Shiretoko (Japan)
Registered in: 2005
World Heritage Type: Natural Heritage
Registration criteria:
- They represent outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, plant and animal communities.
- contain the most important natural habitats for the conservation of biological diversity in the wild, including species that are threatened with extinction and that are of outstanding universal value from the scientific or conservation point of view;
Access: Utoro is 90km from Memanbetsu Airport, and takes about 2 hours by car. Rausu is 121km from Memanbetsu Airport, and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes by car.
Shiretoko is a World Heritage Site with a unique nature and ecosystem nurtured by the sea of drift ice.
Shiretoko is registered as a World Heritage Site along with Yakushima, Shirakami-Sanchi, and the Ogasawara Islands. The natural heritage site is a vast area of 71,100 hectares (48,700 hectares on land and 22,300 hectares on sea), centered on the Shiretoko Peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk. Beautiful mountains, seas, forests, lakes, and marshes are scattered throughout the area, and a unique ecosystem has developed there. As the name Shiretoko, which comes from the Ainu word "shirietoku," meaning "a place that juts out," suggests, Shiretoko is a faraway place, untouched by human hands. This is why the pristine nature remains so vividly.
One of the major factors that shapes the nature of Shiretoko is the presence of drift ice that fills the sea in winter. The sea of Shiretoko, which is the southernmost limit of drift ice in the Northern Hemisphere, is an area filled with abundant nutrients that are carried along with the drift ice. Animals such as seals and Steller's sea eagles visit this area in search of this rich sea. Furthermore, the salmon that grow up in the rich sea eventually swim upstream into the rivers and become food for mountain animals such as brown bears. These mountain animals then eventually return to the soil, enriching Shiretoko's forests. From the sea to the mountains, and back to the forests. The cycle of life that begins in the sea of drift ice nurtures the beautiful nature of Shiretoko.
The overwhelming scenery created by untouched nature and the wide variety of flora and fauna that has developed here are just some of the attractions of a trip to Shiretoko that can only be found here.
Experience the charm of the World Heritage Site and the great outdoors at Shiretoko National Park
The core of the World Heritage Site "Shiretoko" is "Shiretoko National Park", which covers the area from the center of the Shiretoko Peninsula to the tip of Cape Shiretoko and some of the surrounding sea areas. This national park, which spans the two towns of Shari and Rausu, is dotted with many sights. Starting from the "Shiretoko Nature Center" and "Shiretoko Five Lakes Field House" in Shari, and the "Shiretoko National Park Rausu Visitor Center" in Rausu, you can enjoy a variety of beautiful landscapes.
For example, in Shari Town, be sure to visit the famous sites known as the "Eight Views of Shiretoko." These include the five mysterious lakes "Shiretoko Five Lakes" surrounded by lush virgin forests, "Kamuiwakka Hot Waterfalls" where hot spring water gushes out from the middle of Mount Shiretoko Iou and flows down as a waterfall, and "Oronko Rock", a spectacular 60m-tall giant rock located near Utoro Port. All of these beautiful spots will let you feel the profound charm of "Shiretoko." Cruise ships around the Shiretoko Peninsula frequently depart from Utoro Port, so it is also recommended to view the untouched natural scenery from the sea.
Of course, Rausu Town, which has an even more "remote" feel than Shari Town, is dotted with many famous places. You can enjoy hiking on Mount Rausu, one of Japan's 100 famous mountains, or the Shiretoko Mountain Range, drive along the Shiretoko Crossing Road (closed in winter), a popular driving route with spectacular views, or visit Lake Rausu, which is about a 50-minute walk one way from the parking lot at Shiretoko Pass. Why not experience the wild nature unique to the World Heritage Site of Shiretoko with your whole body? Rausu Town is also famous for its delicious seafood such as kelp and Atka mackerel, so don't forget to savor the fresh seafood.
The fantastically beautiful lake, the great mountains surrounded by lush greenery, and the deep blue sea of Shiretoko... If you want to fully enjoy the charms of the World Heritage Site "Shiretoko" with its wide range of attractions, take your time and travel around both Shari Town and Rausu Town!
Join a nature tour to enjoy Shiretoko Wildlife
Guided tours where you can encounter mountain wildlife are available in Utoro and Rausu
Brown bears, Ezo deer, sea eagles, whales, killer whales and more - all the wild animals that inhabit the mountains and seas of Shiretoko. Meeting them is one of the main reasons to visit this World Heritage Site. If you want to see the wild animals up close, we recommend joining a nature tour held in Utoro or Rausu. Stepping into the great outdoors with a guide who knows the nature of Shiretoko inside and out will surely give you a deeper feel for the charm of this land.
For example, around Utoro in Shari Town, there are many trekking and kayaking tours that take in the natural scenery of Shiretoko. Half-day to full-day tours that take in the Shiretoko Five Lakes and other sights offer the chance to see brown bears, Ezo deer, Ezo red foxes, and Ezo deer! Of course, the chance to encounter seasonal flowers and birds is also a big attraction. In addition, if you join a kayaking tour, you can enjoy the many sights woven by the beautiful cliff peninsula, as well as the seabirds flying overhead.
Take a sightseeing boat from Rausu Town and encounter marine wildlife
Also, in Rausu Town, be sure to take part in a nature cruise around the sea of Shiretoko. The nutrient-rich sea nurtured by the drift ice is a paradise for a wide variety of living creatures. From spring to autumn, you can see whales, dolphins, killer whales, and sometimes even fur seals, and in the sea of drift ice in winter, you can enjoy encountering rare animals such as Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, spotted seals, and sea lions.
A beautiful panorama formed by pristine nature and the wild animals that live there. If you travel to the World Heritage Site "Shiretoko", you will surely be surprised to find out that such vast nature exists in Japan! This year, be sure to experience the wild nature that Japan is proud of.
Travel writer/Toru Yoshihara
One of the hidden pleasures of the World Heritage Site "Shiretoko" is, without a doubt, the hot springs. There are plenty of accommodations where you can enjoy hot springs around Utoro in Shari Town. Also, Rausu Town is dotted with open-air baths with spectacular views, such as "Kumanoyu", "Aidomari Onsen" and "Seseki Onsen". When you visit "Shiretoko", be sure to soothe your travel fatigue in a superb hot spring!
■ Related articles about Shiretoko, Hokkaido
*Some content was updated on August 23, 2019.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.