SLW Top

Links to the Local Natural History

1. The SLW Guide to Nature Centers and Museums along Shiretoko-Nemuro Strait
2. The SLW Guide to the Land Sites for Whale Watching along Shiretoko-Nemuro Strait
3. Guide to "nature-oriented activities in Shiretoko" concierge services

１．SLW Recommendation;
Explor and Learn Natural History and Local Histories in Shiretoko-Nemuro Strait Area

●Shari
●Shari Shiretoko Museum
●Natural and local histories exhibition, including good collection of cetaceans and pinnipeds (a skull bone of western gray whale, skelton of orca, Baird's beaked whale, Mesoplodon, etc.). Lots of papers on local natural history.
●0152-23-1256
●http://shir-stok/myftp.org/

●Shari
●Shiretoko World Heritage Conservation Center; Ministry of the Environment
●Located nearby the Michi-no-eki" road station in the central Utoro, which is the tourism core area in town of Shari. You'll know about the general nature environment of Shiretoko, as well as the "Shiretoko rules" to conserve and enjoy this World Heritage site.
●0152-24-3255

●Shari
●Shiretoko Nature Center
●Professionally educated and experienced naturalists will provide you the most up-dated local nature, trecking, as well as brown bear alert information on request. Their own nature guide tours available. Don't miss a bird' eye Shiretoko view program plays on huge screen.
●0152-24-2114
●http://www.shiretoko.or.jp/

●Rausu
●Rausu Visitor Center
●Professionally educated and experienced naturalists will provide you the most up-dated local naturem trecking, as well as brown bear alert info on request.
Renewally opened on May 24, 2007, with the modern visual exhibition about local natural history. (An orca skelton in future, as well as other marine mammal exhibition also on public exhibition.)
●0153-87-2828

Rausu
●Siretoko World Heritage Rusa Field House; Ministry of the Environment
●Located in the center of town central Rausu, and Aidomari, which is at the road end on southeast coast of Shiretoko paninsula. A must visit spot for those of who want to enjoy moutain climb, coastal hiking, sea kayaking, and whale watching in Rausu side of Shiretoko.
●0153-89-2722

●Rausu
●Rausu Local Calture and History Museum
●To explor local history and culture in town of Rausu. Nice exhibition of 1/40 models of cetaceans, which were curved and created by Shuuichi Wakusaka, a town curator.
●0153-87-2004

●Shibetsu
●Shibetsu Salmon Museum
●Watch and learn about ecology, fishery, aqua culture, and diet use of salmon family.
●Brochures and play-back narration in English, Chinese, and Korean available.
●0153-82-1141
●http://www.shibetsutown.jp/salmon/top.html

●Shibetsu
●River "Po" Natural Park of Historic Site
●wooden path over a part of Shibetsu wetland for birds and botanical watching on season. Historical residence sites of old natives, as well as replica old houses in pioneer era of Shibetsu
●0153-82-3674

●Betsukai
●Notsuke Nature Center
●Located at Notsuke peninsula, central Nemuro Strait. Well educated naturalists will provide you up-dated nature information. Hand-made exhibitions of local birds and flora.
Naturalist-guided walking tours available on booking.
●0153-82-1270
●http://www.aurens.or.jp/~todowara/

●Nemuro
●Nemuro Public Museum of History and Nature
●0153-25-3661

●Nemuro
●Shunkinitai Wild Bird Nature Center
●Public exhibition on local wild birds and flora, as well as naturalist guided special tours occasionally. Professional naturalists will provide you up-dated info on bird watching and wild bird sanctuary registered to Ramsar Treaty.
●http://www.marimo.or.jp/~nemu_nc/workn/index.html

２．SLW Recommendation; The Sites for Land-based Whale Watching along Shiretoko-Nemuro Strait

●Utoro, Shari
●Lookout on top of "Oronko-iwa"
●Near by Utoro fishry port. Steps to the top of a big rock, from which, you can overlook wide offshore Utoro to Abashiri Bay. Cetaceans can be spotted.
●No public toilet

●Rausu
●Rausu Kunashiri Temboutou
●Lookout tower at more than 150m-high hill-top, near central Rausu.town. It overlooks deep-sea ara off Rausu widely, including coast of Kunashiri Island. Cetaceans may be spotted easily.
●Public toilets available in tower building

●Rausu
●Michi-no-eki "Shiretoko Rausu"
●Near central Rausu town, along rout 335. Local tourism info desk, restaurants, shops, public toilets are available. There is overlook window at 2nd floor, as well as open roof floor for deep-sea viewing.
●Public toilets available

●Rausu
●The Whale View Park (Kujira no mieru oka-kouen)
●An excellent lookout of deep-sea area in northern strait. Turn to left and up steep slope, right after passed through Zaimoku-Iwa tunnel along rout 87 from central Rausu town.
●No public toilet

●Rausu
●Parkings of Aidomari Onsen and Seseki Onsen
●Both are along rout 87, near its end, about 25km away from central Rausu town.
Low platform, but still reasonable spots to watch cetaceans
●Public toilets available

●Shibetsu
●Private drive-in restaurant & shop at Chuurui area
●Along rout 335, 5km north from central Shibetsu town. A good view for cetaceans in central Strait.
●Private toilets available during shop hours

●Betsukai
●Notsuke Nature center
●Located at the narrow channel front "Todowara" on Notsuke peninsula. Field scopes are available to look for cetaceans as well as larga seals.
●Public toilets available

●Nemuro
●Shunkinitai Wild Bird Nature Center
●Overlooks Nemuro Bay, southern Nemuro Strait.
●Public toilets available

●Nemuro
●Hoppoukan & Boukyou-no-ie
●Lern about history and restoration movement of "northern territories"(for Japan) or, 4 islands in southern Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Russia. But more, free-use telescopes and binoculars are available for cetaceans, pinnipeds, and sea birds watching.
●Public toilets available

３．Shiretoko Out-door Activity Concierge

●Utoro, Shari
●Hotel Shiretoko
●At nature concierge desk, special staff will advise you various nature activities in Shiretoko region.
●http://www.slw.jp/www.hotel-shiretoko.com

●Utoro, Shari
●Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel
●At the tour desk, special staff will advise you various nature activities in Shiretoko region.
●http://www.shiretoko-1.co.jp/

All rights reserved by Hal Sato, 2006-2011.