Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Hokkaido—The yearly drift ice spectacle upon the Sea of Okhotsk was first observed from shore on Feb With this winter's tours now able to start this is the latest the drift ice has ever been spotted since records began in 1946 The ice is within a few hundred meters of the tourist spot Cape Notoro Aerial footage via drone showed a portion of the drift ice banding into a white swirl off the cape The ice has also formed into a line and is floating toward the World Heritage site Shiretoko Special train in Hokkaido offers chance to witness drift ice at sea Drift ice reaches coast of scenic peninsula where tour boat sank thinner drift ice around Hokkaido expected by 2050 Tourists marvel at winter’s first drift ice in waters off Hokkaido Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Hokkaido — The first day of drift ice this year was Feb according to the Abashiri Local Meteorological Office which requires it to be visible to the naked eye from the shoreline in Abashiri please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent It was 27 days later than the previous year and it was the latest since statistics began in 1946 The latest date prior to this year was Feb an officer of the meteorological office visually confirmed the presence of drift ice on the horizon Many visitors took pictures with their smartphones from the observatory of the Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum a tourist facility offering a panoramic view of the city and the Sea of Okhotsk It was a long-awaited day for museum staff announced the “first date of drift ice on shore” on Feb Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Sign In Subscribe Now Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions and city councillor Charles Mealey welcomed part of the Abashiri Japan delegation to city hall on Thursday Shinko Tsunoda is the chaperone for four students as well as the person in charge of Abashiri's sister city program in Japan The students were at ADSS and an elementary school while Tsunoda attended city hall "It's been an amazing 40 years," said Mealey who shared memories of his family hosting students from Abashiri when he was younger Tsunoda presented a gift of a banner to Mayor Sharie Minions City councillor Charles Mealey presented a cedar plank for cooking salmon a mug and a bottle of Kleekhoot Gold big leaf maple syrup to Tsunoda "It's incredibly exciting to see the return of the program," Minions said "I think it's so important with our shared sister city partnership to have students travelling back and forth," she said "At the city we just love the energy that it brings and Shinko has been a fantastic ambassador to the program on the Abashiri side." Tsunoda first visited the Alberni Valley in 1986 when she was a college student After a short visit she returned home to Japan and accepted teaching jobs saving enough money to come back to Port Alberni; this time she stayed for two years the Port Alberni Twinning Society celebrated its fifth anniversary while Tsunoda was in the Alberni Valley She asked for a job working with the city of Abashiri and has been organizing the exchanges ever since Next year the society will recognize its 40-year anniversary Laurie Money said the society would like to start hosting student exchanges again and hopes to re-energize the group following the success of this week's delegation from Abashiri "We really need to get some new members in the society," he admitted "We need to get some new energy younger people...to help us move along with this exchange and those around the globe in 2025." Money can be reached for more information via email at lmoney@shaw.ca or by phone at 250-724-4174 Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Experiences Event Spots Smelt fishing is a very popular winter leisure activity in Hokkaido The best part of smelt fishing is drilling a hole in the ice of a frozen lake casting your fishing line in a vast snowy field as far as the eye can see we will introduce 13 recommended spots to experience smelt fishing in Hokkaido Lake Kanayama is an artificial lake created by the Kanayama Dam located at the uppermost part of the Sorachi River Camping and canoeing can be enjoyed around the lake making it a popular spot for ice fishing for smelt The lake is also famous for being home to many fish making it a popular spot for anglers all year round Lake Shinotsu is equipped with a covered fishing hut so you can easily enjoy smelt fishing even on snowy days you can warm up your cold body by taking a bath at the adjacent "Roadside Station Tappu no Yu" The restaurant in the building also offers a service where they will cook tempura made from the smelt you have caught is not only a great place to enjoy nature such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves but in winter it is also a popular spot for smelt fishing you can enjoy the surrounding scenery from the pier and from early January to mid-March you can fish on the ice Fishing equipment is also available for rental so you can enjoy the activity without having to bring anything with you a brackish lake connected to the Sea of Okhotsk through the Abashiri River There are plans that include fishing equipment so you can experience smelt fishing without having to bring anything with you The smelt that descend into the sea swim upstream making this one of the best spots in Hokkaido to catch large smelt over 10 cm in size There is a fishing spot that is completely frozen right in front of the hotels in the hot spring town the staff will carefully guide you through how to fish you can enjoy the freshly caught wakasagi as delicious tempura Another attraction is the wide range of winter activities that can be enjoyed on the ice Lake Toro is a naturally rich sea lake surrounded by marshes and fields you can enjoy ice fishing by drilling holes in the thick ice of the lake so you can eat them fried while they're still fresh you might even see a red-crowned crane or a deer It's also a popular spot for viewing the mysterious natural phenomenon of "Omiwatari," which occurs when the frozen lake surface cracks and the ice rises Located in one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Hokkaido Lake Shumarinai is a popular spot for smelt fishing one of the most representative spots in northern Hokkaido You may encounter breathtakingly beautiful scenery such as the sun pillars that appear as pillars of sunlight in the snowy landscape and diamond dust that glitters on the lake surface a style of fishing in which you drill holes in the frozen lake The smelt that grow in the clean water of the pond and lake are small but well-known for their taste This is also a popular spot for bird watching Oasis Park offers a variety of recreational activities throughout the year attracting many visitors from inside and outside Hokkaido so it is great for families and beginners to get started easily which are loved as "messengers of spring to the northern regions." You can enjoy smelt fishing in the Bekambeushi River in winter as a tour that includes equipment and cleaning up There is a guide who will teach you how to fish Another attractive point is that the smelt you catch can be made into tempura on the spot and eaten with original oyster soy sauce and oyster salt Smelt fishing is a seasonal winter activity at Lake Poroto You can bring your own tent so you can enjoy fishing at your leisure you can enjoy fresh smelt dishes on the spot after catching them Rental equipment such as hole-drilling tools so even those who don't have any equipment can enjoy themselves where smelt eggs are released by the Taiki Fisheries Cooperative Association The sight of anglers drilling a hole in the ice and waiting for a bite is one of the seasonal sights of winter in Hokkaido We recommend eating the whole smelt you catch as tempura or fried food Nishiki Onuma Park is a popular and well-used place for the citizens of Tomakomai to relax you can go smelt fishing in part of Nishiki Onuma Smelt fishing while enjoying the view of Mt Tarumae is so special that it makes you forget the cold of winter 四季折々の自然豊かで静かな桜岡湖では、冬にワカサギ釣りを楽しむことができます。隣接する剣淵温泉レークサイド桜岡で、釣り竿や餌、ドリルなどのレンタルもでき、初めてワカサギ釣りをする方も安心。釣りの後の温泉も楽しみのひとつです。 5 easy-to-participate social good events in Hokkaido [May 2025] A big transformation for your usual illuminations We tried out a mysterious camera lens that makes stars and hearts appear [Updated for 2025] Enjoy Tomamu's winter How to enjoy the fantastic "Ice Village" and the spectacular "Frost Terrace" [Updated for 2025] Experiences that can only be had in the Sea of Okhotsk Restaurant & Farm Inn "Takahashi Farm & Shorthorn Kingdom Maburitto" (Erimo Town) - Full of the charm of shorthorn beef's "red meat" Three "special" spots on Okushiri Island recommended by the island's "hot spring sommelier" Yuki Kojima <That person's special book> Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category You can check the information of your “town” in one place Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service The Geek Show Rare is the cinematic saga that maintains consistency there’s ten Star Warses (pick any of the trilogies) or Jurassic Parks (ditto) veering wildly from side to side as they try to work out just what put millions of bums in seats to see the first one Rarer still is the trilogy where the approach varies from entry to entry…with each chapter being made in the same year Japan seems to have that down: take The Street Fighter trilogy Sonny Chiba’s iconic triple-header from 1974 each chapter helmed by Shigehiro Ozawa and each possessing its very own spin on the material complete with varying levels of cartoonishness That selection seems positively straightforward in comparison to Teruo Ishii’s unconventional and risk-taking Abashiri Prison I-III (all made in 1965 and being the first cycle of an unbelievable SEVENTEEN separate films) restored and assembled by Eureka under the Prison Walls moniker in a brilliant spotlight moment on the beginning of the yakuza sub-genre This strange tale opens with a melancholy song sung by the star of the franchise practically narrating his own story through music Establishing shots of the icy tundra reinforce Takakura’s words: the eponymous slammer really is “the place that is nowhere” a zone of incarceration for the worst of the worst or whichever unlucky sap is getting the harshest sentence a judge can give Takakura’s Shinichi Tachibana is somewhere in between the two being a streetwise yakuza hoodlum and protective mummy’s boy in equal measure His stint behind bars sees him become a pillar of the prisoner community and one of the main forces behind a messy prison break as soon as he hears news of his mother dying of cancer Escape is forever on his mind over the next two films as well but the way emancipation manifests itself is something that Ishii is forever toying with in different Fans of Ishii’s work will find his grasp of black-and-white photography refreshing creating a stark world of blinding whites and obscuring shadows in the harsh winter of northern Japan Anyone expecting the lurid colour palette of Orgies of Edo (a film bursting with vibrancy and complete with flaming bulls!) will be rubbing their eyes and questioning if this is the same filmmaker but Ishii’s prolific and varied career is summed up nicely in the first entry of this saga His knack for set-pieces here is as terrific as ever; a downhill railcar chase between guard and prisoner is taught and exciting and a brutal handcuff removal involving a steam train is positively hard to watch Yet his grasp on the humanity of author Hajime Itō’s characters is what really lays the groundwork for investment in this long-running story murderers and other assorted bastards is what makes this work Tōru Abe turns in a great performance as grinning yakuza boss Heizo Yoda and Kôji Nanbara’s loathsome sexual predator Gonzo Gonda picks up the skin-crawling duties but it’s Kanjūrō Arashi’s Torakichi Akuda who makes the biggest impression as a prison lifer with a disturbing past wounded feeling and disarming authority is a well-utilised tool in the drama throughout all three films and sets a gauntlet for all of his younger performers to follow Where the Abashiri Prison story goes from here is knowledge that few possess With Takakura playing Shinichi a grand total of fourteen more times after this were able to get more material out of this when the opening three films take such creative risks so quickly it’s a nice link that should probably be subject to a video essay one day The end of the boxset sees Shinichi once again trying to go straight along with the rest of his old former yakuza pals in the city of Nagasaki bouncing back a mere twenty years after its devastation through the atomic bomb This is a decidedly more serious chapter that reckons with the impossibility of truly leaving a life of crime but still overstuffed with labyrinthine yakuza politics and overbearing metaphors about the real Abashiri Prison being the ties that bind It still manages to build to a powerful ending despite being consistently hobbled by a subplot involving an Asian girl in blackface that attempts to add some racial commentary to the proceedings and ends up falling flat on its witless face in the process It’s a rare clanger for an otherwise fascinating and layered exploration of the complexity of a criminal but at least Eureka were wise enough to open the film with a content warning about it experimenting with a brutal first chapter before lightening the mood to misguided ends with the sequel Chalk it up as another interesting page in the immense history of Japanese exploitation cinema and pray that another restored set of these comes along before too long Abashiri Prison I-III is out now on Eureka Blu-Ray Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email The fascinating drift ice travel from Russia