Summer travel season is just around the corner. Many nature lovers, in particular, are probably thinking, "This year, I want to go to Shiretoko!"

However, we also hear people say things like, "Where should I go? Should I just go to Shiretoko Five Lakes?" and "I don't know how to enjoy it."

So, in this article, we'll give you a brief overview of how to enjoy Shiretoko, popular spots, and experiences!

1: Sightseeing and experiences in the forest and mountains
2: Seaside attractions and experiences
3: Easy driving spots
4: Winter attractions and experiences
5. Things to know when sightseeing in Shiretoko

1-1: First, Shiretoko Five Lakes

When you hear the name Shiretoko, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the Shiretoko Five Lakes, isn't it?

Shiretoko Five Lakes is located about 30 minutes (14 km) by car from Utoro, the central town on the northwestern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula.

There are two ways to explore Shiretoko Five Lakes: the elevated boardwalk and the nature trail.

There are two main ways to walk around the Shiretoko Five Lakes: the elevated boardwalk and the nature trail. So, what's the difference?

• Elevated wooden walkways are a convenient option.

The elevated wooden walkway is a 1.6m wide round-trip walkway that runs from the Shiretoko Five Lakes parking lot to the shore of Lake 1, one of the five lakes. It is barrier-free with no steps, so it is accessible to wheelchair users. Most bus tours that include Shiretoko Five Lakes in their itinerary will include walking along this walkway.

While the fact that it's easily accessible on foot is a plus, it might not be enough for those who want to enjoy the full view of the Shiretoko Five Lakes.

Nature trails are generally subject to restrictions.

The nature trail is a route that takes you through the forests of Shiretoko Five Lakes, where brown bears also live. Therefore, depending on the season, there are restrictions such as not being able to walk the trail without joining a guided tour, or even if a guide is not required, prior lectures are necessary and there are limits on the number of participants.

For further information, please read Shiretoko Five Lakes Homepage .

Even outside of the mandatory guided tour period (May 10th to July 31st), walking with a knowledgeable guide will allow you to enjoy the forest more deeply, so we recommend taking a guided tour.

Guided tours are offered by many local nature tour companies.

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I participated in a guided tour of the Shiretoko Five Lakes! [Shiretoko, a World Natural Heritage Site]

1-2: Intriguing! Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Waterfall

Located even further beyond the Shiretoko Five Lakes is the "Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Waterfall." The waterfall itself is a hot spring, and many people who have seen pictures of people swimming in the pool at the base of the falls are probably eager to visit.

- The road leading to Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Waterfall is unpaved and private cars are restricted.

Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Waterfall is located 12km further from the Shiretoko Five Lakes parking lot. The road is narrow and unpaved, making it a rough route. If you are not confident in your driving skills, it is best to avoid this route.

Additionally, there are traffic restrictions depending on the time of year; from August 1st to 25th, private cars and motorcycles are prohibited, and a shuttle bus service is in operation.

Going to a waterfall is quite wild.

Now we've arrived at the parking lot for Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Waterfall. From here, we'll walk to the waterfall, but part of the way we'll be walking through a stream of flowing hot spring water. It's what you might call stream climbing. Please enjoy it at a pace that doesn't overexert you, especially if you're with children.

For further information, please read Shiretoko Nature Center websitePlease refer to.

1-3: Enjoy a casual nature experience at Frepe Falls!

Besides the Shiretoko Five Lakes, there are other spots in Shiretoko where you can enjoy nature on foot.

One of them is the route to "Furepe Falls."

The Frepe Falls trail is approximately 2-3 km round trip and takes you through a forest where brown bears are known to roam.

To reach Frepe Falls, you typically walk from the Shiretoko Nature Center, which is about an 8-minute drive (5km) from Utoro. However, this is also an area where brown bears appear. We strongly recommend that those with little experience join a guided tour.

Frepe Falls is a wild waterfall that cascades from the sheer cliffs of Shiretoko into the sea. The waterfall itself is magnificent, and along the way, you have a high chance of encountering animals such as Hokkaido deer, making it a recommended route for those who want to experience the nature of Shiretoko.

1-4: A proper trek! Lake Rausu

Next, for those who want to experience the magnificent nature of Shiretoko more fully, we recommend trekking to Lake Rausu. The path leading to Lake Rausu, the largest lake in Shiretoko, is an attractive trekking route where alpine plants bloom and you can walk on remaining snow in June and July.

- Inconvenient access to the entrance to Lake Rausu

Lake Rausu is located on the Shiretoko Crossing Road, which connects the Utoro and Rausu sides of Shiretoko, on the way down from Shiretoko Pass towards Rausu. The downside is that there is no parking lot, and the bus only runs four times a day between Utoro and Rausu, making it difficult to get to.

