Author: Federica Morgandi

 

Date (伊達市, Date-shi) is a city in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido. The city boasts a rich history and is blessed with natural beauty and hot springs. 

 

 

A view of Date from Mount Usu. Keith Blayney, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

 

Date is divided into a mountainous area (Otaki Ward) and a coastal town (the former Date City), separated by Sobetsu, which forms an enclave. 

 

Although Date is sometimes overlooked by tourists due to its location between Lake Toya (洞爺湖Tōya-ko) and Noboribetsu (登別市, Noboribetsu-shi), visitors can discover attractions such as Kitayuzawa Onsen in the mountains, where you’ll find plenty of Asian tourists.

 

 

Shikotsu-Toya National Park, view from around Lake Toya. Ippukucho, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

 

 

Here, you can enjoy hot springs, hiking, and fishing in both the sea and the mountains, with delicious food options featuring both mountain vegetables and seafood. 

 

Part of the city falls within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and the entire area is included in the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark.

 

A Short History of Date

 

Archeological area of Kitakogane Kaizuka in Date City, evidence of Ainu settlement.

 

 

Today we are going to explore the northeastern part of Hokkaido, where the Ainu, the native inhabitants of Hokkaido, used to live.

 

Evidence suggests that the Ainu inhabited this area during the Jōmon period until the early 20th century when they were mostly assimilated into Japanese society.

 

The name of the area comes from the Date clan, who rose to power in the 12th century in Fukushima, on the mainland of Honshu (本州, Honshū).

 

During the Meiji Restoration, many samurai, including the Date clan, lost their territories due to political changes. In 1869, a branch family of the Date clan from Watari-Date moved to the southern coast of the then-uncultivated Hokkaido, leading to the founding of Date.

 

As a result of city and village merges, Date can be divided into two sections: the Otaki Forest area and the coastal Date Historic City area.

 

Date City’s Merger

 

In 2005, Date City merged with Otaki Village (大滝村, Ōtaki-mura) under the Special Mergers Act. This merger was part of the nationwide wave of mergers known as the “Heisei era mergers.” 

 

Initially, there were plans to form a union that included the neighboring town of Sobetsu, but this plan did not materialize. Ultimately, the merger took place only between Date City and Otaki Village.

 

As a result, the city is now geographically split, with Sobetsu separating the two areas.

 

Natural Beauty of Date

 

Aerial view of Mount Usu. 

 

 

Date is home to Mount Usu (有珠山, Usu-zan), an active stratovolcano recognized as one of Japan’s Top 100 Geological Sites, and the Osaru River (長流川, Osaru-gawa) which is surrounded by numerous hot springs. 

 

 

Kitayuzawa Onsen.

 

 

Kitayuzawa Onsen is a national protected hot spring area located in this natural setting, along the Osaru River. A variety of accommodations can be found here, ranging from large hotels to charming small inns. 

 

 

“Sankai Falls”, a scenic spot that features three distinct tiers of cascading water.

 

 

Despite its convenient location, visitors can fully immerse themselves in nature, enjoying panoramic 360-degree views from Mount Horohoro and the stunning Sankai Falls, renowned for its beauty and considered one of Hokkaido’s top attractions.

 

 

Access Information

 

■ Address: Date, Hokkaido 052-0316, Japan　

■ Telephone number: 0142-25-2722（Date Tourism Association）

■ Useful Link: https://date-kanko.jp/ （Date Tourism Association）

■ By Bus: From JR Datemombetsu Station →  take the Donan Bus bound for Ōtaki Higashi Danchi, approx. 50 minutes →  get off at “Kitayuzawa Onsen” or “Shirakinu no Yuka.” → Destination

■ By car:  From the Doo Expressway Date IC → approx. 40 minutes via National Route 453 → Destination

■ By car: From New Chitose Airport, approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes → Destination