- July 22nd, 2014
- nature
- FamousSpots
- EasternArea
[Shiretoko National Park] Home of Brown Bears Has Been Designed As World Natural Heritage Site
I introduce about the north side of the Shiretoko Peninsula (Shari Area) on the first page, and introduce about the south side of the Shiretoko Peninsula (Rausu Area) on the second page.
CONTENTS
Rausu Area
Except a city area of the Rausu town and along roads, most part of the Rausu is has been designed as the Shiretoko National Park. Along with the Shari Area, this place has the sea, lakes, mountains, animals and onsen. Here is an unusual place in Japan to enjoy the primitive nature in the sea or the land, too, and are few famous tourist attractions that tourists may run into brown bears. Famous tourist attractions are Shiretoko Pass (知床峠), Lake Rausu (羅臼湖), Kumagoe Falls (熊越の滝) and Kuma-no-Yu (熊の湯). The sea introduces the Rausu to the outside world, and the Killer Whale and Whale watching are popular in a summer, and oversea tourists come to see the White-tailed Eagle and drift ice in a winter. My visited place are as follows.
Shiretoko Pass
Shiretoko Pass (知床峠) is a popular viewing point at 738 m above sea level between Rausu town and Shari town in Shiretoko Peninsula, and is located around the top of National Route 334 (the common name is Shiretoko Crossing Road (知床横断道路)) connecting Utoro with Rausu, the length of 27 km in total, with some sharp curves. Good views of Kunashiri Island (国後島) and Mt. Rausudake (羅臼岳) can be seen if the weather is fine. The place has sometimes foggy days, and you are lucky if the weather is fine. Observatory decks, a public restroom and a parking lot are built on the site. The parking lot is used for Lake Rausu hikers, too. * It takes 20-30 minutes from here to an entrance of the lake on foot. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. The road is closed to traffic from early November to late April. Read More
Lake Rausu
Lake Rausu (羅臼湖) is a freshwater lake at 740 m above sea level in the foot of Mt. Chinishiridake (知西別岳), and the perimeter is about 4 km, and the maximum depth is 2 m, and is the largest lake in the Shiretoko National Park. The lake used to be called a phantom lake because creeping pines growing thickly and a lot of bears had been kept people away. But trails are built at present, and are opened to hikers from June to October, so even beginner hikers can enjoy hiking. Except the Lake Rausu, there are 5 ponds (from Ichi-no-Numa Pond (一の沼) to Go-no-Numa Pond (五の沼)) and Menashi-Boyodai Lookout (目梨望遥台), and various sceneries such as a snow scenery in a spring, a fresh green in a summer and fall foliage in an autumn can be enjoyed. * Unfortunately, a trail to the Ichi-no-Numa Pond is not built, but hikers can see from the Ni-no-Numa Pond (二の沼) to the Go-no-Numa Pond along the trails. Admission free. Read More
Trekking Map of Lake Rausu (羅臼湖のトレッキングマップ) in Japanese is here
Rausu Onsen
Rausu Onsen (羅臼温泉) is a hot spring place along Rausu River in Rausu town located in Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島), and has been founded since 1783. There are Kuma-no-Yu (熊野の湯), Hotel Mine-no-Yu (ホテル峰の湯), Rausu Daiichi Hotel (るらうす第一ホテル), Shiretoko National Park Rausu Onsen Camping Ground (知床国立公園羅臼温泉野営場), Rausu Visitor Center (羅臼ビジターセンター), a geyser and Rausu Onsen Trail (羅臼温泉歩道) along Shiretoko Crossing Road (National Route 334). The distance is around 3 km away from the center of the Rausu, and there are a boarding point, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, bars with a surcharge, Izakaya and a convenience store there. Read More
Aidomari Onsen
Aidomari Onsen (相泊温泉) is the Japan's easternmost hot spring place in Rausu town located in the Shiretoko peninsula, and is located around the end of Hokkaido Road 87, and the distance is around 25 km far away from the center of the Rausu. The hot springs as well as the Seseki Onsen were founded by Mr. Ichitraro Horiuchi (堀内市太郎). At present, here is famous as wild natural onsen on the seashore, and a lot of tourists come. Read More
Seseki Onsen
Seseki Onsen (セセキ温泉) along Hokkaido Road 87 is a hot spring place in the sea in Rausu town located in the Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島), and it is far away (around 20 km) from the center of the Rausu. Seseki means "Hot" in Ainu language, and it having the same meaning with hot springs, so I think that it had been known by Ainu people since long time ago. In all of recorded history, Mr. Ichitraro Horiuchi (堀内市太郎) found the hot springs in 1899, and made a public bathroom. After that, the bathroom sunk into the sea, so the open-air bath was left at present. It was used as a shooting place of the television drama "From the north country (北の国から)", Mr. Hidetaka Yoshioka, a famous actor, and Mr. Juro Kara, a famous actor, took a bath, so a lot of tourists has came. Read More
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Except Rausu Area, Other Tourist Attractions
In the outside the scope of the Shiretoko National Park, some tourist attractions and some restaurants are built. My visited place are as follows.
