World Heritage Site Shiretoko: A Northern Paradise with Spectacular Natural Views

This is a place you definitely want to visit if you come to Hokkaido.

Last year, there was a very unfortunate maritime accident.
As a Hokkaido citizen, I felt really sad and heartbroken.
I have also been on a sightseeing boat several times.
I was truly moved by the spectacular scenery.
So I want you to experience the scenery and the pristine nature firsthand!
I think you will be absolutely mesmerized and I hope you will go.

Please check the Shiretoko homepage for safety measures.

The distance from Sapporo to Shiretoko is approximately 410 kilometers!
By car, it takes about 6 hours on the highway. It’s 6 hours without a break. It takes a whole day…

However, I would like you to fully enjoy the various scenery across vast Hokkaido, so if you are driving, I think it would be a good idea to stay for a day along the way, such as Asahikawa, and go sightseeing in other places. .
In Asahikawa, we highly recommend the Asahiyama Zoo, where you can see the natural ecology of animals up close.

[How to get to Shiretoko]
There are various ways to get to Shiretoko from Sapporo, including by car, bus, JR, and airplane.

Click here for the positional relationship of each　⏬

If you do not have much time in your travel schedule, you can take an overnight bus from Sapporo to Shiretoko without changing trains. However, we would like you to see the scenery on the way to Shiretoko as well. You should plan your Hokkaido trip with a little extra time. Enjoy your trip!

In addition, regarding buses, there are summer and winter schedules, so please check each company’s website to make sure you are on the right timetable.

If you are coming to Hokkaido by plane, you may be able to fly to eastern Hokkaido if there is a flight to Memanbetsu Airport or Kushiro Airport, and then go to Shiretoko by rental car or public transportation.

~If you come by car~
Roads can freeze from mid-November to early April. Even if you think the roads are not icy, some parts of the roads are frozen, which may cause a slip accident. Please be careful if you are not used to driving on winter roads.
Also, some sections may be closed depending on the season, so please check carefully before you go.

At Shiretoko Pass, which is on National Route 334 that connects Utoro, Shari Town, and Rausu Town, you may encounter wild animals such as brown bears, deer, and foxes.
If you encounter a wild animal, never get out of your car or feed it, and drive with caution. The Shiretoko Pass has many curves, so please slow down and drive carefully.

The Five Lakes are located in a primeval forest.
When I was a child, I once toured the Shiretoko Five Lakes, but they were not as well maintained then as they are now. Now they are very well maintained.

＜There are two ways to walk around the Shiretoko Goko Lakes.＞
・Elevated wooden walkway with a total length of 800 meters.
・A 1.6km walkway that goes around Lakes 2 and 1, and a 3km walkway that goes around Lakes 5 and 1.

The elevated boardwalk can be used free of charge during the park’s opening hours.
It is barrier-free, so people in wheelchairs can also tour the magnificent Shiretoko.
Additionally, the elevated wooden walkway is equipped with electric fences to prevent brown bears, so you can enjoy the great outdoors with peace of mind.

The above-ground boardwalk is fee-based and allows visitors to stroll through the forest to Lake No. 1, the final point of the trail.
There is a 3-km walking course from Lake No. 5 to Lake No. 1 and a 1.6-km course between Lakes No. 2 and No. 1.
During the brown bear activity season from May to July, visitors can join a guided tour.
During the rest of the year, visitors can take a 10-minute lecture before walking the trails.

Please note that the park may be closed when brown bears appear, so please check the website.
You can also take a walk on the lakes of the Shiretoko Goko Lakes during the bitterly cold winter!
This is a guided tour, so please check the website and experience Shiretoko, which has a completely different scenery than in the summer!

The 2023 season has already ended, but if you come to Shiretoko, this is a place you should definitely visit.

The forest road to Kamuiwakka on Route 93, which goes further into the depths from the Shiretoko Goko Lakes, is not well-maintained and there are some narrow gravel roads, so please be careful when driving.
The road may be closed at certain times, such as during the winter season. Please check in advance when you go.
There is also a shuttle bus from the Shiretoko Nature Center.
There are Shiretoko Goko Lakes on the way, but please note that you will not be passing through Shiretoko Goko Lakes.

Kamuiwakkayu Falls is famous as a river with hot springs flowing through it, and the temperature rises as you go up the river, reaching about 35 to 38 degrees at the final point.
This is an activity where you climb over small waterfalls from waterfall 1 to waterfall 4 while being sprayed with water.

Previously, it was possible to enter freely, and some people could relax by soaking in the water in the basin of the fourth waterfall, but from 2023, you will only be able to enter by participating in the “Kamuiwakka Hot Waterfall”.
However, you can see the river from the top of the bridge, so even if you are not participating in the activities, please come and visit.

Also, for those who participate, helmets will be rented for free, but please make sure to prepare well in advance and enjoy climbing waterfalls in the virgin forest, which is a rare experience!

This waterfall located along National Route 334 has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls.
The waterfall is divided into two parts from the middle and has a drop of about 30 meters, making it very impressive.
If you climb the stairs from the parking lot, you can see an even more spectacular waterfall right in front of you.
There is also a parking lot and restrooms, so if you come by car, be sure to visit before heading to Shiretoko Goko Lakes.

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Shiretoko also has many other attractive places such as 『Furepe Waterfoll』『Shiretoko Pass』『Cape Puyuni』『Oronko Rock』and 『Yuuhidai』, which are included in the Shiretoko Eight Scenic Spots.

And most importantly, Hokkaido has a lot of delicious food!
After enjoying nature for a day, I would like you to relax at the hotel and enjoy Shiretoko with food such as crab, salmon, scallops, and Atka mackerel.

When you come to vast Hokkaido, be sure to take a trip to Shiretoko and experience the great outdoors firsthand!