2025 Shiretoko Peninsula Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in August)

☑︎Depending on luck →Due to the wind, drift ice can move far away in half a day →If you can see it, it's important to feel lucky ☑︎About shoes →Waterproof boots with anti-slip pads are recommended →Sneakers are surprisingly fine, but the snowy roads are slippery and wet ☑︎Long coats and down jackets →Hooded coats are recommended (it's cold on the boat) →The interiors of tourist sites are heated ☑︎Manage your smartphone →Hang it around your neck with a strap for peace of mind ☑︎Scarves, gloves, and hand warmers →I didn't particularly use hand warmers Even when it was below minus 10°C, it was hot to walk around in a knit or coat. However, it was cold when the wind hit my face or skin directly, so it was useful to have a hood or scarf. Drift ice also comes in various shapes and colors. I sincerely hope that everyone can see their ideal drift ice. #Pre-trip checklist #100 travel styles #Domestic travel #Tourism #Breathtaking views #Drift ice #Hokkaido #Snowy scenery #Abashiri #Shiretoko #Rausu #Aurora #Evergreen

The Shiretoko Peninsula is where I was most impressed by the snowy scenery and drift ice scenery. The drift ice of Rausu, Oshinkoshin Falls, the sunset from the Shiretoko Campground, and the view from the bus. It was a treasure trove of spectacular views. It's inconvenient to access, but it's worth going. I hope you'll try to see the drift ice, although it depends on the timing. The natural beauty of the Shiretoko Peninsula is truly recommended. ✱----------------------------------------------- [Name] Shiretoko Peninsula [Access] About 1 hour 50 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport, 1 hour 40 minutes by car from Nakashibetsu Airport, about 6 hours 30 minutes by car from Chitose East IC. -----------------------------------------------✱ #Snowscape2024 #100TravelStyles #DomesticTravel #Tourism #Hokkaido #Shiretoko #ShiretokoPeninsula #Utoro #SecretRegion #SpectacularView #Snowscape #WinterTravel

Utoro, Shiretoko Peninsula [Utoro Fishing Port Women's Club Restaurant] This restaurant is close to the sea and has a neat and tidy interior. The beautiful sea urchin and salmon roe bowl has large salmon roe! The sea urchin is good, but the salmon-based menu also looks fun. Due to the harsh climate of the north, this town is at the forest limit. As you cross the Shiretoko Pass in a rental car, the trees gradually become thinner and more unreliable. There are no roads to the edge of the Shiretoko Peninsula, but it seems that you can get part of the way by trekking. 💰Price per person: Sea urchin and salmon roe bowl 3,600 yen 📍Location: 117 Utoro Higashi, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido Opening hours: 8:30am - 2:30pm Closed on Thursdays #Utoro Fishing Port Women's Club Restaurant #Utoro #Shiretoko Peninsula #Hokkaido #Hokkaido Trip #0 Yen Trip

I've always wanted to go to the Shiretoko Peninsula, but I've been avoiding it because I think it would be difficult to travel around Hokkaido in the winter. If anyone has been there, I'd love to hear more about how to get there! 🤔 Should I go on a tour? If I'm used to driving, would it be possible to get there by car? Please let me know! #CommentCircle

📍Shiretoko Shiretoko is a World Natural Heritage site that Japan is proud of. It's about an hour's drive from Abashiri. I was excited just to see the magnificent view of the snow-capped Shiretoko mountain range, but hiking around the Shiretoko Five Lakes was also a great experience✨ However, this area coexists with wild bears, so we are only "interfering" with the place. If we see a bear, we have to retreat. We toured the Shiretoko Five Lakes with a group of about 10 to 20 people, but the person at the front said he had seen a bear and quietly retreated. We received a bear prevention training before the tour, but I think that even if we actually encountered one, we would be too scared to do anything😅 The hike ended up being much shorter than planned due to the bear encounter, but it was really nice to be able to explore the beautiful nature🌳 #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

