Spring
Route 334 (Trans-Shiretoko highway) and Hokkaido Route to Shiretoko Goko Lakes open in late-April.
When driving, be aware of deer crossing as they frequently appear on roads to graze grass along roadside. Male deer grow and shed their antlers every year.
In spring, rare Killer whales are spotted frequently at ocean around Shibetsu.
Along the trail of Shiretoko Goko Lakes, beautiful flowers of Mizubasho (Skunk Cabbage) signal the arrival of short flowering season.
Summer
Hamanasu (Japanese rose) and Ezokanzou (Amur daylily) bloom along the shoreline. The rural landscape on the Okhotsk side of Shiretoko Peninsula is covered with white and pink potato flowers. A meadow landscape with grass rolls and grazing cow, typical scenery in Hokkaido, stretches on the Shibetsu side of the peninsula. Summer is the best season for many outdoor activities, including trekking, cruising and sea kayaking. At Sakura Falls in Kiyosato Town, dynamic jumps of Sakura-masu (Cherry salmon) entertain visitors. Karafuto-masu trout return to rivers from ocean and start their journey to their spawning place.
In summer, 15-m long Makkou-kujira (Sperm whale) and other whale species are spotted often at ocean around Shibetsu. Encounter rate with dolphin is over 90 %.
Ezo-shika deer start to grow light brown summer coat with white spots.
Fall
Shiretoko Mountain Range, Shiretoko Pass, Nehoku Pass and Kanayama Canyon start to turn in autumn colors. In some years, you can see Hokkaido’s unique mountain scenery: autumn foliage at the bottom of mountains and white snow near the peak. Male Ezo-shika deer with fully-grown antlers display a courtship behavior to female deer.
Farmers are busy with harvests of wheat and potato, driving their tractors through the fields. First potatoes of the season show up in store shelves.
Fall is the busiest season for Shirozake salmon fishing. A large number of returning Shirozake salmon color rivers in black. Shirozake salmon caught in Shiretoko account for a large share of Shirozake salmon on market.
Salmon and ikura (salmon roe) dishes are the best in fall. Fatty rare salmon Sakeji, caught only one in a thousand, are available starting from October. Chan-chan yaki, grilled salmon with vegetables seasoned with miso sauce and butter, is a popular local dish.
Winter
Trans-Shiretoko Highway is closed for long winter. Waterfalls freeze up, and Shiretoko Mountain and Mt. Shari are covered with white snow. Guided cross-country ski and snowshoe tours offer opportunities to meet forest animals.
Drift ice from Amur River in Russia arrives at the coast of Shiretoko Peninsula, and travels further to the ocean around Kunashiri Island and Notsuke.
Ryuhyou Walking is offered at Utoro. The tour participants wear dry-suits and enjoy walking on drift ice with a guide.
(* Please do not stand on drift ice without an experienced guide, as it is extremely dangerous.)
Bird watchers and photographers visit Shiretoko to meet Steller’s sea eagles, White-tailed eagles and many other wild birds. Steller’s sea eagles and White-tailed eagles are protected species.
Cruise ship in Rausu runs all year round, including in winter. During certain time of the season, you can meet seals and eagles resting on drift ice.
Foods available throughout the year
Ezo-shika deer dish
Low-calorie and high-protein deer meat is a luxury item in Europe and the U.S.
Ezo-shika deer has been gaining popularity as an ingredient for hamburger, barbecue and processed food.
Hokke (Arabesque greenling)
Hokke is a common fish in Shiretoko.
Grilled dry-Hokke meat is packed with rich flavor and fish oil, and tastes as good as expensive fish.
Thornhead
Thornhead is a luxury fish with relatively long fishing season. The fatty meat of thornhead is suitable for both grilling and stewing. Locals cook the fish in a unique way, Yuni; the fish is boiled in water to remove excess fat and then served with Worcester sauce. Rich Worcester sauce compliments lean thornhead meat.
Kelp
Rausu Kelp is well known nationwide. Newly harvested kelp comes on market in fall. Kelp is available at surprisingly low price in Rausu.