2025 Shari Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Abashiri Travel Experience ❄️🚗 🗓️ Day 1 In the morning, I arrived at Memanbetsu Airport from Haneda Airport on flight JL565. After picking up the rental car, I headed to Oshinkoshin Falls. The frozen waterfall, covered in heavy winter snow, was truly spectacular, showcasing the power of nature❄️✨. Next, I visited Kitahama Station. This station is famous as a filming location for the Chinese movie 'If You Are the One,' and inside the station building, there were many notebooks left by tourists from China✍️. The view of the train and the Sea of Okhotsk from the station was truly impressive🚞🌊. I stayed at Abashiri Koso. The dinner was delicious, and the room was spacious and comfortable. There was also a live performance by musicians in the evening, making it a wonderful night🎶. 🗓️ Day 2 I woke up naturally after a good night's sleep🌅. The first place I visited was the Abashiri Prison Museum. The history and exhibits were very interesting and worth visiting⛓️🏚️. Next, I went to the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum, but to be honest, it was a bit disappointing😅. Finally, I drove around the town of Abashiri, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the small town🚗💨. In the evening, I returned to Haneda Airport on flight JL566.🛬 It was a short trip, but I fully enjoyed the winter nature and history of Abashiri!✨

Eastern Hokkaido is the essence of Hokkaido tourism. The roads are bad and public transportation is inconvenient in winter, but this means that the beautiful scenery is preserved due to the lack of tourists. It gets dark in Hokkaido at around 4 pm, so keep this in mind when planning your itinerary. I like natural scenery and cultural attractions, so if you're tired of the classic routes, don't miss the advanced routes in Hokkaido from February to March. Hoshino Resorts: Hoshino TOMAMU Resort is the largest ski resort in Hokkaido. The powder snow is picturesque, and the 20+ ski runs will satisfy your skiing dreams. There are also exciting snow activities to enjoy the charm of ice and snow. Shiretoko Hiking: Walk on the Shiretoko Peninsula and admire the magnificent drift ice. The Shiretoko Five Lakes or drift ice walks are both fascinating. Cross the snow to find traces of animals, and you may encounter foxes or deer, leaving unforgettable memories of nature. Abashiri Icebreaker: Don't miss the winter-only Abashiri icebreaker tour. Feel the shock of nature in the icy sea, and you may encounter manatees, seals, and more, adding a mysterious touch to your journey. Sapporo White Illumination: From November 22, 2024 to March 14, 2025, the Sapporo White Illumination Festival will be held at the same time as the German Christmas Market. The light show and food will bring a festive atmosphere and surprises. Lake Akan Winter Carnival: From early February to early March, the Lake Akan Ice Park offers ice fishing, ice skating, snowmobiles, and more. It's lively and fun. Itinerary Recommendations: - Day 1: New Chitose Airport - Tanukikoji Shopping Street - Sapporo White Illumination. - Day 2: Biei Popular Tree Tour - Asahiyama Zoo - Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival (January 25 to March 9) - Sounkyo Onsen. - Day 3: Kitami Fox Village - Abashiri Icebreaker - Abashiri Prison Museum. - Day 4: Shiretoko Hiking (various routes available). - Day 5: Bihoro Pass - Lake Kussharo - Lake Mashu - Lake Akan Winter Carnival (early February to early March). - Day 6: Akanko Ainu Kotan - Hoshino Resorts - Ice Platform - Ice Village.