to Hokkaido as winter turns into spring The city of Abashiri sits on the northeastern coast of Hokkaido a stretch of water that lies between Hokkaido and some of the coldest parts of eastern Russia Abashiri is also no stranger to cold temperatures — the lowest ever temperature recorded here was -25 degrees Celsius the city’s streets are typically covered with several feet of snow It’s these cold temperatures that produce Abashiri’s most popular tourist attraction: ice it’s the thick layers of drift ice that form each winter near the Russian coast in the Sea of Okhotsk that later drift south towards Abashiri ice-breaking tours sail out onto the sea ice that congregates just a few miles north of Abashiri harbor This is the most southerly point in the northern hemisphere where drifting ice floes can be seen The ice that drifts towards Abashiri is formed by the cold winter winds that blow south into the Sea of Okhotsk from Siberia in eastern Russia it doesn’t take long for the surface of the relatively shallow waters of the Sea of Okhotsk to reach freezing point the surface seawater in the north of the Sea of Okhotsk constantly produces large sheets of ice These ice blocks slowly merge and form ice floes which push their way south towards Abashiri They are capable of traveling up to 20 kilometers in a single day huge numbers of visitors descend on Abashiri to marvel at the breathtaking beauty of this natural phenomenon The ice floes are just a short boat ride away from the city’s shoreline and the best way to see them is to go on an ice-breaking tour The Aurora 2 ice breaking ship leaves Abashiri harbor Ice-breaking ships sail through the drift ice each year from January 1 until March 31. Capable of accommodating over 400 passengers, the Aurora icebreaker ship departs from Abashiri harbor the Aurora sails towards and then gently pushes through the dense layers of ice that lurk out in the Sea of Okhotsk The best time to see the drift ice is between February and early March it can take around 15 to 20 minutes to reach the ice floes A flat line of white on the horizon becomes visible soon after departing Abashiri port With the snow-covered peaks of the Shiretoko National Park in one direction and the dramatic shoreline of Cape Notoro in the other small chunks of isolated drift ice soon appear bobbing around in the water and hinting at what lies a little further ahead The Aurora slows to a crawling pace as it meets the solid patchwork of ice floes that cover the sea surface The ship crunches through the ice and into a truly magical icy seascape bouncing the brightness of the winter sun back off its fragmented surface the ice and the brooding conditions create a darkly dramatic scene sailing on and through the drifting ice is an unforgettable experience you might also spot some of the local marine wildlife including the seals that occasionally lounge on the ice Much more common are the white-tailed eagles and Steller’s sea eagles If you plan on taking a cruise out to the ice floes Tickets sell out well in advance of the scheduled trips typically before the tours even start in January The boat trip costs ¥4,000 for adults and ¥2,000 for children Tickets need to be reserved in advance online and collected and paid for in cash from the ticket office in the port on the day of the trip In all of January and for the first two weeks in March there are four boat trips a day there are a minimum of five boat trips a day Additional trips at 8am and 4.45pm are also penciled in each day in February but only sail if there is drift ice to be seen at sea at those times A fourth trip might be added if there is a guaranteed chance of still seeing ice As the direction in which the ice drifts can be unpredictable there is no guarantee that the ice floes will be seen on every boat trip While it is rare for there to be no drift ice is more likely to occur at the very start or end of the season the Aurora sails to Cape Notoro on a sightseeing cruise instead Boat trips may also be canceled if the conditions out at sea get particularly rough and it becomes too dangerous to sail The Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples in Abashiri At the top of Mount Tento is the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum where you can learn more about the ice floes that form in the Sea of Okhotsk There’s also a viewing platform on the third floor with views over Abashiri Also nearby is the excellent Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples As well as the Ainu and Okhotsk people of northern Japan the museum also displays an impressive array of historical artifacts and archive footage that tells the story of communities across some of the most remote parts of northern Russia opposite Abashiri port is the Moyoro Shell Mound Museum The museum displays the fascinating findings of an ancient settlement of the Okhotsk people who lived on the site around 1,300 years ago The easiest way to get to Abashiri is by plane which is around 12 miles from the center of the city There are direct flights to Memanbetsu Airport from both Haneda and Narita airports as well as from Sapporo and Kansai airports Buses from Memanbetsu Airport to Abashiri Bus Terminal take around 30 minutes and cost ¥920 a delegation of students has arrived in Port Alberni from Abashiri The two cities have been "sister cities" since 1986 Chaperone Shinko Tsunoda arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday They ventured to Victoria before arriving in Port Alberni on Jan 8 for a welcome at the School District 70 (Pacific Rim) office Students were paired with their homestay families and all were welcomed by district and community officials Tsunoda has been visiting Port Alberni since 1986 when the Port Alberni Twinning Society held its first set of student exchanges She stays with Janet Schlackl and her family there were 60 kids," Schlackl recalled while waiting for the Abashiri delegation to arrive In the beginning the two cities had exchanges every year: Port Alberni students travelled to Abashiri one year and Abashiri students came to Canada the next There has not been an exchange in six years due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as economic constraints director of instruction-international education for SD70 said the connection between Port Alberni and Abashiri is "a continuation of a friendship that has spanned decades This connection...has been a bridge across the ocean curiosity and the lasting friendships between our communities." Tsunoda said it's hard not to get emotional about bringing a new group of students to experience Port Alberni and Vancouver Island for their brief visit School board chair Pam Craig welcomed the students and said she hopes their visit brings new discoveries every day while they are here Students will only be in Port Alberni until Sunday when they leave for a few days' sightseeing in Vancouver While here they will visit several schools with their fellow homestay students go bowling and have a free day in the city before attending a Sayonara (goodbye) ceremony Saturday evening Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters History Lifestyle drift ice arrives in the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Hokkaido This is the only place in Japan where you can see drift ice We are looking forward to hearing about drift ice from the areas facing the Sea of Okhotsk again this year But do you really know how drift ice is formed and where it comes from Drift ice refers to ice that floats on the ocean it is "sea ice" that is ice made from frozen ocean water Sea ice that floats with the ocean currents is called drift ice while sea ice that is attached to the coast and does not move is called fast ice strong northwesterly seasonal winds from Siberia blow into the sea causing sea ice to form one after another on the coast which is then carried away by the East Sakhalin Current freezing and being carried away repeatedly The sea ice that flows along the eastern coast of Sakhalin thickens in the cold before reaching the Okhotsk coast of Hokkaido also known as the drift ice angels (or drift ice fairies) Cliones are said to have scary eating habits you can see seals and white-tailed whales that have migrated from Russia to spend the winter on the drift ice You often hear the terms "first day of drift ice" and "first day of drift ice arrival" in the news Have you ever wondered what the difference is We'll explain it in an easy-to-understand way Drift ice can be seen in areas along the Sea of Okhotsk coast of eastern Hokkaido This facility is themed around real drift ice displays and creatures that inhabit the Sea of Okhotsk Light and sound effects create a fantastic space There is also a theater where you can experience 4K footage of drift ice and other amazing images of nature in a very realistic way From the rooftop you can enjoy a panoramic view throughout the four seasons A drift ice sightseeing ship breaks up the drift ice spreading across the Sea of Okhotsk with a large drill you can enjoy the mysterious sight of the broken drift ice floating up from the side of the ship The sound and vibration of the ice being broken up is very impressive A mysterious world that can only be experienced by those on board which is a little different from the drift ice seen from land watching cruises and other tours are also available famous for its spectacular views and sunsets offers a panoramic view of the Okhotsk coastline and Utoro Port You can see as far as the mountains of Akan-Mashu National Park and enjoy the drift ice and the magnificent nature It is a popular spot in the Sea of Okhotsk where you can see drift ice early on Ryugudai Observatory is a great spot to observe drift ice up close which were built to prevent drift ice from entering Lake Saroma and damaging the oyster and scallop farming facilities make the drift ice look even more fascinating "Radio Love is Unstoppable!" Personalities from NHK and four commercial stations in Hokkaido come together Close-up and interviews on a passionate live broadcast "I couldn't help but laugh" - Paleontologist in "formal attire" photo with giant ammonite unearthed in Hokkaido goes viral "His serious face is heartwarming" "Why is there something like this?" What is the warning sign at Memanbetsu Airport that says "No handcuffs allowed" In the background is that famous tourist spot "It's so exciting to be able to go into this space" - Inside the romantic mining heritage site → The fact that you can tour for just XXX yen is a hot topic "I really want to go" Do you eat Hokkaido's osechi on New Year's Eve? The unusual Hokkaido osechi culture and 8 classic osechi dishes 7 "Golden Kamuy" pilgrimage spots in Otaru Driving Spots which stretches to the northeast of Hokkaido is famous for its rich marine products and drift ice the clear skies and scenery along the Sea of Okhotsk make it a unique driving spot we will introduce some of the most attractive driving spots unique to the Okhotsk area the Bihoro Pass Observatory overlooks Lake Kussharo and offers a magnificent panoramic view of Mount Io-zan The beautiful scenery has earned Bihoro Pass the title of "the best view in the world Location: Koume, Bihoro Town, Abashiri CountyClick here for details and map information of Bihoro Pass. located deep in the mountains of Kiyosato Town was formed from the underground water of Lake Mashu (Kamuito = Lake of the Gods) The water is surprisingly clear and you can clearly see the bottom of the pond and trees are submerged in the blue water like fossils without rotting The sight of a vermilion-spotted Oshorokoma swimming among the trees is as fantastically beautiful as a painting ■Open days and times: Visiting is free. Please note that snow is not removed during the winter and may remain until after May. Closed: Winter *Kamiko-ike Forest Road is closed to vehicular traffic. Location：Seisen, Kiyosato-cho, Shari-gunClick here for more information about Kaminoko-ike and map information. a part of Lake Notoriko is covered with bright red coral grass creating a fantastic contrast with the blue of the sky and offering a view different from that of the autumn leaves you can reach the coral grasses that spread all over the lake in red Best time to visit: Mid-August to mid-October Location: 60-3 Uwaranai, Abashiri CityClick here for details and map information of "Lake Nodoriko Coral Grass Land The seven symbolic trees that stand on a small hill and the fields that line the hillside change their expressions with the seasons with their changing colors with the seasons are popular among photography enthusiasts: lush green fields in spring Closed：Open all year round Location：Ohzora-cho Memanbetsu ShowaClick here for details and map information of "Melchen Hill. The mysterious five lakes are surrounded by virgin forest The lakes are an oasis of tranquility in the midst of the pristine nature with the lush forests and the Shiretoko mountain range reflected in the surface of the lakes Many plants and wild animals can also be seen Open: Friday, April 19, 11:00 - early November Closed: December to mid-April ■Location：Toonebetsu Village, Shari-cho, Shari-gunClick here for details and map information of Shiretoko Goko (Five Lakes of Shiretoko) Of the total area of 125,000 square meters this is a vast tulip field with a planting area of 70,000 square meters lovely flowers of about 200 varieties of tulips bloom held every year from early May to late May attracts a large number of visitors and is truly a famous flower spot Opening hours Tulip Fair period: Wednesday, May 1 - Friday, May 31, 8:00 - 18:00 *Last admission at 17:30 Fees: High school students and older: 600 yen / Elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen Closed: December through mid-April Location：Kamiyubetsu Tunda Urban Area, Kamiyubetsu, Yubetsu-cho, Monbetsu-gunClick here for details and map information of Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park. This freshwater aquarium features a collection of freshwater fish that is rare in Japan The sight of Japan's largest freshwater fish swimming in a school is particularly overwhelming The world's first "Four Seasons of the Northern Land" reproduces a natural river in Hokkaido that freezes over in winter Other world-class innovative exhibition methods such as a touch corner where visitors can interact with underwater creatures and Japan's first "waterfall tank" that looks up at a waterfall basin from below Operating hours: 9:00-17:30 *Last admission 20 minutes before closing Closed: April 8 - 14, December 9 - 13, December 31, and January 1 Fees: Adults 670 yen / Junior high school students 440 yen / Elementary school students 300 yen Location: 1-4 Matsuyama, Rube Shibe-cho, Kitami-shiClick here for details and map information of "Yama-no-Aquarium - Aquarium of the Northern Land". and other dairy products and snacks that are made with the special care and taste that comes with being a dairy farmer are available for purchase eating soft-serve ice cream on the outside terrace with a view of the farm is a great way to remember your trip Open: 10:00-17:00 *Lunch time 11:00-14:00 Closed: Tuesdays (may be open on national holidays) Location: 116-2, Kitaoki, Okube-cho, Monbetsu-gunClick here for details and map information of North Plain Farm Milk Hall. The Severe Cold Experience Room recreates the world of 20 degrees below zero in the Okhotsk winter Visitors can directly touch actual drift ice Ice specimens and making frozen soap bubbles are also popular This is an exhibition facility integrated with the natural environment where visitors can interact with cute seals the experience of feeding the seals directly with the keeper is very popular Open: 10:00-16:00 Feeding time: 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:30 Closed: December 29 - January 3 Admission: Adults 500 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen / Infants free Location: 2, Ocean Park, Monbetsu CityClick here for details and map information of "Seal Sea Paradise Visitors can experience glass blowing using recycled glass made from waste fluorescent lamps and sandblasting visitors can enjoy coffee and soda poured into drift ice glass containers while watching the Sea of Okhotsk and the glass-making process Open: 10:00 - 17:00 Closed: Wednesdays *Open on non-scheduled holidays Fee：Free of charge ※Please pay for each experience menu. Location: 6-2-1 Minami 4-jo Higashi, Abashiri-cityClick here for details and map information of the Drift Ice Glass Museum. This hot spring facility with a dome roof is located in a rich natural environment along Route 243 the facility has facilities for men and women of all ages to enjoy including a rest room for teleworking and relaxing Operating hours: 10:00-22:00 (last admission 21:20, bathing until 21:45) Closed: 2nd Wednesday of each month (if the Wednesday is a national holiday, closed the following day) Fees: Junior high school students and older: 600 yen / 4 years old to elementary school students: 300 yen Location: 40-1, Miyakobashi, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri-gunClick here for details and map information of "Tougenoyu Bihoro is popular for its spectacular view from its lighthouse at the tip and is also famous as a location for commercials and movies Lake Notoriko and the coast of Tokoro-cho can be seen to the west and the Shiretoko mountain range can be seen in the distance to the east Location: Misaki, Abashiri CityClick here for details and map information of Cape Notorimisaki. This is a vast garden of about 9,000 square meters More than 100 varieties of roses and 120 varieties of perennials bloom from summer to fall giving visitors an extraordinary experience as if they were visiting a foreign country Best time to visit: Spring - Fall Fee：Free Location：4-25-14 Oyama-cho, Monbetsu CityClick here for details and map information of Miharashi no Oka Rose Garden. This museum exhibits items excavated from the Moyoro Shell Mound local materials from the time the fishing grounds were established in the Bunka era of the Edo period and the nature and industries of the Abashiri region The nearby Katsuragoka Park is also famous for its cherry blossoms ■Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-17:00 *November-April: 9:00-16:00 Closed: Mondays, national holidays, and December 29-January 3 Fees: Adults 120 yen / Elementary/junior high school students 60 yen Location: 1-1-3 Katsura-machi, Abashiri CityClick here for details and map information of Abashiri Municipal Folk Museum. the first known limestone cave site in Hokkaido is located halfway up Mount Nigoro in the Misato district of Kitami City Misato Cave is a limestone cave formed by erosion of limestone and it is known to have been used as a camping site by people in ancient times Open: July 1 - October 31 Location：Misato, Kitami-shiClick here for details and map information of Misato Cave. The twin Ezo Yamazakura cherry trees stand on a gentle hill behind the Tsubetsu Wood Crafts Museum Kinos A picture book about these trees has been published by photographer Kazuma Anesaki and poet Shuntaro Tanikawa Seeing them quietly nestled together makes one feel strangely happy Location: 127-2, Kyowa, Tsubetsu-cho, Abashiri-gunClick here for details and map information of "Twin Cherry Blossoms A facility for parents and children to play safely together on wooden playground equipment including a playroom for children aged 0 to 2 years old and a nursing room Open: 9:00-17:00 Closed: December 31 - January 3 Admission: Adults 120 yen / Elementary/junior high school students 60 yen Location: Shinmachi 3-chome, Bihoro Town, Abashiri-gunClick here for details and map information of "Bihoro Forestry Museum Kiterasu The spring located in Raiun Park is a well-known spot for those in the know "Raiun," is said to bring luck and make wishes come true and people come from far and wide to seek this water Location: Raiun, Shari-cho, Shari-gunClick here for details and map information of "Raiun no mizu". Piraolo" means "cliff" and "oro" means "place" in Ainu language is located on the lakeside with a clear view of Lake Saroma It is said that the Ainu people used to watch for schools of fish for fishing because of its good view there is also a legend that it was the scene of a sad love story between a young Ainu man and his daughter Location: Tomibushi, Saroma Town, Tokoro-gunClick here for details and map information of Piraolo Lookout. All information is current as of April 2024 Please check the official website for details [2025 Edition] 20 Recommended Driving Spots Near Obihiro and Tokachi [2025 Edition] 20 recommended driving spots near Sapporo From classic spots that can be enjoyed for a day trip to hidden gems Hokkaido's Night Scenic Spots for Driving and Dating 15 breathtaking roads to ride on while touring Hokkaido Furano's 10 recommended driving spots for the year 2024 and the countryside scenery of the four seasons Recommended 10 Driving Spots near Yoichi and Shakotan Places with a view of the clear blue coastline Spots The Okhotsk area has nurtured its own unique culture in the rich nature facing the Sea of Okhotsk Why don't you go on a trip full of learning and discovery Now is a good time to take advantage of various discount plans offered by various public transportation companies we will introduce a model route to enjoy the Okhotsk area in 3 days and 2 nights Please take a look at it as a reference for creating your summer memories Okhotsk Round Trip" Model Route Day 1 Departure from New Chitose Airport - Memanbetsu Airport - Arrival at Abashiri Bus Terminal (Overnight stay in Abashiri City) Day 2 Depart from Abashiri Bus Terminal10:10 Museum Abashiri Prison12:15 Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum13:15 Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples14:15 Hana Tento15:00 Moyoro Shell Mound Museum16:00 Roadside Station Drift Ice Road Abashiri Day 3 Departure from Kitami Bus Terminal9:00 Kita Kitsune Farm10:10 Aquarium of the Northern Land11:20 Katsumurinokan (Roadside Station Onneyu Onsen)12:25 Roadside Station Onneyu Hot Springs14:00 Okhotsk Beer Factory15:15 Hakka Memorial Museum Kitami Bus Terminal - Memanbetsu Airport - Okadama Airport This model route is based on the actual schedule but the time may change due to traffic conditions Abashiri Bus Public transportation discount: Let's go Nippon Details of the "Let's go Nippon! For details of the "Roadside Discount", please refer to the " Gurutto Hokkaido, Public Transportation Usage Promotion Campaign / Up to 50% Discount! Please check the official website for details Start your trip from Sapporo Okadama Airport The trip starts at Sapporo Okadama Airport where you will board a flight departing from Sapporo Okadama Airport and arriving at Memanbetsu Airport with a ticket booked through JAL's "Let's Go Nippon Douchi Gurutto Wari" can be booked up to 7 days prior to the boarding date and you will receive a special bus ticket that can be used upon arrival at the airport take a 55-minute flight (JAL) to Memanbetsu Airport you can use the ticket to get off the bus for free Take the bus from Memanbetsu Airport to Abashiri Bus Terminal (about 35 minutes) Don't forget to pick up your "Eco Card" at JR Abashiri Station when you get on the Abashiri Bus This Eco-Card is for the "Let's protect drift ice by riding public transportation Campaign" and if you stamp it at the designated place Photo courtesy of the Hokkaido Okhotsk Promotion Office There are also stamps at the facilities you plan to visit on the course of this trip You can also learn about the campaign to protect Okhotsk drift ice from global warming through this campaign We will stay overnight in Abashiri city on this day so please take the opportunity to enjoy it for dinner Abashiri is also full of other local delicacies such as Okhotsk Abashiri zangi-don, Abashiri moyoro nabe, and Abashiri chanpon. You can find these restaurants on the website of the Abashiri City Tourist Association so please refer to their website for more information After enjoying gourmet food, there is one more thing you need to do before leaving the next morning. That is to purchase the necessary tickets for the second day from "OkhoNavi " (hereinafter referred to as " OkhoNavi ") OkhoNavi is a service that allows you to purchase public transportation tickets in the Okhotsk area at a discount anytime What you get is the "Abashiri Sightseeing Facility Meguri Bus and Whereabashi Bus Common 1 Day Pass" (1,500 yen including tax) which allows you to use the "Whereabashi Bus" as much as you like throughout the day The Doko Bus is very convenient for sightseeing in Abashiri but it is different from regular local buses and passengers first check the number of the bus stop from which they will board the bus and at which stop they will alight they simply call the call center and give the number give the reservation number when the bus arrives please check the User's Guide distributed at various locations in Abashiri City Reservations can also be made from a smartphone and an electronic version of the bus stop MAP can be obtained from the QR code Please note that the bus is in operation from 9:00 to 16:00 JR Public transportation discount to use: Abashiri Sightseeing Facility Tour Bus let's do plenty of sightseeing while making good use of the Whereabashi Bus Abashiri is famous for "Museum Abashiri Prison" Depart from Abashiri Station and take the Doko Bus for about 10 minutes to get there The Abashiri 1-Day Pass not only allows unlimited rides on the Doko Bus but also offers discounts at various facilities Admission to Abashiri Prison is discounted by 10% Take the Doko Bus from the Abashiri Station (1) bus stop (stop #509) to the "Museum Abashiri Prison" (stop #903) but you may be surprised at the size of the prison once you actually enter The building has actually been used as Abashiri Prison since the Meiji era and some of the thick beams and pillars still bear the marks left by the prisoners The prison cafeteria offers a menu that reproduces the prison food that prisoners used to eat You may feel more like a prisoner if you eat it Location: 1-1 Yobito, Abashiri-city Hours: 9:00-17:00 *Varies according to the season. Last admission is 1 hour before closing. Admission: Adults: 1,100 yen, University and high school students: 770 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 550 yenView details about "Museum Abashiri Prison" on Domingo From "Museum Abashiri Prison" (bus stop #903) take a 10-minute bus ride to "Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum" (bus stop #905) Photo courtesy of Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum Ride the bus again and arrive at the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum in about 15 minutes the theme of the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum is drift ice and the creatures of the Sea of Okhotsk Visitors can learn while having fun by viewing clione watching one of Hokkaido's largest permanent projection mapping displays and experiencing a drift ice terrace with temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius if you use the Abashiri 1-Day Pass benefit you can get a 50 yen discount on soft-serve ice cream sold here visit the observation terrace on the third floor you can see a magnificent view of the Sea of Okhotsk Location: 244-3, Tentozan, Abashiri-city Hours: May-Oct 8:30-18:00, Nov-Apr 9:00-16:30, Year-end and New Year (Dec 29-Jan 5) 10:00-15:00 Last admission 30 minutes before closing Admission: 770 yen for adults, 660 yen for high school students, 550 yen for elementary and junior high school studentsView details about Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum / Tentozan Observation Deck on Domingo Arrive at the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples (about 15 minutes on foot from the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum) Photo courtesy of Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples After leaving the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum it is about a 15-minute walk to the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples The Abashiri 1-Day Pass also offers a discount from 550 yen to 500 yen for this museum Photo courtesy of the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples On display here are a variety of specific materials on the cultures of the various peoples of the northern region and the prehistoric cultures closely related to their formations the prehistoric culture is introduced with a focus on the Okhotsk culture that once flourished along the Sea of Okhotsk coast which is of great interest to those who travel to this region Location: 309-1 Shiomi, Abashiri-city Hours: 9:30-16:30 (9:00-17:00 from July to September) Admission to the permanent exhibition: Adults: 550 yen, High school and university students: 200 yenView details about "Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples" on Domingo Arrive at Hana Tento (about 15 minutes on foot from the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples) Photo courtesy of Abashiri Tourist Association it is time to fill your heart with beautiful scenery A 15-minute walk from the Northern Folk Museum is the flower garden "Hana Tento It is a spot with a spectacular view where you can take some nice commemorative photos Location: 15 Yobito, Abashiri-city Flowering season: Early July to mid-October Best time to visit: Early August to late SeptemberView details of Flower Garden Hana Tento on Domingo The next stop is the Moyoro Shell Mound Museum Take the Whereabouts Bus from Hana Tento (stop #908) to the Moyoro Shell Mound Parking Lot (stop #77) Photo courtesy of Abashiri City Tourist Association people who came from the northern continent lived in Abashiri This is said to have been the origin of the Okhotsk culture Photo courtesy of Abashiri City Tourism Association The Moyoro Shell Mound Museum exhibits the lives of the ancestors as revealed through excavations Location: Kita 1-jo Higashi 2-chome, Abashiri-city Hours: 9:00-17:00 Open until 16:00 during winter (Nov. to Apr.) Fees: Adults 300 yen, high school and university students 200 yen, elementary and junior high school students 100 yenView more information about Moyoro Shell Mound Museum on Domingo walk from Moyoro Shell Mound Museum to Michi no Eki Dorii Kaido Abashiri (Michi-no-Eki Drift Ice Road Abashiri) it is about a 15-minute walk to the Roadside Station "Drift Ice Kaido Abashiri so enjoy shopping for souvenirs or for yourself Location: Minami 3-jo Higashi 4-chome, Abashiri-city Hours: April-September 9:00-18:30, October-March 9:00-18:00See details of Minato Kanko Koryu Center (Roadside Station "Drift Ice Road Abashiri") on Domingo 20 minutes on foot from "Roadside Station Drift Ice Kaido Abashiri" to "JR Abashiri Station" After a full day of sightseeing in Abashiri City take the JR Ishihoku Line to JR Kitami Station (approx The second day's itinerary is finally over you can purchase a special ticket from Ohonavi Simply follow the instructions on the OHONAVI website to purchase the tickets you are looking for Since we plan to use the Hokkaido Kitami Bus on the third day of our trip we got the Kitami Bus Free Pass Ticket (2,000 yen including tax) This will allow you unlimited rides on the Hokkaido Kitami Bus for the entire day Airplane (JAL) Public transportation discounts: Kitami Bus Free Bus Ticket 1-day pass we plan to visit Kitami's sightseeing spots we will board a Hokkaido Kitami Bus at the Kitami Bus Terminal adjacent to JR Kitami Station and head for our first destination Since we have already purchased a Kitami Bus Free Pass ticket through Ohonavi we will just display the ticket on our phone to pay take the Kitami Bus to the "Michi no Eki Onneyu Onsen" stop forest fairies and Poppo-chan the pigeon appear with music Since we will stop by the roadside station later we will first walk to "Kita Kitsune Ranch" located behind it Arrive at "Kita Kitsune Ranch" about 6 minutes on foot from "Michi no Eki Onneyu Onsen" (Road Station) Kita Kitsune Ranch is marked by a red-roofed building you want to see real foxes when you visit Hokkaido many foxes spend their time in an unfenced area but the rules here are "don't feed them" and "don't touch them Just watching them spend their time in their natural state is enough to soothe you Location: 52-1, Hanaoka, Ruyubeshibe-cho, Kitami-shi Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30) Admission: Adults (high school students and older): 500 yen, junior high school students: 400 yen, elementary school students: 300 yen, infants: freeView more details about "North Fox Farm" on Domingo is located on the right side of the roadside station mentioned earlier Arrive at the Aquarium of the Northern Lands about a 6-minute walk from the Kita Kitsune Ranch The Aquarium of the Northern Lands is very popular for its exhibits that reproduce the natural rivers of Hokkaido Visitors can observe fish while feeling the four seasons of the truly northern land There is much to learn about the nature of Hokkaido and the ecology of fish from the ingenious exhibits making for a relaxing yet fulfilling experience Location: 1-4 Matsuyama, Rurubeshi-cho, Kitami-shi Hours: 8:30-17:00 (last admission 20 minutes before closing) Winter (Nov. to Mar.) 9:00 - 16:30 Admission: Adults 670 yen, Junior high school students 440 yen, Elementary school students 300 yenView more details about "Aquarium of the Northern Lands - Mountain Aquarium" on Domingo After enjoying both Kita Kitsune Ranch and the Aquarium of the Northern Land Arrive at Michi no Eki Onneyu Onsen (Roadside Station Onneyu Onsen) about a 4-minute walk from the Aquarium of the Northern Lands At the "Katsumurin no Yakata" located in Michi no Eki Onneyu Onsen there is a craft workshop where anyone can easily make wooden toys and other handicrafts under the supervision of a full-time instructor If you tell them how long you want to experience the craft they will suggest something that can be completed within that time making it a perfect experience for tourists If you are tired from sightseeing and experiencing crafts take a break and have something sweet to eat we recommend the "White Flower Bean Soft Ice Cream This soft-serve ice cream with a gentle sweetness and a hint of white flower bean flavor can only be found here Location: 1-4 Matsuyama, Ruyubeshibe-cho, Kitami-shi Opening hours: 8:30-17:00View details of "Roadside Station Onneyu Onsen" on Domingo go to the same bus stop as when you arrived take the Hokkaido Kitami Bus to the Kitami Bus Terminal you can use your Kitami Bus Free Pass here as well From the "Onneyu Onsen Iriguchi" bus stop take the Hokkaido Kitami Bus for approximately 1 hour to the "Kitami Bus Terminal" Arrive at "Okhotsk Beer Factory" about 12 minutes on foot from "Kitami Bus Terminal" Photo courtesy of Kitami City Tourism Association Get off the Kitami Bus at the Kitami Bus Terminal and walk to the Okhotsk Beer Factory Even though you had soft-serve ice cream on the way Let's have a late lunch at the Okhotsk Beer Factory but we recommend the "Okhotsk Kitami Salt Yakisoba" Location: 2-2-2 Yamashita-cho, Kitami-shi Business hours: 11:30-22:00 (last order 21:40) Closed: Year-end and New Year's DaySee details of Okhotsk Beer Factory on Domingo 11 minutes on foot from the Okhotsk Beer Factory to the Kitami Hakka Memorial Museum we will head to the Kitami Hakka Memorial Museum about an 11-minute walk from the Okhotsk Beer Factory The Kitami Hakka factory was established in 1934 it is said to have accounted for about 70% of the world market but the museum now serves as a memorial hall where materials showing the achievements of the factory are on display Location: 1-7-28 Minaminakacho, Kitami-shi, Kanagawa Hours: 9:00-17:00 (May 1-October 31), 9:30-16:30 (November 1-April 30) Closed: Mondays and the day following national holidays Admission: FreeView more information about "Kitami Hakka Memorial Hall & Usukari Distillery" on Domingo 9 minutes on foot from Kitami Hakka Memorial Museum to Kitami Bus Terminal it is a 9-minute walk to the Kitami Bus Terminal where you will take the Kitami Bus to Memanbetsu Airport take the Hokkaido Kitami Bus to Memanbetsu Airport (about 42 minutes) Arrive at Memanbetsu Airport and take the 19:10 flight to Sapporo's Okadama Airport I used JAL's "Let's go Nippon," which I used at the beginning of my trip I used JAL's "Douchi Gurutto Wari," which I had used at the beginning of my trip you can go to downtown Sapporo for free with the gift bus ticket Arrive at Okadama Airport about 50 minutes by JAL from Memanbetsu Airport and a lot of special offers for travel in the Okhotsk area Why don't you use this as a reference and plan your own trip using public transportation The "Round Hokkaido Public Transportation Usage Promotion Campaign For a limited time transportation operators in Hokkaido are offering discount tickets and unlimited-ride tickets Hokkaido will cover a portion of the cost of purchasing the tickets making it possible to use public transportation at a discount [7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell" [Updated for 2025] A complete guide to accessing Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) and nearby hotels "So cute it's unfair" - Feel the healing power of a sleeping miniature horse [Information on the early opening on April 25th] Sapporo Odori's newest attraction Floor details and highlights of "4PLA" opening in summer 2025 A hotel in the center of Sapporo with a superb sauna and large public bath Experience the warmth that is unique to Hokkaido at "Danyuki Sapporo" [2025 Edition] 7 recommended cherry blossom spots in the Kitami and eastern Hokkaido areas Enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the great outdoors Spots Ski/Snowboard there are many ski resorts built amidst the rich natural surroundings offering panoramic views of the ocean and lakes from the mountaintops You can glide over drift ice and snow-covered lakes below so you can enjoy not only skiing and snowboarding we will introduce ski resorts where you can enjoy dynamic scenery surrounded by nature Event Spots as it also means praying to the Toshigami-sama for happiness and a good harvest for the year Here are some recommended spots to see the first sunrise these are spots where you can see beautiful sunrises on a regular basis so please use them as a reference for your winter vacation outings Expanding the circle of exchange in Minami-ku a community market created by students together with the local community Enjoy seasonal spring gourmet food and Golden Week 10 recommended events in Hokkaido [May 2025] 5 recommended events in Sapporo [May 2nd - 6th [2025 Edition] 16 Flower Events in Hokkaido: Cherry blossoms Ten days after opening her 2020 track campaign with a 5000m win in Fukagawa Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru was once again victorious on Wednesday (15) in Abashiri at the third meeting in the Hokuren Distance Challenge series The 25-year-old finished 45 seconds ahead of her nearest rival just three seconds shy of the PB she set when finishing fourth over the distance at last year’s World Championships in Doha Wanjiru led from the outset and after just a couple of laps had only two other women for company: Japan’s Mao Ichiyama and Mizuki Matsuda After covering the first kilometre in 3:08 Wanjiru started to gradually increase the pace who earned selection for Japan’s Olympic team after winning this year’s Nagoya Marathon in 2:20:29 started to lose contact with Wanjiru about 10-and-a-half minutes into the race She covered the second half even quicker and increasing her winning margin with each lap Wanjiru’s time is a world-leading mark Wanjiru has clocked 29:50 – the third-fastest time in history – on the roads Running alone for the final six kilometres Ichiyama held on to second place and was rewarded with a PB of 31:23.30 won the men’s 10,000m ‘A’ race in 27:23.47 The two-time world U20 steeplechase champion finished comfortably ahead of fellow Kenyans Alexander Mutiso (27:44.37) and Richard Kimunyan Yator (27:49.35) who has also been named on Japan’s Olympic marathon team taking 13 seconds off his PB from five years ago world U20 champion Nozomi Tanaka – who last week set a Japanese 3000m record of 8:41.35 – won the women’s 5000m in 15:02.62 beating Kenya’s Hellen Ekarare (15:03.09) Ahmed and Houlihan smash North American 5000m.. Please sign in with your Snow-Forecast account details below Create a free account to receive instant Snow-Alerts and save your favourite resorts on your personal MySnow page Abashiri Lake View Weather (Next 3 days): The snow forecast for Abashiri Lake View is: Moderate rain (total 11.0mm) Abashiri Lake View Weather (Days 4-6): Moderate rain (total 14.0mm) Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Sat night Latest snow reports near Abashiri Lake View: Several North American ski areas that are still open plan to celebrate the unofficial Star Wars Day tomorrow The above table gives the weather forecast for Abashiri Lake View at the specific elevation of 115 m. Our sophisticated weather models allow us to provide snow forecasts for the top, middle and bottom ski stations of Abashiri Lake View. To access the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the table. For a wider view of the weather, check out the Weather Map of Japan Click here to read further information on freezing levels and how we forecast our temperatures Be the first to write a review! View detailed snow forecast for Abashiri Lake View at:snow-forecast.com Driving Spots Early summer is finally upon us in Hokkaido and colorful flowers are starting to bloom all at once The Okhotsk Sea in eastern Hokkaido is