Shiretoko Misaki (Shiretoko Cape)

Overview

Located at the northernmost tip of the Shiretoko Peninsula, this area features sheer cliffs jutting out into the Sea of Okhotsk. The name originates from the Ainu word "Shiretoko (the tip of the land)" and has been revered since ancient times as a sacred site inhabited by the Kamui (Ainu deities). It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005 under the name "Shiretoko." It is virtually inaccessible to general tourists by foot or car; it can only be viewed from sightseeing boats and cruisers departing from the ports of Utoro and Rausu. It boasts some of Japan's most pristine wilderness scenery, including untouched nature, brown bears, and drift ice.

Highlights

• ・The innermost reaches of the Shiretoko World Heritage site
• ・The Ainu sacred site of "Shiretoko"
• ・A hidden wilderness accessible only by boat
• ・Untouched nature with sheer cliffs, drift ice, and brown bears