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

#自车游 #100 ways to travel Hokkaido is vast and sparsely populated, especially in the Dodong area, but it has excellent natural landforms. If you want to visit #HokkaidoDodong, the best way is #self-driving tour. In fact, driving in Hokkaido is very comfortable. There are few people and cars, the roads are easy to walk, and the Japanese are very disciplined, so just drive slowly. This 7-day and 6-night self-driving tour to the east of Hokkaido, the itinerary is as follows: New Chitose Airport-Obihiro-Kushiro-Shiretoko-Abashiri-Sapporo ✓Transportation strategy: I drove the whole trip by myself. Because there were 5 adults and a lot of luggage, I rented a 7-seater 2000cc SUV Serena, which cost about NT$4,000 per day. Because of the long distance between Daodong and Daodong, if you take the train, you can only schedule 1-2 scenic spots every day. It is more flexible to drive and you can stop when you see good scenery on the way. ✓Must-visit attractions: #道东三湖 are respectively #Akan湖 #Mashu Lake #Kussharo Lake. This time I only went to the first two and stayed at the Akan Lake Hot Spring Hotel for one night. Lake Akan is famous for its aboriginal culture and green algae, as well as hot springs to soak in and shopping streets to visit; Lake Mashu is a crater lake, the most transparent lake in Japan, with a blue color, and the mouth of the lake is surrounded by cliffs. Can see from a distance. #Shiretoko Mountains #Shiretoko Five Lakes The most famous scenic spot on the Shiretoko Peninsula is one of the eight scenic spots in Shiretoko. It is early spring when you visit, and the snow on the top of the mountain has not yet melted, making it a beautiful place to take pictures. The Shiretoko Five Lakes is a famous hiking route, and next to it is the Jawhotsk Sea, which is the habitat of wild black bears. You must be very careful when hiking. #Abashiri Drift Ice Museum In fact, the most famous experience in Abashiri is to take a ride on the ice bed to watch the drift ice. Unfortunately, the season is wrong, so we can only visit the Drift Ice Museum to get addicted and experience the feeling of freezing below zero. There is also an attraction nearby, #Abashiri Prison, which has been turned into a museum. #东amokoto Shibazakura Park# The Takigawa Rapeseed Flower Festival is a spring flower viewing spot in Hokkaido. One is the pink carpet of Shibazakura covering the hills, dreamy and magnificent, and the other is the yellow rapeseed flower field. Both places are beautiful and worth a stop. . Departing from Amidashi, we will first arrive at Higashimokoto, and after viewing the Shibazakura, we will go to Takigawa, and then drive to Sapporo. ✓Recommended hotels: Hokkaido is very famous for its hot springs. You can choose to stay in several special hot spring hotels, such as #Akan游久の里紻雅 in the Akan Lake Hot Spring Area, or #北殷巷hirotokohotel in the Shiretoko Peninsula, where you can soak in hot springs and eat Kaiseki Japanese food, very enjoyable! ✓Must-eat food: The only thing you must eat when visiting Hokkaido is seafood! Whether it is a seafood restaurant in Kushiro Fishing Port or a buffet in a hot spring hotel, there must be fresh sashimi and salmon roe. You can DIY a bowl of sashimi donburi yourself. Obihiro is also famous for its pork, and the charcoal-grilled pork donburi is a must-try. There is also Hokkaido fresh milk produced in Tokachi. It is thick, pure, fragrant and cheap. You can drink it for breakfast every day. ✓Shopping Guide: If you want to shop for souvenirs, of course you have to go back to the metropolis Sapporo. The most famous Tanukikoji Shopping Street has everything you need, from drugstores to souvenirs, and there are many delicious restaurants along the way. In addition, Daimaru Department Store in Sapporo also has a fantastic product called Snow White Cheese, which is more popular than NY Cheese in Tokyo. Don’t miss it and queue up before it opens! #HOkkaidoTravel #self-driving tour #itinerary sharing #100 ways to travel

#100 ways to travel #bathtubhotel #poolhotel A self-driving trip in Hokkaido in spring, from Lake Akan to Shiretoko Peninsula, staying in Shiretoko on the coast of Shari Town for one night. Kita-Shiretoko Hotel & Rsort is a hot spring hotel located on the coast of the Sea of ​​​​Hokhotsk, close to the Shiretoko World Heritage Center and Shiretoko Sightseeing Boat Terminal. There is also a Godzilla Rock next to the harbor, and the seagulls and crows are all very big. Stepping into the lobby of Kitaxomi Shiretoko Hotel, you will see Shiretoko's specialties #SeaAngel and #DriftIce. SeaAngel is a type of plankton with a transparent body and small wings on both sides. It only appears in cold and clean waters. It looks very cute and healing. The hotel is famous for its hot spring spa. In addition to the hot springs indoors and outdoors, there is also an outdoor foot bath area, where people can soak their feet while looking at the pier, which is quite comfortable. Now that you are in Hokkaido, you must try the seafood buffet. It’s quite delicious to eat all you can of Matsuba crab legs! The room is about 80 to 9 square meters in size, and you can choose between beds or tatami. The price for a double room including breakfast is about $10,000, which is acceptable for a hot spring hotel. The room is also clean and comfortable. If you choose a room with a private hot spring in the room, it may cost more than $15,000. In fact, the hotel’s open-air hot spring has a great view, so you don’t need to spend more money to take a bath in the room. The Shiretoko Peninsula is really isolated from the world, especially the Shiretoko Five Lakes. With the snow-capped mountains of the Shiretoko Range as the background and the beautiful swamp waters of the wilderness as the foreground, taking photos of it is very different. It is really beautiful no matter how you take pictures! #Hokkaido Exploration #Shiretoko Accommodation #北辛伊知床hotel