For these reasons, it's recommended to go on a tour led by a familiar guide. Of course, there's also the concern of brown bears.

The Lake Rausu route offers a different kind of spectacular scenery compared to the Shiretoko Five Lakes. Why not give it a try?

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[The latest cherry blossoms in Japan? Blooming in July] A report on my trekking experience at Lake Rausu!

1-5: Shiretoko Nighttime Experiences

After enjoying the nature of Shiretoko during the day, how about relaxing in a hot spring at night?

No, no, Shiretoko is also charming at night.

Various tour companies offer tours that involve driving around to look for nocturnal animals, as well as stargazing tours that take you to the best spots depending on the time of year.

Be sure to enjoy the unique charm of Shiretoko at night.

2-1: Cruise in Utoro

Image provided by: Eastern Hokkaido Tourism Development

In Utoro, located northwest of the Shiretoko Peninsula, various companies operate cruises that allow you to enjoy the peninsula from the sea. These cruises vary widely, from large ships that can carry 400 people to smaller cruisers.

There are mainly three types of routes. The duration ranges from a little over 1 hour to 4 hours.

Now, regarding the cruises in the Shiretoko Utoro area, there are mainly three routes.

The shortest route goes as far as Mt. Iwo and near the Kamuiwakka Hot Spring Waterfall. It's an easy route where you can see the cliffs and wild birds of Shiretoko. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and costs around 3,300 yen.

Next is the longest route, which goes all the way to Cape Shiretoko, the very tip of Shiretoko. Along the way, you'll pass through Rusha Bay, an area where encounters with brown bears are common. There's also a chance of seeing dolphins and whales.
It takes about 3-4 hours and costs around 6,500-8,000 yen.

And between the two routes mentioned above is the one I previously described, which goes as far as Rusha Bay on the way to Cape Shiretoko. This is recommended for those who want to see brown bears while in Shiretoko (but of course, there is no guarantee that you will see them). It's a cruise of about 2 hours and costs around 5,500 yen.

2-2: Cruise in Rausu

Image provided by: Shiretoko Nature Cruise

Next, we'll introduce cruises in Rausu town, located on the southeastern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula, facing the Nemuro Strait. Several companies also operate these cruises.

The biggest attraction of the Rausu cruise is, without a doubt, the marine animals!

Cruises in Rausu during the spring and autumn seasons are appealing not only for their location, offering close-up views of the Shiretoko Peninsula and Kunashir Island, but also for their high chance of encountering large wildlife.

Image provided by: Shiretoko Nature Cruise

In the summer, you can see dolphins and the awe-inspiring sperm whales, and in early summer, from May to July, you might even spot orcas. Furthermore, there are numerous bird species, including large flocks of streaked shearwaters. You can truly feel the power of Japan's most remote ocean.

The price is around 8,000 yen, and the cruise lasts approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

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The king of the sea, the orca, is right before your eyes! The Shiretoko-Rausu cruise is amazing!!

3-1: Shiretoko Pass

Now, Shiretoko has many attractions that can be easily reached by car. Among them, the first one I recommend is Shiretoko Pass.

Shiretoko Pass, which is usually closed off by snow from the end of October until just before Golden Week, offers stunning scenery in spring, summer, and autumn.

Also, if the weather conditions are right, you might encounter a sea of ​​clouds in the early morning.

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The Four Seasons of Shiretoko Pass | The breathtaking scenery and charm of Shiretoko, a World Natural Heritage Site, throughout spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

3-2: Oshinkoshin Falls

Next, I'd like to introduce Oshinkoshin Falls, a scenic spot located along the national highway just before Utoro.

You can see the impressive 50-meter-high waterfall up close enough to feel the spray. It has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls and attracts many tourists, including tour buses.

3-3: The Way to Heaven

Finally, I'd like to introduce you to the "Road to Heaven," a viewpoint located in Shari, at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula.

This spot, with its 27.5km-long straight road that seems to stretch on forever, is gaining popularity year after year through word of mouth.

4-1: Rapidly Gaining Popularity! Drift Ice Walk

In winter, Shiretoko transforms from a lush green summer into a landscape covered in snow. Despite the harsh cold, many tourists visit, especially around February.

Among these, the "Drift Ice Walk®" has been attracting particular attention in recent years. This experience of walking on drift ice (or falling into the sea and floating) while wearing a special dry suit is something that can only be done in Shiretoko, where drift ice gathers.

Its popularity has been growing year by year, and this year (2018), it is said that as many as 10,000 people from Japan and abroad participated during the period from the 4th to the 50th (according to materials from the Higashi Hokkaido Tourism Development Council).

