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[Kamuiwakka Hot Falls in Shari, Shiretoko] Rare Hot Spring River and Falls in Japan

July 22nd, 2014

CONTENTS

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls
Kamuiwakka Hot Falls Tour
List of Activities in Kamuiwakka Hot Falls
- Guided Tour
- Sea Cruise
List of Accommodations

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls (カムイワッカ湯の滝) is a small collective waterfall with warm springs in Shari town, Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島), and is famous for enjoying bathing in basins like natural open-air baths, few rare falls in Japan. The Kamuiwakka means "God's Water" in Ainu language. Kamuiwakka River (カムイワッカ川), about 3 km lengh in total, flows from the bottom of Mt. Iou to the Sea of Okhotsk, and hot springs runs downward to the river. Kamuiwakka Falld (カムイワッカの滝) that can be seen only from the sea side is in the downstream, and a powerful dropping is popular, too. A road for the Kamuiwakka Hot Falls is opened to traffic from June to October. At the peak tourist season, ordinary owned cars have entrance regulation, and a shuttle bus runs from August 1 to August 25. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. The road is close to traffic from November to May. In addition, the road is close to traffic at 4 pm after 31 July. Beware of bears, too.
Kamuiwakka Hot Falls Guided Map in Japanese

Movie of Kamuiwakka River

Here is suitable place for onsen of hidden lands, and the visitors turn right on the road just before Shiretoko Goko Lakes (知床五湖), and head for 11 km gravel road. Because the road is no wider than a driveway, an attention is necessary for driving. The distance is around 20 km away from the center of Utoro, and a restraunt, a cafe and a convenience store are not built near here. By the way, a nonstop bus, Eagle Liner (イーグルライナー), runs between Sapporo and Utoro.

Direct Bus

From Sapporo to Utoro
Eagle Liner Leaves for Sapporo at 23:15

From Utoro to Sapporo
Eagle Liner Leaves for Utoro at 09:20

Shiretoko Goko Lakes

Shiretoko Goko Lakes (知床五湖) is a collective name of 5 lakes in Shari town, Shiretoko Peninsula. The 5 lakes, Lake Ichiko (一湖), Lake Niko (二湖), Lake Sanko (三湖), Lake Yonko (四湖) and Lake Goko (五湖) are in marsh at about 240 m above sea level, and are popular as a tourist attraction in hidden region. About 320,000 tourists visit here. Walks, observation decks, hiretoko Goko Lakes Field House (知床五湖フィールドハウス), Park Service Center (パークサービスセンター) and a parking lot are built on the site. Souvenirs and light meals are sold at the Park Service Center, too, and Lingonberry flavor soft serve ice cream has a good reputation. In addition, a restroom is at the building, too. The walks are available from late April to early November. In a winter, a snowshoe tour is held. Admission free. The parking lot is charged for JPY 500. Article is here

Iwaobetsu Onsen

Iwaobetsu Onsen (岩尾別温泉) is a hot spring place at about 215 m above sea level in Shari town located in the north side of Shiretoko peninsula (知床半島), and is famous as one of secret hot springs in Shiretoko National Park, and is near Kamuiwakka Hot Falls (カムイワッカ湯の滝) and Shiretoko Goko Lakes (知床五湖), and have famous natural open-air baths, Sandan-no-Yu (三段の湯) and Takimi-no-Yu (滝の湯). Only Hotel Chinohate (ホテル地の涯) and Kihoshita Hut (木下小屋) are built at the end of Hokkaido Road 93, and are used as hiker bases for Mt. Rausudake (羅臼岳). Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built. They close a business in a winter season because the Hokkaido Road 93 is closed to traffic. Article is here

Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園) at the northeastern edge of Japan main land is a national park between Shari town and Rausu town in the the northeastern part of Hokkaido. Most northern part of Shiretoko Peninsula has been desinged as the national park since 1964, and has also been designed World Natural Heritage Site, one of only 4 world natural heritage sites in Japan, since 2005. In the national park, there are Shiretoko Mountain Range (知床連山) such as Mt. Rausudake (羅臼岳), Mt. Chinishibetsudake (知西別岳), Mt. Iou (硫黄山) and Mt. Shiretokodake (知床岳), and here is a tourist attraction on behalf of Hokkaido containing some hot spring places such as Aidomari Onsen (相泊温泉), Seseki Onsen (瀬石温泉), Rausu Onsen (羅臼温泉) and Iwaobetsu Onsen (岩尾別温泉). The Shiretoko National Park is roughly divided into 2 areas, Shari Area and Rausu Area. The area is about 39,000 ha in total. A deep forest that wild animals such as Brown Bears, Yezo Deers and Blakiston's Hish-owls inhabit, Steep cliffs with about 100 m in height that separet the sea from mountains, the sea that marine life such as Salmons and Whales swim in, and those closely related to each other create great nature views. Because the Shiretoko means "The end of the earth" in Ainu language, I can understand the reason that it is said to be an unexplored region. Article is here

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls Tour

A restroom and a parking lot are built at an entrance of the Kamuiwakka Hot Falls. The parking lot was narrow, so I paid attention to parking. I walked through a short trail to the river, and begun walking in the river. Because it seemed to be dangerous for walking barefoot in the river, I wore my shoes. * Nonslip water sox (すべらん靴下) is sold at Road Station "Shirietoku" (道の駅「シリエトク」), Shiretoko Nature Center (知床自然センター) and Shiretoko Goko Lakes (知床五湖).