The Futami Falls is the largest waterfall on the Shiretoko Peninsula. Its official name is "Oshinkoshin no Taki", which means "a river that slides down a cliff" in the Ainu language. This is a mysterious waterfall without a source. The water flows out from the cliffs and is released after gathering the abundant water from the Shiretoko Mountains. Because the waterfall is divided into two parts by rocks in the middle, it is also called the "Double Beauty Waterfall". The waterfall is about 30 meters wide and has a height difference of 50 meters. The waterfall is so majestic and awe-inspiring that it has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Waterfalls in Japan" and one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Shiretoko. 📍Address: 〒099-4354 Utoro Nishi, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido #Waterfall #100 Ways to Travel

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

Have you ever seen drift ice? You can see drift ice if you go to Hokkaido! That's not to say. You can only see drift ice in the sea facing the Okhotsk Sea in the eastern part of Hokkaido, or along the eastern coast of Hokkaido. The most famous spot is the Okhotsk area. Among them, Utoro Town in Shiretoko is on the eastern side, the closest place you can go by car, and you can see it well from there. The season is from the end of January to February. Ice that has frozen in the northern seas rides the waves and reaches the Okhotsk coast. Snow removal is progressing, so even people who are not used to driving on snowy roads can drive, but please be careful. #wintertrip #hotsprings #wintertrip #gourmet #hokkaido #greatviewspots

You've probably heard of the Road to Heaven in Shiretoko, Eastern Hokkaido. This road is usually visited in the summer when there is no snow, but this time it was covered in snow. You can actually go higher, but due to the heavy snowfall, the road was not cleared in time, so I took this photo halfway up. Access: Memanbetsu Airport 2 hours by car, 2 hours by bus There is also a train, but it is inconvenient and not recommended. Tourist spot: Road to Heaven As the name suggests, if you look west from the observation deck at the top, it is a straight road with a lot of up and down movement, so if you come at sunset, it looks like the road is stretching towards the sun. Hotel: Okhotsk House 5 minutes walk from Shari Shiretoko Station. There are roadside stations, convenience stores, restaurants, and supermarkets in the area. Shopping: There are lots of seafood from Shiretoko on sale at the product exhibition next to the roadside station. #Hokkaido #Eastern Hokkaido #Hokkaido trip #Shiretoko #Road to Heaven #Winter trip #Tourism #Breathtaking view #Hot spring

Have you ever seen drift ice? This time, we will introduce the drift ice of Shiretoko, Hokkaido, which is famous for its drift ice! You can see drift ice from Shari Town, but the further you go, the closer you can see it. How to access: From Memanbetsu Airport Tourist spots: Just under 3 hours by car The bus leaves from Memanbetsu. Please note that the train only goes to the neighboring town of Shari! Hotel: Kitakobushi & Shiretoko Kanko Hotel Meals & Restaurants: Fishery Cooperative Women's Restaurant Shopping: Utoro Roadside Station #Hokkaido #Eastern Hokkaido #Drift Ice #Shiretoko Shari Station #Shiretoko #Utoro

Visited in February 2023 *Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort Automatic piano playing in the spacious lobby And welcome coffee☕️ Footbath terrace and mini drift ice museum Even just the lobby floor is full of things to see✨ And there is also a demonstration and sale of Oboro Konbu❣️ This was incredibly delicious😋 The food is also a buffet, but there is a wide variety and everything was delicious😊 And the hot springs and sauna at this hotel are highly recommended🎵 I enjoyed watching the drift ice✨ This is a highly recommended hotel for staying in Shiretoko😊 #AccommodationReview#Hokkaido #HokkaidoTrip #Shiretoko #KitakobushiShiretokoHotel & Resort

Visited in February 2023 *Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort Rooms Very close to the bus terminal and roadside station There's also a convenience store nearby So conveniently located✨ Plus, the view from the room is amazing😊 I could see the drift ice🥰 And I could see the foxes running~🙌 The room was spacious and had all the amenities☺️ I was able to relax and enjoy my time at this relaxing hotel🎵 #AccommodationReview#Hokkaido #HokkaidoTrip #Shiretoko #KitakobushiShiretokoHotel & Resort

