Kushiro & Nemuro, East Hokkaido" is a round trip tour of the East Hokkaido region, where beautiful and unspoiled nature spreads out! We introduce a 3-day/2-night plan from/to Sapporo, using public transportation such as buses and trains, to fully enjoy the beautiful scenery and exquisite gourmet food. This is a route that can be enjoyed by friends, partners, and families, so please take a look at it as a reference.

This trip starts from Sapporo Station Terminal and goes to Kushiro by bus. The "Rakutoku Smartphone Ticket," a great deal for bus travel, offers a 30% discount on two inter-city express bus tickets! It can be purchased online or at the terminal counter, so be sure to get it at least a few days before your trip.

The distance from Sapporo to Kushiro is about 300 km, so get excited about the great adventure that is about to begin and enjoy your bus trip.

Take the Starlight Kushiro bus from Sapporo Bus Terminal (Bus Stop No. 15) to Kushiro Station Terminal (5 hours and 30 minutes).

After arriving in Kushiro, have lunch first! Head to Kushiro Washo Ichiba, a 4-minute walk from Kushiro Station Terminal.

The market is lined with 50 stores selling not only fresh fish, but also meat, vegetables, and other items. The specialty here is kettledon, a bowl of rice topped with as many ingredients as you like!

Buy your rice ahead of time and go to the restaurant that has the freshest ingredients! You can make your own original Kaisendon by adding a generous amount of salmon roe or filling your bowl to overflowing with ingredients.

Kushiro Japanese Market

Location: 13-25 Kurogane-cho, Kushiro City
Business hours: 8:00-17:00 (Monday-Saturday)
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After tasting fresh seafood bowls at Washo Ichiba, walk to your hotel with a view of the Kushiro cityscape.

While enjoying the Kushiro air, check into the Kushiro Prince Hotel where you will be staying today. Kushiro Prince Hotel is a hotel with a great view of the sea, which can be seen from inside the guest rooms. Once there, you can rest your tired body after a long day's travel.

10 minutes walk from Kushiro Prince Hotel

It is a 10-minute walk from the hotel when it is getting dark, and you will arrive at Shidemai-bashi Bridge to watch the sunset, Kushiro's specialty! Kushiro's sunset is one of the world's three most spectacular sunsets, and the sunset from the Shimai-bashi Bridge, a landmark of Kushiro, and its surrounding area is especially spectacular.

The time of sunset differs depending on the season, but if you have time before the sunset when you arrive at Shidemai-bashi Bridge, it is a good idea to look for a spot to take pictures in the surrounding area. As the sun sets, the sky, the sunset, and the Mimai-bashi Bridge change beautifully, creating a picturesque scene that you can photograph or enjoy the collaboration of the bridge and the sunset.

Maimai Bridge

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After watching the sunset at the Shimai-bashi Bridge, it is time for dinner. When the sun goes down and the area becomes dark, the Shidemai-bashi Bridge and its surroundings are beautifully illuminated. In such a situation, we will head to "Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO" located right next to the Shushimai-bashi Bridge.

It is a 4-minute walk from the Shidemai Bridge.

Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO is a commercial facility that gathers all of Kushiro's culinary attractions, including souvenir shops and restaurants. Let's explore first!

Crabs are moving vigorously in an aquarium... The famous "hairy crab UFO catcher" is also located in this facility.

Insert money and move the crane to catch and drop the hairy crabs. This is quite difficult. Of course, if you catch it safely, you can take it home. Why don't you try it once as a memory of your trip?

After you have had your fun, head to the "Kushiro Port Food Stall" on the second floor. Finally, it is time for today's main dish.

There are many restaurants on the second floor, but no matter where you sit, you will receive menus from all of them. You can enjoy fresh seafood, Kushiro's specialty Zangi, Yakitori, Chinese food, set menus, etc., which are unique to Kushiro, transcending the boundaries between stores.

Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO

Location: 2-425 Nishiki-cho, Kushiro City
Business hours: <1F Shopping zone> Regular hours: 10:00-19:00 / July & August: 9:00-19:00 / Dec. 31, Jan. 2 & 3: 10:00-17:00
＜Lunch time: (some stores) 11:30-14:00 / Dinner time: 17:00-24:00
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After enjoying the taste of Kushiro, return to Kushiro Prince Hotel. All rooms in the hotel have ocean view if they are twin rooms. Enjoy the night view of Kushiro from the hotel and relax for tomorrow.

