Shiretoko (Rausu Side)

• Hokkaido
• Sightseeing
• Food
• Activities
• Nature
• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Rausu Town, on the eastern flank of the Shiretoko Peninsula, is the gateway to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Shiretoko from the east. The Shiretoko Traverse Road, crossing Shiretoko Pass to connect with Shari Town, is famous for its spectacular 'snow corridor' — towering walls of snow remaining in May that leave visitors in awe of nature's scale. Rausu kelp, harvested from Shiretoko's deep, nutrient-rich waters, is among Japan's finest and most sought-after kombu. Wildlife encounters are the highlight here: whale-watching and cruises to observe orca and sperm whales offer thrilling views of marine megafauna in the wild. Diverse seabirds fill the summer skies, and in winter the drift ice's arrival and departure marks the rhythm of Rausu's year.