Yoichi, Hokkaido

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Yoichi (余市町; -chou) is a town located in the Yoichi District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 2004, the population of Yoichi is estimated to be 22,807 with a density of 162.21 persons per km². The total area of Yoichi is 140.60 km². The climate is mild (8.2°C average), with temperatures ranging from -6°C to 26°C^[1].

Yoichi is home of the Nikka Whisky Distillery. Yoichi is famous for fruit, particularly apples, and wine, and Yoichi apple juice is also famous throughout Japan.

A coastal town, with a particularly nice beach, Yoichi is popular with surfers for a large part of the year, and also a popular tourist destination for Japanese holiday makers during the hotter months of July and August.

The cave paintings at Fugoppe Cave [1] in Yoichi are the first known signs of prehistoric life on Hokkaido.

Yoichi is the birthplace of Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, the first Japanese astronaut; he attended elementary and junior high schools here. The Yoichi Space Museum, also called the Space Dome), was dedicated in his honor when it opened in 1998. Other Yoichi luminaries include ski-jump gold medallists in Winter Olympic Games.

Yoichi is also the birthplace of the "Soran" folk song, known throughout Japan, and recently associated with the Hokkaidan Yosakoi dance. The Yoichi Soran festival, featuring dancing, fireworks and delicious food and drink, is held every year in the first weekend of July, a few weeks after the Yoichi shrine festival.

The beautiful Shakotan Peninsula, with stunning coastal views and gentle hiking trails is a short drive from Yoichi.

Yoichi is easily accessible by bus and train, which run approximately hourly to and from Otaru, Sapporo, and Kutchan, a town 45 minutes south of Yoichi where world class skiing and snowboarding may be enjoyed.