also now in the best season for flowers But for those who are wondering where to go we will introduce flower-viewing spots recommended by local players The introduction will be by Ayumi Takai a local player from Nakashibetsu Town who is part of "mina ikor," a group formed to fully enjoy the climate and nature of Hokkaido we asked her to choose three of her favorite spots Although lilies are known for their white flowers you can encounter many different varieties here the combination of early and late blooming lilies means you can enjoy them for about a month making this a spot that is easy to plan and visit and can be enjoyed again at the end of summer in September not only sunflowers but also cosmos begin to bloom so you can enjoy the pretty flower fields in yellow and pink What do you think? There are many more flower spots in Okhotsk that we recommend from spring to autumn! In this blog which Takai-san runs under the name mina ikor you can see 16 "Okhotsk Flower Tour" spots Please use this as a reference and enjoy touring the flowers of Okhotsk Spots Cherry Blossom・Autumn Leaves Eastern Hokkaido boasts magnificent natural scenery such as Shiretoko and the Kushiro Wetlands and is a treasure trove of beautiful scenery that can only be seen in autumn Here are 10 recommended spots to see autumn leaves in Eastern Hokkaido Iwanai Senkyo is a place where beautiful mountain stream scenery spreads out amongst the majestic nature The autumn leaves are especially beautiful and the mountain stream overlooked from the suspension bridge is very impressive The Iwanai Senkyo Momiji Festival is also held every year in mid-October The festival also sells local gourmet food and agricultural products and is attracting attention as a spot where you can fully enjoy Tokachi's autumn and autumn leaves Mikuni Pass is the highest pass in Hokkaido It is a scenic spot overlooking the mountains in the distance and the vast ocean of trees below which appears to be floating in the sky amid the ocean of trees There is also an observation deck with a cafe next door A caldera lake located in Akan Mashu National Park The view of Mount Oakan towering on the eastern shore is magnificent and the lake shows beautiful faces in every season including the autumn leaves that surround it The lake is also famous for the "Lake Akan Marimo" a rare special natural monument that is rare worldwide and one of Hokkaido's leading hot spring towns spreads out on the southern shore Located near the source of the Akan River near Akan Onsen town the abundant water from Lake Akan and Lake Taro flows as a waterfall The bridge is named Takimi Bridge because you can see the waterfall flowing The clear stream flowing among the vivid red and yellow autumn leaves is as beautiful as a garden This pass is located on the border between Rausu and Shari on the Shiretoko Cross-Island Highway which crosses the World Heritage Site of Shiretoko you can enjoy beautiful autumn foliage on the mountains and primeval forests of trees such as Mizunara and Todomatsu you can see all the way to Kunashiri Island Kinsenkyo is a valley on the Shokotsu River that flows through the city From the promenades along both banks of the river and wild birds throughout the four seasons: fresh greenery reflecting in the clear waters in spring It is also known as a great place for birdwatching Lake Nukabira is a place where you can enjoy nature observation in all four seasons and is garnering attention as an outdoor spot where you can enjoy cherry salmon and rainbow trout in the summer and smelt fishing from the frozen lake surface in the winter It is also popular in the autumn when the leaves change color and the yellow foliage reflects off the lake surface Oshinkoshin Falls is also known as the "Twin Beauties Falls" because the water flow splits into two midway and is a popular spot that has been selected as one of the "100 Best Waterfalls in Japan." You can climb up to the middle of the falls via stairs and see the powerful flow right in front of you the surrounding area of the falls is colored with autumn leaves This is the only natural lake in Daisetsuzan National Park It is surrounded by a primeval forest of Sakhalin fir and the lake's beauty is enhanced by its changing appearance with the seasons is called Kuchibiruyama (Lip Mountain) because of its shape and the shadow it reflects on the lake's surface This garden is open to the public only once a year for a limited period of about one month The planted trees and the surrounding natural forest are in perfect harmony creating a beautiful garden colored with autumn leaves It is a spot where you can look forward to seeing the different expressions of the autumn leaves every year This is a popular spot in eastern Hokkaido during the autumn foliage season parts of Lake Notoro are covered in red coral grass creating a different atmosphere from the autumn leaves allowing you to walk into the coral grass that spreads out as far as the eye can see Experiences Enjoying drift ice in Shari-cho (Shiretoko )1. drift ice walk2. drift ice kayak & walk Enjoying drift ice in Monbetsu City1.Drift Ice Sightseeing Boat GarinkoHokkaido Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center "GIZA Enjoying drift ice in Abashiri City1. Enjoy with all five senses! Fat Bike Experience Tour (Photo by Shinra (Shiretoko Nature Guide Tour Co. (Photo by Abashiri City Tourism Association) [2025 Latest Edition] A winter tradition in Hokkaido Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission Abashiri Beer’s Okhotsk Blue Draft was introduced to Japan five years ago as a gimmicky, quaffable paean to the frigid Sea of Okhotsk, but thanks to online curio depot Firebox, the courageous American or homesick Tokyoite can now order it in $21 four-packs Of course, bright blue isn’t what you’d call the most natural color, but Abashiri achieves the refreshing hue organically with gardenias, local seaweed, and melted Okhotsk iceberg water. Bonus: Chinese yam is said to throw in a “superior head” that looks like ice. Reviews are less than stellar those Silver Bullet blue mountains feel a little cheapened right now [Firebox via FWF] A look back at the life of the man who was known as the Harry Houdini of Japan While the fact that Shiratori escaped four times is true some tales of his escapades may be folklore rather than factual Mannequin of Yoshie Shiratori at Abashiri Prison | Applepy via Shutterstock Shiratori was born in Aomori Prefecture on July 31 his father died when he was very young and his mother then abandoned him and his sister taking only his older brother to live with a farmer in Akita Prefecture The two remaining children were subsequently brought up in a tofu store by his aunt Determined to pay off his father’s debts Shiratori got a job on a Russian ship catching crabs when he was 18 Shiratori turned to gambling and stealing to raise funds and quickly became addicted he was part of a group of thieves that robbed a merchandise dealer’s storehouse in Higashitsugaru The adopted son of the owner was then stabbed to death after chasing two of the perpetrators out of the building Shiratori reportedly handed himself in two years later when one of his acquaintances was arrested the police allegedly beat and tortured him to get him to confess Shiratori often complained about the abhorrent conditions and the inhumane way he was treated by the guards They responded to his complaints by punishing him even more In the morning there was always a 15-minute gap in the patrol time This was his short window of opportunity to get out of there Using a metal wire that had been wrapped around a bucket used for bathing he picked his cell lock and escaped through a cracked skylight Passing guards assumed he was still sleeping as he’d placed floorboards inside his futon While Shiratori was highly skilled at escaping he wasn’t so proficient at evading capture he was re-arrested just three days after the jailbreak he was eventually transferred to Akita Prison Here he was treated even worse than before and started plotting his second escape as he was handcuffed at all times and placed in a cell specially designed to deter escape artists with high ceilings and a small skylight Shiratori regularly got out of his handcuffs and scaled the smooth copper wall to pry away at the rotting wooden framing of the skylight He then waited for a stormy night to go out of the window so his footsteps wouldn’t be heard on the roof Abashiri Prison | linegold via Shutterstock it was three months before Shiratori was back inside He made the mistake of visiting the house of guard Kobayashi the one officer who’d been nice to him in the slammer to ask for help in a case against injustice in the Japanese prison system called the police and Shiratori was sent to Hokkaido’s notorious Abashiri Prison Exposed to the extreme cold while being forced to wear summer garments he was placed in specially made hand and leg cuffs Every morning he spat miso soup on the cuffs and the frames of the narrow food slot on his cell door Shiratori saw his chance to escape during the wartime blackout on August 26 he dislocated his shoulders to squeeze out of the tiny food slot Following the most audacious of prison breaks he headed to a nearby village and learned of Japan’s surrender With very high walls and windows smaller than his face they didn’t feel the need for handcuffs as they focused too much on potential ceiling escapes Shiratori also tricked them by regularly looking up keeping the dirt in a small pocket under the floorboards Shiratori was free for around a year when he was offered a cigarette by a police officer in a park As this was seen as a luxury item in Japan It was at that point that he decided to confess to being an escaped convict and was rearrested ruling the killing of the farmer as self-defense Shiratori was sentenced to 20 years and served 14 due to good behavior His request to be imprisoned in Tokyo’s Fuchu Prison was also granted he did a variety of jobs and was reunited with his daughter The ex-convict saw out his final days in Aomori before dying of a heart attack on this day in 1979 Hokkaido--The sightseeing icebreaker Aurora was filled with excited tourists on Jan 21 enjoying up-close views of the first drift ice of the season off the coast here The ice signals the onset of winter in the coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido Sightseeing buses lined up in the parking lot of a roadside station serving as the boarding area for the boat that day the first Sunday since the tour began this season Although the drift ice had moved farther out it was still within the cruising range for the boat and 240 people boarded the icebreaker “It would have been nice to see a little more drift ice and some animals but it was a lot of fun,” said a 37-year-old company employee from Kawasaki who boarded the ship with three other family members the Abashiri Local Meteorological Office confirmed that drift ice could be spotted from land with the naked eye for the first time this season It was three days earlier than usual and 14 days earlier than last year The drift ice approached Abashiri Port on Jan It was the first time since 2015 that the icebreaker could sail through the drift ice on its first day of operations The Japan Meteorological Agency’s sea ice forecast calls for the drift ice scattered around the coast of Abashiri and northward to approach other coasts by around Jan Spots The autumn foliage season will soon be upon us in many parts of Hokkaido Domingo has introduced some of the best autumn excursion spots in Japan and we have compiled some of our editorial recommendations for you to read now We have compiled a list of our favorite articles for your reference for your future excursions 1The lake turns bright red!Lake Nodoriko coral grass colony (Abashiri City) located in Abashiri City and connected to the Sea of Okhotsk turns bright red from mid-September to October It was named "akeshisou" after it was discovered in Atsugishi and was later called "coral grass" because it turns red like coral Walking along the wooden paths paved with coral grasses on all sides you feel as if you are standing in another world It has been confirmed that coral grass grows in various places in eastern Hokkaido and parts of Shikoku but the coral grass colony in Ueharauchi Park Best time to visit: Mid-September to October Address: Ueharauchi Coral Grassland, 60-3 Ueharauchi, Abashiri City If you want to know more about "Lake Notori Coral Reef Grass Land (Abashiri City)", click here. 2 Lovely kochia and cute gourmet food Yuni Garden Kochia Hill is a new area that was newly established last year (2021) in Yuni Garden The Kochia Hill is home to 32,000 kochia plants At the cafeteria in the center house of the Yuni Garden gourmet foods and sweets inspired by the lovely kochia are available for purchase Visitors can also enjoy a healthy buffet lunch that uses vegetables from the garden and Yuni Town Best time to visit: Late September to early October Address: 134-2, Fushimi, Yuni-cho, Yubari-gun For more information about Yuni Garden Kochia no Oka (Yuni Town), click here. 3 You can enjoy colorful autumn leaves at Takino Suzuran Hillside Park (Sapporo) The first place to visit in autumn is the "Hananomaki-ba" (flower beds) an area called the Country Garden in the central zone From "Morimino Tower" in the Takino Forest zone visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the forests around Takino The autumn leaves spreading out below are in splendid contrast with the blue sky above them Best time to visit: Late September to early October Address: 247 Takino, Minami-ku, Sapporo For more information about Takino Suzuran Hillside Park (Sapporo), click here. 4 Autumn in Hokkaido's northernmost marshland Sarobetsu Wild Flower Garden (Toyotomi Town) part of the Rishiri Rebun Sarobetsu National Park the entire marshland is covered in autumn