If we only have a week to spend in Hokkaido in late July is it reasonable to spend our time based near Shiretoko ?

And where would you recommend ?

Is it too late to book a ryokan or something simple ?

Thanks.

ahhh.. late July...a hard time to come because the school holidays have started and Shiretoko is very popular.

Ideally you should try to get into the Youth Hostel at Utoro (Bookable in English via the Hostels in japan website)...or I also think Pension Iruka/Dolphin in Utoro is good - a wildlife photographer and his family have a small guest house facing the village beach. (he has a website in English and can take reservations in English via fax or e mail).

One week in Hokkaido - if you fly into east Hokkaido then you could stay Lake Akan for the Ainu culture and nature...and then 2 or more nights in Utoro.

If you have to fly into Sapporo it'll take you a day to cross Hokkaido by train.

book something soon - late July is a popular time.

and then there is ca,ping...there are many camp sites here...have you thought of that? Utoro village has a camp site right in the village next to all the hotels.

amanda

Hello AmandaH

Thanks for coming to my rescue.

I cannot find the Pension Uruka on he web. Do you have suggestions on how I contact them ?

Yes I realize there are probably better times to travel to Hokkaido and we may end up modifying our dates.

Still, good to know about the Utoro hostel and the Uruka. Thanks.

http://www.iruka-hotel.com/jp/iruka_top.shtml is the Iruka's Japanese website. Just click the English button for English.

Thank you- I found that website for Iruka, the lodging looks wonderful.

If we are short on time and want to focus on the northeastern corner of Hokkaido, would it be reasonable to fly into Memambetsu Airport and fly out of Kushiro a week later ?

Would it be better to rent a car for that time to explore Shiretoko and Akan National Park ? Are there roads between these two areas which would be easy to navigate ?

Is there lodging near Akan that you would recommend ?

Thank you for all your help.

okoshisan,

please take notes on your trip and report back what you see. we are now planning a fall 2009 trip to this area and would love the details. we plan on renting a car to beat the logistics. here are some sites I am using to plan now

http://www.kushiro-kankou.or.jp/english/

http://www.kushiro.com/index2.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6866.html

Good luck!

Hawaiian Traveller

Are you making all the arrangements yourself ?

Are you planning to drive ?

What do you think of using the JTB agents in Honolulu to arrange flights and lodging ?

Yes I plan on renting a car in Memmanbetsu airport and drive to Utoro and base there for a few days to explore Shiretoko. Then head to Rausu and up to Aidoman Onsen for a couple days of Ryokan. Haven't gotten real far yet in planning as we just this Sunday are back from this years trip and we won't return till Mid Oct 2009 to chase the koyo line down Hokkaido thru Northern Tohoku

I use the JTB agents in Honolulu for information on places to stay and rental information. They have an extensive profile available. If you are in Honolulu go and sit down with an agent for a little bit. You'll be surprised with the information and your under no obligation to use them though I usually end up using them to buy jr passes and domestic tourists air passes as they are agents for them so it all washes out.

I will probably end up booking all myself.

Aloha!

I'm not sure how useful this will be, but I live in Obihiro right now, and I visited Shiretoko many, many years ago. But, taking a car would be the best way to go. If you go by tour bus, you'll be limited to stopping where they want to stop, and for how long they want to stop. OTOH, you'll have a guide.

The route we took was from Takinoue (the one in Abashiri-kanai) where I was living, down through Abashiri, Kitami, over to Shiretoko, through Raus, down to Kushiro, then over to the Lakes Akan, Masshu, etc. and back up to Takinoue.

If you have your own car, Masshu is worthwhile if the day is crystal-clear -- if it's cloudy, don't bother. You will be looking at nothing but fog!!!

The Shiretoko area is really gorgeous, and if you like the great outdoors, it's a good base.

BTW, are you flying from overseas, or from Japan? If it's from Japan, you might look into a direct flight into Memanbetsu.

Thanks for the suggestions.

We are looking at flying into MMB and out of Kushiro or vice versa, mainly to save time.

I have emailed Iruko- no answer yet.

Still looking for a base for 2-3 nights near Akan/Kushiro .

There are several nice onsen hotels (hotels with hot springs) right on Lake Akan, but I haven't ever stayed at one. A friend went with his family, though, and said it was nice. I'm sorry, I can't remember which one.

It's easy to devote at least a full day to Lake Akan. There are mini-museums that talk about the Ainu people, you can take a boat around the lake, there's a show featuring Ainu dance, and there are simply tons of souvenir shops that are worth a good browsing. The lake is lovely.

Hi there again,

I am puzzled by your mention of "Aidoman Onsen...Ryokan"...where is this?
Rausu is a small fishing town - easy to do as a day trip from Utoro...nothing much there to see or do, a big overhanging rock with glowing moss...some very basic on the beach onsens along the coast...a lot of fishing boats...err...that's it!

If you don't get an answer from Iruka...Yamamoto-san is sometimes a bit slow off the mark - try the Youth Hostel Iwaobetsu (Japan Y0uth Hostels website)...basic building but good location and excellent food. They can arrange sea kayaking too and have bikes to hire.

At Akan...for budget accomodation try the youth hostel at Meakan - this is about 11 km away and at the base of a great volcano hike

or in the Lake Akan village - more expensive try Lake Spa Takada...or go for one of the big hotels because they have great roof top onsens.

A week for east Hokkiado at this time of year would be great!

Amanda

And this one sounds great too

http://www.ecolodge.gr.jp/porch_e.htm

Hi all

Still no answer from Iruku .

Still no answer from JTB agent in town either about flights.

I'm glad to know a week this time of the year is a good time to go.Thanks.

this map and tips may be useful to you

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-103.pdf

also explains where Aidoman onsen is

did you use the JTB in HNL? They usually get right back to me with info

Aloha!

that's Aidomari onsen.....sorry

Thank you for referring me to those wonderful maps hawaiinantraveller.

Well, I am becoming a bit discouraged as the air fare alone is nearly $2000 for HNL to MMB. Perhaps I got too late a start on this trip.

Will post if anything develops.

okoshi,

have you tried to get the discounted domestic air fares such as the Yokoso air pass or the Star Alliance pass? They should only run about 10000 to 11000 yen per ticket. Ask the JTB sales person to get for you. They are a licensed agent for the tickets. See here:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2364.html

If traveling from HNL try looking in the Sunday travel section. I am seeing 500+ round trip tickets but don't know what time of yr these are

Aloha!

Thanks Hawaiiantraveller for the encouragements.

Those Sunday paper air fares are not applicable to July/August apparently.

I wasn't aware of the Yokoso or Star Alliance discounts. Thank you for the tip.

I may re-think this trip and aim for later in the fall.But I am keeping notes of these wonderful suggestions.

Fall is a super time for Shiretoko. The foliage is fantastic, and you might see the salmon spawning. The food, needless to say, is superb. "Shoku-yoku no aki." Fall feeding fun.