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

The road to heaven in Shari-cho, Hokkaido, became popular nationwide after a social media post said that the straight road seemed to continue to the heavens. This road is National Route 334 and Route 244, and the road continues straight for about 18km. Nearby is a wooden observation deck called "Nameless Observatory", from which you can see not only the road to heaven, but also the vast fields typical of Hokkaido and the Sea of ​​Okhotsk beyond. 📌The road to heaven 📌Minehama, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido (National Route 334 and Route 244 / Shari National Route 📌About 15 minutes by car from JR Shiretoko Shari Station 📌Famousness ★★★☆☆ #Hokkaido Tourism #Road to heaven #Scenic spot #Hokkaido #Touring #Drive #Straight #Shari Town #Shiretoko Shari Station

-This pond was formed by underground water that springs up from Lake Mashu, but the indigenous Ainu people called Lake Mashu "Kamuito (Lake of God)", and this pond came to be called "Kami no Ko Ike (Child of God Pond)". You need to travel by car to get there, but it is a very beautiful pond with a crystal clear cobalt blue that can be clearly seen to the bottom 5 meters deep 😎 The area is closed during the winter, and the opening depends on the snow conditions. Please note that you need to check in advance! Address: 〒099-4526 Kiyosato-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido Opening date: Early May to late October *Vehicles are not allowed during the winter How to access: About 20 minutes by car from Midori Station in Kiyosato-cho. *There is a sign along the road, so you will need to park your car and walk along the forest road, so it is better to wear comfortable shoes #trip2022 #

Kaminoko Pond is a pond located in the forest near Lake Mashu in the southern part of Kiyosato Town in eastern Hokkaido. From June to August, on a clear day, Kaminoko Pond reflects the color of the sky and turns cobalt blue. The white sand on the bottom of the pond emphasizes the blue color. In late autumn and winter, the pond turns indigo blue, and in winter it can only be accessed by snowshoes, so if you're looking for a photogenic shot, we recommend visiting in the summer. Please come and visit us! ! #breathtakingview #coupletrip #Hokkaido #freespot #JapanGenkiProject2021 #amazingnature #breathtakingview #tripwithkids

Shiretoko Five Lakes, Road to Heaven, Kamui Pond, Ura-Mashu Observatory, Kussharo Lake Sunayu, Kawayu Onsen Oyado Kinkiyu Annex Shinobutou Visiting the must-see spot "Shiretoko Five Lakes" in "Shiretoko National Park," a World Natural Heritage site, brought back nostalgic memories after seven years. Last time, I only walked the "elevated wooden path," but this time, I explored the "ground walking trail." The entrance fee is 250 yen, and visitors need to fill out an application form, attend a lecture, and watch a video before being allowed to hike freely. The trail is divided into a small loop and a large loop, both one-way routes. I chose the large loop, which includes photo stops and took about 1.5 hours to complete, returning via the elevated wooden path. Many tourists were hiking, some even with guides. Perhaps due to the cold weather and the crowd, I didn’t encounter any bears. The autumn foliage was not yet at its peak, and I found the elevated wooden path more scenic. The lakeside views along the ground trail were decent but not as stunning as the mountain spots I visited last week. For lunch, I dined at the popular "Utoro Fishermen’s Cooperative Women’s Division Cafeteria." Luckily, I arrived early and only waited five minutes before a long queue formed. After lunch, I drove for half an hour to "Road to Heaven," a truly heavenly path. The observatory offers a great view of the sunflower fields below. An hour’s drive brought me to the long-awaited hidden gem "Kamui Pond." I finally fulfilled my regret from 2017. Despite the narrow gravel road, turning around wasn’t an issue. From the parking lot, it’s less than a minute’s walk to the wooden walkway, where breathtaking views await. Compared to Biei Blue Pond, Aomori’s Juniko Blue Pond, and Yamagata’s Maruike-sama, Kamui Pond is much easier to access and photograph. This will definitely become one of my regular spots. About ten minutes later, I arrived at "Ura-Mashu Observatory." Although the air was slightly hazy, the visibility of Mashu Lake was high, offering beautiful scenery. Finally, I visited "Kussharo Lake" after seven years. I didn’t soak in "Sunayu," but the sunset view was stunning, evoking a European ambiance. By evening, at 5:00 PM, I reached "Oyado Kinkiyu Annex Shinobutou," located near "Kussharo Lake Sunayu." This high-end hotel is a renovated old facility. Nearby is the main building "Oyado Kinkiyu," where guests can enjoy free hot springs. The room is a cozy Japanese-style twin room, providing a comfortable sleep. The lobby is elegantly decorated, and the "Restaurant Haspo" buffet, offering a mix of Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisine, is highly rated. The all-you-can-drink alcohol at dinner and the lobby’s drink bar make it worthwhile. Dinner highlights included crab legs, crab miso soup, and freshly made sushi. "Kawayu Onsen Village" is filled with the scent of sulfur. The outdoor walking paths are under construction, but the steaming streams create a fantastic atmosphere. Japan has many similarly named hot springs. Among them: - "Yunokawa Onsen" in Shimane Prefecture is one of Japan’s three major beauty hot springs. - "Kawanoyu Onsen" in Hokkaido, located below Mount Hakodate, is a famous hot spring. - "Kawayu Onsen" in Teshikaga Town, near Mount Io in Eastern Hokkaido. - "Kawayu Onsen" in Wakayama Prefecture, near Kumano Kodo. - "Yukawa Onsen" in Iwate Prefecture, near the Akita border. - "Yukawa Onsen" in Ishikawa and Nagano Prefectures. Including tonight’s stay, I’ve now visited three of these hot springs. In May 2015, I stayed at Hokkaido’s "Kawanoyu Onsen," and in March 2023, I stayed at Wakayama’s "Kawayu Onsen." Located within "Akan-Mashu National Park," "Kawayu Onsen" was historically a therapeutic hot spring area. It lies east of Mashu Lake and west of Kussharo Lake. Its strong acidic hydrogen sulfide water contains minerals like gypsum and greenstone, making it one of Japan’s rare volcanic hot springs. Known for its therapeutic properties and high sterilization effect, the spring’s composition is "acidic sulfur-containing iron sodium sulfate chloride spring (hydrogen sulfide type)." Electrical appliances here typically last only three years due to acid corrosion, increasing hotel maintenance costs. This is similar to the acidic hot springs I visited earlier this month, such as Aomori’s Sukayu Onsen and Akita’s Hoshinokai Onsen, as well as Tamagawa Onsen, which I plan to visit next week. After soaking in the large communal bath at night, I walked to the main building in the morning for another soak. The outdoor baths have pools with varying temperatures, and the autumn foliage along the way is perfect for photography.