Visited in February 2023 *Inside the bus from Abashiri to Shiretoko A bus between Abashiri and Shiretoko, a special winter service 🚌 The view from the left side was spectacular 🙌 A limited-time tourist train You can see the drift ice story You can see Kitahama Station, the closest station to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk And as we got closer to Shiretoko The drift ice was coming ‼ ️ It was close 😊 It was a wonderful bus where you could enjoy the spectacular view even while traveling 🎵 #Snowscape #Hokkaido #HokkaidoTrip #Shiretoko

Visited in February 2023 *Roadside Station Shari A roadside station that is about a 5-minute walk from Shiretoko Shari Station and easily accessible by train✨ Inside the building, along with tourist information, there was a Loco Solare panel and Shiretoko Shari Neputa😊 The adjacent Shiretokoya has souvenir shops and restaurants where you can buy and eat Shiretoko's specialty products🥰 Perfect for waiting for a train or taking a break during a drive🎵 #Snowscape#Hokkaido #HokkaidoTrip #TohokuTourism #Shiretoko #RoadsideStation

#日本酒店 Located on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, this hotel is a large resort hotel located in the natural environment of Shiretoko, a World Natural Heritage Site, and is also the best hotel in the area. This is a place I think is worth and must stay for at least two nights. After all, this is one of the few world natural heritage sites in Japan, and there are so many places worth seeing. The hotel rooms and hot springs are similar to those of other hot spring hotels, and there are also private hot spring rooms. It's just that the buffet breakfast and dinner are slightly inferior to those of Hokkaido Tsuruga Hotel Group, with fewer varieties, but in fact it is enough, and the dining environment here is much better. The food varieties in the pictures are just the ones I chose. They are enough to fill me up. Of course, I ordered seafood sashimi several times. In addition to enjoying a rich variety of mountain delicacies and seafood from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, you can also overlook the vast expanse of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and fully enjoy the abundant and high-quality hot spring water bubbling from the majestic land of Shiretoko. In this unusual place that seems to float on the sea and in the air, you can escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, feel the breath of the Okhotsk Wave, and fully absorb the energy of the Shiretoko land. Note: The hotel exterior photos were taken in winter and summer respectively. #Overseas Travel #Japan Travel #Seaview Hotel #Hotel with the Best Seaview #Sea of ​​Okhotsk #Seafood Meal #Seafood Platter #Seafood Sashimi #Hotel Buffet #Hokkaido Travel #Hokkaido Food

"Road to Heaven" in Shiretoko, Hokkaido 099-4123 Shuen Higashi, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido The endless straight road seems to be climbing into the sky. There is an observation deck along the way, but it's halfway there, so be sure to go to the start of the road. Even when driving in Shiretoko, there are horses and cows grazing and there are many roads with a nice atmosphere, so it feels great. #HokkaidoTrip #Shiretoko #RoadToHeaven

The Shiretoko Five Lakes is one of the eight scenic spots in Shiretoko and a must-see when traveling to the Shiretoko Peninsula. The ecology of the Shiretoko Peninsula is well preserved, and you can often see animals such as brown bears (ヒグマ), deer, and foxes. There is now an observation deck overlooking the lake in this area, and a hiking trail around the lake has been built. The hiking trail around the lake is an 800-meter-long elevated trail. Because bears sometimes appear nearby, there are electric fences on both sides of the elevated trail for protection, and tourists can enter freely.

#Overseas Travel The Shiretoko Five Lakes is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Shiretoko and is a World Natural Heritage Site. It is the general name for the five large lakes located in the Iwaobetsu Daichi Forest. Surrounded by native forests, you can observe the Shiretoko Mountains, flora, fauna, and birds. There are two main tour routes. ▶️One is 800 meters on an elevated wooden path ▶️The other route is through the Shiretoko primeval forest where you can see many wild animals and plants. Address: Onobetsu Village, Shari Town, Shari County, Hokkaido Transportation: Shari Bus Stop (in front of Shiretoko Shari Station) Shiretoko Five Lakes Shiretoko Line bus 🚌 about 85 minutes to arrive #JapanTravel #Japan #HokkaidoTravel

I went to the long-awaited "Kaminoko Pond"! I'm very satisfied. Lol. All the famous places in Hokkaido are well-maintained and very easy to get to. Here too, the walkway was nicely installed, and I was able to get there easily☺️. The pond is so blue, the water is crystal clear as far as the eye can see, and it's so blue it doesn't seem natural🦋💙🔵. It's one of the places you should definitely visit at least once! However, the toilet facilities are insufficient🙇🏻‍♀️. The road to get there is bumpy, so I strongly recommend using the toilet before heading out! Lol. #Amazing view #Kaminoko Pond #Amazing nature #Hokkaido #Free spot #Autumn leaves #Cool travel experience #Amazing nature #Summer trip #Amazing view #Travel with children

