Things to Do in Hokkaido
Shiretoko Peninsula
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles89 reviews
Excellent
61
Very good
24
Average
4
Poor
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Deryn H
Waterlooville, UK2,282 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
We were touring the island with a group and took a boat trip to see the cliffs and waterfalls. We sailed up the peninsula which was very picturesque and did spot one brown Higuma bear halfway up the cliff and some deer and guillemots with brilliant red legs. Fortunately the weather was nice and calm for our outing so everybody really enjoyed it. On our return we saw a white tailed sea eagle. We were out for about an hour and a quarter. Brilliant.
Written October 24, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NicholasToo
Singapore, Singapore27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Couples
My first time in Hokkaido and Shiretoko is definitely the highlight of the trip.

Took 2 days to drive from Asahikawa - Syunkyo (stay 1 night) - Abashiri - Shiretoko was fantastic, with great scenary and very little cars on the road. Do note the speed limit though - I was stopped by a nice policeman that reminded me to drive safely...

Shiretoko is full of wildlife, seeing deers and foxes along the road. (do NOT feed them!). The mist at the place made us feel like we are in a dream,

Spent a few hours taking a guided tour around the 5 lakes with an English speaking guide. Well worth the time.

Drove through Shiretoko pass and had a great meal at Rousu, Best crab + sea urchin I ever had.
Written November 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wanderering1
Lake Macquarie, Australia760 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2017
This untamed region of Japan's northern island, Hokkaido, is a very scenic area. It can be compared to the coast line of several of the Hawaiian islands, only this coast is extreme in its isolation. There are several waterfalls and caves among the sculpted mountains-sides. Keep an eye out for bears and killer whales.
Written October 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DCTravelers69
Fort Collins, CO713 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2017 • Family
We went here with our family of six. It was a lovely peninsula. We saw bears, Fox, dear, dolphins, seals. We were able to be in the natural Hot Springs waterfall. They're lovely hikes around the lakes. I highly recommend. We went before August 1 so we could drive our vehicle into the national Park which was very convenient.
Written August 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anjali A
Los Angeles, CA143 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Family
The Shiretoko peninsula is situated in the north-eastern part of Hokkaido. It is a land of outstanding natural beauty, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005. Wildlife abounds on land, and the waters are home to seals and sea lions, dolphins and whales. The best way to see this almost untouched wilderness is by boat. Roads cover only about a quarter of the peninsula. There are many companies offering sea trips. We visited in June, and traveled on the Aurora sightseeing boat, taking the longer tour. We sat on the observation deck, and enjoyed the unobstructed view of the passing scenery.

Tips:
There are two trips offered. The longer one takes 3 hours 45 minutes, the shorter is an hour and a half.
The longer trip goes all the way to the Cape. There is much to see, both wildlife, and the rocky caves and waterfalls that line the shore.
The larger vessels provide more stability.
The smaller boats can, and do go closer to the shore.
On the outward journey stay on the right-hand side, for view of the shoreline.
It can get chilly, and windy. Be prepared with a jacket. If you bring a hat, the tie-down variety will prevent the wind from whipping it away!
Brochures are provided. If not, then ask for one, and study the map, so you can anticipate and be ready with your camera for the next point-of-interest coming up.
Written August 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SK Ho
Sydney, Australia110 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Couples
Our best experience was to be able to see a family of deer in close distance when we walked to Furepe Waterfall at the back of the Nature Centre. We went to Shiretoko Goko (Five Lakes) twice. In the morning due to thick fog we could hardly see anything (no more than 3 meters in front) even on the broad walk. In the afternoon when most of the fog was cleared, we saw the lake but it was not very spectacular. Nevertheless the cruise was a nice experience even though we did not have the luck to see wild bears.
Written July 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James V
T72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Couples
The board walk portion of the National Park is accessible to wheelchairs and is a good alternative if you cannot reserve a place in one of the guided tours. However, do your best to join a tour. These small groups (10-12) are guided by registered naturalists who educate you and keep you away from the brown bears who rule the park away from the boardwalk. Boots can be borrowed to avoid the muddy portions of the hike. This is the high point of a visit to Hokkaido for those who are into nature.
Written July 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EvY03tw
25 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2016 • Family
We ran into many animals on the way, such as elks, foxes, rabbits...etc.
But the trail was closed due to maintenance. Checking it before departure is recommended. It was still quite pleasant in the area since we could also visit other places around there.

