Abashiri, Ura-Mashu

Abashiri is a city on the eastern coast of Hokkaido which faces with the Okhotsk Sea. There are some tourist attractions such as Koshimizu primeval flower garden, Abashiri prison museum and Okhotsk ryu-hyo (drift ice) museum. You can also enjoy a day trip to Ura-Mashu area, Lake Saroma or Shiretoko. It takes you about 1.5 hours to drive from Abashiri to Shiretoko.

Photo

Kitahama station

Cafe Teishaba

Genseikaen station

Koshimizu primeval flower garden

Rosa rugosa

Ezo red fox

Grazing horses

Sakura Falls

Lake Saroma

Recommendation

Koshimizu primeval flower garden, Kitahama Station
Koshimizu primeval flower garden is a natural flower park on a long, narrow sand dune along the Okhotsk Sea, where various kinds of flowers such as Lilium pensylvanicum and Rosa rugosa are in full bloom from June to July. Genseikaen station is the closest station to the garden which is open only from May to October, but my recommendation is Kitahama station, one stop before Genseikaen. It is a small wooden station located at the shore and called “the closest station to the Okhotsk Sea”. You will be able to enjoy a wonderful view of drift ice in winter. There is “Cafe Teishaba” in the station which has a relaxed atmosphere. It must be good for you to have lunch here before visiting the flower garden.
　

Abashiri prison museum, Okhotsk ryu-hyo (drift ice) museum
Abashiri prison, which used to hold many criminals in the middle of the Meiji period, is preserved and exhibited as an open air museum. It shows you some actual buildings, the history of Hokkaido development, and the interesting story of a genius prison-breaker who said “I can destroy everything made by a human being.” You can also enjoy “Prisoner’s lunch” in the restaurant.
In Okhotsk ryu-hyo museum you can touch actual drift ice and enjoy a panoramic view of Abashiri. I would like to recommend you visit these museums on a rainy day.
　

Sakura Falls, Ura-Mashu Area
Sakura Falls in Kiyosato town, which is famous for cherry salmons jumping up the falls from June to August, is about 30km inland from Koshimizu primeval flower garden. I was so surprised to see the frequent jumps there.
It takes another hour to visit Lake Mashu from Sakura Falls. I came back to Abashiri after visiting Kaminoko Pond and Ura-Mashu Observatory. Kaminoko Pond is a very beautiful pond filled with mysterious blue water and you can see some old trees lying on the bottom. Ura-Mashu Observatory located on the east shore of the lake offers you a panoramic view of Lake Mashu. Since there is no direct access from the other side of the lake, there are few visitors.
　

Lake Saroma
Lake Saroma is the largest lake in Hokkaido, and Saroma Lake Observatory offers you a panoramic view of the brackish lake connected to the sea. Although it was covered with cloud when I visited, I could enjoy the grand lake scenery.
I hope to visit Lake Notoro some time, which is located between Lake Saroma and Abashiri city. I hear that the grounds are covered with the red coral grass in early fall as though a red carpet had been laid.

Access

This site shows you the detail of how to get to Abashiri. Taking the transportation to get around the city into consideration, I think it is the best way for you to rent a car at Memanbetsu Airport.

Travel Route

When I traveled around Hokkaido in 2015, I stayed at the campsite “Abashiri Tent Land” and visited not only Abashiri but also Shiretoko and Ura-Mashu area. Let me introduce the travel route for your reference.