[2025 Shari District Attraction] Travel Guide for Shiretoko Goko National Park (Updated Jul)

📍Shiretoko Shiretoko is a World Natural Heritage site that Japan is proud of. It's about an hour's drive from Abashiri. I was excited just to see the magnificent view of the snow-capped Shiretoko mountain range, but hiking around the Shiretoko Five Lakes was also a great experience✨ However, this area coexists with wild bears, so we are only "interfering" with the place. If we see a bear, we have to retreat. We toured the Shiretoko Five Lakes with a group of about 10 to 20 people, but the person at the front said he had seen a bear and quietly retreated. We received a bear prevention training before the tour, but I think that even if we actually encountered one, we would be too scared to do anything😅 The hike ended up being much shorter than planned due to the bear encounter, but it was really nice to be able to explore the beautiful nature🌳 #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

Deep in the heart of Shiretoko Peninsula lies Shiretoko Goko (Five Lakes) — a place where time slows down and nature quietly reminds you of its wonder. Even without a guide, you can take in the view of Lake Ikko from a scenic raised boardwalk, free of charge and accessible to all. But for those curious to explore deeper — especially during bear season (May to late July) — you’ll need to join a certified local guide. Don’t worry: there are many to choose from, and they’re full of stories and knowledge about this UNESCO-listed forest. We spotted Ezo deer, a sleeelping snake, and delicate alpine flowers blooming by the trail. The air was rich with the scent of moss and birch, and the forest felt alive — quietly watching. 🌧️ Pro tip: The trails can get muddy, so wear shoes that don’t mind a mess. And during warm months, bug repellent is a must — the mosquitoes here know no mercy! While spring to autumn offers the most color, Shiretoko Goko is open year-round, with winter hiking possible on snowshoes. No matter the season, it's a place to walk gently, listen deeply, and feel small in the best way. --- 📝 Practical Info: Location: Shiretoko Goko (Five Lakes), Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido Access: ~1 hr by car from Utoro area What you can do: 🚶♂️ Walk the free elevated boardwalk to Lake Ikko 🐻 Join a guided tour to access all five lakes during bear season (May–July) ❄️ Enjoy winter hiking (snowshoes recommended) Wildlife sightings: Ezo deer, snake, birds, seasonal flowers What to bring: -Drinking water -Bug repellent (May–Sept) -Shoes that can get dirty — trails may be muddy Guides: Available locally; check online or at Shiretoko Nature Center #知床五湖 #ShiretokoGoko #ShiretokoFiveLakes #HokkaidoNature #UNESCOWorldHeritage #EzoDeer #北海道の旅 #ポストカード日記 #日本の秘境 #知床散策 #森の旅 #四季のある暮らし

Shiretoko Five Lakes, Amanoko Road, Kamiko Pond, Rima Shu Observation Deck, Kussharo Lake Sand Bath, Kawayu Hot Spring, Ojuku Xinki Hot Spring, Bettei Honeysuckle The #Shiretoko Five Lakes, a must-visit spot when visiting #Shiretoko National Park, is also a World Natural Heritage Site. I visited it again after seven years and missed it very much. Last time I only walked the "elevated wooden path", this time I walked the "#abovegroundwalk". The ticket was 250 yen, and I had to fill out an application, attend a lecture and watch a video before I could hike freely. The route is divided into a small circle and a large circle, both of which are one-way. I walked the large circle, including taking photos, and walked back along the elevated wooden path. It took about 1.5 hours. There were quite a lot of tourists hiking, and some even hired guides. Maybe because there were so many people and the weather was cold, we didn't encounter any bears. The red leaves along the way have not yet fully bloomed. I found that the elevated wooden path is more beautiful this time. The lake view along the way is actually okay, but not as good as the highlands or the hiking spots last week. At noon, I had lunch at the "#Utoro Fishery Association Women's Department Canteen", which is a popular food with a long queue. Fortunately, I arrived early and didn't have to wait too long. After five minutes, a long queue started to form. After lunch, we drove for half an hour to "#天に続く道", which is truly the road to heaven. The observatory can also take pictures of the sunflower fields below. Another hour's drive brought us to the long-awaited secret spot "#神の子池". The regrets of 2017 were finally fulfilled today. Although the stone road was narrow, turning the car back was not a problem. It took less than a minute to walk from the parking lot to the wooden boardwalk, and we could quickly take pictures of the stunning scenery. It was much easier than the Biei Blue Pond, Aomori Jujuko Blue Pond, and Yamagata Maru Pond, and it was very easy to take pictures. This will be my regular spot in the future. After about ten minutes, we arrived at the "#RiMashu Observatory". Although the air was turbid, the visibility of Lake Mashu was high and the scenery was beautiful. Finally, we came to "Lake Kussharo" after seven years. We didn't take a bath in the "Sand Bath", but the sunset was beautiful and the atmosphere was like being in Europe. We arrived at "#お宿心喜浴二庭壬冬" at 17:00 in the evening. It is very close to "Kusharoko Sand Bath". It is a high-end hotel that was converted from an old facility. The main building "お宿心喜浴" is nearby, and you can take a bath in the main building for free. The room is not big, it is a Japanese style twin room, and it is comfortable to sleep in. The lobby is elegantly decorated, and the "Restrom Haspo Japanese-Yochu Buffet" buffet, which offers two meals per night, is highly rated. The all-you-can-drink dinner and the lounge area in the lobby are worth it. The crab legs, crab miso soup, and freshly made sushi for dinner are all good. The "Kawayu Onsen Village" is filled with the aroma of sulfur, the hiking trail outside is under construction, and the atmosphere of the stream smoking is great! There are many hot springs with the same or similar names in Japan. One of the three most beautiful hot springs in Japan is Yunokawa Onsen in Shimane Prefecture. One of the three most beautiful night views in Japan is the famous Hokkaido hot spring "Kawanoyu Onsen". Near the Ioyama Mountain in Eastern Hokkaido is the Kawayu Onsen in Teshikaga Town; Near the Kumano Kodo is the Kawayu Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture; At the border of Akita Prefecture is the "Yukawa Onsen" in Iwate Prefecture; There is also a hot spring with the same name in Ishikawa Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture called "Yukawa Onsen". Including tonight's accommodation, I have stayed in three places so far. I stayed in Hokkaido's "Kawanoyu Onsen" in May 2015 and Wakayama's "Kawayu Onsen" in March 2023. "Kawayu Onsen" located in the "#AkanMashuNationalPark" used to be a hot spring treatment site. It is adjacent to Lake Mashu to the east and Lake Kussharo to the west. The strongly acidic hydrogen sulfide contains bright and green springs, which are one of the few springs in Japan with volcanic characteristics. It has been a therapeutic spring since ancient times and has a high bactericidal effect. The spring quality is "acidic sulfur-containing iron-natrium-sulfate-halide spring (hydrogen sulfide type)". The electrical appliances here usually only last three years because they will be corroded by acid, so the hotel cost is relatively high. It is similar to the Aomori Sukayu Onsen, Akita Gosokake Onsen, which I visited earlier this month, and Tamagawa Onsen, which I will visit next week. They are also my favorite sulfur springs. After soaking in the large public bath at night, I walked to the main hotel in the morning to soak in the hot spring. The open-air bath has baths of different temperatures, and there are beautiful red maple leaves to take pictures along the way.

