ABASHIRI HOKKAIDO WHAT-TO-DO WHERE-TO-GO
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    All the tours will be assisted by an English speaking guide.

    • Exploring the Ancient Trails
      Exploring the Ancient Trails
    • Interacting with the Locals
      Interacting with the Locals
    • Experiencing Hard/Easy Ways of Washoku Cooking
      Experiencing Hard/Easy Ways
      of Washoku Cooking
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ABASHIRI HOKKAIDO WHAT-TO-DO WHERE-TO-GO
ABASHIRI HOKKAIDOWHAT-TO-DO
WHERE-TO-GO
Activities to understand
our Hokkaido culture

ABASHIRI HOKKAIDOWHAT-TO-DO
WHERE-TO-GO
Activities to understand
our Hokkaido culture

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WHAT’S NEW?

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29. Jan 2023

NEW – First Day of the Drift Ice (Hokkaido Trivia)

24. Jan 2023

Extremely Cold Front Expected Tomorrow Wednesday January 25

24. Jan 2023

Lake View Ski Course in Abashiri Opens on January 26

22. Jan 2023

Hokkaido Trivia – Back to School

20. Jan 2023

Glimpse From the Newly Opened Drift Ice Museum

MORE
I went down to the beach and found these blocks of I went down to the beach and found these blocks of ice 🧊 

I was hoping to find the so-called pancake ice, but instead saw these.

They must be some kind of surprise from the recent severe cold and yesterday’s dangerously high tides.

Looks like jewelries✨✨

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #icywater #oceanview #roughwaters #waves #ice #blueocean #coldwater  #oceansight #iceblue #oceanphotography #iceart
I visited Abashiri Prison Museum recently. It’s I visited Abashiri Prison Museum recently.  It’s a complex of old prison buildings that were built in 1912 (some are replicas). It’s amazing that these wooden cells and prisons were used till 1974 at Abashiri Prison, when the entire prison was renewed. 

The history of Abashiri Prison goes back to 1890 when it was constructed in line with the development of Hokkaido to respond to the pressing threat of Russia’s invasion.  The prisoners were brought to Abashiri with the purpose of cultivating the virgin forests and constructing the military roads.

I heard that the old wooden prison house in Nara prefecture is turning into a resort hotel😵 Stunned to hear this, but I do agree that these old wooden prison buildings have a beauty in their simple and rustic design. 

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #prison #museum #prisonmuseum #historical #architecturephotography #historicbuildingconservation
Happy new year from cold and snowy Hokkaido! Lowe Happy new year from cold and snowy Hokkaido!

Lowest minus 13°c, highest minus 8°c today.  I needed to warm up my car for some time before it reached minus 7°c😂 But the cold weather created dainty frost flowers at the lake❄️🌼

#hokkaidotrip #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #frost #frosty #lakeview #winterwonderland #freezing #winterart #frostflowers #iceflower #frozenlake #winterflowers #iceformations #icescape #cold
Swans🦢🦢 are everywhere. #hokkaido #abashiri Swans🦢🦢 are everywhere.

#hokkaido #abashiri  #naturephotograph #countrysidephotography #winterlandscape #wildlifeandnature #wildbirds #whooperswan #wildlifephotography #waterbirds #migratorybirds #birdwatching #lakeview
The ocean was rough today.  Hardly any snow yet🫤Can’t believe this for a December weather!

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #icywater #oceanview #roughwaters #waves #bluesea #splash #nosnowhere #oceansight
The lake is getting frozen and in less than a mont The lake is getting frozen and in less than a month it should be 15-20cm thick - enough to do ice-fishing. 

Right now the whooper swans that flew in from Siberia are resting their wings on the icy surface. 

It’s interesting to see the salmons that were here 2 months ago to spawn still at the bank. (You can see it starts freezing from the center)

It’s like seeing autumn and winter together in one landscape 🦢🐟

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #lakeview #icywater #winterlandscape #icefishing #lakeside #winterlake #swan #salmon #migratorybirds #fallandwinter
The wharf was packed with people with the news tha The wharf was packed with people with the news that a huge school of smelt fish came into Abashiri Port.

Today a tanker was also in the port making the place even more crowded😂

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wildlife #wheatbelt #smelt #fishing #port #fishingmaniac #northernocean #atthewharf #portview #northernfishing #citybythebay #tanker
The lake’s started to freeze. By early January t The lake’s started to freeze. By early January the ice will be thick enough, about 20cm, to start ice fishing🎣🐟

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #lakeview #iceylake #winterlandscape #icefishing #lakeside #winterlake
I bought “sekihan onigiri” the other day. It I bought “sekihan onigiri” the other day.  It was topped with sweet kidney beans, which reminded me that sekihan here are slightly sweet instead of salty-ish like those in Tokyo. 

Judging from all the local foods I’ve eaten, I am very sure that Hokkaido people have sweet tooth!

#japantour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #japanesefood #japanesecuisine #localfood #riceball #sekihan #sweetbeans #regional #redfood #rice #veganfood
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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.

MORE

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.

