Kushiro Shiretoko Bus] Kushiro Shiretoko Bus, a sightseeing bus that can be used for transportation in Hokkaido, offers a dynamic tour around East Hokkaido!

Hokkaido
Sightseeing

Sep. 9, 2024

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A strong tool for independent travelers touring around East Hokkaido. Kushiro Shiretoko Go" is a regular sightseeing bus service that allows you to get on and off at stations, airports, and hot spring resorts.

No return to the departure point ! Regular Sightseeing Bus

Normally, a "regular sightseeing bus" departs from a station or an airport, goes on a sightseeing tour, and returns to the starting point. However, there are also sightseeing buses that do not return to the starting point. Kushiro Shiretoko Go" and "Shiretoko Kushiro Go" are operated by Akan Bus in East Hokkaido. In the vast East Hokkaido region, it is extremely difficult to travel independently to visit scenic spots unless you rent a car. However, these buses make a one-way round trip once a day between Kushiro, Lake Akan, Kawayu Onsen, Abashiri, and Shiretoko. For example, you can arrive at Kushiro Station, stay overnight at Lake Akan, and the next day continue your tour of the scenic East Hokkaido, staying overnight in Abashiri or Shiretoko.

One-way service from Kushiro to Utoro. You can get on and off at any station, airport, or accommodation on the way.

One-way service from Kushiro to Utoro (from Akan Bus Web site)

Riding the "Kushiro Shiretoko" from Akanko Onsen

The day before the tour, you will stay at Akanko Onsen Hot Spring. I decided to take the bus departing from the Akan Bus Center at 9:40 a.m. (reservation required at least 3 days in advance). (Reservations required at least three days in advance.) Some passengers had already boarded from Kushiro, and the bus trip started with 10 passengers including me, who was welcomed as a newcomer.

It was raining heavily! But it's fun♪ Footbaths and sweets!

It was raining heavily that day due to a typhoon far away in western Japan! As soon as we got on the bus, it started raining like a waterfall. But even in this kind of rain, bus travel is a powerful tool. The bus will take you to a place where you will not get wet as much as possible, and the bus guide will casually hold an umbrella over your head as you get on and off the bus.

Roadside Station Mashu Hot Spring Ashiyu

The first stop was "Roadside Station Mashu Onsen". It was just a restroom break, but there was also a footbath where we could take a quick bath. The most attractive thing about this bus is that there is a bus guide on board. This is something that has become rare even in tours these days. The guide will explain the history of the Ainu people and the natural scenery, and will also give you information on recommended food and shopping at the spots where the bus stops. This is also fun!

We tried the Mashu Blue Soft, which is inspired by the blue and fog of Lake Mashu, and the Iozan Ondama Soft, which tastes like pudding with a hot spring egg on top of the soft-serve ice cream!

The spectacular view is coming into view!

Lake Mashu could not be seen due to the promised fog, but at the next spot, Mount Io-zan, the rain miraculously stopped and we could feel the mysterious breath of the earth (and the smell of sulfur).

Only a bus trip can offer such a magnificent view from a large window. At a sand bath on Lake Kussharo, we were told, "Try digging in the sand. If digging is too hard, you can just touch the surface of the lake on the shore," the bus guide said, conveying the joys of the trip in a detailed manner.

The sand bath of Lake Kussharo where the sand is warm

Efficiently visit the sights of East Hokkaido and get off at Abashiri Station!

After passing Bihoro Pass with its spectacular view overlooking Lake Kussharo, the bus finally enters the Okhotsk region. The Kushiro-Shiretoko bus efficiently visits scenic spots without the use of a rental car and allows you to get off at a different place than the starting point, stopping at Memanbetsu Airport and Abashiri Station. If you are traveling by air, you can also take different routes to and from Kushiro Airport, such as "Kushiro Airport in, Memanbetsu Airport out". It is easy to create a dynamic trip unique to the large East-Hokkaido region. Mr. Abe, our bus guide. Not only sightseeing spots, but also recommended gourmet foods and souvenirs. It made my trip even more enjoyable!

I got off at Abashiri Station, the next stop after Memanbetsu Airport. The other passengers seemed to be heading for Utoro Onsen (hot springs) on the Shiretoko Peninsula. I would love to stay in Shiretoko and enjoy the World Natural Heritage site on a sightseeing boat or an elevated wooden path tomorrow, which would also be very dynamic. We parted from the bus with a feeling of regret. It took about 6 hours from Lake Akanko to Kushiro.

Crabmeat" at "Moriya Shoten" in front of Abashiri Station

Even if you travel by train, if you combine the "Oozora" limited express train from Sapporo to Kushiro with the "Kushiro Shiretoko" regular sightseeing bus and the "Okhotsk" limited express train from Abashiri, you can make a dynamic 2-day/1-night trip to East Hokkaido in a minimum of 2 days! （Of course, you can also combine a trip to Kushiro, one of Japan's three sunset cities, and the World Natural Heritage Site Shiretoko, without having to return to your starting point. Try creating your own unique trip.

Date of interview: August 31, 2024
The "Kushiro Shiretoko" train runs daily until Saturday, October 19 this year (reservations required).

The official website of Kushiro Shiretoko Bus and other regular sightseeing buses (Akan Bus) is here

Let's combine your favorite train and lodging to save money!

You can make your own original trip!

JR East View Dynamic Rail Package is a web-only travel package that allows you to freely combine trains and accommodations for an economical trip. As in this trip, you can conveniently choose a different station for the "outbound" and "return" stops. Reservations can be made as early as the day of travel.

Click here for details

For reservations for train + accommodations "Hokkaido Area", please contact 【JR East View Dynamic Rail Package】.

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