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ABOUT
ABASHIRI
Abashiri City lies in the midst of Abashiri Quasi-National Park. Thirty-five percent of the entire land is forest, among which 50% is untouched forest. It has 4 lakes, one of which is registered with the Ramsar Convention.
The once small fishing village with Ainu people and just a handful of traders from the present Shiga prefecture is now a city with a population of 34,000. The flourishment of Abashiri, as well as Hokkaido on the whole, as a “modern” town owes a lot to the prison and the prisoners that were located here as labor force in the late 19th century. Without the “prisoner’s road,” which we call the military road in Hokkaido, Hokkaido might not have been what it is today.
And today, famous for the drift ice that covers the Okhotsk Sea in February every year, Abashiri stands out as one of Japan’s most popular winter tourist spots.
Abashiri City lies in the midst of Abashiri Quasi-National Park. Thirty-five percent of the entire land is forest, among which 50% is untouched forest. It has 4 lakes, one of which is registered with the Ramsar Convention.
The once small fishing village with Ainu people and just a handful of traders from the present Shiga prefecture is now a city with a population of 34,000. The flourishment of Abashiri, as well as Hokkaido on the whole, as a “modern” town owes a lot to the prison and the prisoners that were located here as labor force in the late 19th century. Without the “prisoner’s road,” which we call the military road in Hokkaido, Hokkaido might not have been what it is today.
And today, famous for the drift ice that covers the Okhotsk Sea in February every year, Abashiri stands out as one of Japan’s most popular winter tourist spots.
Things to Do
Abashiri City is located in the northeastern part of Hokkaido along the Okhotsk Sea (pronounced ok-ho-tsk). It’s on your way to the Shiretoko National Park from Memanbetsu Airport.
There are various ways to enjoy Abashiri besides the drift ice and museums, biking, hiking, fishing, etc. It’s a great place to relax and spend some days by the lake in a tent or the ocean with a picnic basket. You can even use it as a hub for your various activities in eastern Hokkaido. Shiretoko, Akan, and Kushiro are places you can make a one-day trip depending on what you plan to do.
Abashiri offers more than the drift ice! Spend some time in this old fishing town and explore the city yourself!
FAQ
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Please make the reservations by 3pm of the previous day.
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The starting times for the sushi and soba activities are basically fixed as shown. However, please don’t hesitate to ask. There’s always a chance.
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I’m very sorry, but I can only accept cash in Japanese yen. I appreciate your understanding.
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No, you don’t need to. The participation fee is only for those who are going to try the experience. If the mother is going to try the experience and afterwards share the food with your children, you only need to pay for one person.
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Please send me an e-mail at info@ahww.jp by 5:00 pm of the previous day. There will be NO cancellation charge at this stage.
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If there should be any cancellations for any reasons on my side, I will let you know by:
(1) e-mailing you at your email address on the Booking Form, and
(2) informing the hotel you are staying at the morning of the activity, and
(3) putting up a general notice on the top page of this web site.
ABOUT MYSELF
Hi, I’m Junko. I own this Abashiri Hokkaido What-to-do Where-to-go site. I also give the tours. I used to work at an Embassy, a Wall Street company and also at an American licensing company in Tokyo. I came to Abashiri in 2009 to pursue my childhood dream of working at a dairy farm – which I finally did for nearly 10 years.
Brought up in New York and Singapore and with my wide range of business experiences, I hope I can be more than a “guide” to you – someone you can count on during your stay here! If you have any concerns or requests about the tours, please mail me at info@ahww.jp. I’ll try the most to answer to your requests!
- National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter (English)
- Master of Hokkaido Tourism (Certified by Hokkaido Chamber of Commerce)
- Abashiri Expert Certification (Certified by Abashiri Tourist Association)
THE STORY OF “FUKI”
This kamon (Japanese crest)-like logo depicts butterbur. When I first came to Hokkaido, the wild so-called fuki in Japanese was what caught my eyes! You’ll find the sprouts in early spring and the green plant throughout summer everywhere - from the wheat fields to concrete highways. There’s an Ainu legend that a dwarf (koro-bokkuru) lives under the gigantic fuki. Fuki is not just a seasonal delicacy that the locals savor. The salted fuki is an indispensible foodstuff in winter when green vegetables are hard to get. Fuki is a culture in itself. While you’re here, I hope you get the chance to see them yourself and also have the yummy experience – tempura sprouts and the stewed or fried stalks!