Shiretoko Peninsula

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Lore & Background

The name Shiretoko comes from the Ainu word sir etok, meaning "the end of the Earth" or "the place where the Earth protrudes". The towns of Rausu and Shari are found on the peninsula. From Shiretoko Cape at the tip, a series of volcanoes runs down the peninsula, including Mount Shiretoko, Mount Unabetsu, and Mount Iō, part of the Chishima volcanic zone. The highest peak is Mount Rausu. The peninsula is 70 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide at its base, covering some 123,000 hectares. It is bounded on the northwest by the Sea of Okhotsk and on the southeast by the Pacific Ocean. To the east, Kunashiri Island runs parallel and can be seen from the peninsula; it has been occupied by Russia since September 1, 1945, and is disputed by Japan. The cold Oyashio Current flows southwest along the east side, and the Soya Current flows southeast from the Sea of Okhotsk. In winter, the Soya Current carries sea ice south, damming along the west side and resulting in the lowest latitude regularly occurring sea ice on earth at 43 degrees north. The volcanic zone has made several onsen possible, including Seseki Onsen and Iwaobetsu Onsen.

Reader's Guide

The Shiretoko Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as the southernmost point where sea ice usually forms in the Northern Hemisphere. The cold Oyashio Current profoundly impacts the weather, bringing fog on the southeastern coast and sea ice in winter. Snow covers the peaks from September to June, except the very highest peaks which retain snow all summer. The strong subarctic current makes navigation difficult—on April 23, 2022, a 19-ton tourist boat with 26 people sank near Kashuni Falls; 14 bodies were found and 12 went missing. The peninsula is home to many conifers and broadleaf trees, including Quercus mongolica (mizunara). Siberian dwarf pine grows above 1,000 meters. Wildlife includes red foxes, sika deer, and a large number of Ussuri brown bears. The upper reaches of Mount Rausu, Mount Onnebetsu, and Mount Shari are the only known breeding areas of Arctic warblers in Hokkaidō. Sea eagles flourish, and seals are often seen on the coast. The last confirmed record of Japanese otter in Hokkaido was from the Shari River. Whale watching is popular; thirteen or fourteen cetacean species have been recorded. The waters are regarded as one of the most significant habitat areas for orcas in the northwestern Pacific. A notable mass stranding of twelve orcas occurred in February 2005, with nine deaths. In 2019 and 2021, several white individuals were seen. The peninsula is one of the few places where groups of male sperm whales and Baird's beaked whales can be spotted from shore. Other frequently seen species include minke whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, Dall's porpoises, and harbour porpoises. Newly described Sato's beaked whale also inhabits the area. Endangered humpback and fin whales in the Sea of Okhotsk have started to recover. North Pacific right whales have been observed close to shore on the Sea of Okhotsk side in 2013, 2018, and 2019. From June 21 to 23, 2015, the first ever sighting of a bowhead whale in the Japanese EEZ occurred. Conservation efforts began in 1964 with the designation of Shiretoko National Park, which strictly regulates entry to protect the natural environment.

Did You Know?

• The name Shiretoko comes from the Ainu word sir etok, meaning 'the end of the Earth' or 'the place where the Earth protrudes'.
• The Shiretoko Peninsula is the southernmost point where sea ice usually forms in the Northern Hemisphere, at 43 degrees north.
• On April 23, 2022, a 19-ton tourist boat with 26 people sank near Kashuni Falls; 14 bodies were found and 12 went missing.
• The last confirmed record of Japanese otter in Hokkaido was from the Shari River on the peninsula.
• From June 21 to 23, 2015, the first ever sighting of a bowhead whale in the Japanese EEZ occurred off the peninsula.