Makkaus Cave
Luminous moss grows naturally at the Makkaus Cave (マッカウス洞窟), and is very rare moss reflecting the light, and looks emerald color, so it has been designed as Hokkaido natural monument. Entry is prohibited because of falling rocks at present. Bad luck.
Atmosphere of Luminous Moss Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Luminous Moss
Rausu Kunashiri Observatory Deck
Rausu Kunashiri Observatory Deck (羅臼国後展望塔) is a resource center in Rausu town, Shiretoko Peninsula, and is built for the return of Northern Territories on a hill at about 167 m above sea level, and is well-known as a good place to see the sunrise. Four Northern Islands Museum (北方四島の資料館) is on the 1st floor, an observation deck is built on the rooftop. The Rausu Kunashiri Observatory Deck and a parking lot are on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. By the way, a road to the Rausu Kunashiri Observatory Deck is narrow and slope, so drive safety. Read More
Grilled Pike Congera Sea Eel Rice Bowl
Shiretoko Restaurant (知床食堂) in Rausu town is a restaurant at second floor of Roadside Station "Shiretoko Rausu (知床・らうす)". I heard that Grilled Pike Congera Sea Eel Rice Bowl at this restaurant was very popular for riders that tour around Hokkaido, and I visited here. Except the grilled pike congera sea eel rice bowl, a seafood rice bowl (海鮮丼) and Shiretoko Deep Ocean Water Soft Serve Ice Cream (知床深層水ソフトクリーム) are popular, too. Read More
Shiretoko Deep Ocean Water Soft Serve Ice Cream
Shiretoko Restaurant Shop (知床食堂売店) is on 1st floor of Shiretoko Restaurant in Rausu located in Shiretoko Peninsula, and is famous for serving Shiretoko Deep Ocean Water Soft Serve Ice Cream (知床深層水ソフトクリーム) and Deep Fried Atka Mackerel Humberger (ホッケフライバーガー). I have eaten Grilled Pike Congera Sea Eel Rice Bowl (黒ハモ丼) at the Shiretoko Restaurant, so I tried to eat the Shiretoko Deep Ocean Water Soft Serve Ice Cream this time. There is the shop in front of a parking lot, and there is a resting place, too. Other visitos bought the Shiretoko Deep Ocean Water Soft Serve Ice Cream successively, and after all it was popular. I lost no time in buying it at a window, too. The price was JPY 320. Read More
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the south side of the Shiretoko Peninsula. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
Rausu Onsen
Rausu
I introduce about the north side of the Shiretoko Peninsula (Shari Area) on the first page, and introduce about the south side of the Shiretoko Peninsula (Rausu Area) on the second page.
By the way, Club Tourism (クラブツーリズム), a Japanese tour travel agency, provides various types of tours such as day trip tours or ordinary tours. In the case of bus tours, tourists do not drive their cars themselves, so they can savor alcohol. Choosen tourist attractions are national parks such as Rishiri and Rebun, Shiretoko, and popular tourist places such as Furano and Biei, and some activities such as hiking and fruit picking are also enjoyed depending on seasons. If you are interested in tour trips, you should visit the club tourism's website for details.
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