Cape Sōya
Northernmost cape of Hokkaidō, Japan, with multiple memorials.
Cape Sōya (宗谷岬, Sōya-misaki) marks the northernmost tip of Hokkaidō, Japan’s second-largest island, and lies within the city of Wakkanai in Sōya Subprefecture. Though a monument at the cape—the Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan—celebrates this status, the actual northernmost territory under Japanese control is the uninhabited islet of Benten-jima, located about one kilometer (3,300 feet) to the northwest. Across the La Perouse Strait, just 43 kilometers (27 miles) away, lies Cape Crillon on Sakhalin Island, which is visible from Cape Sōya on clear days. The cape hosts over a dozen monuments. Among them are the Tower of Prayer, a granite structure 19.83 meters tall commemorating the 269 victims of Korean Air Lines Flight 007, shot down by a Soviet interceptor on September 1, 1983, near Moneron Island roughly 98 kilometers north of the cape. Another is the Monument of Peace, which honors the 80 crew members of the USS *Wahoo*—sunk on October 11, 1943—and the 690 people aboard five Japanese merchant ships attacked by the submarine. Its inscription notes that the *Wahoo* was the U.S. Navy’s highest-scoring submarine at the time of its loss, and that the monument was erected by former enemies to promote lasting peace. The *Wahoo*’s exact location was confirmed by a dive team in July 2006. A statue of explorer Mamiya Rinzō also stands at the site. East of the cape lies the Sōya Misaki settlement, home to several facilities billed as Japan’s northernmost: the Cape Sōya Lighthouse, the Idemitsu Cape Sōya SS filling station, and Ōmisaki Elementary School. In the Ainu language, the cape is called *notetu*, combining *not* (chin or cape) and *etu* (nose).
- location
- Wakkanai, Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan
- type
- Cape
- northernmost_point_of
- Hokkaidō, Japan
- distance_to_Sakhalin
- 43 km across La Perouse Strait
- true_northernmost_point
- Benten-jima (1 km northwest)
- notable_monuments
- Monument of the Northernmost Point of Japan, Tower of Prayer, Monument of Peace,
Verified Timeline
Quick Facts
- Other Name
- ja · 宗谷岬
- Location
- Wakkanai, Sōya Subprefecture, Japan
- Water Bodies
- Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cape Sōya is the location of the Tower of Prayer, a memorial to Korean Air Lines Flight 007, shot down in 1983. The monument, which is 19.83 metres tall and constructed from granite, stands in remembrance of the 269 people that were killed during the flight on 1 September 1983. The aircraft was shot down by a Soviet Air Forces Sukhoi Su-15 interceptor near Moneron Island, roughly 98 kilometres to the north of the cape. Also on the site stands the Monument of Peace, a memorial to the USS Wahoo, sunk with 80 men aboard on October 11, 1943, as well as 5 Japanese merchant ships sunk with 690 people, attacked by Wahoo. The inscription on the memorial reads in part: 'When the Wahoo was lost it was the highest-scoring submarine in the U.S. Navy. Eighty Americans sleep in the Soya Strait 12 miles northeast of here. Many Japanese sleep in the Sea of Japan from Wahoo attacks. This monument was erected by the members of the Japanese Attack Group and relatives of Americans lying in the Wahoo. Old enemies met as brothers to ensure that our countries will have lasting peace and war will never again destroy the friendship we enjoy today.' The exact position of Wahoo was confirmed by a dive team from the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd in July 2006.
Reader's Guide
Cape Sōya has more than ten monuments, including the Monument of the northernmost Point of Japan, the Tower of Prayer, a statue of Mamiya Rinzō, and the Monument of Peace. Sōya Misaki settlement, east of the cape, has many facilities known to be 'the northernmost in Japan', including the northernmost lighthouse (Cape Sōya Lighthouse), the northernmost filling station (Idemitsu Cape Sōya SS), and the northernmost elementary school (Ōmisaki Elementary School). The name Soya is theorised to come from so ya in Ainu, meaning 'Rocky shore'. Cape Soya is called notetu in the Ainu language, where not means chin or cape, and etu means nose. The cape is just 43 kilometres (27 mi) away across La Perouse Strait from Cape Crillon, Sakhalin Island, making it possible to see the island of Sakhalin from Cape Sōya on a clear day.
Did You Know?
- The true northernmost point under Japanese control is the small deserted island of Benten-jima, 1 kilometre (3,300 ft) northwest of Cape Sōya.
- The Tower of Prayer at Cape Sōya is 19.83 metres tall and made of granite, commemorating the 269 victims of Korean Air Lines Flight 007.
- The Monument of Peace memorializes both the 80 American crew of the USS Wahoo and the 690 Japanese aboard 5 merchant ships sunk by Wahoo.
- The exact position of the USS Wahoo was confirmed by a dive team from the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd in July 2006.
- Cape Sōya is called notetu in the Ainu language, where not means chin or cape, and etu means nose.
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