If you're looking for an exciting experience in the bitterly cold Shiretoko right now, this is it.

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Drift Ice Walk [Experience Report] A special experience of freely walking on drift ice!

3-2; Too many eagles & drift ice cruise in Rausu

Next up is the drift ice birdwatching cruise, available in Rausu from February to March.

Image provided by: Shiretoko Nature Cruise

This cruise has two main attractions. One is that you cruise through the sea where drift ice floats, depending on the season, and the other is that you cruise through the sea where there are (sometimes) more than 100 magnificent wild birds, such as Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles.

Due to its rarity, it attracts many photography enthusiasts, mainly from Europe and North America, every year, and is frequently featured on television.

3-3: It's now possible to visit even in winter. Shiretoko Five Lakes.

Next up is winter trekking at Shiretoko Five Lakes. While access to Shiretoko Five Lakes is restricted in winter, since 2015 it has been possible to enter the area for a limited time and with limited numbers of participants through guided tours.

The Shiretoko Five Lakes in winter, transformed into a pristine white snowfield, are truly a world of otherworldliness.

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Snowshoeing around the Shiretoko Five Lakes in winter! Have the magnificent Shiretoko nature all to yourself!

Finally, for those of you who are now interested in visiting Shiretoko, I'd like to share a few things you should know.

・Shiretoko Five Lakes gets crowded in mid-summer!

Those planning to visit Shiretoko Five Lakes during the summer vacation season should be aware of the following.

Because parking at Shiretoko Five Lakes is limited (only 100 spaces), traffic jams can occur stretching for several hundred meters, sometimes resulting in wait times of up to an hour.

During peak season, a shuttle bus departs from the Shiretoko Nature Center, which is located nearby, so it is recommended to use that service.

- Shiretoko Pass is closed to traffic from November until before Golden Week.

As mentioned earlier, the Shiretoko Pass, which connects Utoro and Rausu in Shiretoko, will be closed for an extended period starting around November.

During this period, if you are traveling from Utoro to Rausu, you will have to go via Konpoku Pass at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula (approximately 110 km, about 2 hours and 30 minutes).

There are many hotels in Utoro, but few in Rausu.

The nature of Shiretoko is best enjoyed slowly over two or three days. When it comes to accommodation, the Utoro side has the most lodging and number of rooms. There are many large hotels with over 100 rooms in the Utoro area. Conversely, even the largest accommodations in the Rausu area have fewer than 50 rooms.

Please note that the peak seasons in Shiretoko are July-August and February. If you plan to stay in Rausu during these periods, we recommend making reservations early.

The weather is different in Utoro and Rausu.

Now, except during the winter when the Shiretoko Pass is closed to traffic, if you're planning to stay in Utoro but it's raining today, for example, it's a good idea to consider exploring the Rausu side instead. This is because Utoro and Rausu are separated by high mountains, so it's quite common for it to be raining on one side while it's sunny on the other.

There are limited-time buses.

Shiretoko, located at the easternmost tip of Japan, is not exactly easily accessible by public transport. Since there are only a handful of regular bus services, if you are able to drive, we recommend exploring the area by car (rental car).

However, driving a car is definitely not recommended, especially in winter. In such cases, I recommend taking a seasonal bus.

Typically, the following two types of buses operate:

Shiretoko Airport Liner

This service operates for a limited time from early June to early October and from late January to early March. It connects Memanbetsu Airport, Abashiri, and JR Shiretoko-Shari Station with Utoro. There are three departures per day (operated jointly by Shari Bus and Abashiri Bus).

Higashi Hokkaido Express Bus

During the winter tourist season, there are limited-time buses that operate extensively within eastern Hokkaido (reservations required, usually accepted up to two days in advance). In the Shiretoko area, the buses typically operate on the following routes.
Utoro - Rausu - Nakashibetsu Airport Line
Utoro - Abashiri - Monbetsu/Sounkyo Line
- Utoro - Mashu - Shibecha (Departure and arrival stations for the SL Winter Marshland Train) *Operates only on days when the SL is running.
*The service is scheduled to operate from January 26th to March 10th in 2019.

Please note that in 2018, it was limited to September and October.
Utoro - Mashu - Lake Akan
The autumn version of the Higashi Hokkaido Express Bus, connecting these locations, has also been confirmed to begin operation.

That concludes our introduction to sightseeing and ways to enjoy Shiretoko. Although it's at the far reaches of Hokkaido, Shiretoko is surprisingly accessible from Tokyo if you take a plane. Please do visit and be captivated by the wonders of Shiretoko!

★Let's plan a trip to Shiretoko!★

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