What to know
From late April to late October, sightseeing boat cruises operate along the rugged western coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula. Tours depart from Utoro and travel either halfway or the full distance to Cape Shiretoko (Shiretoko Misaki) at the peninsula's tip. This is the easiest way to see the dramatic coastline with tall cliffs and waterfalls that are otherwise inaccessible to regular tourists.
Another highlight of the cruises is the variety of wildlife visible from the boats, especially brown bears often spotted on rocky beaches with their cubs. Deer and foxes may also appear along the shore, while dolphins, whales, sea lions, and various seabirds might be seen from the boats.
Multiple companies offer cruises with differently sized boats. The large Aurora ships feature open observation decks as well as indoor seating and snack bars. They offer long cruises to the tip of the peninsula (4 hours, 10,000 yen, June to mid-October) and shorter cruises to Kamuiwakka Falls and Mount Io (90 minutes, 5,000 yen, late April to late October). During winter, the Aurora ships operate drift ice cruises from Abashiri.
A few other companies run cruises on smaller boats that can get closer to the shore. They typically offer two or three routes of different lengths, from long cruises to the peninsula's tip (3 hours, 13,000 yen, June to September) to shorter bear-watching cruises (2 hours, 8,000 yen, late April to October). Some companies also provide chartered cruises.
Sightseeing boat tours depart from Utoro. The pier is located behind Oronko Rock, the huge rock next to the town center.
How to get to and around Shiretoko National Park
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Closed
- Admission
- English name
- Shiretoko Sightseeing Ships
- Original name
- Sightseeing Boat Cruises
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