Enjoy Abashiri Prison Museum and drift ice in Okhotsk.
A course from Utoro to Abashiri
Abashiri is where you can enjoy the unique and spectacular sceneries of Hokkaido such as the sea of Okhotsk, Lake Saroma and the ranch. It is also the center of sightseeing in Okhotsk, and tourist attractions such as Abashiri Prison Museum and Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum are located at Mt. Tento. There are a variety of drinks and souvenirs associated with drift ice. Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing & Icebreaker Ship “Aurora” is a must-experience attraction in winter.
An overnight course from Utoro to Abashiri
After observing salmon landing at the Utoro fishing port in the early morning, head south on the Shiretoko Peninsula to the city of Okhotsk. Stop at Kitahama Station located near the Sea of Okhotsk on teh way. In Abashiri, visit Abashiri Prison Museum that contributed to the development of Hokkaido and Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum wich exhibits drift ice even in summer. End the day with the seafood of the Sea of Okhotsk and cocktails.
▼ About 65 km (40 ml) via the National Highway 334 ▼
▼ About 11 km (6.8 ml) via the National Highway 244 ▼
▼ About 6 km (3.7 ml) via the National Highway 39 ▼
▼ About 3 km (1.8 ml) going up to Mt. Tento ▼
▼ About 5 km (3.1 ml) via the Prefectural Road 683 ▼
▼ A short walk ▼
The videos are in Japanese only.
A morning walk at the port in Utoro Onsen
Utoro hot spring town is located along the coast. For your morning walk, Utoro shows different sceneries in seasons such as salmon landing at the fishing port and drift ice berthed at the port. The open-air bath in the early morning while viewing the sea is exceptional. Why not enjoy the morning bath before leaving.
Address: 8-186 Nishi Utoro, Shari-cho
▼ About 70 mins by car ▼
View the Sea of Okhotsk from the observatory at Kitahama Station
An unmanned station located 13 km (8 ml) away from downtown Abashiri. It’s the closest station to the Sea of Okhotsk with a distance of only 20 m (65 ft.) The Sea of Okhotsk and the Shiretoko Mountain Range can be viewed from the observatory located by the station. A sightseeing train “Ryuhyo Monogatari Train (drift ice story train)” runs between Abashiri and Shiretoko in winter, and this station is one of the stops.
Address: Aza Kitahama, Abashiri
▼ About 14 mins by car ▼
Local gourmet foods and sourvenirs are all here, Michi no Eki “Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri”
A rest stop along the Abashiri Port Line. It holds the office of Abashiri Tourism Association, which is the best spot to find tourist information in the Okhotsk area. The restaurant on the 2nd floor serves various local specialties such as Okhotsk Abashiri Zangi Don (fried salmon bowl) and Abashiri Champon (seafood noodle) using pink salmon caught in Abashiri. The popular souvenirs are the miso soup of Abashiri shijimi clam and the local beer, Ryuhyo DRAFT.
Address: 5-1 Higashi 4-chome Minami 3-jo, Abashiri
The most popular attraction! Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing & Icebreaker Ship “Aurora”
The most popular sightseeing cruise tour to see the drift ice off the Sea of Okhotsk. It is an exciting tour that the ship runs powerfully as breaking drift ice. See drift ice up close from the cabin on the 1st floor and the drift ice field from the high position on the 3rd floow. Wild animals such as seabirds, Steller’s sea eagles, white-tailed eagles and seals may show up. The cruise ship is big and stable holding up to 450 passengers. Michi no Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri is the departure and arrival point.
▼ About 58 mins by car ▼
Visit actually-used prison buildings, Abashiri Prison Museum
An outdoor history museum that was relocated and restored from the buildings of the former Abashiri Prison, which had been used since the end of the Meiji era. It lets you learn about the conditions of the prison at that time and the history of the development of Hokkaido related to the prison. In the “Prison Diner”, you can eat the same meal served in Abashiri Prison. It has many other interesting attractions including a theater showing a film to tell how prisoners were forced to work on constructing the central road between Abashiri and Asahikawa more than 120 years ago.
Address: 1-1 Aza Yobito, Abashiri
▼ About 5 mins by car ▼
Touch drift ice anytime, Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum
A facility with the theme of drift ice and sea creatures in Okhotsk. The theater and exhibits of sea creatures including Clione on the fist basement floor let you learn about the nature of Okhotsk. The best attraction in this museum is “Drift Ice Experience Room.” The room temperature is kept at -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Farenheit) so that visitors can touch drift ice anytime. On the 2nd floor, there are a tourist information center, shops and a restaurant where Abashiri can be overlooked. The rooftop is an observation terrace.
Address: 244-3 Tentozan, Abashiri
Must-see spots around Abashiri
Flower Garden Hana Tento
A garden where flowers cover 3.5-ha field. Flowers including salvia and marigold bloom beautifully, and about 42,000 plants bloom during full bloom. The lodge is a view spot overlooking the Shiretoko Mountain Range and the Sea of Okhotsk.
Addrss: 28-3 Yobito, Abashiri
Addrss: 28-3 Yobito, Abashiri
Marchen no Oka
Marchen no Oka means a hill of a fairy tale. Seven larch trees stand on the hills. It makes you feel as if you were in the world of a picture book. What makes it attractive is the scenery of the field which changes with the seasons from a potato field to a wheat field and a vast snow field. There is a rest stop, Michi no Eki “Marchen no Oka Memanbetsu” is located nearby.
Address: Showa Memanbetsu, Ozora-cho
Address: Showa Memanbetsu, Ozora-cho
Rimo
A popular gelato specialty shop in Abashiri. The number of flavors including season limited ones is over 60, and they are all made of fresh milk delivered from a local dairy farmer. The chef has a background of training in Italy and makes authentic gelato.
Address: 418 Yobito, Abashiri
Address: 418 Yobito, Abashiri
▼ About 8 mins by car ▼
Enjoy the Okhotsk seafood at SUSHI BAR THE ∃ND
It’s located in the center of Abashiri. The interior is unified in monotone and so stylish that it’s popular among both the locals and tourist. Sushi made with local ingredients such as kinki, herring, and flatfish, and dishes made with Shiretoko Wagyu beef are provided at a reasonable price. It also has a wide variety of Japanese sake, craft beer, and wine.
Address: 1st Saison Bld. 2F-2, Nishi-1 Minami-4, Abashiri
▼ A short walk ▼
End the night with a drift ice cocktail at a scotch bar, the Earth.
Authentic bar with skilled bartenders. The original cocktail using real drift ice, Planet of Blue, is popular. The bardender can make a wide variety of cocktails such as frozen ones made with local Abashiri Actinidia polygama, ones made with fresh fruits, and more. What makes this bar so special is that more than 500 types of drinks from all over the world are always available. Have a great night with special cocktails and local gourmet foods in Abashiri.
Address: 2nd Tsukasa Bld. 1F, Nishi-2 Minami-3, Abashiri
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Eastern Hokkaido Official web site
Eastern Hokkaido Official web site