Abashiri

Abashiri is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, north eastern Hokkaido, Japan in East Asia.

Local attractions include Abashiri Prison Museum, Museum of Northern Peoples and Okhotsk Ryūhyō Museum, a science museum devoted to pack ice, a common phenomenon in the Okhotsk Sea (open between Spring and Autumn).

Hop aboard a boat for a one-hour tour of the famous pack ice which surrounds the town in winter.

At Hana Tento Flower Gardens (10 minutes drive from downtown Abashiri), more than 80 thousand flowers bloom across the grounds.

Phlox Park is located in Yobito district of Abashiri and covers an area of 10 hectares where over 150 thousand phlox plants bloom each year (blooming season from late July until early September).
There are scenic points for viewing Lake Abashiri and the plains toward Memanbetsu.

The cliffs of Cape Notoro overlook the Okhotsk Sea and this area provides a habitat for spotted seal. You can see them up close when drift ice comes onshore from the end of January to February.

Shiretoko National Park, to the east of Abashiri, is one of Japan's best yet least visited national parks and Akan National Park, to the south, is known for its three mysterious lakes.

Abashiri has its own microbrew, the brewery is open to visitors and also serves lunch and dinner.

Around a 10 minute walk from the port a morning market is held daily, offering fresh produce and fish.

Retail therapy can be found at Komaba Shopping Area. Nipopo are handmade dolls and each have a different expression, they are a popular souvenir from Abashiri.

Close to the shopping area is the Komaba Kinohiroba Forest Reserve, which is a good place for bird watching.

Fresh fish and seafood, particularly crab, scallops, Bighand Thornyhead Fish and pink salmon can be found on local menus. Try some Abashiri "zangi", which is Abashiri Okhotsk salmon pickled in fish soy sauce and deep fried or a variety of rice and noodle dishes.

Cruise ships dock at Abashiri Port, which is located close to Abashiri city centre.

The nearest train station is JR Abashiri Station, and the nearest bus station is Abashiri Bus Terminal, both of which are 10 minutes away by car.

There is a Tourist Office around 2km from the port area, offering local information, maps and sightseeing tour information.