The charm of Shiretoko! Shiretoko in Hokkaido is just amazing nature! It's surrounded by incredibly beautiful scenery, and the air is great. What's more, this is where brown bears live, and if you're lucky, you might even see them! It's like a "theme park of nature" where you can meet wild animals. ⸻ Why Shiretoko is Amazing! Shiretoko in Hokkaido is all about wild, untouched nature! You'll be blown away by the stunning scenery and super fresh air. It's also home to wild brown bears, and if you're lucky, you might even spot one! It's like a giant nature park where you can really feel the power of the wild.

📍 Itinerary Overview: otaru, sapporo, ashikawa, abashiri 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions Blue pond, ice breaker ship, otaru canal, ashikawa ice festival 🚇 Transportation: car rental 🍜 Local Cuisine: delicious seafood like a king crab and oyster 💡 Tips: if you can drive in japan, better to rent a car in car rental #localguides #deliciousfood #hokkaido

📍8:30 AM: Woke up for breakfast. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, some of which were freshly prepared by the chef. The presentation was nice, and the food tasted good. The window seats offered a sea view. 📍This afternoon, I had a reservation for an ARPA Shiretoko Five Lakes hike. After checking out at 11:00 AM, I tried calling ARPA, but no one answered. As per the email instructions, I walked to the Shiretoko Monsoon Club Hotel, where I would be staying tonight, to meet them. Although it was only a ten-minute walk, dragging my suitcase through the snow was quite difficult. Thankfully, a kind stranger offered me a ride. 📍12:40 PM: The ARPA guide picked us up from the hotel lobby and drove us to the Five Lakes. It turned out that they waited for all the cars to arrive before opening the gate. At 1:30 PM, after putting on our snowshoes, we set off. Each guide was followed by a line of "ducklings," and we entered the area in separate groups. On the way from the fifth lake to the first lake, we saw bear footprints and the entire lake surface covered in snow. We slid down a snowy slope and drank the tea the guide brought. It was my first time seeing such thick snow in a forest. If I wasn't careful, my legs would sink in. As we progressed, the wind and snow intensified, and the guide quickly changed our route. It's a little disappointing that we didn't see any animals. Although the entire hike only lasted 2 hours, my legs felt heavy. 📍After returning to the hotel and resting, we had dinner at 6:00 PM. Unfortunately, we didn't see the sunset due to the weather. We booked a two-night stay with two meals included. We went to the restaurant for breakfast and dinner at pre-selected times. Each meal was different. The first night was tempura. The ingredients were fresh, the tableware was cute, and the ice cream after dinner was delicious! We had reserved the outdoor bath in the small courtyard for 50 minutes after dinner. I loved it! There was a small hiccup during check-in. Because I didn't pay attention when booking, I chose two different room types for the two nights. The young lady at the front desk and her grandmother very enthusiastically tried to communicate with me. Due to my lack of Japanese and not wanting to trouble them, I had already given up. After dinner, the person in charge called us over and told us that they had changed our booking to the same room for both nights. I was so grateful. The grandparents and young ladies greeted us every day. On the second night, the air conditioner in our room broke down. The owners tried to fix it for a long time, but when they couldn't, they quickly brought us a heater. It was so warm. There was a homemade hotel guide and several magazines about Shiretoko in the room. One of them featured photos of local shop owners in Utoro with their storefronts. It was a meaningful local publication.

