Shiretoko

Shiretoko, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

Shiretoko Five Lakes

These five lakes are surrounded by primeval forests. We used the surround trails to enjoy a nature hike.

The Ainu, Hokkaido's indigenous people, called this area "shirietoku", which means "where the land ends". Due to diverse natural blessings, including coasts featuring a continuous line of impenetrable cliffs, deep forests spreading inland, steep mountains running throughout the peninsula, numerous rivers, scatterd lakes and pastures and drift ice, wildlife has been protected in its original state. The highly valued interconnections that exist between marine and terrestrial ecosystems and the area's other unique ecosystems led to the inscription of Shiretoko on the World Natural Heritage List at the World Heritage Committee of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held in Durban on July 14, 2005.

We saw a bear, deer and red fox there.

Shiretoko is one of the world's greatest high-density haitats of brown bears. The bears eat nuts and fruits in forests and catch salmon and trout swimming upstream by the coast. Shiretoko is the only place in Japan where we can see wild brown bears. In addition, we can often see other animals such as Shika deer, red fox and red squirrels.

Oronko Rock

gigantic 80 meter high rock located near Utoro port.

Kamuiwakka hot spring falls

This hot spring flows from the side of Mt.Io. We enjoyed walking there.