Eastern Hokkaido

Eastern Hokkaido includes Obihiro, Tokachi, Abashiri, Kushiro, and Nemuro, and faces the Sea of Okhotsk, as well as the Pacific Ocean. Its many lakes make it a delightful destination in winter, when ice fishing, snowshoeing, and igloo building happen atop and around Lake Akan and Lake Mashu. Shiretoko National Park, registered as a World Heritage Site in 2005, is a beautiful place to go hiking and trekking through truly untouched nature. For visitors interested in learning more about the Ainu, the Lake Akan Ainu Kotan Cultural Center holds performances, workshops, and more to learn about Japan’s indigenous people.