Shiretoko's Aurora is a thrilling cruise experience on drift ice. The sight of the ship crunching the ice as it moves forward is truly spectacular. You can go outside and see the moment the ice wall breaks up up close, so you're sure to be overwhelmed by the power of the ship. In winter, you can enjoy the spectacular views that unfold in the direction of the ship's movement as it breaks the drift ice. Experience the feeling of adventure as you experience the great nature of Shiretoko with your whole body. 🕰️Opening hours: January to March (varies depending on the drift ice season) 🏖️Atmosphere/facilities: Impressive outside views, warm and comfortable inside the ship 📍Location: Shiretoko Peninsula, Shari-cho, Hokkaido 💰Price per person: Adults 6,000 yen to 10,000 yen (varies depending on the season) #0 yen trip February 2025

I went for a walk around the Shiretoko Five Lakes, the tip of Hokkaido 🌿 The weather was great and the scenery was amazing!! A place rich in nature where many wild animals, including bears, live. There are "two ways to walk" around the Shiretoko Five Lakes! Please use this as a reference and enjoy the great nature of Shiretoko on a course that suits you ✍️ 1. Elevated boardwalk A course that can be safely walked throughout the season! There were electric wires on the side of the boardwalk to keep out brown bears. This time, I walked on a safe promenade 🚶♀️ Luckily, I encountered a wild deer 🦌 2. Ground promenade A course that can only be walked by those who have received a lecture from a guide! The brown bears are a little scary, but it's attractive to be able to walk through nature 👀I'd definitely like to participate next time! ※The ground promenade will be closed when brown bears are in sight. 📍Shiretoko Five Lakes, Hokkaido 📮 549 Iwaubetsu, Onnebetsu Village, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido 099-4356 #Domestic Travel Strategy

We completed the beautiful Shiretoko Five Lakes morning hike with a guide and was blessed with great weather and sceneries. We did not spot any bear 🐻 but saw 2 wild swans 🦢 🦢 and some deers 🦌. The hike is about 3km, and it’s a fairly easy hike. However, the park conditions changes according to weather and seasons and it is safer to go with a guide as there are chances to meet brown bears who call the National park their home. The guide also provide educational info about the flora and fauna in the park in addition to the geology of the park. #travel #hokkaido #Shiretoko

Passing through this place in a car, we saw the endless sea. When we came near the hotel, we headed to the evening balcony, where you can overlook the sea of ​​Shiretoko. There is a place to camp near the evening balcony, if you can watch the sunset or stargazing here is good. 📍Yūhidai Observatory Utorokagawa, Shari, Shari District, Hokkaido 099-4351 Japan #Japan Good Places #Travel Photo #Travel Itinerary #Evening Balcony Observation Deck #Even Balcony #Japan #Hokkaido #Shiretoko #Travel Attractions #Travel Hotspots