leaves giving it a different flavor from spring and summer Rishiri Fuji from Rishiri Island can be seen in the distance and the dynamism of nature unique to Hokkaido can be felt Visitors can enjoy the different scenes of spring and winter while taking a leisurely stroll Best time to visit: Late September Address: 8662, Kami-Sarobetsu, Teshio-gun, Toyotomi Town For more information about Sarobetsu Wild Flower Garden (Toyotomi Town), click here. 5 A famous place for autumn leaves and cherry blossoms Gyokusenkan Site Park (Iwamizawa City) Gyokusenkan Site Park in Iwamizawa is located on the former site of the Gyokusenkan hot spring hotel garden Gyokusenkan was a historic ryokan that was in business from 1904 to 1979 Japanese gardens are the original landscapes that are at home in the hearts of the Japanese people Best time to visit: Mid to late October Address: 3-3-1 Higashiyama, Iwamizawa City For more information about Gyokusenkan Site Park (Iwamizawa City), click here. All information is current at the time of publication Home » Horse Racing » ‘Abashiri Has No Chance’ – Expert Leader of the pack – Robert Bloomberg he takes a no-nonsense view of the runners for Saturday’s Gr1 Vodacom Durban July Very well handicapped despite top weight thanks to a clever use of the race conditions by an astute and superb trainer – had an eye-catching exercise gallop in the Gold Challenge and has had an excellent prep – could give his brilliant rider his long awaited July winner and is the horse to beat – excellent each-way value as he shouldn’t miss the board Can’t beat French Navy on the Gold Challenge run and the 7b penalty incurred ‘Hassen’ gone down very well in respect of his chances Form of SA Derby is hardly appealing and is incomparable to Cape Derby form – 3rd placed Samurai Blade who was under 1L back beat two home in the Daily News one of whom was Stebbins who was only beaten 2L in Derby off a rating of 79 – with the grandstand to carry thanks to an inflated rating he shouldn’t really be running – no chance in my book Master Sabina and stablemate Deo Juvente are both entered Three really poor runs this year’s and has had an uninspiring prep – if you back this one it will be your fault and become your problem Deserted by Anthony Delpech and he must have known something as the draws would indicate – won Canon Guineas from an almost impossible position and will have to do the same here from a shocking gate but the trip will suit much better – 4lb under sufferance as well but not without a prayer and his dad-to-be trainer has after all a 22% chance of winning this race – on paper in any event Does he truly stay and surely the run in KZN Breeders mile with 59,5kgs to shoulder 6 days before will take the edge off him Anton passed him by for this race and that’s a telling factor Unbelievably rated the equal of Black Arthur and superior to the likes of It’s My Turn Is he really a 108 and better than those horses good prep and will be spot on for the race – Deano knows how to win the big one and this would give him a welcome wedding present and July number 4 If you believe in omens same connections as last year – big runner Beat both Marinaresco and Black Arthur in Cape Derby but think both have improved past him – has definite place credentials though and should run well No reason why he should finish in front of either It’s My Turn or Mambo Mime on the Daily News run and also think that there are other 3yos who also have better credentials Of the 3 lucky KZN contenders he may have the best chance but that in reality means he should finish in the last 1/4 Excellent run in Daily News from the back in slow run race – definite place credentials for a trainer who appears to be the only non-domiciled conditioner who loves the KZN tracks – certainly his record this season would indicate that The roughie of the race according to an astute Western Cape racing man – he is however having extensive therapy at the moment and is still on industrial strength Prozac so a disclaimer is hereby issued Top horse very much on the upgrade and is better than his rating even if 9lbs under sufferance – likes to be given a chance and from that draw will surely have to be dropped into the back half of the field although Grant Einstein is capable of doing the unexpected – anything else and the slim chance he has from his gate will evaporate Classic Flag and Pomodoro have won from the extreme outside gate but he won’t be following in their footsteps Nice to see though that Striker and the Brit had reignited their love/hate relationship Probable frontrunner from pole position and Justin Bieber’s decided 4th string to his bow – comfortably held at weights by Solid Speed on both their last 2 runs Superman’s ride through the liberal use of the rules at ones disposal thanks to Gold Circle – will take some inspiration and brilliance from the genius in the saddle as he hasn’t had an ideal prep and is 4lbs worse off with Solid Speed as well Unbelievably got into the race off  a rating of 95  – I mean he is 11lb under sufferance FFS and his most noteworthy success has been 2 Pinnacle Plate wins – there can be no other explanation for his inclusion at the expense of Deo Juvente off a 106 and Trophy Wife off a 101 other than the fact that he is a KZN horse Duncan Howell’s has 2 runners – should have been zero Will have the run of the race from her draw and will be in the first 4 turning for home – jury is out however as she’s only beaten the same 2 fillies at her last two starts Nightingale and Negroamaro and I wouldn’t have either of them off bottom weight here – no easy task being as close to the colts as she is at the weights but she may be good enough as she does possess an excellent turn of foot My selection – French Navy to beat Solid Speed The Sporting Post will not publish comments submitted anonymously or under pseudonyms.Please note that the views that are published are not necessarily those of the Sporting Post The Rafeef purple patch continued in the 2025 Champions Season opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with another crackerjack performer in the shape of Mon Petit Cherie who won the World Sports Betting Gr2 Fillies Guineas A Transkei-born horseman who started as a Groom the groundbreaking Lunga learnt the ropes from top men like Mitch Wiese Better known as having raced iconic legend of the turf Pocket Power the affable Marsh Shirtliff is fast making a name for himself in the breeding fraternity On the eve of the launch of the 2025 Champions Season this coming Saturday South African horseracing awoke to a brand new chapter in its history on the Workers’ Day public holiday Justin Snaith sends out Let It Be Said in the eighth and if Richard Fourie can switch him off early he should notch up his fourth career victory The 3yo Great Plains was in need of the run and recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon A longstanding racing man makes a case for four horses he feels should be in the Hollywoodbets Durban July entries Hunting history in a new place is my idea of paradise The thrill of seeing something amazing for the first time and going a long way to do so is exciting my wife and I went to Hokkaido for a week of non-stop discovery crossing the island and its national park-like interior to learn about how the north was won Hokkaido was Japan’s last domestic frontier Japan claimed the island for centuries but it wasn’t until the early 1870s that pioneers it was a wilderness rich in natural resources and unique possibilities and sparsely populated by a native people who would be marginalized as progress advanced elements of that old Hokkaido have been preserved and can be seen if you know where to go On Hokkaido’s northern coast is a once remote town that was home to one of the nation’s most dreaded prisons This prison’s population was imported north as part of a scheme to cheaply and quickly build Hokkaido’s highways and infrastructure with an expendable workforce When it was decommissioned the old prison became an open-air museum Beyond its foreboding red brick gate is the functional walled village that was Abashiri Prison As an isolated prison in an inhospitable country able to be cut off from the outside world almost indefinitely bathhouse and living quarters for guards and their families most of which are original with a few reproductions to fill in gaps are present and all spaces furnished and equipped with prisoner and guard mannequins giving Abashiri a “live” feeling that illustrated what it was like not so long ago The centerpiece of this village is the radial five-wing prison house built in 1912 Its rows upon rows of gloomy cells lining long narrow halls illuminated by sky lights gave an impression of oppressive orderliness Otaru once played an important role in the development of Hokkaido Its former prosperity still shows in the rows of old warehouses standing shoulder to shoulder on the canal the banks clustered in city blocks and a tight row of Victorian businesses on Sakaimachi that are still illuminated by gas lamp-style street lights which when the sun goes down gives the streets a Dickensian Christmas atmosphere Otaru itself is its own biggest attraction thanks to this heavy concentration of late 19th and early 20th century architecture It’s easy to imagine it as it was a century ago when there were more sleds on the streets than cars we found more museums than we could handle in 24 hours and had to decide what to see; though we put that off until after a romantic canal walk Two must-see museums are the Otaru Canal Museum to learn about Otaru’s development and the Otaru City Museum which is more of a train museum than a city one Its centerpiece is an American locomotive from the 1880s we visited the Otaru Beer Hall to imbibe locally-brewed German beer that’s the best I’ve had outside of Germany The exterior is an old warehouse but inside is pure Munich beer hall with everything except lederhosen Hidden in the trees just outside Sapporo is a frontier town surrounded by farms and a fishing village These 52 buildings are not a functioning town but rather an architectural open-air museum telling the story of Hokkaido’s pioneering past: Kaitaku no Mura When Japan was developing the island they brought in American advisors whose advice turned Hokkaido into a Japanese American Midwest complete with dairy farming raising cattle for beef and brewing beer – industries that were almost non-existent anywhere else in Japan They also came armed with plans for American architecture that could withstand the brutal winters far better than most Japanese designs Kaitaku no Mura is the physical remains of this Americanized Hokkaido Laid out along a broad tree-lined boulevard are government offices and housing ripped straight from Ohio and Illinois along with hybridized Japanese personal businesses homes and an inn with farms just beyond the town’s edge The variety of buildings also makes it feel like an actual town that’s always been here what makes Kaitaku no Mura come alive is inside every building Homes and shops are furnished with period furniture equipment and small items so that it feels as though the owner will return any minute or that the shop clerk will be with you shortly Sapporo is a modern city but has a few historic highlights from its pioneering days Japan’s most disappointing tourist attraction Since the Sapporo Beer Museum is a corporation’s museum I expected the visit to the old red brick brewery to be a boozy exercise in brand communication but was pleasantly surprised to learn a lot about the early history of Hokkaido as the beer but the 500 yen premium guided tour is the only way to go because it comes with a glass of the original 1876 recipe lager which is not sold anywhere and only served on this tour The Tokeidai is a victim of expectation and lack of context It may be dwarfed by surrounding skyscrapers and its peaceful atmosphere assaulted by the constant sound of traffic but the little clock tower hall is an artistic structure that still serves the former frontier community that grew up around it With its lacy trim and colorful red and white late Meiji era (1868-1912) paint it’s a very striking hall amid drab mountains of modern steel and glass Like most Hokkaido government buildings of its era the clock tower hall an American design and could be any New England church The Kaitakushi (Hokkaido Development Office) red Pole Star patriotically adorns every corner and like in the other former government-funded enterprises is a consistent motif The Akarenga (Red Brick) Government Office Building looks like a luxurious mansion set in an evergreen park near Sapporo Station Inside is a collection of free mini-museums each room dedicated to a different aspect of Hokkaido history and ongoing issues Hoheikan is an elegant baby blue hotel built in 1881 for dignitaries and visiting high-level government employees; it was finished none too soon as its first visitor would be Emperor Meiji on his first and only visit to Sapporo No expense was spared in its construction and though it may not have wowed in New York or London it would have impressed in the American West such as the bowl used to wash both Emperor Meiji and Taisho’s own dragon countenances Hokkaido’s second biggest city was a military town home of the Imperial Japanese Army’s 7th Division fought in some of the Russo-Japanese War’s bloodiest battles and during World War II detachments fought at Nomonhan The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Hokuchin Kinenkan follows their story from the first soldier-farmers that pioneered Hokkaido to the end of World War II and today’s JGSDF more than remembering just the wars and battles covers their complete history including peacetime activities and unit evolution over time It doesn’t come across as glorifying war but remembering generations of Hokkaido’s soldiers and their accomplishments For military