Eastern Hokkaido is the part most visitors skip, and most visitors are wrong to do so. Shiretoko is UNESCO World Heritage. Akan and Mashu are volcanic crater lakes. Kushiro has red-crowned cranes. The Sea of Okhotsk has drift ice.
The trade-off is distance — 4-5 hours from Sapporo. A rental car is essential.
Key Destinations
Shiretoko Peninsula
UNESCO site. Brown bears, virgin forest, volcanic hot springs. Five Lakes walk is the main experience. Boat tours reveal waterfalls and bears. Base: Utoro.
Akan, Mashu, and Kussharo Lakes
Three crater lakes within an hour. Mashu is one of the clearest in the world. Akan has marimo (unique moss balls). Kussharo has lakeside hot springs. Akanko Onsen has Ainu cultural experiences.
Kushiro
Largest eastern city. Kushiro Wetlands (red-crowned cranes), robata-yaki (charcoal-grilled seafood), Washo Market (build your own donburi).
Abashiri
Drift ice gateway (Jan-Mar, Aurora icebreaker). Prison Museum. Horsehair crab in spring. See our drift ice guide.
Transport
Car rental essential. Kushiro-Abashiri: 3 hrs. Abashiri-Shiretoko: 1.5 hrs. JR trains from Sapporo (4-5.5 hrs). JR Pass covers both. Flights from Tokyo/Sapporo to Memanbetsu and Kushiro airports.
When to Go
- Winter: Drift ice, cranes, frozen lakes
- Summer: Shiretoko hiking, wildflowers, whale watching
- Autumn: Foliage around crater lakes, uncrowded