6 Fun Things to Do in Shiretoko in Winter – From Ice Floes to Snowy Lakeshores

1. Get a closeup view of Shiretoko’s dramatic, life-sustaining ice floes!

Shiretoko is the most southern location in the world where the seas can freeze over. In winter, ice floes cover the seas around Shiretoko, bringing plenty of nutrients along with them. Plankton grow from these nutrients, which attract fish that eat them, which attract sea lions and other mammals.

Gifts from the sea reach all the way into the forest. Salmon swim up rivers to spawn, feeding predators like brown bears and Ezo red foxes. Their remains become fertilizer for the forest. The forest is also where unique species hibernate and propagate, including birds like Steller’s sea eagle, white-tailed eagles, and Blakiston’s fish owl, plus Hokkaido squirrels and deer.

The natural drama produced by living things of the rivers, land, and sea forms a significant part of what brings tourists to Shiretoko.

With the ice floes and other natural wonders, winter gives Shiretoko sights you can’t see anywhere else. At both Shiretoko World Heritage Conservation Center and Shiretoko National Park Nature Center, you can learn about the role that ice floes play, local ecosystems, Shiretoko as a whole, and tourism spots. Arm yourself with information about your destination for a more satisfying trip around Shiretoko!

And while destination info is always great, let’s get some details on manners and rules for visiting Shiretoko. In recent years, there have been reports of more people straying from paths into nature and attempting to interact with wild animals. These actions can damage ecosystems and pose a personal danger to visitors, too. Respect the environment and enjoy your Shiretoko travels.

2. Experience the thrill of a Shiretoko “Ryuhyo (Ice) Walk”!

Drift ice season for Shiretoko is from late January to late March. Some ice floes have portions of thin or slippery ice, so make sure to stay within permitted areas. You could also get a guided “Ryuhyo (Ice) Walk” tour of the ice floes!

A shuttle bus will take you to the starting point. There, put on a dry suit before heading for the sea.

Roll around on the ice floes like a bed…

Or chomp down on an ice floe…

Just make sure you get a group photo to remember this experience of a lifetime!

Some tours even let you get in the ocean! Thanks to the buoyancy of the dry suits, you don’t even have to know how to swim to join in the fun. There’s no other way to experience the joy and mystique of floating in the ocean amongst the ice! It’s like becoming an otter or sea lion.

Be sure to have the guide snap your photo!

3. Go “Shiretoko Five Lakes Snowshoeing” for winter’s most beautiful sights

(c) SHINRA

Shiretoko Five Lakes is one of Shiretoko’s most popular tourism spots. These five lakes, numbered from one to five, are surrounded by ancient forests. You can visit the area and walk their raised paths year-round, but you can neither walk nor drive to the lakes in winter. Instead, you can go on a guided “Shiretoko Five Lakes Snowshoeing” tour into forests unavailable in other seasons, or even walk out onto the frozen lake surfaces!

Put on your snowshoes and head for the forest. Now, this is an adventure!

Your guide will tell you about the types and traits of the trees and the lives of the many different forest animals. The guide’s keen eyes will also point out animal tracks you wouldn’t notice otherwise!

Even Hokkaido squirrel tracks are well-preserved in the snow.

A brown bear left claw marks on this tree!

Amongst the bare broadleaf trees, muffled by snow, it’s so tranquil. The chirps of wild birds and sounds of woodpeckers can be clearly heard.

Look at how cute the Great Spotted Woodpecker is.

This looks like an expansive snowed-over field, but it’s actually above a lake.

4. Shiretoko Drift Ice Festival: The fun continues into night!

An ice dome made of around 30 chunks of ice

The Shiretoko Drift Ice Festival is an event hosted at Shiretoko Campground in the Utoro area from the end of January to the end of February. The event features an illuminated ice dome, an ice slide, and hammocks for viewing the stars.

An icicle hall

Nature talks

Plenty of food options, too. Roast marshmallows or cheese over a fire and have a “Chepuman” steamed bun with a fluffy salmon chan chan-yaki filling. You can also get yourself a variety of drinks and cocktails in ice glasses.

Food and Souvenirs Market

Fresh coffee available

5. Live the Shiretoko resort life, relax amid nature’s glory

Where to stay in Shiretoko? The Shiretoko area has plenty of onsen hot springs and hotels, including extravagant resort hotels. These would make great extended stays.

Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort: A relaxing spot by the sea

A luxury hotel in the Utoro area. With a great view of the sea, in winter, you can look out on the ice floes from the guest rooms, the lobby, and even the open-air baths. Perhaps the best spot to see them are the saunas. Few places in the world could claim to have saunas where you can see ice floes.

The lounge has binoculars!

A wide-open dining space. Partake in cuisine both Japanese and Western, made with Shiretoko ingredients

Not far from Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort is a more casual hotel themed on the forest, KIKI Shiretoko Natural Resort.

Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel: A resort on the Utoro highlands

View the Utoro cityscape from their outdoor open-air baths

One of Utoro’s veteran resort hotels, Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel is known for its excellent cuisine. Their food is served fresh, and their buffet includes a wide variety of desserts.

The large boat in the dining hall is a popular photo spot!

Buffet menu renewed in December 2019

6. Don’t miss the food: Popular Shiretoko restaurants with great eats!

Utoro has a wide variety of dining options. Let’s take a look at three spots popular with both tourists and locals!

Namishibuki makes their exquisite ramen soup over two whole days

We highly recommend the tonkotsu ramen available here. It’s distinctly free of gamey odors and is popular with tourists from around the world. This Shiretoko ramen restaurant is also close to the sea, so you can dine while viewing ice floes or the sunset.

Special Toro-chashu Noodles

Yakiniku Kobo Kurikara: Get your fill of high-quality Shiretoko-gyu Japanese Black Beef

Try melt-in-your-mouth Shiretoko-gyu beef with special miso and soy sauce dipping sauces. Serves local sake from Shari’s neighbor Kiyosato. Tablet devices allow you to make orders in English or Chinese.

Shiretoko-gyu

Getting to Shiretoko

To get to the secluded region of Shiretoko at the far north of Japan and Hokkaido, Memanbetsu Airport is a useful option. There are direct flights to it, even from Tokyo.

Thankfully, there are many more public transportation methods you can use to get there. Each method has its own merits, so choose wisely and enjoy traveling to Shiretoko.

Flying to Shiretoko

From Haneda and New Chitose Airports
Board a flight for Memanbetsu Airport, and then take a Shari Bus “Shiretoko Airport Liner” for Utoro’s roadside station. The bus trip takes about two hours and is the fastest route to Shiretoko.

Getting to Shiretoko by bus

Board a Hokkaido Chuo Bus “Eagle Liner”, departing from the front of JR Sapporo Station. Leave late at night from Sapporo, and you’ll arrive at Utoro the following morning. An easy jump from starting line to finish, all while you’re asleep.

Getting to Shiretoko by train

Board a Hakodate Main Line or Sekihoku Main Line train. Once you reach Abashiri Station, switch to a Senmō Main Line train and head for Shiretoko-Shari Station. From there, board the Shari Bus “Shiretoko Airport Liner” and head to Utoro’s roadside station. It’s a seven-hour trip in total, but you have the benefit of enjoying the scenery from the train window.