buffs this is probably the most complete collection of photographable Japanese militaria you will ever see the native Ainu people were constantly forced to change and adopt Japanese culture the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Museum was established It’s a place that focuses less on history and more on sharing the traditional Ainu way of life through artifacts tools and art which makes the museum visually engaging and memorable the clothing is eye-catchingly colorful and ornate and they seem to carve little designs in almost any wooden items they used More than snow Thoughts of Hokkaido and Sapporo may conjure up snow sculptures and freezing temperatures there is much more to experience in Japan’s final frontier Easily accessible from the mainland and Okinawa it is a cool escape for a different landscape and historical perspective of Japan Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan National Report The Kazu I tour boat that sank off Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido was successfully hoisted aboard a barge in the early hours of May 27 after a previous attempt to retrieve it was unsuccessful the salvage barge carrying the boat arrived at Port Abashiri in the city of Abashiri That will allow investigators to search the vessel in trying to determine the cause of the deadly accident “The boat is one of the few valuable pieces of evidence we have to identify the cause of the accident,” said Atsushi Toyama a public interest incorporated association the tour boat slipped out of the belts holding it and dropped to the seabed while being hung from the barge off Port Utoro in Shari It took about four hours for the salvage operation team to lift the boat again on May 26 The boat was then held with ropes to the side of the barge The barge traveled to a shallower area in the evening The team then pumped water out of the boat all night the boat was hoisted aboard by crane to sit on the bow of the barge the team is expected to pump the remaining water out of the boat and start checking the engine room and other areas to see if there are clues leading to those still missing after the tragedy The tour boat is expected to be put on land on May 29 The Kazu I sank in late April with 26 passengers and crew members aboard Fourteen bodies have been found and 12 people remain missing The Japan Coast Guard and the Transport Safety Board will investigate the boat “It is difficult to speculate on the cause of the accident at this point just by looking at the scenes of the boat emerging out of the deep water because one can’t see the bottom of the boat,” said Toyama who also has experience leading an investigation at the Japan Coast Guard An underwater vehicle took pictures of the body of the Kazu I before the boat dropped on May 24 The sea floor where the boat fell on May 24 appears to be a sandy area meaning “the impact of the fall on the body of the boat will be limited,” Toyama said A major focus of the investigation will be “where the water first flooded into the boat,” Toyama said Investigators will examine the condition of the boat but it is possible the fall caused some damage “A careful investigation is needed to determine when the damage occurred,” Toyama said the boat crew told the Japan Coast Guard that the engine had stopped Toyama said checking the condition of the engine would make it possible to see if the engine had not been working before it was flooded Investigating items left behind inside the boat will also provide an important clue passengers’ smartphones may reveal the boat’s navigation route by checking the phones’ GPS functions Toyama said it is likely the Japan Coast Guard will have experts conduct an evaluation of the boat’s body “Identifying the cause of the accident is difficult and it will possibly take several months to six months or longer,” he said Salvage crew to try again to lift sunken tour boat on May 26 Coast Guard to ask for SDF help sooner after tour boat accident Tour boat firms struggle to entice customers after April tragedy Ministry to revoke approval of Hokkaido tour boat operator Divers find no clues to tour boat passengers in two-day search Port Alberni’s Twinning Society is celebrating 35 years of friendship with Port Alberni’s Sister City The sister city relationship began in February 1986 when a group from Port Alberni—including the late Gillian Trumper who was mayor at the time—visited Abashiri and signed the Sister City Agreement The first student delegation from Abashiri—a group of 77 students and teachers—visited Port Alberni for the first time in March of 1986 there have been 19 student delegations from Abashiri (more than 400 students) and 11 from Port Alberni (more than 200 students) Abashiri will be marking the 35th anniversary with “Port Alberni Week” in December along with an exhibition at Abashiri’s Echo Centre and Grant said he would like to see something similar in Port Alberni Grant and fellow Twinning Society member Laurie Money visited city council on Nov 22 to ask for some kind of commemorative event in 2022 Grant also said he would like to see a Japanese garden built down at Harbour Quay near the totem pole that acknowledges the sister city relationship Abashiri currently has a “Port Alberni garden” that was established in 2010 Grant and Money presented three historical documents to Mayor Sharie Minions: the original twinning accord from 1986 and two reaffirmation documents but were removed during a renovation a few years ago and placed into storage “We have been the custodians of these for many years,” said Grant “I can’t think of a more appropriate time to return them to the City of Port Alberni than in commemoration of 35 years of sistership.” Minions said city council is currently working on a letter to send to Abashiri elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Gourmet hairy crabs with full flesh can be caught from around March when the drift ice returns These crabs are called "drift ice hairy crabs." We will introduce the secret behind the deliciousness of this drift ice hairy crab which even gourmets will be impressed with Drift ice breaker hairy crabs are caught in the Sea of Okhotsk between March and the end of April These crabs spend the winter under the drift ice but eat plenty of plankton contained in the drift ice they are a seasonal sight that signals the arrival of spring visit a town along the Okhotsk coast in March or April It is served as a seasonal menu item at seafood izakayas and hotels There are also restaurants where you can boil the crab you selected after the drift ice is released and take it out and some even serve the rare crab as sashimi there are cases where they are not in stock depending on the day so if you are visiting to try the crab after the drift ice is released We will also introduce an event where you can taste fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Okhotsk in spring including hairy crabs after the drift ice is removed The Hairy Crab Festival held by the Yubetsu Fisheries Cooperative is an event where you can enjoy plenty of hairy crabs that have grown under the drift ice and they also serve teppo-jiru soup with plenty of plump crab legs and sea boiling is also available on the premises "hairy crab fishing," a wild fishing for crabs in a large fish tank it finally marks the long-awaited arrival of spring in Hokkaido The deliciousness of hairy crabs after the drift ice has cleared is at its peak it is recommended to eat hairy crabs after the drift ice has cleared in the field Hairy crabs are so delicious that they will change your perception of what you have of them Team Buchi Neko has many connections to Hokkaido's tourist spots and facilities There are many wonderful resources in Hokkaido that we take for granted when we live there We will spread the word about the charms of this wonderful Hokkaido Running a "Neo Community Center" where people and things from Kushiro come together | Kotoe Kimura recommends three "special things" in Kushiro [2025 Latest] Top 15 ramen shops in Sapporo recommended by locals The hot soup with the aroma of dried sardines will soak in your mouth Try the "Eifukucho-style Chinese noodles" at "Daikokuken" in Nanae-cho Sapporo's lunch buffet (5) Not only the food but the view and service are also top-notch The ever-evolving classic buffet JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo Restaurant & Bar "SKY J" It looks delicious!" Did you know that in Sapporo you can only get "Rokkatei's fresh cakes" at their directly managed stores? (JR Hokkaido) is operating a special train again this year on part of its Senmo Line to allow passengers to view the drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk called Ryuhyo Monogatari Go (The story of drifting ice train) will be making a round trip between Abashiri Station in Abashiri and Shiretoko Shari Station in Shari twice a day until Feb Drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk became visible from the land for the first time this winter on Feb the Abashiri Local Meteorological Office announced This so-called first drift ice day came 11 days later than normal and nine days later than last year Officials saw a white line formed by drift ice on the horizon around 20 kilometers north of the meteorological office at 10:50 a.m Officials do not yet know when the drift ice will arrive along the coast of Abashiri for the first time this winter passengers can enjoy a spectacular view of the Sea of Okhotsk as the tracks along this segment of the line are closer to the sea The train stops at Kitahama Station for 10 minutes when it departs from Abashiri Station passengers can enjoy a grand view of the sea Passengers got off at the station just after midday one recent sunny day and started taking pictures they photographed themselves with the train the sea and the retro-looking station building in the background The passengers then spent time at the small train station until they heard the announcement that the train was leaving it stops at Hamakoshimizu Station for 20 minutes where passengers can buy souvenirs at a nearby roadside station The first is yellow and called the “gifts-from-the-drift-ice car.” The second is green and called the “gifts-from-the-forest car.” Both cars feature illustrations of animals living in Hokkaido such as cows along with plants including wheat and mushrooms There are also pictures of mountains and forests The fare for the special train is 970 yen ($7.50) the same as the regular fare to travel the segment of the line The children’s fare is half the adult’s price Passengers can book a reserved seat facing the sea at ticket offices called “Midori no madoguchi” at Japan Railway Co (JR) train stations or on the train ticket website “Eki Net.” Passengers must pay an additional 530 yen to book a reserved seat (This article was written by Jun Hasegawa and Masafumi Kamimura.) 'Prince' of rails to start 'purple reign' in far north in May Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp is located on the Lake Abashiri side of the scenic Mt This site preserves and exhibits the 25 historical buildings of Abashiri Prison which were built more than 120 years ago and were actually used in the past Of all the structures that were relocated and restored from the prison eight of the buildings are registered as National Important Cultural Properties and six are registered as Tangible Cultural Properties The highlights of the prison are the wooden prison’s hut chambers and central watch-house where a video titled 'Forests Where Inmates in a Red Prison Uniform Worked' (with audio support available for five languages: Japanese Korean) shows with powerful images how Hokkaido has been cultivated Get a picture of yourself as a prisoner in the Abashiri Prison which is the actual lunch served at the new Abashiri Prison today There’s also a cafe in the Administration Building of the prison where you can grab a bite Drift ice refers to the frozen seawater drifting at sea and other places from the end of January each year We recommend the Drift Ice Experience Terrace (World of Drift Ice Experience Room) you can touch real drift ice and freeze a wet towel with it in the Shibare Experiment corner rare creatures such as several kinds of clione (small floating sea slugs) like the Namedango and Fusennou Clione that live in the Sea of Okhotsk and can only be seen on drift ice be sure to try the salted caramel-flavored ice cream made using sea salt from the Sea of Okhotsk there are lots of areas that even families with children can enjoy where you can appreciate a 360-degree view of the Shiretoko Mountain Range and the Akan Mountains Sapporo Olympic Museum is a museum located at the foot of the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium which is a well-known observation spot with a vast view of Sapporo City It’s where materials related to the 1972 Winter Olympic Games held here as well as the actual equipment used by athletes in the competition and other sports that allow you to experience the Winter Olympic Games from the perspective of an athlete you can try a simulated ski jump from take-off to landing then see the distance you jumped and your score displayed on the monitor get on the lift to the observation lounge at the summit of Mt Enjoy the night in Sapporo with a panoramic view of the city and Ishikari Bay Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Hokkaido--The salvage operation of the Kazu I pleasure boat was completed on June 1 with the vessel safely unloaded and transported to a storage area at a port here The boat will be made available to the victim’s families later in the day before a full-scale investigation of the deadly accident is launched was hoisted from a salvage barge anchored at Abashiri Port with a large crane and loaded on a trailer in the morning The boat was then transported to a nearby storage area The boat was unloaded into an area