Morning and Evening in Niikappu | A Slower Stay Beyond a Day Trip

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s calendar calculation lets you check sunrise and sunset by location and date. However, the calculated values do not include the effects of mountains, buildings or clouds. The time and brightness you actually see vary with weather and terrain, so do not plan to arrive at the exact calculated minute.

• Choose public roads or places that are available for use near your accommodation.

• Do not enter forests, farms, agricultural roads or private property.

• If walking beside a road, check visibility and traffic volume.

• Do not sacrifice breakfast, departure preparation or the sleep of people traveling with you.

Instead of entering areas with poor visibility to look for morning fog or wildlife, enjoy changes in the air and town only where you can stop safely. If there is no safe photography location, return without taking a photo.

While there is still daylight, confirm parking, road conditions and the route back. Even if you are enjoying scenery along the coast or outside the town center, decide your return time in advance so you are not traveling on narrow roads or through areas with wildlife activity after sunset.

Niikappu Town updates brown bear sightings and local road information. Official records include incidents in the early morning, daytime and evening, so do not assume a time period is safe simply because it is morning or evening. Check the latest information, local signs and road closures, and avoid forests and dense brush.

Farms are not photography facilities. Do not enter entrances, work roads or pastures, and do not attract a horse’s attention with your voice, light or food. If there is no safe place to park, give up the photo and check official information for places that accept visitors.

1. 01

   The night before, check sunrise, weather, roads and brown bear information.

2. 02

   Spend only a short time near the accommodation in the morning, then return for breakfast.

3. 03

   During the day, arrange facilities and town activities in one direction.

4. 04

   In the evening, start returning before sunset.

5. 05

   At night, check the next day’s roads and weather and get enough rest.

Check the facility’s rules for early-morning or late-night entry and exit, parking and shared areas. Do not cut sleep or meals just to enjoy morning and evening; share the return time, communication method and no-entry areas with everyone in your group.