Cape Erimo

Cape Erimo sits at the very tip of Hokkaido's Hidaka Peninsula, where the mountains meet the Pacific in a dramatic collision of wind, fog, and crashing waves. The cape is one of the windiest places in Japan, with gusts regularly exceeding 100km/h, so come prepared for the elements. A short walking trail leads to the tip of the headland, where you can watch harbor seals basking on the rocks below, particularly from spring through autumn. The adjacent "Wind Museum" offers exhibits on the area's extreme weather and ecology, and the drive down the narrow peninsula through empty grasslands and coastal cliffs feels genuinely remote.