Abashiri

Abashiri is best known in Japan for two things: the drift ice that covers its coast each winter, and the prison where convicts built roads into Hokkaido's interior in the 19th century. It is a fishing and farming town of around 33,000 people on Hokkaido's Sea of Okhotsk coast. Cruise ships call mainly in summer and autumn, as the closest large port to the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Passengers typically either visit the prison museum and the drift ice museum on Mt. Tento or spend the day on an excursion to Shiretoko or the lakes of the Akan-Mashu area.

Cruise Docking Information

Abashiri is a docking port. Ships berth at No. 4 Wharf in the commercial and fishing harbour, east of the Abashiri River mouth. There is no terminal building, only temporary information tents on the quay. The town centre and JR Abashiri Station are about 3 km (1.9 miles) away, roughly 10 minutes by car. A shuttle bus to the centre is usually arranged on ship days. Walking takes 35-40 minutes along roads with truck traffic. The quay is flat and step-free.

Transportation Options

• Taxi: a small number of taxis serve the port, so book a return trip with the driver in advance.
• Sightseeing bus: a seasonal tourist loop bus runs from Abashiri Bus Terminal and the station to Mt. Tento and the museums.
• Train: JR services run south to Shiretoko-Shari and west towards Kitami and Sapporo.
• Airport: Memanbetsu Airport is about 25 km (16 miles) south, roughly 35 minutes by car or bus.

Main Attractions in Abashiri

• Abashiri Prison Museum: an open-air museum of relocated and reconstructed prison buildings from the Meiji era, including a radial cell block. About 6 km (3.7 miles) from the port on Mt. Tento.
• Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum: a museum on drift ice and Okhotsk marine life, with a cold room holding real sea ice and a rooftop viewpoint. It sits near the prison museum.
• Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples: covers the cultures of the Ainu and other northern peoples of Asia and North America. Also on Mt. Tento.
• Michi-no-Eki Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri: a roadside station at the river mouth with local food, souvenirs and tourist information, about 2 km (1.2 miles) from the berth.
• Moyoro Shell Mound: an archaeological site of the Okhotsk culture (around the 5th-9th centuries), with a small museum near the river mouth.
• Lake Abashiri: a brackish lake on the edge of town, with a lakeside park.

Nearby Touristic Destinations

Shiretoko Peninsula: a mountainous, largely roadless peninsula with brown bears, waterfalls and the Shiretoko Five Lakes, reached via the village of Utoro. It is about 75 km (47 miles) east, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by road. Public transport is too slow for a port call, so book a ship excursion or private tour. Five Lakes trails may close when bears are active.

Koshimizu Gensei Kaen: a coastal wildflower field on a sand bar between the sea and Lake Tofutsu. The flowers are at their peak from June to August. About 20 km (12 miles) east, 25 minutes by car.

Lake Notoro: a lagoon northwest of town. In September, the shore near Ubaranai turns red with glasswort, a salt-tolerant plant. About 10 km (6 miles) away, 15-20 minutes by taxi.

Lake Kussharo and Bihoro Pass: a large caldera lake in Akan-Mashu National Park, with a viewpoint over it from Bihoro Pass. About 50-60 km (31-37 miles) south, around 1 hour by car, usually visited on a tour.

Interesting Facts

• Abashiri is one of the southernmost places in the Northern Hemisphere where sea ice forms, usually from late January to March.
• Prisoners held here in the 1890s built a road across Hokkaido's interior, and many died during construction.
• The name comes from the Ainu language, though its original meaning is disputed.

Geographical Position and Surroundings

Abashiri lies where the Abashiri River enters the Sea of Okhotsk, surrounded by low hills, farmland and coastal lakes, part of Abashiri Quasi-National Park. The climate is cool and relatively dry, with mild summers and cold winters. Town walking is easy, but sights are spread out.

Local Foods

The Okhotsk coast supplies much of Japan's salmon, scallops and crab.

• Kaisendon: a bowl of rice topped with raw salmon, salmon roe, scallops and sea urchin.
• Kegani: hairy crab, boiled and served chilled.
• Abashiri champon: noodles with seafood and vegetables in a rich broth.
• Hotate batayaki: Hokkaido scallops grilled in the shell with butter and soy sauce.
• Prison-style set meal: grilled saury (sanma) with rice and barley, miso soup and pickles, served at the prison museum.

Destination Secrets

• The prison museum, drift ice museum and northern peoples museum are within walking distance of each other on Mt. Tento, so one taxi or bus trip covers all three.
• Many small shops and restaurants accept cash only. Withdraw yen from a post office or convenience store ATM early in the day.
• Taxis are scarce on ship days. Agree a pickup time with your driver for the return to the port.

Local Customs and Culture

Japanese is spoken, and English is limited outside the museums, so a translation app is useful. The currency is the Japanese yen. Tipping is not practised and may cause confusion. Remove shoes where indicated and avoid eating while walking. Crime is very low. In Shiretoko, follow bear safety instructions.

Family-Friendly Activities

Mt. Tento's museums suit families.

• Children up to 6 years old: see the clione at the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum, and look at the flowers at Koshimizu Gensei Kaen.
• Children between 7 and 12 years old: walk through the cell blocks at the prison museum, and touch the sea ice in the museum's cold room.
• Teenagers aged 13 to 18: learn about Ainu culture at the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples, and take a boat or walking tour in Shiretoko.

Average Weather per Month

Sea fog and wind can make summer days feel cold, so bring a warm layer. The UV index is moderate to high from May to August.