April 23, '05
Shiretoko is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Rausu-cho is located at the entrance in the east of the unexplored region of
Shiretoko. This is the place that you can eat abundant seafood all year around because of the rich fishery of the Okhotsk Sea. There are natural hot springs here and there so that you can enjoy bathing in the various open-air hot springs. There are also some activities that you can enjoy such as whale watching (April - October); Sea lions, White-tailed sea eagles, Steller's sea eagle watching in winter (January - April) lead by the floating ice.
Moreover, Rausu is popular because it is an untouristy area unlike other Sightseeing spots.

　

Rausu Visitor Center　　
Rausu Visitor Center is a helpful facility for many tourists because it provides so many enjoyable information of the farthest land.
In this center, you can learn about the four seasons of Shiretoko on the multi-slide screens. We recommend you to visit there to get the useful information for sightseeing of Rausu Lake and Kumagoe-no-taki (Kumagoe Waterfall).
Open Hours: 9:00-17:00 (May - October)
　　　　　 10:00-16:00 (November - April)
Closed: Monday, New Year's Holiday,
Free Admissions
TEL (+81)-1538-7-2828

Boukyo-dai (Observatory of Nostalgia Forest)
This observatory has easy access to Rausu-cho. Kunashiri Island, which is one of the northern territories, can be closely seen from here. It's only 26 km away from Rausu-cho. The sea between Rausu and the island is a great fishery area. The natural promenade leads you to the observatory.

Luminous moss /Schistostega pennata (Hokkaido Protected Plant)
Luminous moss grows naturally in the Makkausu Cave, which is unusual yellow green moss, and designated as a protected natural plant in Hokkaido.

Rausu-cho Hometown Archives
This valuable facility holds documents of ancient history of Hokkaido which covered from paleolithic to the Ainu culture. The northern minority people used to intercommunicate with this land so that the many various ages' ruins remain in Rausu. A remain that named after the Tobinitai culture is one of them. You can observe the excavated articles at the archives.
･Open: 10:00-17:00
･Closed: Saturday, Sunday, Holiday, New Year's Holiday
Free Admissions
TEL (+81)-1538-7-2004

Shiokaze Park (Sea Breeze Park)　
This park is located on the way to Aidomari from the down town. In this park, there is a stone monument named after a novel, "Okhotsk-no-Rojin (Elderly Person in Okhotsk),"written by Yukio Togawa. In 1960, a movie titled "Chinohate-ni-ikirumono (One Lives in Outskirts of the Ground)" was shot in Rausu. This stone monument is an image of Mr. Hisaya Morishige who was the main role in the movie. A famous song, Siretoko Ryojo (Sense of Shiretoko Journey), was appeared at this time, and is being loved by many people.

Geysers
This is the source of Rausu Hot Spring and flows every 60-90 minutes. It is also a natural treasure of Hokkaido. It's only one minute from the entrance of Mt. Rausu, or five minutes from the Rausu hot spring on foot (12-13 m Height,5-7 seconds /flowing)

Rausu Lake　
It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes from the entrance of the mounted footsteps of Mikaeri pass where is along the Shiretoko Crosscut Road. The lake is surrounded by the deep virgin forest. Mt. Rausu's imposing figure is projected on the surface of the lake. It is the largest lake in Shiretoko Peninsula. Swamp plants and alpine plants can be seen in July and August.
Note: need to sign in the climber list, bring something to make noise to keep away bears)

Kumagoe Waterfall
Kumagoe Waterfall is located at the entrance on the way of Shiretoko Crosscut Road for about 30 minutes. Because bears used to come and go across the waterfall in old times, it was named "Kumagoe Waterfall." The roads are maintained.

Rausu-dake (Mt. Rausu)　
Mt. Rausu is the highest peak (1,661m above sea level)of Shiretoko Peninsula of which mountain ranges over 60km in the total length. It is chosen as the 100 best mountains in Japan. It's takes about five hours to climb and about three hours and 30 minutes to descend. We recommend it for experienced climbers. There is an entrance of the climbing mountain at Rausu country campground and the other entrance is at Shiretoko-Sansou-mae (Shiretoko Mountain Villa).

