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Home  /  Japan  /  Shiretoko National Park
UNESCO wilderness peninsula · Hokkaido, Japan

Shiretoko National Park

Japan's wildest peninsula — a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness of brown bears, sea eagles, drift ice and whales at the end of Hokkaido.
Getting there
On the Shiretoko peninsula, reached via Utoro in eastern Hokkaido
Best for
Brown bears, sea eagles, drift ice, whales, wilderness coast, photography cruises
The land
A roadless wilderness peninsula of mountains and sea, UNESCO-listed
Good to know
Shiretoko's brown bears are best seen from boats along its roadless coast
What it is
Shiretoko is Japan's wildest peninsula — a UNESCO World Heritage wilderness of brown bears, sea eagles, drift ice and whales at the end of Hokkaido.
A roadless UNESCO World Heritage wilderness, the Shiretoko peninsula is Japan's wildest corner. Boat cruises along its dramatic coast reveal brown bears foraging the shore in summer, while winter brings drift ice and sea eagles, and the seas hold sperm and humpback whales. It is one of the last great wilderness coasts in East Asia.
PhotoShiretoko National Park — unesco wilderness peninsula.
The reason to come

The wilderness peninsula

Shiretoko is Japan's wildest coast — bears, eagles, ice and whales.

Brown bears

Coastal brown bears seen from boats along the roadless shore.

Wilderness cruises

Cruises beneath waterfalls and cliffs of the UNESCO coast.

Ice & whales

Winter drift ice and sea eagles; summer whales offshore.

Worth knowing

Japan's last wilderness

Shiretoko's roadless, UNESCO-listed coast is the wildest in Japan — brown bears on the shore, eagles overhead, whales offshore.
PhotoThe wild Shiretoko peninsula coast.
When to come — honestly

A year-round wilderness.

May – September
Best
Summer — coastal brown bears and whales by boat.
January – February
Best
Winter drift ice and sea eagles along the coast.
Year-round
Good
A year-round wilderness; summer and winter differ wholly.
The coast is roadless and weather-dependent; cruises sail only when conditions allow.
Context

The wild peninsula

Shiretoko is Japan's wildest wilderness — bears, eagles, ice and whales.

It crowns the Hokkaido itineraries.

We base Shiretoko for the coastal bear and wilderness cruises, the wild finale of a Hokkaido trip.

Beyond the obvious

More to Shiretoko National Park.

PhotoBear cruises

Bear cruises

Coastal brown bears.

PhotoWilderness coast

Wilderness coast

Cliffs and waterfalls.

PhotoIce & whales

Ice & whales

By season.

Why Wild Voyager

We time Japan's winter wildlife to the day.

Japan's winter wildlife — dancing cranes, sea eagles on the drift ice, fish owls, snow monkeys — peaks in narrow windows. We plan the route and timing and work with the best local photo specialists and lodges to put you in the right place at the right moment.

Handpicked stays

We choose the lodge and guides that fit your goals, not whatever is left.

We time it right

We build your visit around the season and the wildlife that delivers.

Journeys

Trips through Shiretoko National Park

8 Days · 7 Nights

Japan Winter Wildlife
10 Days · 9 Nights

Snow Monkeys & Winter Wildlife
9 Days · 8 Nights

Wild Hokkaido Photography
8 Days · 7 Nights

Winter Bird Photography
10 Days · 9 Nights

Hokkaido Birds & Bears
10 Days · 9 Nights

Summer Wild Hokkaido
Where to stay

Where you’ll stay in Shiretoko National Park

Signature Collection
PhotoKitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort
Signature

Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort

A seafront hot-spring resort at Utoro, the gateway to Shiretoko's cruises.
Classic Collection
PhotoKIKI Shiretoko Natural Resort
Classic

KIKI Shiretoko Natural Resort

A relaxed mountain-style resort near the Shiretoko trailheads.
Wildlife you may see
Birds Marine Mammals

Plan your Shiretoko National Park trip.

Cruise the wild Shiretoko coast for bears. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.

Plan a trip

Field notes, now and then.

Where to go · When to go · Wildlife in season

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