#Sakura2024 🌈Experience a unique travel experience, Ryuhyo Ice Walk or walking on the ice in Shiretoko, a perfect choice for a special and memorable time in your life. 🕘 Activity duration: Approximately 2 hours (including travel time from the hotel to and from) 🪭Ice walking activity participation fee: 6,000 yen / person (including hotel pick-up and drop-off service, guide, boots and gloves that are lent according to each person's size) can be paid in cash to the guide. 🔆What to bring: Hat, sunglasses 📍Coordinates of the tour to pick up and drop off (if not staying at a hotel nearby) Must come to get on the car here: Roadside Rest Area Utoro-Shirietoku 💡Precautions: Make a reservation for a local tour guide online at least 3 days before the activity date to arrange a convenient date, time, and time for the van to pick you up. 💙If you are staying at a hotel near Roadside Rest Area Utoro-Shirietoku, you can coordinate with The tour company will pick you up at your hotel for free. 📸 Photo taken during: March 2024 ❄️ Temperature around: -8 degrees Celsius 🧊 Months suitable for this activity: February and March (depending on the melting of ice) 📕 Recommended activities: Walking, taking pictures, soaking in ice ...................................................................................... ⭐️ How to get to the hotel in Shiretoko: From Sapporo, take the bus at Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal and get off at Kitakobushi shiretoko hotel & resort (our hotel, the bus stop is in front of the hotel, very convenient) 💴 Fare from Sapporo: 7,850 yen/one way/person, round trip 15,700 yen/person (buy tickets and choose seats online) 🚍 Outbound: Departure from Sapporo at: 23:15 (It is a sleeper bus with reclining seats) There is a toilet in the car) Arrive at Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort the next day at 06:34. 🚍Return: Depart from the starting hotel, Hotel Shiretoko at 09:00, arrive at the destination, Sapporo at around 16:22. **There is only one bus per day for both the outbound and return trips.** 🌸The expected cherry blossom season in Sapporo is around: April 25-29, 2024 #TravelJapan #shiretoko #hokkaido #shiretoko #icewalking #hokkaido

The northeastern part of Hokkaido is rich in nature, with Shiretoko at its center. Shiretoko-Shari Station is used as a base for accessing Shiretoko. This station, located midway along the Senmo Main Line, is the starting point for buses to Shiretoko. The station building feels new. Inside, there are waiting rooms, toilets, and souvenir shops. Trains currently being checked are indicated by signs on a notice board, giving it a nostalgic feel. It is also the departure and arrival station for the Ryuhyo Monogatari train, a tourist train that only operates in winter. If you have the opportunity, please try it out. #DomesticTravel #Hokkaido #HokkaidoTrip #ShiretokoShariStation

Kaminoko Pond, located close to the Uramashu Lake Observatory, is a clear blue water pond in a primeval forest🌳. It is called Kaminoko Pond because it is made from underground water from Lake Mashu (Kamuito, or Lake of the Gods in Ainu).💕 A beautiful and mysterious pond tucked away deep in a mountain path in a primeval forest, it is recommended for a walk while enjoying forest bathing👍 #Autumn Trip #Breathtaking Views

Lake Tofutsu is registered under the Ramsar Convention. It was only a short time, but we were able to look out over the expansive lake and wetlands. On the other side, you can see the sea of ​​Shiretoko. I heard that it is a lake where many wild birds fly, but I couldn't see it well with the naked eye from the moving train. The Abashiri area is rich in nature. You can see a luxurious view that you can't see in urban areas. When you're tired of city life, it feels good to be healed by the great nature of the north. Hokkaido is so big. The Sapporo area is popular, but the natural charm of eastern Hokkaido is also hard to give up 😊 #Abashiri #breathtakingview #LakeTofutsu #wildbirds #Hokkaido #Hokkaidotrip #trip #trip #hokkaido #gw2022jp #lake #shiretoko

The small clear water garden is part of the Abashiri National Park and is located in the grassy area on the sand dunes of Kosumi-cho, Kori-ri, Hokkaido. The native garden refers to the wetland and grass covered by flowers with no vivid colors and natural colors. Due to its unique vegetation features, it is also known as the natural flowerbed. The garden is in the slender area between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bohai Lake. There are often wild birds flying on the lake. 40 kinds of wildflowers are open here, and June-August is a particularly beautiful season. When roses, shrimps, lily, and small apples are open, pink, red, and white reflect each other, and the grass will be plain. Dressed up very beautifully.

One of the reasons why Shiretoko was landed as a World Heritage Site is that it has a biological network that allows rare animals to survive, covering the sea, rivers and land. If you want to see wild animals, but because it is inconvenient to bring the baby or do not want to walk in the snow for a long time, you can participate in the Winter Wildlife Observatory, sit in the car and explore the outside world through the window. The whole journey takes about one and a half hours. The guide will send a telescope to everyone for easy observation and a brief introduction while driving. The windows are generally open, but still warmer than outdoors. Can you see the animal depends on your eyes and luck? The squid is more common, and you can see the footprint of the fox. As for the brown bear, can you see it? The guide said that there are two hundred bears here, 90% of them are hibernating, but some are active. Return time is still relatively early, the guide special zone to see the waterfall (also known as Shuangmei Waterfall). Along the way, the clouds on the sea surface are quite low, as if the world is coming, the momentum is amazing.