We went to the Shiretoko Five Lakes, which are also registered as a World Heritage Site. 💙 To tour the Shiretoko Five Lakes, you must first receive a lecture (fees apply) before setting off. Unfortunately, when we visited, we were only guided to Lake I and Lake II, but we were still very satisfied. ☺️ The promenade is set high (to avoid encounters with bears), and it is beautiful and easy to walk on, so we were able to reach Lake I in no time. 🦕🔵 (about 15 to 20 minutes). Even children can walk there! If it's sunny, you can see the magnificent scenery of Shiretoko. No matter where you walk, it's simply beautiful. Please visit the World Heritage Sites. 👏🏻🤍 #World Heritage Sites #Trip to World Heritage Sites #Amazing Views #Amazing Nature #Hokkaido #Shiretoko Five Lakes #Autumn Leaves #Autumn Leaf Viewing #Summer Trip #Amazing Views #Trip to Enjoy Spring #Trip with Children

On the route from Abashiri to Shiretoko in Hokkaido, there are many single roads, and the autumn leaves are beautifully colored at this time of year, making for a spectacular view! I went to the "Road to Heaven", but the other roads also continued on forever, and it looked like a single road leading to the heavens 🥳🤍 #AutumnFoliage #FreeSpots #Hokkaido #Abashiri #AmazingView

The Shiretoko Five Lakes are a representative tourist destination in Shiretoko. They are named after the First Lake, Second Lake, and Five Lakes, but because they are located in a wetland, their numbers increase during the snowmelt season. Surrounded by virgin forest, their reflection on the water's surface is mystical. The Shiretoko mountain range, which is far removed from Japan, is also fascinating. Please come and visit! ! #Spectacular views #Hokkaido #Japan Genki Project 2021 #Free spots #Amazing nature #Summer trip #Spectacular views #Trip with children

At an elevation of 738m, this is the highest point on the Shiretoko Cross-Island Road that crosses the Shiretoko Mountain Range. The hiking trail reaches the summit from Rausu-daira, on the opposite side of Mt. Rausu. The Rausu side is often covered in a sea of ​​clouds, making it a great vantage point for watching the sunrise over Kunashiri Island. Please come and visit! ! #Spectacular views #Hokkaido #Unbeatable spots #Japan Genki Project 2021 #Amazing nature #Spectacular views #Travel with children

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls is a spot where you can enjoy wild outdoor activities relatively easily, despite its unexplored environment. It's a bit of an unexplored mountain stream climbing, but you rarely get to experience something like this in the great outdoors. Please come and visit us!! #breathtakingviews #coupletrip #hotspringtrip #freespots #JapanGenkiProject2021 #hotspringtrip #breathtakingviews #tripwithkids

Oronko Rock, one of the Shiretoko Hakkei, is a huge rock that is the symbol of Utoro. In Ainu, it means "the rock sitting there," and it is said to be a rock that has always been with the people who have lived in this area. A magnificent panoramic view spreads out before you. Please come and visit us! ! #breathtakingview #coupletrip #Hokkaido #freespot #JapanGenkiProject2021 #amazingnature #breathtakingview #tripwithchildren

The "Road to Heaven" is a straight road of about 28 km that runs along National Route 334 and Route 244, located in the area heading from Utoro, Hokkaido to Shari. It is said that it came to be called "The Road to Heaven" because the straight road looks like it is leading to the "heaven". Please come and visit it! ! #Amazing view #Couple trip #Free spot #Hokkaido #Japan Genki Project 2021 #Amazing view #Trip with children

Shiretoko, one of the World Heritage Sites⛰✨ The Shiretoko Mountains in Hokkaido are not only beautiful, but are also recommended as a place to enjoy forest bathing and escape the heat during the hot summer😊 I was able to refresh myself in the fresh air and abundant nature☀️ Why not try relaxing in the great outdoors too? 😉✨ #ForestBathing #SecretSummerResort #SummerShortTrip

"Kamuiwakka Hot Springs" located in the depths of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Heritage Site The Kamuiwakka River, which originates from Mount Iou in the Shiretoko Mountain Range, has a spring rich in sulfur components, and a natural open-air bath is formed in the waterfall basin downstream. The road to the hot spring is steep, and you have to climb the waterfall to enter, but once you go, you will never forget it. You will be able to experience such an impressive experience! ...