Hokkaido"nature & sightseeing" Information

　"World Nature Heritage Site and unexplored region Shiretoko"

■An unexplored　region and　Shiretoko

　　　Every year, the Shiretoko-peninsula which projected to the Sea of Okhotsk which drift ice comes is just "Shiretoko." On both sides of the Shiretoko range which stands in a row centering on Mt. Rausudake (altitude of 1661 m), the west side serves as "Shari-cho" and the east side serves as "Rausu-cho."


　　　　　　Shiretoko peninsula point
(the left and Rausu-cho, the right and Shari-cho)

　　　With this Shiretoko and the song in Showa 45 "Shiretoko Sentiment", We caused the "Shiretoko boom" and many folks visited aiming at the unexplored region. We registered with the World Natural Heritage Site of the Unesco in Heisei 17.

　　　Inside of Shiretoko, "land,sea,sky" has hidden a charm not be exhaustive in.


　Prospect in the offing of Shiretoko of summer

■ Charm

▼Charm Part 1: Inland division

　　　Mountains centering on Mt. Rausudake stand in a row, and many alpine plants which bloom all over can observe from the vertex to foot.
　　　Moreover, traversing of the Shiretoko range is also calling the mountain-climbing lover's acceptance. 　　　　　
　　　There is a mountain trail from the Shari-cho and Rausu-cho side, respectively.


　The peak and Mt. Rausudake (1.661 m)

"To the Shari-cho side, Shiretoko Five Lakes which projects the Shiretoko range on the water surface can see the hunky-dory prospect through an opposite leaf and the four seasons.


　Shiretoko range and Shiretoko 5 Lakes

　　　Moreover, in order for folks who avoid a ferocious brown bear and have a handicap to also try to have you make it feel easy about "Shiretoko ５ Lakes" with a wheelchair, 2 km in length "elevated boardwalks" is installed. The belvedere is also established in "elevated boardwalks" .


　　Barrier-free elevated boardwalks


▼Charm Part 2 ："Marine division"


- Shari-cho side

　　　If their eyes are turned to the sea, in the Shari-cho side, a precipitous cliff continues along a peninsula and the aspect etc. of the rocks deleted from the tourist ship by the drift ice etc. which crowd from north can observe carefully.


The tourist ship with which a precipitous
　　　cliff cruises (Shari-cho side)

　A tourist ship to a waterfall,
　　　　and a cliff (Shari-cho side)



- Rausu-cho side

　　　In the Rausu-cho side, the figure in which the animals of the seas, such as a Whale,dolphin,Killer whale which sails in the offing in an exciting way, and sea birds sail can observe from onboard. It is an acceptance from many folks who visited this.


A sperm whale sails in an exciting way
　　　　　(Rausu-cho side)


　The offing of Rausu is a Canaan!
　　　Many sea birds also come flying.

　　　Although a whale blows tide or the Sheen which flings up big tail is often seen, sometimes a new Sheen -- the ten killer whales　number of large and small acts along with a line -- can observe frequently, and is calling many folks' emotion for it.
　The season of drift ice also has the pleasure different from summer.


The Seal which has ridden on drift ice



- On the sea floor...

　　　Attraction -- the ecology of poissons, such as an Atka mackerel fish, is also observable -- is full on a ground, enjoying scuba diving.


Laying of the Atka mackerel fish
　　　seen to the see floor in Rausu


▼Charm Part 3 ："sky or on the tree・・・etc ! ?"

If their eyes are turned to sky, a visitant etc. will show a figure by year-round.
catching a sight which the visitant of big figures, such as a White-tailed sea eagle, a Steller's sea eagle, a Raven, comes flying from the Chishima Islands or the quarter of Sakhalin from early winter, and flies in the sky calmly especially.


　　　　　White-tailed sea eagle


　　　　　　"Ezorisu（Squirrel）"

　　　　　In addition, animals on land can also observe red fox,Ezo-deer, a brown bear, etc. 　　


Autumn! It is secured red fox
　　　　　　　　firmly about food.

　　　　Thus, a "World Natural Heritage Site" is fully realizable in Shiretoko.

■ Picture provided

ー(Shari-cho)

▼ Shiretoko Nature Foundation "Shiretoko Nature Center" ... 0152-24-2114

* HP of a center is "here."


▼ Shiretoko-shari-cho Tourist Association ... 0152-22-2125

* A Tourist Association's HP is "here."


ー(Rausu-cho)

▼ Shiretoko Rausu-cho Tourist Association ... 0153-87-3360

* A Tourist Association's HP is "here."