The only problem is that they encouraged people to cherish the nature and respect the wild life...and the stores in the visitor center (not sure if it is run by the park, though) sold seal meat cans...and bear hamburger and whale meat was also available at local restaurants, which is very ironic and ridiculous.
Written December 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

baydreams
San Francisco, CA256 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Couples
The Shiretoko Peninsula can be described as the Jewel of Hokkaido. It was designated National Park in 1964 and UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2005. Due to its vast area and multiple jurisdiction, it is not easy for visitors to find needed information from one source.

I visited the NW corner of Shiretoko peninsula for 2 days as part of a 7-day guided tour of Hokkaido. The following highlights are from what I had experienced during my tour and what I researched further afterwards. One may get more info by searching TripAdvisor for the names mentioned below.

1. Visitor centers on location: There are several that should be visited before heading out to any part of the peninsula (~1 hr/center). (a) Sheritoko World Heritage Conservation Center, where I saw various exhibits on the geography, plants and animals, and unique aspects of the park. The English guided tour inside is a must-do introduction (~15 min). (b) Shiretoko Goko Lakes Field House (next to Shiretoko Goko Lakes Park Service Center), where a mandatory guided tour of the Shiretoko Goko (Five Lakes) starts (see below). (c) Shiretoko NP Nature Center, which has exhibits (kid friendly), film theater, English-speaking staff, shop and restaurant. It is also the starting point to the Furepe Waterfalls Trail. (d) Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum located near Abashiri, about 50 mi west of Shiretoko NP. This museum has excellent exhibits, reality winter showroom, multi-screen theater and observation deck. I learned a lot about the winter ocean ice drift phenomenon that is a vital link to the biodiversity in the Shiretoko peninsula.

2. Shiretoko Goko (Five Lakes): This cluster of 5 lakes formed from the volcanic eruption of nearby Mt Io (Iou) is perhaps the most picturesque and magestic area of the whole peninsula. There is an elevated boardwalk (wooden path), 2400 ft long, winding above vegetated lowlands from the Field House to Lake 1 (40 min round trip). It is wheelchair friendly and protected from the local brown bear population. For hiking on the trails connecting all 5 lakes, one has to reserve a mandatory guided tour (English, ~2 hr) in the summer months. Wherever you are in this area, you can see lakes with beautiful reflections, forests (bear habitat), and the Shiretoko mountain range (6 peaks, elevations 4100–5400 ft) in the background.

3. Coastal cliffs: The northern coast of the peninsula is largely inaccessible on land. So the only way to explore its geo- and biodiversity is on boats. We took the 1 hr cruise operated by Kamuiwakka.jp (listed as Gojiraiwa Kanko Day Tour in TripAdvisor). Although the tour narration was in Japanese, we knew what to see when the boat was moving close to the cliffs every now and then. There are various rock formation, sea caves, numerous waterfalls that pour down close to the sea, sea eagles perching on rocks, and mountain range in the distant background. (see also Aurora Boat Tours in TripAdvisor).

Without any doubt, the Sheritoko peninsula has many unique and diverse sceneries and characteristics that set it apart from the rest of the natural world. Its 4 seasons also present different faces from the sea to the mountains.
Written September 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lani C
Singapore, Singapore68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Friends
I managed to complete the board walk and although I didn't get to complete seeing the 5 lakes, what I saw took my breathe away with the pure beauty of the landscape.
The boardwalk take around 45 minutes to complete and gives you an idea about the flora and fauna of this fabulous world heritage site. You can push a wheelchair all the way so it's nice that even old or handicap people can have a chance to see this beautiful location.
It's bear county here, so the boardwalk is raised above ground to protect visitors and also to facilitate people who want to have a glimpse of the park.
It takes 5 hours with a hired guide to complete, I would highly recommend this if you have time.
Written August 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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SHIRETOKO PENINSULA: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Shiretoko Peninsula


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