The Kamuiwakka River has 4 waterfall basins in total, but the visitors can reach to only the nearest waterfall basin, Ichi-no-Taki (一の滝), in danger of falling rocks at present. It was hard to walk in the river than expected. Some walkers sometimes fall down in the river, so you have better careful not to lose focus in walk. After I headed for about 100 m, I reached to the Ichi-no-Taki. Water temperature is about 30 C, and the water is lukewarm. I thougt that it is not suitable for bathing. In addition, a lot of the visitors come, so you will not get naked. But I think that you can enjoy playing in the water if you wear your swimsuit in a hot summer. When I licked the river water with my hands, it tasted considerably sour. Acidity is very high as well as Kawayu onsen (川湯温泉).

Atmosphere of Kamuiwakka Hot Falls Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Kamuiwakka Hot Falls

Admission fee	Free of charge
Parking lot	Free parking is provided (20 Cars)
Business hours	24 hours
Regular closing day	From early November to early June
Business hours	+81-152-22-2125
Home page	Home page is here
Mapcode	757 855 238*76

List of Activities in Kamuiwakka Hot Falls

Some activity companies serve guided tours or sea cruises with a view of the Kamuiwakka Falls. Refer to following websites for the activity companies. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Guided Tour

Shiretoko Guide Rise(知床の案内人ライズ)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
First Ascent Shiretoko(ファーストアセント知床)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Alpa(知床アルパ)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

Sea Cruise

Movie of Sea Cruise

Shiretoko Sightseeing Ship Aurora(知床観光船おーろら)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Sightseeing Cruiser(知床遊覧船)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Sightseeing Cruiser Dolphin(知床クルーザー観光船ドルフィン)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Godzilla-iwa Tourism(ゴジラ岩観光)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Cruising Fox(知床世界遺産クルーズFOX)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around the Kamuiwakka Hot Falls. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Hotel Chi-no-Hate(ホテル地の涯)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel(知床岩尾別ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kinoshita Hut(木下小屋)	Only Tel: +81-152-24-2824
Shiretoko Grand Hotel kitakobushi(知床グランドホテル北こぶし)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel(知床第一ホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Prince Kazenamiki(知床プリンスホテル風なみ季)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kokumin Shukusha Katurada(国民宿舎桂田)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Bons Home(ボンズホーム)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Shiretoko(ホテル知床)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel kifu Club Shireotko(ホテル季風クラブ知床)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Village(しれとこ村)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Yuhi-no-Ataru-Ie(夕陽のあたる家)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Pereke(しれとこペレケ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshyuku Ishiyama(知床の宿民宿いしやま)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Noble Hotel(知床ノーブルホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minsyuku Shiretokoso(民宿知床荘)	Only Tel:+81-152-24-2058
Onsen Minshuku Tanpopo(温泉民宿たんぽぽ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Iruka Hotel(いるかホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Oyado Kiraku(お宿来羅玖)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko HOSTEL Hanare(知床ホステルハナレ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Booking.com

A page of Shiretoko National Park is here

Shiretoko National Park

Map

Transportation to Kamuiwakka Hot Falls

New Chitose Airport (新千歳空港) --> (Approximately 50 minutes by Plane) --> Memanbetsu Airport (女満別空港) --> (Approximately 5 minutes on foot) --> Memanbetsu-kukou bus stop (女満別空港停留所) --> (Approximately 35 minutes by Abashiri bus [To Abashiri] (網走バス「網走行き」)) --> Abashiri bus terminal (網走バスターミナル) --> (Approximately 60 minutes by Abashiri bus [Shari line: To Shari] (網走バス「斜里線：斜里行き」)) --> Shari station (斜里駅) --> (Approximately 5 minutes on foot) --> Shari bus terminal (斜里バスターミナル) --> (Approximately 50 minutes by Shari bus [Rausu line: To Utoro-onsen bus terminal] (斜里バス「羅臼線：ウトロ温泉バスターミナル行き」)) --> Utoro-onen bus terminal (ウトロ温泉バスターミナル) --> (Approximately 25 minutes by Shari bus [Shuttle bus] (斜里バス「シャトルバス」)) --> Kamuiwakka-yu-no-taki bus stop (カムイワッカ湯の滝停留所) --> (Approximately 5 minutes on foot) *Shiretoko-Airport-liner runs depending on seasons.