Ice Fishing
Ice Fishing
Fruits Picking
Fruits Picking
Fishing Industry
Fishing Industry
Salmons
Salmons
Wheat Fields
Wheat Fields
Wheat Harvest
Wheat Harvest
Moyoro Shell Mound & Museum
Moyoro Shell Mound & Museum
Prison Museum
Prison Museum
Local Museum & the Neighborhood
Local Museum & the Neighborhood
Historical Trails
Historical Trails
Chapeau Rock
Chapeau Rock
Observatory at Mt. Tento
Observatory at Mt. Tento
Museum of the Northern People
Museum of the Northern People
Glass Studio
Glass Studio
Abashiri Shrine
Abashiri Shrine
Kusarizuka
Kusarizuka
Glasswort Carpet
Glasswort Carpet
Lake Kussharo
Lake Kussharo
Alpine Flowers
Alpine Flowers
Wild Life
Wild Life
Mt. Shari
Mt. Shari
Mt. Mokoto
Mt. Mokoto
Volcanic Geography
Volcanic Geography
Notoro Area
Notoro Area
Wild Birds
Wild Birds
Drift Ice
Drift Ice
Fog Ice
Fog Ice
Foliage
Foliage
Sakura Cherry Blossoms
Sakura Cherry Blossoms

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!

  • Exploring the Ancient Trails

    MORE
  • Interacting with the Locals

    MORE
  • Experiencing
    Hard/Easy Ways
    of Washoku Cooking

    MORE

FAQ

  1. Please make the reservations by 3pm of the previous day.

  2. 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.

  3. I’m very sorry, but I can only accept cash in Japanese yen. I appreciate your understanding.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

I went down to the beach and found these blocks of I went down to the beach and found these blocks of ice 🧊 

I was hoping to find the so-called pancake ice, but instead saw these.

They must be some kind of surprise from the recent severe cold and yesterday’s dangerously high tides.

Looks like jewelries✨✨

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #icywater #oceanview #roughwaters #waves #ice #blueocean #coldwater  #oceansight #iceblue #oceanphotography #iceart
I visited Abashiri Prison Museum recently. It’s I visited Abashiri Prison Museum recently.  It’s a complex of old prison buildings that were built in 1912 (some are replicas). It’s amazing that these wooden cells and prisons were used till 1974 at Abashiri Prison, when the entire prison was renewed. 

The history of Abashiri Prison goes back to 1890 when it was constructed in line with the development of Hokkaido to respond to the pressing threat of Russia’s invasion.  The prisoners were brought to Abashiri with the purpose of cultivating the virgin forests and constructing the military roads.

I heard that the old wooden prison house in Nara prefecture is turning into a resort hotel😵 Stunned to hear this, but I do agree that these old wooden prison buildings have a beauty in their simple and rustic design. 

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #prison #museum #prisonmuseum #historical #architecturephotography #historicbuildingconservation
Happy new year from cold and snowy Hokkaido! Lowe Happy new year from cold and snowy Hokkaido!

Lowest minus 13°c, highest minus 8°c today.  I needed to warm up my car for some time before it reached minus 7°c😂 But the cold weather created dainty frost flowers at the lake❄️🌼

#hokkaidotrip #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #frost #frosty #lakeview #winterwonderland #freezing #winterart #frostflowers #iceflower #frozenlake #winterflowers #iceformations #icescape #cold
Swans🦢🦢 are everywhere. #hokkaido #abashiri Swans🦢🦢 are everywhere.

#hokkaido #abashiri  #naturephotograph #countrysidephotography #winterlandscape #wildlifeandnature #wildbirds #whooperswan #wildlifephotography #waterbirds #migratorybirds #birdwatching #lakeview
The ocean was rough today.  Hardly any snow yet🫤Can’t believe this for a December weather!

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #icywater #oceanview #roughwaters #waves #bluesea #splash #nosnowhere #oceansight
The lake is getting frozen and in less than a mont The lake is getting frozen and in less than a month it should be 15-20cm thick - enough to do ice-fishing. 

Right now the whooper swans that flew in from Siberia are resting their wings on the icy surface. 

It’s interesting to see the salmons that were here 2 months ago to spawn still at the bank. (You can see it starts freezing from the center)

It’s like seeing autumn and winter together in one landscape 🦢🐟

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #lakeview #icywater #winterlandscape #icefishing #lakeside #winterlake #swan #salmon #migratorybirds #fallandwinter
The wharf was packed with people with the news tha The wharf was packed with people with the news that a huge school of smelt fish came into Abashiri Port.

Today a tanker was also in the port making the place even more crowded😂

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wildlife #wheatbelt #smelt #fishing #port #fishingmaniac #northernocean #atthewharf #portview #northernfishing #citybythebay #tanker
The lake’s started to freeze. By early January t The lake’s started to freeze. By early January the ice will be thick enough, about 20cm, to start ice fishing🎣🐟

#japantour #hokkaidotrip #guidedtour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #naturelover #naturephotograph #sceniclocations #wheatbelt #lakeview #iceylake #winterlandscape #icefishing #lakeside #winterlake
I bought “sekihan onigiri” the other day. It I bought “sekihan onigiri” the other day.  It was topped with sweet kidney beans, which reminded me that sekihan here are slightly sweet instead of salty-ish like those in Tokyo. 

Judging from all the local foods I’ve eaten, I am very sure that Hokkaido people have sweet tooth!

#japantour #hokkaido #whattodoinjapan #wheretogoinjapan #whyilovethisplace #japanesefood #japanesecuisine #localfood #riceball #sekihan #sweetbeans #regional #redfood #rice #veganfood
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Junko

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)
kamon

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!

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