Hello.
It’s the 5th day of our Hokkaido trip. This morning, we first visited the “Road to the Sky” located between Utoro and Shari Town. The Road to the Sky is a road stretching about 28.1 km from Route 244 to Route 334. Due to the straight path and the elevation change, it looks as though the road is leading up into the sky, which is how it got its nickname. We had some trouble finding it, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to capture a good photo.
As we drove from Shari towards the World Heritage site of Shiretoko, the first major tourist spot that appeared was “Oshinkoshin Falls.” This is one of the Shiretoko Eight Views and is the largest waterfall in the area, attracting many visitors. “Oshinkoshin” is an Ainu word meaning “a place where the Ezo spruce trees grow in clusters.”
Next, we stopped at the roadside station “Utoro-Shiretoko” to do some shopping. It is said that ‘Shiretoko’ comes from the word ‘Shiretoku. We later learned that one of the popular items here is the “Cloudberry Soft Serve.” Unfortunately, we couldn’t try it.
Next, we visited the Shiretoko Natural Center, the visitor center for Shiretoko Goko (Shiretoko Five Lakes). Please note that it is closed for winter from early November to late April. The Shiretoko Goko consists of five mysterious lakes nestled in a pristine forest, with the Shiretoko mountain range in the background. The area is home to many wild animals, and brown bears are frequently spotted. There are two types of walking trails at Shiretoko Goko: an elevated boardwalk and a ground-level trail. The elevated boardwalk is recommended, as it provides a safe and bear-free walk. The boardwalk is about 800 meters long and takes you to the first lake, where you can enjoy views of the Shiretoko mountains reflected in the lakes, as well as the distant Okhotsk Sea. The boardwalk is enclosed by an electric fence (7,000V), making it safe. The path is wheelchair accessible with no steps or steep inclines. The walk ends at a lookout point.
Next, we headed to Rausu. The final episode of the popular Fuji TV drama series “Kita no Kuni Kara” (“From the Northern Country”) was filmed in Rausu. Since the airing of the show, many fans have come to visit the filming locations. “Jun’s Banya,” featured in the drama, is now a restaurant, but unfortunately, it was closed when we visited. We were disappointed, but we did manage to take a commemorative photo in front of the building.
At the nearby “Rausu Shiretoko Road Station,” you can enjoy a view of Kunashiri Island. We had the popular Kombu Ramen and Black Hamo Don at the restaurant on the second floor. Both were exquisite, and we’d love to try them again.
Next, we visited the Notsuke Peninsula. Although the distance wasn’t too long, we made several stops for sightseeing today. Notsuke Peninsula is Japan’s largest sand spit, stretching about 26 km between the Shiretoko Peninsula and the Nemuro Peninsula, extending into the Okhotsk Sea. A sand spit is a landform formed by the accumulation of sand carried by ocean currents over many years. The unique coastline, shaped by the erosion of the sea, creates a habitat for diverse life. The dead trees at Tōdōwara and Narawara, along with other unique landscapes, make this place feel otherworldly and mystical, unlike any other part of Japan.
Finally, we arrived at the parking lot by the Kushiro River, where we’ll be staying in the car tonight. This area is somewhat run-down and close to the decaying nightlife district of Kushiro. Kushiro is famous as the birthplace of “Robatayaki” (a style of grilling), so we tried to find a place to enjoy it, but everywhere was full. In the end, we bought a sandwich at a nearby Seicomart convenience store and ate it in the camper van. Right in front of the parking lot is the “Hotel Global View Kushiro,” where you can enjoy the “Natural Hot Spring Sky Bath” for day-use. The parking fee was 1,650 yen for 24 hours.
That’s all for now. See you again!