One of Hokkaido's 179 towns
Shari斜里町
The gateway to Shiretoko, where the road runs out
Okhotsk region · Abashiri, Monbetsu and Shiretoko in northeastern Hokkaido.
Gateway to Shiretoko, the UNESCO World Heritage peninsula with one of Japan's densest brown bear populations. Drift ice walks in February, waterfall hikes in summer.
Shari sits at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula on the Sea of Okhotsk, and for most travelers it is the last real town before the World Heritage wilderness begins. Utoro, the town's hot-spring port on the western coast, is the base for the Shiretoko Five Lakes, the boat cruises along the cliffs and the winter drift-ice walks. Come here for brown bears, waterfalls that drop straight into the sea, and a road that simply ends at Kamuiwakka.
- Region
- Okhotsk (オホーツク)
- From New Chitose Airport
- ~409 km · 6.3 h summer / 7.4 h winter
- From Sapporo
- ~424 km · 6.5 h summer / 7.7 h winter
- Best season in Okhotsk
- Winter for a chance of drift ice (never guaranteed); the green season for lakes and Shiretoko. Check access for your dates.
Shari at a glance
Drive estimates: straight-line × 1.35, at 65 km/h (summer) / 55 km/h (winter). How we calculate
What to see in Shari
Shiretoko Five Lakes
知床五湖
Five small lakes at the foot of the Shiretoko range, with an elevated boardwalk anyone can walk and a ground trail that runs under bear-country rules by season.
Oshinkoshin Falls
オシンコシンの滝
A twin waterfall right beside the coastal road into Utoro, wide enough to feel from the viewing deck and one of the easiest big waterfalls in Hokkaido to reach.
Shiretoko Pass
知床峠
The mountain pass between Utoro and Rausu, with Mt. Rausu overhead and, on clear days, Kunashiri Island across the strait. Closed by snow for much of the year.
Drift ice on the Utoro coast
ウトロの流氷
From late January the Sea of Okhotsk freezes over to the horizon. Guided drift-ice walks in dry suits leave from the Utoro shore through late winter.
Getting to Shari
Memanbetsu Airport is the closest, about 1.5 hours by car to Utoro. JR trains on the Senmo Line stop at Shiretoko-Shari station in the town centre; Utoro is another 40 minutes by bus. From Sapporo it is a long drive of six hours or more, which is why most itineraries split it over two days.
Okhotsk region: Memanbetsu Airport is the gateway for Abashiri and the Shari side; Okhotsk Monbetsu Airport serves Monbetsu. From either airport, the last leg to your pier, hotel or Utoro is a separate bus, taxi or car journey, so check it for your dates.
When to visit Shari
June to September for the lakes, waterfalls and cruises, when the whole peninsula is open. Late January to March for drift ice, when the sea freezes and the boardwalks are snow-covered. Shoulder months can close roads and trails without much warning.
What to eat in Shari
Salmon is the town's signature, from autumn runs up the Shari River to smoked and salted fish sold year-round. Local sea urchin, scallops and kelp come from the Okhotsk coast, and the farmland behind town grows potatoes, wheat and sugar beet.
Shari in context: the Okhotsk region
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The Okhotsk region covers 18 municipalities in northeastern Hokkaido, including Abashiri, Kitami, Monbetsu and Shari. In winter, sightseeing boats leave Abashiri and Monbetsu. Drift ice can reach this coast, but when, where and how much varies from year to year, and weather and sea conditions decide each departure.
Towns near Shari
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