太平洋とオホーツク海に挟まれた根室は千島列島を望む本土最東端の街で、花咲ガニやサンマなどの豊かな海産物を背景に、古くから北海道随一の好漁場として栄えてきた。長さ約60kmの自然豊かな根室半島には、風蓮湖に代表される穏やかな湖沼群、ドラマチックな景観の岬と海岸線、広漠とした酪農地帯の風景は、遠路遥々訪れる旅人に深い印象を残す。
釧路から納沙布岬への単なる往復旅行では少々もったいない。根室ならではの自然美と味覚を求めて、じっくりと探索したいところだ。
Japan’s most eastern mainland city, Nemuro is in the closest position to the 1150km-long Chishima Islands that stretches from Hokkaido to Kamchatka. Nature-rich, the 60km-long Nemuro Peninsula is a perfect place for birdwatching, wildlife cruising, footpath hiking and dining on fresh seafood. Nemuro makes a fulfilling day trip from Kushiro.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Location 125km east of Kushiro via Akkeshi (77km), 75km southeast of Nakashibetsu
Population 24,000
Highlights Nosappu-misaki, Shunkunitai, Furen-ko, Nemuro Footpaths
Tourist Information & Bike Rentals Nemuro Tourist Information Center (根室市観光インフォメーションセンター): Tel 0166-83-3716 / Nemuro Station bus terminal, 2-10 Kowa-cho / 8am-6pm Jun-Aug, 9am-5pm Sep-May / Bike rentals mid May-late Oct / www.nemuro-kankou.com
01 SCENIC CAPE & LOCAL HISTORY
Nosappu-misaki
納沙布岬 / 36-6 Nosappu
Nosappu-misaki is mainland Japan’s easternmost point and the earliest sunrise is 3.37am in mid June. On a clear day, you can see Kaigara-jima (just 3.7km east) and Suisho-to (7km east) belonging to the disputed Chishima Islands across the strait. Summer mornings are often covered a sea mist.
Nosappu Lighthouse (納沙布灯台), at the tip of the cape, is Hokkaido’s oldest lighthouse built in 1872 and reconstructed in 1930. Hoppo-kan Bokyo-no-ie (北方館望郷の家: 9am-5pm 16 Mar-15 Nov, to 4.30pm 16 Nov-15 Mar / Closed Mon Nov-Apr, 31 Dec-5 Jan / FREE) center offers a view to the bleak Russia’s outpost on Suisho-to through free telescopes.
From JR Nemuro Station, there are several return buses each day to Nosappu-misaki (44min / one-way ¥1070 / return ¥1930).
02 SCENIC PARK
Meiji Park
明治公園 / 81 Makinouchi / 24hrs / FREE
Originally constructed in 1875 (Meiji period) as Hokkaido’s second government-run ranch, this well-maintained park has three red brick silos dating from 1932. Meiji Park is about 2km east of JR Nemuro Station.
03 LAKE & SANDBANK
Furen-ko & Shunkunitai
風蓮湖・春国岱 / 103 Tobai / 24hrs / FREE / www.marimo.or.jp/~nemu_nc/workn
The 59-sq-km lagoon Furen-ko is the natural highlight of Nemuro, providing sanctuary for 330 species of birds, including sea eagles, whooper swans and tancho (Japanese crane).
Shunkunitai is a 8km-long scenic sandbank separates the Nemuro Bay and Furen-ko. Much of the landscape is covered with pine trees and beach roses. It is also called the ‘miracle sandbank’.
Shunkunitai Nature Center (春国岱ネイチャーセンター) on Route 44 has a practical information and the latest trail conditions. From here, winding short and long boardwalks pass trough a wildlife sanctuary. The longest return hike for the dune takes about 3.5 hours.
Shunkunitai is a short walk from Tobai (東梅) stop on the bus route between JR Nemuro Station (19min) and Attoko Station (29min) or Nakashibetsu Airport.
04 FOOTPATH HIKING
Ochiishi-misaki Path
落石岬パス
At the southern tip of Nemuro is this scenic cape looking over the ocean. A two-hour loop track starting near the beginning of the Old Ochiishi Radio Station (落石無線局跡) built in 1923, taking in pine forest and wildflower gardens. Around mid June, sakai-tsutsuji (rhododendron lapponicum) blooms in the wetland.
The entrance gate of the cape takes about an hour on foot from Ochiishi Station (落石駅) on the JR Hanasaki Line. The Eneos (8am-6pm, to 5pm holiday / Closed Sun) gas station, 450m south of the train station, sells footpath maps for Ochiishi-misaki and Hamamatsu paths.
05 FOOTPATH HIKING
Hamamatsu Path
浜松パス
From JR Ochiishi Station this 8km, 3-hour footpath loop through Hamamatsu’s scenic coastal hills, pine forest, sandy beaches and a fishing village. Wild dosanko (Hokkaido horses) graze in the pastures.
06 FOOTPATH HIKING
Attoko Path
厚床パス
Starting at JR Attoko Station or Akesato-Ito Farm, this 10.5km circumference footpath goes along the disused railway track, through the forest and pleasant pastures. The easy 5km walk between the train station and the farm past the picturesque hill is also good. JR Attoko Station’s bus ticket office sells footpath maps (12.30pm-8.30pm Mon-Sat).
NEMURO MAP
Directions
TRAIN: Nemuro is 2.5 hours from Kushiro by train (6 daily / ¥2860) on the scenic JR Nemuro Line (it also called the JR Hanasaki Line: 花咲線).
BUS: Nemuro Station terminal is opposite the train station (It sells bus tickets and passes).
The overnight bus Aurora-go (オーロラ号) service between Sapporo Odori Bus Center and Nemuro (8.5hrs+) via Attoko. On weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun, holiday & day before a holiday), there is an additional overnight bus (7hrs+). Compulsory reservation.
Intercity buses connect Nemuro with Kushiro (3 weekday, twice Sat & Sun / 2.5hrs) stopping at Attoko, Michi-no-eki Swan 44 Nemuro and Tobai. A discount one-day round-trip ticket (1日往復乗車券) is available on Saturday, Sunday and holiday.
Four airport buses, timed to meet all flights, run from Nemuro to Nakashibetsu Airport (1hr 40min) via JR Attoko Station (36min), Betsukai Purato (1hr) and Nakashibetsu bus terminal (1.5hrs).
