釧路は太平洋側にある道東最大の港町で、北洋漁業で繁栄した歴史を持つ日本屈指の水産基地でもある。阿寒摩周や釧路湿原国立公園の玄関口で、根室や知床東海岸への交通アクセスも良く、道東第一の観光拠点にふさわしい。
市内中心部を流れる釧路川の河口に近代的な街並みが広がり、美しい夕日と街明かりに映える夜霧が詩的な彩りを加える。地元ならではの新鮮な海の幸と独自の食文化も堪能しよう。
Kushiro is Eastern Hokkaido’s largest port town (population 169,000) and one of Japan’s premier fishing bases facing the Pacific Ocean. Summer is often cool and grey, but a foggy night on the river bank is fantastic. A wide variety of tasty seafood and sushi fascinates many travelers. Kushiro is predominantly transit point for the national parks around the city, such as Kushiro Shitsugen and Akan-Mashu.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Location 350km southeast of Sapporo via Obihiro (130km), 170km south of Abashiri
Population 165,000
Highlights Nusamai-bashi, Washo Market, View from Manabotto Nusamai, Kushiro City Musuem
Tourist Information Kushiro City Tourist Information Desk (釧路市観光案内所): Tel 0154-22-8294 / Inside JR Kushiro Station, 14 Kita-Odori / 9am-5.30pm / en.kushiro-lakeakan.com
Bike Rentals Kushiro Civic Activity Center Watto (釧路市民活動センターわっと): Tel 0154-22-2232 / 3-1 Suehiro-cho / 10am-7pm spring-autumn / www.946wat.jp
01 BRIDGE
Nusamai-bashi
幣舞橋 / Kita-Odori
Hokkaido’s most well-known bridge across Kushiro-gawa, Nusamai-bashi offers dramatic views of both a gorgeous sunset and a foggy night with colorful city lights. The riverside promenade is a favourite for stroll.
02 SHOPPING COMPLEX
Kushiro Fisherman’s Wharf MOO
釧路フィッシャーマンズワーフムー / 2-4 Nishiki-cho / Shopping zone 10am-7pm, from 9am Jul & Aug / Closed 1 Jan / www.moo946.com
Famed local architect Mozuna Kiko designed the striking shopping complex Fisherman’s Wharf MOO in 1989 near Nusamai-bashi. It houses souvenir and seafood shops, eateries and a tourist information counter. There is also an open-air deck facing the river.
03 MARKET
Washo Ichiba
和商市場 / 13-25 Kurogane-cho / 8am-6pm Mon-Sat late Apr-Nov & Dec incl Sun, to 5pm Mon-Sat Jan-Mar, to 4pm Sun late Apr-Nov / www.washoichiba.com
Dating back to 1954, Kushiro’s oldest market is two minutes’ walk west of the train station and best known for its katte-don (seafood bowl topped with a wide range of sashimi as you like it). Buy a rice (from ¥100) at deli at first, then choose sashimi (raw fishes: price varies) from the vendors.
04 SCENIC VIEWPOINT
Manabotto Nusamai
まなぼっと幣舞 / 4-28 Nusamai-cho / 9am-10pm / Closed Mon / FREE / Wi-Fi / www.kushiro-bunka.or.jp/manabo
This hilltop light-brown cultural hub includes the Kushiro Art Gallery (10am-5pm Tue-Sun / ¥140) with frequently changing exhibitions by local artists. On the top floor is an observatory overlooking the town.
05 LOCAL HISTORY
Kushiro City Museum
釧路市立博物館 / 1-7 Shunko-cho / 9.30am-5pm / Closed Mon / ¥470 / Wi-Fi
Located on a lakeside hill of Harutori-ko, the crane-shaped city museum was built in 1983 to a design by Mozuna Kiko. It focuses on Kushiro’s nature and history, with displays on many artefacts of Ainu, finds from local ruins, stuffed animals and specimens. From Kushiro Station stop 11, take bus 12 to the Shiritsu Byoin-mae (市立病院前: twice hourly / 10min / ¥220), from where it is a 3-minute walk to the museum.
06 LAKE
Harutori-ko
春採湖
Surrounded by the hillside residential areas near the city center, the 36-hectare brackish lake Harutori-ko is an oasis of green and water, with more than 130 species of birds come here. A 5km-long circumference walkway runs along the lake.
On the northern shore, you will find the Lake Harutori Nature Center (春採湖ネイチャーセンター: 10.30am-4pm Apr-Oct, to 3.30pm Oct / Closed Mon / FREE), with displays and photos. Kushiro City Museum is a good starting point for explore the lake.
07 LOCAL HISTORY
Kobunkan
港文館 / 2-1-12 O-machi / 10am-6pm, to 5pm Nov-Nov / Closed Mon, 31 Dec-3 Jan / FREE
Kobunkan is a lovely red brick reconstruction of the Meiji period’s Kushiro Shinbun Press building on the south bank of Kushiro-gawa. Inside is a museum with historical collection of poet Ishikawa Takuboku who worked in Kushiro in 1908 (just 76 days).
08 ART MUSEUM
Kushiro Art Museum, Hokkaido
北海道立釧路芸術館 / 4-1-5 Saiwai-cho / 9.30am-5pm / Admission adult ¥460, student ¥200, child FREE / www.kushiro-artmu.jp
This red brick art museum on the river bank presents permanent and frequently changing exhibitions on varied themes. There is a cafe, shop and library.
09 SCIENCE CENTER
Kushiro Children’s Museum Kodomo Yugakukan
釧路市こども遊学館 / 10-2 Saiwai-cho / 9.30am-5pm / Closed Mon / Adult ¥590, child ¥120 / With a planetarium adult ¥960, child ¥220 / www.kodomoyugakukan.jp
If you need a break from the kids, bring them to this glass-covered science museum. It has hands-on interactive exhibits on planets, technologies, playgrounds and a planetarium.
KUSHIRO MAP
Directions
TRAIN: The limited express trains Ozora connect Kushiro with Sapporo (6 daily / 4hrs) via Obihiro (1.5hrs) via the JR Sekisho Line.
The scenic JR lines from Kushiro head east for Nemuro (6 daily / 2.5hrs) via Akkeshi on the JR Hanasaki Line, and north for Abashiri (5 daily / 3.5hrs) passes through Kushiro Shitsugen on the JR Senmo Line.
BUS: From Kushiro, highway buses run to Sapporo (5 daily incl a night bus / 5hrs 15min), Asahikawa (2 daily / 6.5hrs) via Sounkyo, Kitami (2 daly / 3hrs) and Nemuro (2-3 daily / 2.5hrs).
