[Shimamui Coast in Shakotan] Clear-Blue Sea and Superb Coast Can Be Seen

Shimamui Coast

Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) is a superb coast chosen as "100 Best Beaches in Japan (日本の渚・百選)" in Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-national Park, and is one of 3 major tourist attractions together with Cape Kamui (神威岬) and Cape Ogorn (黄金岬) in the Shakotan Peninsula. Shimamui means "Rocky inlet" in Ainu language. A public restroom, a public drinking fountain and a restraunt named Rinko (鱗晃) are built around a public parking lot. A restraunt and a souvenir shop are at the building, and seafood rice bowls or a soft serve ice cream can be eaten. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

Cape Kamui

Cape Kamui (神威岬) is a cape with steep cliff jutting out into the Sea of Japan from Shakotan Peninsula (積丹半島) in Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-national Park, and is one of 3 major tourist attractions together with Cape Ogorn (黄金岬) and Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) in the Shakotan Peninsula. The kamui means a god in Ainu language. The distance is around 1.5 km away from a traffic gate along National Route to the end of a road, and there are a public parking lot, a public restroom and a rest house named Kamui-Banya (カムイ番屋). A restraunt and a souvenir shop are at the building, and seafood rice bowls or a soft serve ice cream can be eaten. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Read More

Cape Ogon

Cape Ogon (黄金岬) is a cape jutting out into the Sea of Japan in Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-national Park, and is adjacent to Bikuni Port (美国港), and is one of 3 major tourist attractions together with Cape Kamui (神威岬) and Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) in the Shakotan Peninsula. Bikuni used to be flourished by herrings, and a lookout for the herrings used to be built on the cape, and the Cape Ogon was named after the shoals of the herrings glowed gold in the sunset. The Ogon means "Gold color" in Japanese. At present, Ogon-Misaki Observation Deck (黄金岬展望台) is built at about 30 m above sea level, and the Bikuni Port, Mt. Shakotandake (積丹岳), Takara Island (宝島), Gome Island (ゴメ島) and ranging capes of the Shakotan Peninsula can be seen. Admission free. As for a parking lot, the visitors can park their cars at Shakotan Tourist Information Office (積丹観光協会) freely. By the way, In the Bikuni Port, Underwater Cruise Ship New Shakotan-go (水中展望船★ニューしゃこたん号) that can see the blue sea in the sea is in serve.Read More

Cape Shakotan Nature Trail (積丹岬自然遊歩道) with around 6 km in total length is built near the parking lot, and Mt. Shakotandake (積丹岳), Joro-Koiwa rock (女郎子岩 * It has a legend, Mr. Yoshitsune Minamoto (源義経) went over to Mongolia from here, and his wife and child who were left here, they chahged the rocks because of too much sadness), Demisaki Lighhouse (出岬無人灯台) and Cape Pirika (ピリカ岬) can be seen along the trail. Joro-Koiwa Observation Deck (女郎子岩展望台) and Kasadomari Observation Deck (笠泊展望台) are built along the trail, too.

The Cape Shakotan is famous for Sea Urchin Rice Bowl (ウニ丼), and is well-known for tasty sea food, too. Misaki (みさき), Nakamuraya (中村屋), Uminoya (海のや), Iida (いい田), Shokudo Ushio (食堂うしお), Rinko (鱗晃) and Rinko-so (鱗晃荘) are popular in particular. I ate the sea urchin rice bowl at the Misaki, and it was taty. In addition, Misaki-no-Yu Shakotan (岬の湯しゃこたん) is between the Cape Kamui and Shimamui Coast, and visitors can take a day trip bath. The Cape Kamui from the open-air bath is very good.

Sea Urchin Rice Bowl

Misaki (みさき) is a restaurant in Shakotan and was founded in 1973. An owner is a fisherman and is famous for eating a seafood dish. It opens only during summer season (from late April to October). Because a fresh sea urchin can be eaten from mid June when the sea urchin fishing is released, visitors seem to increase. Because it started a bussiness at 09:00, 6 groups of visitors have already lined up when I arrived around 08:40. It is really popular. Read More