🦌 Hokkaido Shiretoko Conquest | Spectacular views and wilderness trip around the World Natural Heritage Area 📍 Shiretoko Five Lakes The representative of Shiretoko tourism. When you stand on the lakeside, the scenery of the mountain range spreading out in silence is reflected, and it feels like another world. A safety course (limited time) for brown bear measures is required on the ground walkway (about 3km). The elevated boardwalk is barrier-free and can be enjoyed by anyone. 📍 Oshinkoshin Falls A famous waterfall selected as one of the "100 Best Waterfalls in Japan". The ease of access immediately after parking your car is also an attractive feature, and it is a healing spot where you can feel the negative ions filling your body along with the roar of the waterfall. The changing of the seasons is also beautiful, with fresh greenery in summer, autumn leaves in autumn, and ice waterfalls in winter. 📍 Kamuiwakka Hot Springs A "hot spring waterfall" unique to Shiretoko. The entire river is hot springs, and it is possible to climb up to just before the waterfall basin. It is especially popular in the summer, and there is also an activity element of climbing the stream while progressing. Shoes and anti-slip pads are a must. Access requires the use of a shuttle bus, which is only available during certain periods. 📍Shiretoko Nature Center A base where you can learn more about Shiretoko's flora and fauna and nature conservation. It is also an excellent place to gather information before hiking or as an alternative spot on bad weather days. There are plenty of nature-related video screenings and exhibits, and the free parking and cafe make it a convenient place to take a break. 📍Gourmet spots in Shari Town The Shiretoko seafood that can be enjoyed in Utoro Onsen Town and Shari Town is exquisite. The seafood bowls topped with seasonal sea urchin and salmon roe are particularly popular, and locally-based restaurants such as "Kuma no Ie" and "Utoro Shokudo" are recommended. Prices are also relatively reasonable for a tourist destination. ⚠️Tourist precautions →There is a risk of encountering wild animals (especially brown bears), so be sure to check the latest information at the nature center. →Kamuiwakka Hot Falls is easy to get wet, so it is important to have equipment such as waterproof bags and non-slip sandals. →There are many areas in the Shiretoko Peninsula with weak signals, so it's a good idea to prepare an offline map in advance. ⸻ #Shiretoko Five Lakes #Oshinkoshin Falls #Kamuiwakka Hot Waterfalls #Shiretoko Nature Center #Shari Gourmet #Hokkaido Trip #World Heritage Site Shiretoko #Shiretoko Onsen #Nature Experience #Beautiful Sights #Unexplored Areas of Japan #Shiretoko Trip #Beware of Brown Bears #Domestic Travel Tips

#0yentrip "◆Overview An elevated boardwalk set up in the nature of Shiretoko. By walking on the boardwalk, you can interact with nature from your feet and observe wild animals and plants up close. It's a rare place where you can take a leisurely stroll through the great outdoors. ◆Comments Walking on the boardwalk, you'll feel calm as you're surrounded by the surrounding nature. It's a great spot for nature lovers as you can observe wild animals and rare plants. All the views from the boardwalk are beautiful, and it's a place you'll want to go back to 🌿 ◆Access/Tips - Accessible from the Shiretoko Five Lakes - Don't forget to bring insect repellent and prepare for light hiking! - It's humid in the summer, so choose comfortable shoes to walk in.

#DomesticTravel #Hokkaido #ShiretokoPeninsula This is a bear habitat. Please be careful. Follow the rules and make great memories!

#getgoing2025 Stayed there in a Japanese style room in the east wing for two nights. The room is a bit old and wear, but basically clean and tidy. The hotel located in a small hill so that you can enjoy stunning view of the sea and sunset. Free parking is available and there are plenty of parking spaces. It is about 30 mins drive to the Shiretoko five lakes, very convenient for sightseeing. Dining is impressive! Both breakfast and dinner are buffets with a great variety of choices! Fresh sashimi, sushi, crabs, hot plates in japanese and western style, dessert (e.g. ice-cream, crepes, cakes), free drinks (e.g. coffee, tea, freshly made smoothie)! The quality of food is very good. Staff are generally very helpful with smile on their faces. The restaurant serving breakfast is newly renovated, with beautiful view of the sea. Onsen (Hot spring) is also amazing! There are lots of different style onsen/hot water pools, the bathroom is incredibly large and bright and there is no problem of overcrowding. Front desk staff are very helpful, although most of them can't speak fluent English, they endeavour to provide assistance to the guests. All in all, highly recommended hotel.