enclosed with white fences The Coast Guard will allow family members of the 26 passengers and crew members to see the boat and offer flowers in the afternoon The boat will be kept in the enclosure for some time to come Investigators will check the damage on the vessel and the state of the engine The boat went missing on April 23 and was found on the ocean floor The boat was lifted up to about 20 meters below the surface of the sea on May 23 it fell to the ocean floor about 180 meters deep off Port Utoro in Shari It was loaded onto the salvage barge on May 27 and moved to Port Abashiri The boat had remained on the barge since then while investigators searched inside the vessel for clues to the cause of the accident 14 have been confirmed dead and 12 have remained unaccounted for joined an intensive search and rescue operation for the missing people The Otaru-based Regional Maritime Safety Headquarters said it will not ask the Self-Defense Forces and other related organizations to continue to be part of the search and rescue operation after June 1 the headquarters has decided to downsize the effort to keep it sustainable The Asahi Shimbun has obtained records of four distress calls that the maritime safety headquarters in Otaru received from people concerned over the fate of the Kazu I on the day of the accident and the caller said the boat “is about to sink” near the scenic Kashuni Falls A radio antenna at the operator of the boat was broken and could not be used at the time So another tour boat operator that was communicating with the Kazu I through a ham radio called the headquarters the Kazu I called and said the boat’s “bow is flooded” and the boat “is sinking” and the “engine cannot be used.” a person related to the Kazu I operator called asking about the boat and urging a helicopter be dispatched to rescue the passengers a person related to the Kazu I operator called again and reported the number of passengers and that they “are wearing life jackets.” A Japan Coast Guard helicopter arrived at the site at around 4:30 p.m. after returning from patrolling and taking on fuel Coast Guard obtains warrant to seize sunken pleasure boat Kazu I finally pulled out of the sea after 1st attempt failed Salvage effort of sunken Kazu I boat resumes off Hokkaido coast Coast Guard searches office of sightseeing boat operator The drift ice sightseeing icebreaker Aurora began operating in Abashiri The Abashiri Local Meteorological Office observed drift ice on Friday and it was the first time in nine years that the sightseeing ship toured the sea of drift ice on its first day of operation with a total of about 600 people including tourists The fourth cruise departed from Abashiri Port at 3 p.m and arrived at the drift ice zone about 2 kilometers offshore in about 10 minutes where passengers enjoyed the spectacular view and took photos with their smartphones and cameras A 22-year-old female university student from Toyonaka “I was speechless as I’ve never seen such a view.” The cruise will run through March 31 outdoor camping Camping is a classic outdoor activity to enjoy the magnificent nature of Hokkaido you can enjoy an extraordinary experience in a variety of landscapes from spring to autumn we will introduce 23 campgrounds near Abashiri including campgrounds with a close view of the Sea of Okhotsk this campground is located in the middle of a location overflowing with natural beauty The campground is equipped with bungalows and ram houses made of larch wood Outdoor activities such as climbing Hirayama Mountain fishing and rafting on the Yubetsu River can be enjoyed to the fullest The campground is located in the ravine park and outdoor wooden playground equipment for family fun There are also canyon cottages made of locally harvested wood and together with the herb garden and other facilities this outdoor space is suitable for long-term stays The park also has a 36-hole park golf course This park is located in the Higashimokoto district and is famous for its shibazakura cherry blossoms the view of the small hillside that turns bright pink is spectacular The park also has a campground equipped with unique-looking bungalows and a fishing pond where rainbow trout swim This is the fourth auto-camping site opened as a provincial park The park overlooks the Sea of Okhotsk and the Shiretoko Mountain Range there are facilities for family fun and a park golf course Various events are held depending on the season This campground is located next to the city center and is equipped with a rice cooking building fireflies can be seen in the stream that runs beside the site creating a fantastic scene as they fly across the night sky The campground covers an area of 32,000 m2 and is fully equipped with cooking facilities you can see the stars in the sky and use the free Goemon Bath You can enjoy the great nature of Hokkaido that only a quiet campground in the mountains can offer The campground is located in a park full of greenery in a natural environment there is a forest railroad steam locomotive "Amamiya No Lakeside Park Notoro is a marine recreation facility facing the shore of Lake Notoro There are auto sites and cottages/pavos on the premises so even first-time campers can enjoy camping without worries The nearby Lake Notoro offers clam tidal gathering and the proximity to Cape Notoro and coral grass colonies makes it a perfect base for sightseeing Kiyosato Auto Campground is a campground where you can enjoy the great outdoors This campground is located near the roadside station Hanayaka Koshimizu and adjacent to the Fretoi Observatory with views of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Shiretoko Mountain Range The campground is in a perfect location with the Sea of Okhotsk right in front of it and is equipped with clean and easy-to-use toilets and cooking facilities The sea in front of the campground is accessible to the beach The sound of the occasional train passing by is also a charming sight The campground and campground by Lake Memanbetsu opens between July and August Visitors can relax and enjoy the peaceful scenery and leisure activities on the lake are also recommended This campground is located on the shores of Lake Komke facing the Sea of Okhotsk and rich in nature The campground is fully equipped with facilities for long-stay visitors and other activities allow visitors to fully enjoy the natural beauty of Monbetsu to their heart's content The campground is located in Tomisato Lake Forest Park which is blessed with a natural environment surrounded by natural forest Visitors can enjoy camping in the great nature of the forest and lake this campground offers nature observation and bird watching in a lush forest environment Enjoy a simple outdoor life with family and friends This is a leisure park where visitors can play with nature all year round The 30,000 m2 camping area is vast and rich in nature with an attached barbecue house where you can cook your own meals and enjoy the outdoors in comfort and ease A wireless network environment is available for Internet access The campground in Midorino-mura Forest Park has bungalows overlooking the city of Bihoro and the Shiretoko mountain range and is recommended for viewing the beautiful night view narrow sandbar that divides Lake Saroma and the Sea of Okhotsk and at night you will be overwhelmed by the stars in the sky Auto camping sites and bungalows are available This campground is located on the cape between Yubu and Koube this is a place where you can watch the sunrise over the beautiful Sea of Okhotsk There is also a hot spring just a 10-minute walk from the campground Nature is the perfect word to describe this place where you can sleep in the embrace of Lake Saroma It is well equipped with cooking facilities Visitors can spend a relaxing time in the fields of Lake Saroma This campground is located on the shores of Lake Chimikep This is a mecca for auto campers in the know the night view of the breakwater is spectacular 24-hour toilets called "scallop toilets" are cleaned every day and a convenience store is a 3-minute walk away This campground is located in Happodai Forest Park which has comprehensive facilities for sports and getting close to nature The campground is equipped with barbecue houses The Wenshiri Campground is a fun place to spend time surrounded by virgin forest with bungalows that can accommodate up to 10 people The 21 recommended campgrounds in the Goshi area near Lake Toya Family-oriented camps with a variety of fun activities and Kamikawa Area: 22 Campgrounds Recommended for the Year 2024 Camping in contact with nature and animals Recommended 13 campsites near Hidaka and Erimo Kushiro Campgrounds: 23 recommended campgrounds in the Kushiro and Nemuro areas for 2024 The 21 recommended campsites in the suburbs of Rumoi and Soya area for 2024 Camping to enjoy the ocean and spectacular views all around The 20 best campgrounds in the Tokachi area near Obihiro Camping to see the star-filled sky from the vast land Today's print edition Home Delivery Hokkaido's Abashiri and Miyazaki have been selected as training camp sites for the Japan national team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup the Japan Rugby Football Union announced on Wednesday Both are familiar cities to the Japanese rugby community and fans as they have long been used as training camp sites.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); the Brave Blossoms held a series of training camps in Miyazaki has been the venue for many collegiate and Top League training camps "Miyazaki hosted the Japanese national team before the previous World Cup in England for a total of 75 days in 10 training camps," Miyazaki Prefecture Gov Shunji Kono said at a Tokyo news conference on Wednesday "And the team posted a dramatic victory over South Africa Japan also held a training camp in Miyazaki in June before its three-match test series against Italy and Georgia "We are actually advertising that you can come up with positive results if you have training camps in Miyazaki," Kono joked Japan is scheduled to stage training camps at the Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort in Miyazaki from June 9-28 and July 7-24 next year The squad will have another at the Abashiri Sports Training Field from Aug The World Cup will kick off with an opening match between Japan and Russia on Sept The JRFU said Japan is likely to add more training camp sites depending on the schedule of next summer's Pacific Nations Cup Abashiri Mayor Yoichi Mizutani said the site offers ample fields while the hotel is located within walking distance "Our city has hosted training camps for rugby since (1989)," Mizutani said "So we have 30 years of experience of hosting teams and that gave us an edge this time collegiate and corporate teams for their training camps Fiji will also have a training camp in Abashiri In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division the Japanese government shipped more than 1,200 political prisoners from all over the country including samurai insurgents from the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion against the government of Emperor Meiji more than 250 years of rule by the Tokugawa shoguns had finally ended those rebels and other miscreants were instead taken literally to the end of their world — a small fishing village called Abashiri on the frigid shore of the Sea of Okhotsk in northeastern Hokkaido.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Most of those men probably never glimpsed the great drift-ice floes Abashiri is currently famous for but their forced labor as road-builders linking this outpost to the more populous South made possible the tourist industry that now dominates this area of wild Abashiri also honors the Northern Peoples — primarily the Ainu Niukh and Orok — who first settled the land taming the wilderness with their ingenuity profound love of nature and powerful appreciation of life's beauty located in the northeast region of Hokkaido facing the Sea of Okhotsk is a popular place to experience drift ice No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form is conveniently located next to a famous scenic spot that's a popular choice for photography This Michi-no-Eki offers a variety of local agricultural and livestock products at affordable prices and visitors can even participate in food production experiences We had the opportunity to talk to the representative of the roadside station to discover more about what makes it so appealing * Products manufactured by inmates within the prison system with the intention of being sold to the general public Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version The 5th USD Symposium will be located on the Okhotsk coast of Hokkaido the northmost and second largest island in Japan Hokkaido has unspoiled nature; mountains including VERY active volcanoes all full of its indigenous animals and plants Except the southwestern cost close to Honshu (Main Island) the whole island had been inhabited only by several tens of thousands of Ainu people before 20th century There will be 6 flights from Haneda (Tokyo) and 1 from Nagoya international airports everyday in May 2006 Take a local bus from Memanbetsu airport to the direction of central Abashiri The bus trip will take you 20 minutes and JP¥ 590 The bus service is scheduled on each airplane's arrival Caution!: Don't confuse Memanbetsu airport with Monbetsu airport Passengers aboard the sightseeing icebreaker Aurora sail through drift ice in an area off Abashiri About 260 tourists from Japan and abroad took part in the ship’s first trip this winter just a day after the city marked the first day of drift ice on Thursday The season begins when the ice is visible to the naked eye from land It was a magical sight and very beautiful,” said a college student from Shizuoka City The Aurora operates for drift ice sightseeing until March 31