A practical English guide to Date in Hokkaido: the historic town, local temples and access from Sapporo and Muroran.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 08 November 2026).
Why visit
- Date is a historic town on the Uchiura bay side of southern Hokkaido, between Muroran and Toyako. Samurai from the Date clan settled here in the Meiji period, and temples and older streets still mark that origin.
- It is quieter than nearby lake and port resorts, with a practical station centre and roads toward the coast and the hills.
- Date works as a short stop on the Muroran line between Sapporo-area travel and the lakes.
Top places and highlights
Historic streets
Older neighbourhoods linked to the Date settlers.
Local temples
Temple precincts including Myoeiji.
Station centre
Civic buildings and shops around the station.
Coastal approaches
Roads toward Uchiura bay and the Muroran coast.
Food and drink
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Getting there and around
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Where to stay
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Best time to visit
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Practical tips
- Do not confuse with Date City in Fukushima.
- Temple etiquette applies.
- Local trains are less frequent late evening.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: train from Sapporo or Muroran.
- Late morning: temples and historic streets.
- Lunch: near the station.
- Afternoon: a coastal drive or town walk.
- Late afternoon: shops.
- Evening: continue to Toyako or Muroran.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Esashi Travel Guide: Hokkaido’s Old Herring Town
- Bibai Travel Guide: A Former Coal Town on the Ishikari Plain
- Otaru Travel Guide: Canals and Old Warehouses in Hokkaido
- Shiranuka Travel Guide: A Quiet Pacific Coast Town in Hokkaido
- Toyokoro Travel Guide: The Otsu Coast of Eastern Hokkaido
Browse every Hokkaido guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- city.date.hokkaido.jp (checked 2026-11-08)
- visit-hokkaido.jp (checked 2026-11-08)
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