Kaiyodai is located on a small hill at 270 meters above sea level. There are no obstructions around, but the area is covered in an endless carpet of greenery, and the curved horizon reminds us that the earth is round.
At night, you will witness a spectacular view of stars falling down in large drops, making you realize that the earth is also a part of the galaxy.
Rausu Town, part of the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site, is surrounded by some of the finest nature in the world. The highlight of sightseeing here is the encounter with wild animals. In summer, you can take a sightseeing boat to watch whales, killer whales, and dolphins. It is actually the only place in Japan where wild killer whales can be observed. In winter, you can enjoy drift ice and bird watching. The delicious seafood of Okhotsk, nurtured by the blessings of drift ice that covers the Shiretoko Peninsula, is also available all year round.
You can experience Shiretoko’s unique wilderness here.
Shiretoko Nemuro abounds with such seafood as Hanasaki crab, Hokkai shrimp, autumn salmon, Pacific saury, grape shrimp, scallops, and Japanese littleneck clams. Various meat-based gourmet dishes like branded beef, Jingisukan, and venison cuisine are also offered. In Nakashibetsu Town, a hub of interaction in eastern Hokkaido, lots of delicious food made from fresh ingredients straight from the local and surrounding areas is served.
Nakashibetsu Town also has a wide variety of sweet stores and cafes where you can enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee or tea.
Since Nakashibetsu is a dairy farming town, visitors can enjoy soft-serve ice cream and various kinds of gelato made with fresh local Nakashibetsu milk and a strong flavor of other ingredients.
During winter, the Shiretoko Crossing Road (Route 334) is closed because it is covered in deep snow. In spring, snow removal from the road surface progresses, and the road is usually opened for traffic before the Golden Week holidays. On a day shortly before the opening, the Shiretoko Rausu Snow Wall Walk is held along the Shiretoko Crossing Road.
This food festival features the famous Hokkai shrimp and other seafood produced in Odaito. In addition to special sales of fresh Hokkai shrimp and Japanese littleneck clams, visitors can enjoy the Shrimp and Japanese Littleneck Clam Scooping Lottery, where those who win the lottery can scoop up as much shrimp and clams as they want within a limited time, and can savor seasonal delicacies at the Taste Plaza, where the youth and women’s sections of the fishery cooperative have stalls.
The Kotohira Shrine Festival, one of the three major festivals in Hokkaido, is a traditional event with a long history dating back to 1888. Also known as “Kompira-san’s Summer Festival,” it is a popular summer tradition in Nemuro City.
An oversized tower is set up at the site, and approximately 6,000 lanterns, said to be the largest in Japan, color the night sky in summer. The Daiheigen Fireworks Display, which decorates the summer night sky, is also held at the same time.
Shibetsu Town People’s Festival Mizu-Kirari is held every year on the first Saturday and Sunday of August. The festival consists of a three-part program based on the theme of appreciating and protecting the clear and abundant water that is the symbol of Shibetsu Town.
Visitors can indulge in seasonal Hanasaki crab through various programs, including crab-boiling demonstrations, a crab-eating contest, and tastings of boiled whole crab, crab soup and other seafood.
The highlight of the festival is the charcoal-grilled saury, which is served at the 100-meter x 2-row Ganpeki Robata area annually set up at the festival site. You can enjoy delicious, fatty Pacific saury.
This festival is an event where the diverse tastes of Betsukai Town in eastern Hokkaido are gathered, allowing visitors to enjoy the rich autumn flavors of the region’s livestock, agricultural, and fishery industries.
This salmon-themed event includes sales of fresh autumn salmon caught in the waters around Shibetsu and processed on a boat using the ikejime method, free salmon roe bowls, for which a line is inevitable, and a race to catch the salmon swimming in a large pool!
On New Year’s Day, many people visit Cape Nosappu every year to view the first sunrise of the year at the easternmost point of the mainland of Japan.
The jumbo slide made of snow at the venue is very popular among children!
There are also stalls set up by local merchants, allowing visitors to fully enjoy Hokkaido’s gourmet food.
Snow sculptures are on display and a fireworks show is held on the first night of the festival.