10 Things to Do in Abashiri City

10 Things to Do in Abashiri City

Abashiri (網走市) is a city in the Okhotsk Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. There are several ideas as to how the name 'Abashiri' came to be. It was believed to be derived from the Ainu language, like apa-siri which means leakage/ground, and ci-pa-sir which translates to the land we discovered.


For those planning to visit Abashiri City to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Abashiri City:

Abashiri Manhole cover
Abashiri manhole cover

1. Take a picture of Abashiri’s unique manhole cover. So far, I have seen 1 unique manhole cover. It is common and can be seen around Abashiri City proper. 


Abashiri Roadside Station / Road Station Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri (道の駅 流氷街道網走)
Abashiri Roadside Station / Road Station Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri

2. Visit the Abashiri Roadside Station / Road Station Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri (道の駅 流氷街道網走) and buy products that are made in the city. You can also get the roadside station stamp here for the Hokkaido Stamp rally booklet. Don’t forget to take photos of the Abashiri Pokemon manhole cover installed outside the roadside station.


Yobitoura Camping Ground (呼人浦キャンプ場)
Yobitoura Camping Ground

3. Pitch a tent and camp overnight at Yobitoura Camping Ground (呼人浦キャンプ場). It’s free and has an amazing view of the Abashiri River.


Abashiri Shrine (網走神社)
Abashiri Shrine

4. Visit the Abashiri Shrine (網走神社). You can pay your respects and offer prayers any time of the day. You can also get a goshuin here.


Hotel Abashirikoso (ホテル網走湖荘)
Hotel Abashirikoso

5. Take a dip at the onsen of Hotel Abashirikoso (ホテル網走湖荘). They accept day trip bathers and the price is very affordable. You can also stay in the hotel for the night. It is one of the best hotels in the city. 


Cape Notoro (能取岬)
Cape Notoro

6. Drive to Cape Notoro (能取岬) and enjoy the beautiful view of the area. You can see the Notoro Lighthouse and the Okhotsk Tower here. In winter, there is a high chance that you will also see Abashiri’s famed drift ice.


Okhotsk Ryūhyō Museum (オホーツク流氷館)
Okhotsk Ryūhyō Museum

7. Visit the Okhotsk Ryūhyō Museum (オホーツク流氷館) and learn about the drift ice and some marine animals. Don’t forget to take pictures of the cute sea angels (clione). Aside from that, there is also a cafe in the museum offering one of the city's most delicious soft-serve ice creams.


Ubaranai SANGO Grassland (卯原内サンゴ草群落地)
Ubaranai SANGO Grassland

8. Visit Ubaranai SANGO Grassland (卯原内サンゴ草群落地) in late September and see the wetland turn red from the red coral grass. 


Abashiri Prison Museum (博物館 網走監獄)
Abashiri Prison Museum

9. Learn about the old correctional facility at the Abashiri Prison Museum (博物館 網走監獄), which houses life-size dioramas showing prison life during the Meiji era. 


Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing and Icebreaker Ship Aurora (網走流氷観光砕氷船おーろら)
Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing and Icebreaker Ship Aurora

10. Sail over the Okhotsk Sea aboard an icebreaker boat. Experience an incredible one-of-a-kind tour as the ship breaks through the ice as you watch comfortably inside or on the deck. The Abashiri Drift Ice Sightseeing and Icebreaker Ship Aurora (網走流氷観光砕氷船おーろら) has its ticketing office in the roadside station. 


I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Abashiri City gave you an idea and inspiration to visit the city in the future.

#Abashiri
#AbashiriCity
#AbashiriHokkaido

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Summary

Location: Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan

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