Shiretoko A guided tour through the World Heritage Site of Shiretoko

The Shiretoko Goko Lakes are one of the most popular sightseeing spots in the region. Surrounded by the Shiretoko Mountain Range, these lakes offer three exciting hiking courses to choose from. For casual hiking, we recommend the free 1.6km elevated wooden paths towards the first lakeside. If you want to go a little deeper, try the paid ground trail. The hiking paths come in two smaller 1.6 km loops going around the first and second lakes and one larger 3km loop encompassing all five lakes. In the ground trail, you'll have to be accompanied by a guide registered in the Shiretoko Goko Lakes Registered Guide List during the bear activity period from May 10 to July 31 (advanced registration required). Outside this period, you can go through the courses unaccompanied after a 10-minute lecture. However, we still recommend taking a guide with you. If you book early, you might be able to catch a tour done in English or Chinese. Your three hours touring the larger loop will fly by as you listen to the stories of the flora and fauna surrounding the five lakes.

These hot springs lie hidden at the end of the Shiretoko Goko Lakes, with the 30℃ waters of Mount Io's mountainside flowing down from its gentle sloping surface. Shiretoko-Arpa offers bundle tours guiding you through both the Shiretoko Goko Lakes and Kamuiwakka Hot Falls. Although you can reach the Kamuiwakka Hot Falls on your own, we still recommend availing yourself of a tour. Doing so will guarantee your safety and prevent beginners from straying from the safe route and slipping on their feet. There are also shower climbing sandals that can be rented for free.

Looking to see more of Shiretoko's animals? Join the Shiretoko Nature Office's Nighttime Animal Watching Tour! Ride a car running at a leisurely speed and look for Ezo deer and foxes by paying attention to the eyes of the animals reflected in the car's lights. Even if you're not a big fan of walking, you can still experience the nature of Shiretoko with ease.

Learn more about the depths of Shiretoko's nature through Shinra's Picturesque! Shiretoko Animal Trail Guided Tour! Traverse through the virgin forests of Shiretoko, something only possible with a guide. Immerse yourself in a spectacular sight encompassing the coastal cliffs, Cape Shiretoko, and the Shiretoko Mountain Range all in one view.

Shiretoko Peninsula faces the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, with each side having its own natural charm. On the Utoro side facing the Sea of Okhotsk are cliffs carved from the earth by the drift ice. There are several sightseeing boats in Shiretoko. Among these, Gojiraiwa Kanko offers three courses. First is the Mount Ito course, which covers well-known spots like the Maiden's Tears waterfall at Furepe Falls, where underground water seeps from the cliffs into the sea, and the 30m Kamuiwakka Falls, where water mixed with hot spring water flows into the sea. The second course takes you to Rusha Bay, where brown bears are abundant, while the third course takes you further to Cape Shiretoko. In the Rusha and Shiretoko Cape courses, there's a very high chance you'll get to see brown bears.

The highlight of tours of the Rausu side facing the Pacific Ocean is the marine life. Here, you can observe many types of whales, including minke and sperm whales. It also boasts one of the highest orca population densities in the world. Gojiraiwa Kanko offers the Whale, Dolphin, and Bird Watching Cruise from the end of April to mid-October. Enjoy seeing whales squirting water and orcas jumping. Under the right timing, you might even be able to see a large flock of short-tailed shearwaters, migratory birds from the southern hemisphere. Behold the richness of Shiretoko's nature from the sea.