The charm of Shiretoko! Shiretoko in Hokkaido is just amazing nature! It's surrounded by incredibly beautiful scenery, and the air is great. What's more, this is where brown bears live, and if you're lucky, you might even see them! It's like a "theme park of nature" where you can meet wild animals. ⸻ Why Shiretoko is Amazing! Shiretoko in Hokkaido is all about wild, untouched nature! You'll be blown away by the stunning scenery and super fresh air. It's also home to wild brown bears, and if you're lucky, you might even spot one! It's like a giant nature park where you can really feel the power of the wild.

📍8:30 AM: Woke up for breakfast. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, some of which were freshly prepared by the chef. The presentation was nice, and the food tasted good. The window seats offered a sea view. 📍This afternoon, I had a reservation for an ARPA Shiretoko Five Lakes hike. After checking out at 11:00 AM, I tried calling ARPA, but no one answered. As per the email instructions, I walked to the Shiretoko Monsoon Club Hotel, where I would be staying tonight, to meet them. Although it was only a ten-minute walk, dragging my suitcase through the snow was quite difficult. Thankfully, a kind stranger offered me a ride. 📍12:40 PM: The ARPA guide picked us up from the hotel lobby and drove us to the Five Lakes. It turned out that they waited for all the cars to arrive before opening the gate. At 1:30 PM, after putting on our snowshoes, we set off. Each guide was followed by a line of "ducklings," and we entered the area in separate groups. On the way from the fifth lake to the first lake, we saw bear footprints and the entire lake surface covered in snow. We slid down a snowy slope and drank the tea the guide brought. It was my first time seeing such thick snow in a forest. If I wasn't careful, my legs would sink in. As we progressed, the wind and snow intensified, and the guide quickly changed our route. It's a little disappointing that we didn't see any animals. Although the entire hike only lasted 2 hours, my legs felt heavy. 📍After returning to the hotel and resting, we had dinner at 6:00 PM. Unfortunately, we didn't see the sunset due to the weather. We booked a two-night stay with two meals included. We went to the restaurant for breakfast and dinner at pre-selected times. Each meal was different. The first night was tempura. The ingredients were fresh, the tableware was cute, and the ice cream after dinner was delicious! We had reserved the outdoor bath in the small courtyard for 50 minutes after dinner. I loved it! There was a small hiccup during check-in. Because I didn't pay attention when booking, I chose two different room types for the two nights. The young lady at the front desk and her grandmother very enthusiastically tried to communicate with me. Due to my lack of Japanese and not wanting to trouble them, I had already given up. After dinner, the person in charge called us over and told us that they had changed our booking to the same room for both nights. I was so grateful. The grandparents and young ladies greeted us every day. On the second night, the air conditioner in our room broke down. The owners tried to fix it for a long time, but when they couldn't, they quickly brought us a heater. It was so warm. There was a homemade hotel guide and several magazines about Shiretoko in the room. One of them featured photos of local shop owners in Utoro with their storefronts. It was a meaningful local publication.

We completed the beautiful Shiretoko Five Lakes morning hike with a guide and was blessed with great weather and sceneries. We did not spot any bear 🐻 but saw 2 wild swans 🦢 🦢 and some deers 🦌. The hike is about 3km, and it’s a fairly easy hike. However, the park conditions changes according to weather and seasons and it is safer to go with a guide as there are chances to meet brown bears who call the National park their home. The guide also provide educational info about the flora and fauna in the park in addition to the geology of the park. #travel #hokkaido #Shiretoko