Yoichi is a small city in Hokkaido, with two claims to fame: whiskey and ski jumping
Get in
Yoichi is about 70 minutes from Sapporo by train, with a change to the Kutchan Line at Otaru (24 min).
Get around
See
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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 2021-02-18
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Yoichi Ski Jump Museum. 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 2021-02-18
Do
Buy
Eat
Try the sea urchin flavored ice cream at the convenience store attached to the station.