Alpine Plant Information
In Mt. Rausu, you can observe a lot of alpine plants including the endemic species of Viola kitamiana. From July to August, you can also observe many alpine plants one after another on the slope of the mountain such as, Diapensia obovata, Rhododendron officinale, Phyllodoce caerulea, phyllodoce aleutica, Menziesia bryantha, Campanula lasiocarpa, Mountain cranberry, Bunchberries, and so on. The most bristly area of alpine plants is called Rausu-daira (Rausu Flat) where spreads between Mt. Rausu and the Triple Peaks.

Activity Information

*Free Hot springs
There are three hot springs at free of charge in Rausu.
These are popular among the travelers as well as the locals.

*Kuma-no-yu: On the way to Shiretoko Crosscut Road from Rausu-cho, there is an outdoor hot spring near the Rausu river which is called Kuma-no-yu. (divided into the man and woman sections)
Hot Spring Quality: Alkalescence, hypototic, and high-temperature

*Seseki Hot Spring: Fifteen minutes from Rausu-cho towards to Shiretoko Peninsula. This is an open air natural hot spring that is engulfed by rocks and stones. Not allowed at spring tide, Need Bathing suits
Note: Allowed only in July to August due to the tides
Hot Spring Quality: Chloride

*Aidomari Hot Spring: As heading from Seseki hot spring toward the point of the peninsula, you can find a hot spring which has only a roof and fences on the right hand. (Need bathing suits for ladies)
Hot Spring Quality: Chloride Sodium

*Tennis /Park Golf
Tennis Court: 3 (Free of charge)
Park Golf Course: 4 courses (36 holes), Free of charge
Opening term & Hours: May - November, 5:00-19:00
Closed: April - December, Monday,
Tel (+81)-1538-8-1094

*Floating-Ice Cruising (Winter)　
Rausu reveals its dynamic and magnificent nature in winter. The floating ice cruising has been getting popular recently. You can observe sea eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, and sea dogs of which chasing cods coming with the floating ice.

Operation Period: The end of January - the middle of April
Sailing Time: 7:00-8:00 a.m. (Capacity:10)
A course (One Hour): 4,000 yen /person
B course (2.5 Hours): 10,000 yen /person
(Minimum number of operating people is negotiable with the captain)
Inquiry: Need reservation several days or one week in advance due to the weather condition
TEL (+81)-1538-9-2036
FAX (+81)-1538-9-2077
Godzilla Rock Sightseeing		 *Fishing Information
Rausu is a paradise of anglers; trout, flounder, and fox jacopever can be fished on the beach. Fishing boats are available in summer; even big fish such as flounder, atka mackerel, cod, fox jacopever, and halibut can be fish. Notes: salmon and trout are not allowed to fish at the near river mouth. River fishing: Dolly Vardens can be captured from June through September. (Caution: Be aware of bears!!)
<Fishing Boat Information>
*The 18th Cho-un-maru
Call to Kazumi Saito Cell: 090-3390-2513
Object Fish: Humpback Salmon, others
Sailing Time: At sunrise (Aidomari harbor)
Fares: 5,000 yen /person
Notes: Absence of operation from July to September due to the operation at the Konbu Fishermen's cabin in Shiretoko Cape, Leave messages @TEL (+81)-1538-7-3557

*The 23 rd Shoei-maru
Call to Syuichi Mitani Tel: (+81)-1538-7-2568
Object Fish: Arabesque greenling, fox jacopever, cod, flounder, Salmon
Sailing Time: From 2:00 a.m.- Noon
Carter boat Fares: From 80,000 yen, 10,000 yen /person
Offing Fishing: the Shiretoko Cape
Required Reservation, Capacity (up to 13)
Other: Tel (+81)-1538-7-2111 Rausu-cho Fishery Sightseeing

*Futatsu-iwa (Twin Rocks) Coast Campground
This is a lawn campground that located at the Twin-Rock coast toward Aidomari. In front of the campground, you can see the Kunashiri Island.
･Equipments: Parking lot, Flush Lavatories, Laundromat, Cooking Facilities, and Showers
･Adjacent Facilities: Seafood restaurant, B&B style inn,
･Fees: Adults 500 yen, Elementary purples 300 yen /person
On the day reservations are also available
TEL (+81)-1538-9-2388, B&B Kuma-no-haitta-ie (The house that a bear entered)

*Rausu Choritsu (town-running) Campground
Located on the middle of the hillside where you look down at Nemuro strait and Kunashiri Island
･Equipments: Parking lot, Rest Rooms, Cooking Facility, and Athletic Field
･Free of charge

