[Shiretoko National Park] Home of Brown Bears Has Been Designed As World Natural Heritage Site

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. Article is here

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. Article is here
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. Article is here

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. Article is here

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. Article is here

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. Article is here

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. Article is here

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. Article is here

Nature Cruise or Drift Ice Cruise

Movie of Nature Cruise

Shiretoko Rausu Lincle(知床らうすリンクル)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Hamanasu(観光船はまなす)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Maruha Hourai Suisan Godzilla-iwa Tourism(丸は宝来水産ゴジラ岩観光)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Nature Cruise(知床ネイチャークルーズ)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

Lake Rausu Guided Tour

Movie of Lake Rausu Guided Tour

Shiretoko Guide Pikki(知床のガイド屋　ピッキ)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
First Ascent Shiretoko(ファーストアセント知床)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Nature Office(知床ネイチャーオフィス)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Naturalist Association(知床ナチュラリスト協会)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shalom Guide Office(シャローム・ガイドオフィス)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

Kumagoe Falls Guided Tour

Shiretoko Rausu Lincle(知床らうすリンクル)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

Mt. Rausudake Guided Hiking

Movie of Mt. Rausudake Hiking

Shalom Guide Office(シャローム・ガイドオフィス)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi
Shiretoko Sanko-sha(知床山考舎)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi