), head west of the JR station to Wakkanai-kōen, a grassy park from where, on a clear day, you can see the Russian island of Sakhalin, some 60km northwest.