(5) Hokkaido Trip: 7 - 8 June 2015 Shiretoko / Shibetsu / Nemuro

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7-June-2015

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Rise and shine! We had breakfast at the hotel lobby. The girls decided to check out the scenery of the sea scape.

We drove northwards to Shiretoko Five Lakes 知床五湖.

The Shiretoko Five Lakes (知床五湖, Shiretoko Goko) are a set of five small lakes formed long ago by the eruption of nearby Mount Io and fed by underground springs. Looking like the result of a god's five fingerprints, the five lakes offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and wilderness, and provide visitors an easy way to experience Shiretoko's unspoiled nature.

An 800 meter long, wooden elevated boardwalk was recently built from the parking lot to the first lake, which allows visitors to enjoy views of the lake, the Sea of Okhotsk and the surrounding mountains without damaging the fragile ecosystem. The boardwalk is free to use, wheelchair accessible and open for the entire season (late April to late November).

Next stop was the Furepe Waterfall フレペの滝.

We had to take a 2-km walk from behind the Visitor Centre, cutting through the woods and towards the coastline.

While we were near the coastline, we chanced upon a few deer grazing on the grass.

Behold the Furepe Waterfall フレペの滝.

We continued our drive deeper north and the tracks up north were narrow for only 1 car usually and very rocky ride.

We came upon some deer again.

We arrived at Kamuiwakka Falls カムイワッカの滝.

This is the northern most destination in Shiretoko and Hokkaido that can be travelled by car. The rest of the journey northwards is only permissable by foot.

Kamuiwakkayu Falls (カムイワッカ湯の滝, Kamuiwakkayu-no-taki) used to be one of Japan's ultimate hot spring destinations. However, the upper, most spectacular section of the river has been closed to the public due to the danger of falling rocks. Consequently, it is now possible to walk only a 140 meter long lower section of the river.

In the past, visitors could hike up the mountain stream for about 20-30 minutes, wading through the water and climbing minor waterfalls along the way, as the water temperature would steadily increase. At the top a hot spring bath in the natural basin at the base of the waterfall would be the reward. Today, only the lukewarm lower 140 meters of the river are open to the public.

People were seen wading bare footed at the hot spring waterfall.

We headed back south to Utoro town.

It was time for late lunch.

And my very honest comment about their ramen. The best I had eaten so far!!!

We headed back to the apartment to rest. We went to a nearby supermarket and bought some fresh foodstuff to cook at the apartment for dinner.

Simple dinner but the best home-cooked food we can get at this part of Hokkaido.

Night view of our apartment.

We went to the hotel lobby and played with owner's dog.

Beautiful shot of the moon from our apartment before we dozed off for the night.

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8-June-2015

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This morning we would be travelling a fair distance towards the east, cutting across the Shiretoko Pass 知床峠 to Rausu, and down south along the coastline.

Usually this pass would be closed during the winter season as it would be too risky and impassable during winter snow and sleets.

Shiretoko Pass is located at the top of the Shiretoko Highway between Utoro and Rausu that crosses over the mountain range at an elevation of 738 meters. This highway is popular among drivers during the summer, and views of snow that still remains at the end of July are impressive. The autumn leaves on Mt. Rausu that can be seen from the pass are also spectacular, and when the weather is good, you can also see the island of Kunashiri that is one of the four islands off eastern Hokkaido claimed by Japan.

From here, in the far distance you could see some outer islands belonging to Russia, Kunashir Island is the nearest in the horizon. The most southern most island of the Kuril Islands.

We drove on continuously until we reached Shibetsu.

We took a stop to visit the Shibetsu Salmon Museum 標津サーモン科学館

Baby salmons

We pressed on our drive to Nemuro.

We came to Cape Nosappu. And this was the most eastern part of Hokkaido, and also the easternmost point of Japan mainland.

Cape Nosappu (納沙布岬 Nosappu-misaki) is located at the tip of the Nemuro Peninsula, a part of eastern Hokkaido known for its production of crabs called Hanasaki-gani. This is the eastern extremity of Hokkaido, and it is visited early in the morning by people who want to be the first to see the sun rise in Japan. At its tip stands the oldest lighthouse in Hokkaido, which was built in 1872. The peninsula consists almost completely of pasture, and presents quiet scenes of grazing sheep.

The cape is very close to the Hanomai Archipelago, which is administered by Russia. The closest island, Signalny Rock, is just 3.7 km away. As such, Russian patrol boats frequently appear on the strait. However, Japan claims the sovereignty over these islands. Consequently, the cape houses a lot of monuments dealing with Japanese claims on the territories, such as the House of Nostalgia for the Homeland, the Bridge on the Four Islands, and others.

Next we visited 四島のかけ橋 and Bokyonomisaki Park 明治町団地公園

Plenty of sea gulls at the park.

We went to a shop near the park to purchase the local produce, Nemuro Seaweed and Kelp.

The tall white tower on Cape Nosappu that rises above everything else is the Heiwa-no-To, or Tower of Peace. If you climb up to the 90-meter-high observation deck you can get a 360-degree panoramic view of the area. On a clear day, the islands of Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai can be seen. Spread against the horizon, they make a grand view.