Shakotan Onsen

Shakotan Onsen (積丹温泉) in Shakotan town is a hot-spring place at the tip of Shakotan Peninsula, and Misaki-no-Yu Shakotan (岬の湯しゃこたん) beside Nozuka Primary School (野塚小学校) is built on a hill at 43 m above sea level. There are Cape Kamui (神威岬) and Shimamui Coast (島武意海岸) that are representative famous sightseeing spots of Hokkaido around the Shakotan Onsen. Nozuka Campsite (野塚野営場) is close to the Shakotan Onsen, too. The Cape Shakotan is famous for Sea Urchin Rice Bowl (ウニ丼), and is well-known for tasty sea food, too. Misaki (みさき), Nakamuraya (中村屋), Rinko (鱗晃) and Rinko-so (鱗晃荘) are popular in particular. Unfortunately, convenience stores are not built. Nonstop buses do not run from the Shakotan Onsen to Sapporo or Otaru. Read More

As for public transport, Chuo Bus (中央バス) controls the Shiretoko Peninsula, Highway Bus Shakotan-go (高速しゃこたん号) runs between Sapporo and Cape Kamui from April 21 to October 21. Highway Bus Yoichi-go (高速よいち号) runs between the Sapporo and the Yoichi, and Highway Bus Iwanai-go (高速いわない号) runs between the Sapporo and the Iwanai. In addition, Summer One-day Sightseeing Tour Bus and Autumn One-day Sightseeing Tour Bus run from the Sapporo to the Shakotan Peninsula.

Shakotan Peninsula

Shakotan Peninsula (積丹半島) is a peninsula located in the northwestern part of Otaru city, and has been designated as Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park (ニセコ積丹小樽海岸国定公園) because of a precious complicated coastline with steep cliffs. The sea of the Shakotan is very beautiful, and looks clear blue, so everybody call Shakotan Blue (シャコタンブルー). A traffic used to be inconvenient in the old days, and tourists rarely visited here. People are easy to access the Shakotan Peninsula as well as Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島) at present, but it is called an unexplored region because it would not develop very much. Read More

Observation Deck and Shore

The Shimamui Coast faces the sea of Japan, and blue sea like tropical ocean is one of its features, and is roughly divided into 2 parts, observation decks and a shore. Visitors must walk through a small tunnel with dark and slightly scary from the parking lot first. But a breathtaking view comes into sight from a high place at about 60 m above sea level when the visitors come out of the tunnel. I think the dark tunnel accentuate the superb view. By the way, Here is different from the Cape Kamui, and the visitors can come in the evening. The sunset and starry sky seem to be beautiful, too.

2 observation decks are built nerby the exit of the tunnel, and Byobuiwa Rock (屏風岩) and clear-blue sea can be seen. Yezo daylily is in full bloom in June, and yellow flowers goes well with the blue sea. But the observation decks are not large, and are the size that about 20 poeple can enter, so the visitors can not enjoy theirselves to the full when those are crowded with tourists. A bad stairway is built from the observation deck to the shore. It will takes about 20 minutes on foot because of a steep slope. You may be tired because of a difference of elevation, so you should wear comfortable shoes. It is hard to go down the stairway because the stairway are rough, but you can see the beautiful sea up close.

The inlet used to be a natural fishing port for herring, and a stone foundation of a herring house "Yamakagi Saito Family" (ヤマカギ斎藤家) is remaining on the shore. The sea is calm in front of it, and a lot of sea bathers come to play in the sea. The shore is covered with small stones, and it is hard to walk.

Atmosphere of Shimamui Coast Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Shimamui Coast

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Shakotan. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Oyado Rinko-so(お宿 鱗晃荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kaisen-no-Yado Miharashiso(海鮮の宿 みはらし荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Bikuni Kanko House(旅館 美国観光ハウス)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Oyado Kasai(お宿かさい)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Refore Shakotan Youth Hostel(リフォレ積丹 ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiosai-no-Yado Kaihinkan(汐さいの宿 海浜館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Nagomi-no-Yado Iida(なごみの宿いい田)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kanko Ryokan Hokkai(観光旅館 北海)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shinsei(海鮮味処 御宿新生)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Uminoya(民宿 海のや)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Kobayashi(民宿 小林)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Ichiyo(民宿 一与)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Oyado Ginrinkaku(お宿 銀鱗閣)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hiduka-so(日司荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Isonoka(民宿 磯乃香)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Oshima(民宿 大島)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Noduka Campsite(野塚野営場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten