Day 685: September 17, 2023
Sunday – 3-Day “Respect for the Aged” Road Trip D2
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| Guesthouse Ichibangai - Kitami City |
We started the day early again, just like yesterday, hoping to tick off all the places I carefully included in today’s ambitious itinerary. Honestly, I might have been a little too optimistic. The plan involved covering a 430-kilometer route—from Kitami City to Shiretoko Five Lakes in Shari, then south to Nemuro City, and westward to Kushiro City—intending to stop by every town along the way.
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| Checking out of Guesthouse Ichibangai |
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| Heading to the parking area across the street to get Ruru |
Of course, we soon realized that such a plan was far too much for one day. So we decided to be flexible and wrap up wherever we happened to be by 4 PM. That turned out to be a good call.
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| Back on the road for day 2 of our 3-Day “Respect for the Aged” Road Trip |
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| We bought breakfast to go at the McDonald’s along National Road 39 in Kitami City |
We checked out of Guesthouse Ichibangai at around 7:20 AM and began the second leg of our three-day journey. Before leaving Kitami, we made a quick stop at McDonald’s along National Road 39 to pick up food for the road.
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| Bihoro Station |
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| We didn't miss taking photos here for our memory bank. |
Our first destination was Bihoro (美幌町), where we visited Bihoro Station to check out the newly installed Bihoro Pokémon manhole cover. It was a quick stop, and we were soon on our way to the next town: Ozora (大空町).
Although we had explored Kitami City, Bihoro, and Ozora during our road trip last September, this time we decided to explore a different part of Ozora—specifically the area that used to be the town of Higashimokoto. There, we visited Higashimokoto Shrine and Roadside Station Nonky Land Higashimokoto.
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| Higashimokoto Shrine's Main Torii |
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| Higashimokoto Shrine |
There, we visited Higashimokoto Shrine, a quiet local shrine surrounded by trees, where we took a moment to offer a prayer and appreciate the peaceful atmosphere. We didn't stay long or take that many pictures, though, as there was an ongoing celebration in the shrine grounds.
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| Roadside Station Nonky Land Higashimokoto |
Afterward, we stopped by Roadside Station Nonky Land Higashimokoto, a small but welcoming place offering fresh local produce, handmade goods, and regional snacks. It was a great spot to take a short break, explore local products, and get a taste of the community’s agricultural roots. Before leaving, my daughter and I got the roadside station stamp for our collection.
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| Next town in our itinerary: Koshimizu (小清水町) |
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| Koshimizu Shrine's main torii gate |
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| Koshimizu Shrine |
From Ozora, we headed north to Koshimizu (小清水町), a beautiful agricultural town that we were visiting for the first time. One of our first stops was Koshimizu Shrine, where we took some time to explore the peaceful grounds and admire the traditional architecture.
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| Driving through National Route 391 |
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| Hanayaka-Koshimizu Roadside Station |
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| I had a fun time taking photos with the bear near the entrance of the roadside station |
After that, we made our way to the Hanayaka-Koshimizu Roadside Station, which offered a variety of local produce and souvenirs unique to the area. The roadside station also doubles as the Hama-Koshimizu Station of the JR Senmo Line.
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| Furetoi Observation Deck as seen from the platform of Hama-Koshimizu Station |
We had originally planned to go up to Furetoi Observation Deck, but since our baby Kai was peacefully asleep, we chose to skip it this time and save the experience for a future visit.
Next on the itinerary was Shari (斜里町), the town with the most scheduled stops on my list — and for good reason. There's so much to explore in this part of Hokkaido, and I was excited to see how many places we could visit before the day ended.
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| Shari Roadside Station |
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| Family picture at Shari Roadside Station |
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| Inside the Shari Roadside Station |
Our first stop was Shari Roadside Station, a convenient and well-maintained rest area with local products, snacks, and information for travelers. While we didn’t spend too much time here, we made sure to get our roadside station stamp for the Hokkaido Stamp Rally, something we’ve been collecting throughout our trip. It’s always fun to see the unique stamp designs representing each town.
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| Shari Shrine's torii gate |
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| Shari Shrine |
Next, we visited Shari Shrine, a peaceful Shinto shrine surrounded by trees and located just a short drive from the roadside station. The shrine grounds were quiet and calming, with traditional wooden structures and stone lanterns adding to their charm. We offered a short prayer and took a few moments to appreciate the stillness of the place before moving on.
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| Road to the Sky Observatory |
We then made our way to the Road to the Sky Observatory, one of the more iconic viewpoints in the region. The observatory offers a breathtaking view of the winding road below, famously known as the “Road to Heaven.” The long, straight path seems to rise into the sky, creating a surreal visual effect that’s a favorite among photographers and road trip enthusiasts.
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| Road to the Sky |
After taking in the views, we stopped at the starting point of the Road to the Sky, where travelers usually take commemorative photos before heading up or down the scenic route. It’s a simple stop, but it’s a significant one that marks the beginning (or end) of one of Hokkaido’s most photographed roads.
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| Oshinkoshin Falls parking area |
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| Oshinkoshin Falls |
Next was a visit to Oshinkoshin Falls (オシンコシンの滝), often referred to as one of the “Top 100 Waterfalls of Japan.” The powerful twin streams of water cascade down side-by-side and are easily accessible from the main road. We didn’t need to hike far, which was perfect since we were on a tight schedule. It was refreshing to stand near the falls and feel the cool mist in the air.
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| Roadside Station Utoro-Shirietoko |
From there, we continued to Roadside Station Utoro-Shirietoko, another well-equipped roadside facility closer to the Shiretoko Peninsula. Like the earlier stop, we collected our Hokkaido Stamp Rally stamp, and we also checked out the selection of local seafood products and souvenirs. The roadside station had a great view of the nearby sea, and it was a nice place to take a short rest before diving into more sightseeing.
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| Shiretoko World Heritage Center |
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| Saw this majestic deer near the parking area |
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| We got our Certificate of Entry to the Shiretoko National Park |
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| Ni Lake |
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| Team Nicerio visits Shiretoko National Park |
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| Elevated wooden walkway in the park |
Finally, we arrived at one of the highlights of the entire trip: Shiretoko Five Lakes National Park. We opted for the Short Route Course, an elevated wooden path that allowed us to walk through part of the protected area without disturbing the delicate ecosystem. Surrounded by pristine forest and mountain views, the trail offered stunning reflections on the still waters of the lakes. It was quiet, peaceful, and truly awe-inspiring — a perfect way to wrap up our Shari adventure.
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| Shiretoko Pass |
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| Shiretoko Pass is also the boundary between Shari and Rausu |
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| Shiretoko Pass View Point |
After finishing the course, we continued over the scenic Shiretoko Pass. Before leaving Shari, we took in the views from the Shiretoko Pass View Point, though Mt. Rausu was unfortunately hidden behind clouds.
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| Off to Rausu |
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| Rausu Roadside Station |
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| We rested a bit before heading to our next destination |
Interestingly, the viewpoint sits on the boundary between Shari and Rausu (羅臼町), so we officially entered our first new town of the day. Once in Rausu, our first stop was the Rausu Roadside Station, a hub of local culture and marine-themed souvenirs. It’s not just a place to rest—it offers information about the UNESCO-listed Shiretoko Peninsula, known for its rich wildlife and dramatic landscapes. We also made sure to collect the roadside station stamp for our Hokkaido stamp rally.
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| Rausu Shrine's main torii gate |
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| Rausu Shrine |
A short drive later, we visited the Rausu Shrine, a serene spiritual site nestled near the mountains. Surrounded by towering trees and peaceful surroundings, the shrine offered a moment of calm reflection in contrast to our busy travel schedule. This visit gave us a glimpse into the deep cultural heritage of the town, rounding off our short but meaningful stop in Rausu.
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| Seicomart Rausu |
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| We got an inari sushi for our food on the road |
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| Driving from Rausu to Kushiro City |
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| We made another stop at Seicomart Nakachanbetsu in Shibecha |
By the time we finished at the shrine, it was already past 5 PM. Realizing we couldn’t squeeze in the remaining towns, we decided to call it a day and even agreed to drop our original third-day plan. Instead, we’ll spend tomorrow revisiting the towns we couldn’t get to today. The drive to Kushiro City was long and tiring, so we made a few stops to fuel up and grab snacks.
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| Stay @ Kushiro |
We finally arrived around 8 PM and checked in at Stay @ Kushiro—a budget-friendly converted old house. Not the most luxurious place, but it did the job.
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| Urutora Shokudo |
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| We ordered the butadon set meal |
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| Itadakimasu! |
Before ending the night, we drove out for dinner at Urutora Shokudo and enjoyed a delicious butadon. It was the perfect way to end a packed day.
Even though we didn’t accomplish everything we originally set out to do, I’m happy we revisited three familiar towns and explored three new ones. I’m looking forward to seeing what Day 3 will bring.
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Week 98
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 98
Japan Diaries 4: Day 684
Roadside Station “Nonky Land Higashimokoto”
Koshimizu Shrine
Koshimizu Roadside Station
Shari Roadside Station
Chinju Shari Shrine
Road to the Sky
Oshinkoshin Falls
Roadside Station “Utoro-Shirietoku”
Shiretoko Five Lakes National Park
Shiretoko Pass View Point
Rausu Roadside Station
Rausu Shrine
Hokkaido Manhole Cover
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