Shiretoko Peninsula, known as the "end of the earth" in Japan, is one of the most pristine and magnificent natural secrets in Hokkaido, Japan; It is located in the eastern part of Hokkaido, protruding into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It was listed as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO (2005) for its rich ecosystem and pristine natural landscape; In winter, Shiretoko is covered with thick white snow and drift ice, showing a magnificent landscape like a snow wonderland. The charm of Shiretoko in winter 1. Drift ice spectacle (drift ice) Every winter (January to March), drift ice from the Amur River in Russia drifts along the Sea of ​​Okhotsk to the coast of Shiretoko, forming a spectacular **"drift ice world"**. Visitors can participate in the following experiences: • Walking on drifting ice: Put on a special dry diving suit, walk on the frozen sea surface, and feel the shock of "walking on ice". • Drift ice sightseeing boat: Take an icebreaker to get close to the floating ice on the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and you can also see wild animals such as seals on the way. 2. The beautiful snowy scenery of Shiretoko Five Lakes The Shiretoko Five Lakes are covered with snow in winter, showing a pure and flawless snowy scenery, which is suitable for snowshoeing. From here you can also overlook the Shiretoko Mountains and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the mountains and the sea. 3. The last secret place for wild animals In winter, Shiretoko is home to many wild animals, especially: •Hokkaido brown bears (although they hibernate, they can be seen in other seasons) •White-tailed sea eagles and Steller's sea eagles (can be seen in winter, living on drift ice) •Foxes and deer move around in the snow, forming a vivid natural picture. 4. Shiretoko Onsen – A winter healing resort Shiretoko has many natural hot springs, such as **"Misaki-no-Yu"**. Soaking in a hot spring surrounded by snow is an ultimate enjoyment. Some open-air baths overlook the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, and if you’re lucky you can even see the magnificent sight of drift ice. 5. Winter night sky – a stargazing destination Shiretoko is far away from urban light pollution. In winter nights, you can see the vast starry sky, which, combined with the reflection of the snow, presents a beautiful night view. Occasionally, you can also see the aurora. Travel Tips •Best time to travel: January to March, when the drift ice season is at its most spectacular. • Transportation: In winter, you can take a bus from Sapporo or Memanbetsu Airport to Shiretoko, or rent a car and drive yourself (be careful when driving in snow). •Warm gear: Shiretoko is extremely cold in winter, with temperatures often dropping to -20°C, so you will need to prepare windproof and cold-proof clothing. •Recommended accommodations: Shiretoko Shari Town and Utoro Onsen area, where there are hot spring ryokans and snow view hotels. The winter in Shiretoko is known as "Japan's last natural secret place" and is a place where people can experience the magnificence and purity of nature firsthand.

📍🇯🇵Shiretoko, Hokkaido Shiretoko, a World Heritage Site You can see drift ice from many angles, but I like the view from the cliffs while snowshoeing in Shiretoko the most The drift ice drifts around in the ocean and is cute like a patchwork It's amazing to think that something this big moves every day And the view you see every day is unique depending on the wind direction, weather, and light It's precious to think that you'll never see the same view twice On the way, you can see the pure white Shiretoko mountain range and traces of brown bears climbing trees It makes you feel like you're in nature #DomesticTrip #Shiretoko #Hokkaido #DriftIce

A place that is not often visited even in Hokkaido. I took a picture of the snow that had not melted on the mountainside far away while welcoming summer at the tip of Hokkaido. It is a new kind of fun to tour the surrounding area by boat.

#100 Travel Style We went to Cape Shiretoko on the large tourist boat Aurora. We saw brown bears twice on the way. Binoculars are a must. We also saw seabirds and deer. Apparently the only way to get to Cape Shiretoko is by boat, so even people in Hokkaido have never been there. The boat was air-conditioned and comfortable. There were chairs outside too, so we were able to move around freely, looking through binoculars and taking lots of photos. It was a great memory. The sunset I saw from the Yuhidai Observatory was also the most beautiful I've ever seen in my life.

It takes just over an hour's drive from the nearest Memanbetsu Airport to reach the town of Shiretoko. Surrounded by sea and mountains, driving further in you can see the vast natural scenery of Shiretoko Park and Shiretoko Pass. As you cross Shiretoko Pass, you can relax at hot springs along the way. Once you cross the pass, you'll see a different townscape, and the ocean that looks different from the Sea of ​​Japan to the Pacific Ocean. It's an irresistible environment for nature lovers, and you can see amazing views on a drive without having to exert a lot of energy by hiking, so I'd definitely like to visit again. It was August at the time, but the temperature was in the low 20s, so it could also be used as a summer resort.

It is a bit far from the city of Shiretoko, but the hotel provides dinner and breakfast, but reservations must be made in advance. There is also a hot spring area, and although it is not a fancy hotel, the meals and rooms are comfortable. I will stay in this hotel next time