*National Campground of Rausu Hot Spring
The campground is enclosed by a deep forest, which is close to the entrance of climbing mountain road. Opposite to the national road, there is the Kuma-no-yu hot spring.
･Equipments: Parking lot, Rest Rooms, Cooking Facility,
･Free of charge

*Furusato Taiken-can (Home Town Experiencing) Campground
This is a newly-opened campground that is located on the alongside of the national road of the town's entrance.
･Facilities: Parking lots, Rest Rooms, Cooking Facility, Barbecue Range, and electricity
･Free of charge
TEL (+81)-1538-8-1094 Rausu Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Interactive Training Pavilion

Travel Tidbits of Rausu

*Kaisenkobo /Seafood shop (Rausu Fishery Cooperative direct-management shop)
Rausu-cho introduces oneself "Fish's Bourg."
Rausu Fishery Cooperative bears the key role that supplies lots of high quality marine products. They directly supply fresh and delicious seafood immediately after fishing, which meet the customers' needs. Followings are the some of them: the phantom fish "Keiji (only 1/10,000 in fished salmons)," salmon roe, fresh salmon with milt (limited only in Autumn), Gadus morrhua marcrocephalus, Sebastolobus macrochir, Pleurogrammus azonus, flat fish, squid, unseasoned salmon, octopus, sea urchin, king salmon, Pandalus nipponensis, Theragra chalcogramma, alaska Pollack, Rausu Kelp, and so on. They also have tons of fishery processed foods such as Rausu kelp soy source, Rausu kelp stock, bottled fish roe, grainy sea urchin, high quality cod roe, salted dried fish, and so on. All things are specialty of Rausu so that difficult to find them in other places. The shop is easy to find that like a fisherman's cabin where along the coast that commands Kunashiri Island. The customers will be satisfied with the high quality souvenirs of the shop. This is the must stop by shop when you visit Rausu.

Traffic Information to Rausu
*Airplane
Nakashibetsu Airport (About 70km)
Memanbetsu Airport (About 130km by way of Utoro, About 155Km by way of Shibetsu)
Kushiro Airport (About 185KM by way of Route 272)

*Car
Shari - Utoro - Rausu: About 68km
Nemuro - Rausu: About 134km

*Bus
JR Kushiro Station - Nakashibetsu - Rausu (regular period bus, all year round)
4 round-trip / Day, 3 hours and 40 minutes, 4,740 yen
Utoro -Shiretoko Pass - Rausu (middle of June -10/15)
2 round-trip /Day, 55 minutes., 1,310 yen		 *Local Restaurant that offers rare "Sashimi of Steller Sea Lion"
Shikinoaji Iwami serves dishes which are only used the fresh local ingredients. One of our recommended dishes is called Kaisendon (a bowl of rice topped with sashimi), which is assorted seafood on a bowl of rice (1,900 yen); the other dish we recommend you is a Set Meal of Sashimi (2,000 yen). You will be glad to eat truly fresh seafood meals there. It is nothing but pleasure. The prices are just right. Moreover, Sashimi of steller sea lion, which is popular among the tourist, can be tasted here (1,000 yen). Slices of raw venison (1,000 yen) are eaten all the year round here as well.

Sashimi (Sliced Law Fish) Set Meal
Business Hours: 10:00-14:00 &17:00-22:00 (from the end of April to the end of October),
17:00-23:00 (from November)

Sashimi Bowl

The customers who refer this site have a privilege when ordering Sashimi Set Meal or Sashimi Bowl. "Ika-no-okizuke (Pickled Squid of offshore)" will be at no charge
Print out and have this ticket

Shiki-no-aji (Four Seasons' Relish) Iwami
TEL (+81)-1538-7-4319

*Sightseeing & Direct Delivery Information of Rausu on the Internet
Shiretoko Club, situated in the heartland of the Rausu shopping streets, is a very unique coffee shop. This is the gathering spot not only for locals but also the visitors, anglers, and gourmets. Lots of people gather this coffee shop from the whole country because they send a variety of information about Rausu through the Internet. This coffee shop is very adaptable that you can get not only information, but also the direct delivery of local products such as the deep-ocean water of Rausu.
TEL (+81)-1538-7-5019
Shiretoko Club