Breakfast is served at Top of Kushiro on the top floor of Kushiro Prince Hotel. The bright, glass-walled restaurant offers a view of the Kushiro cityscape.

On the second day, take the JR Hanasaki Line to Nemuro. The Hanasaki Line is the nickname of the 135.4-km railway line connecting Kushiro and Nemuro on the JR Nemuro Main Line (Takikawa-Nemuro), which is the longest railroad line in Hokkaido.

From the windows of the Hanasaki Line, you can see the dynamic nature unique to East Hokkaido, such as pastures and wetlands. The train arrives at JR Nemuro Station while you are still mesmerized by the beautiful scenery.

From JR Kushiro Station, take the JR Nemuro Line (Hanasaki Line) bound for Nemuro (2 hours and 31 minutes).

10:55 JR Nemuro Station

At Nemuro Station, change to a bus this time and head for Cape Nosappu.

From Nemuro Station Terminal, take the Nosabu Line bus bound for Cape Nosabu. 44 minutes to Cape Nosabu Stop.

Cape Nosappu is famous for the earliest sunrise in Japan, and many people come to see the sunrise on the first day of the year. The oldest lighthouse in Japan stands on the cape, and over the sea, the crystal islands of the Chimai Archipelago and Kunashiri Island can be seen with the naked eye.

Cape Nosabu

Location: Nosabu, Nemuro City, Hokkaido
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It is just about noon, so it is time for lunch here. There are several restaurants in the neighborhood where you can eat, but this time we will try the "Kani Bukiyuki-don" at "Kaisen Ryori Toko" (Seafood Restaurant).

When you open the lid, you will see a lot of white and pink crab meat. The Hanasaki crab soup is also included in the bowl, making my stomach very happy! After a delicious lunch, we will continue our tour of Nemuro's famous landmarks.

From the Cape Nosabu stop, take the Nosabu Line bus bound for Nemuro Ekimae Terminal (44 min.) to Nemuro Ekimae Terminal.

From Nemuro Station Terminal, take a cab for about 11 minutes to Cape Hanasaki/Nemuro Kurumaseki.

Arrival at Cape Hanasaki. The name "Kuruma-ishi" is a literal translation of "wheel stone," a stone widely scattered here, which is also designated as a national natural monument. Located below the Hanasaki Lighthouse on the cape, Kuruma-ishi are rocks that look like the wheels of a car, and are believed to have been formed when magma cooled in the sea in ancient times. Here, visitors can see various sizes of Kuruma-ishi, including one up to 6 meters in height.

There is a walking trail around Cape Hanasaki, where visitors can experience the dynamic natural beauty of the area.

Hanasaki Lighthouse Car Stone

Location: Hanasaki Port, Nemuro City, Hokkaido
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After feeling the romance of the earth, head for the "Nemuro City Museum of History and Nature.

Arrive at Nemuro City Museum of History and Nature.

Nemuro City Museum of History and Nature is a facility that collects, stores, and exhibits historical and natural materials on Nemuro City and its surroundings.

The museum also exhibits stuffed animals native to Nemuro and artifacts excavated from archaeological sites. In particular, the "Border Marker Stone," which can only be seen here, is one of the things you must see at least once. As the only marker stone found in Japan, which is surrounded by the sea, it is a rare and highly valuable material.

Nemuro City Museum of History and Nature

Location: 209 Hanasaki Port, Nemuro City, Hokkaido
Hours: 9:30-16:30
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Once you feel that the more you know about Nemuro, the more you realize that it is a place loved by nature, you will go to today's lodging.

Take a cab from Nemuro City Museum of History and Nature to East Harbor Hotel (8 minutes by cab).

East Harbor Hotel is conveniently located along Route 44, about 7 minutes on foot from Nemuro Station. The hotel is located along Route 44, about a 7-minute walk from Nemuro Station.

The view from the upper-floor windows is excellent, and in addition to the city of Nemuro, you can see as far as the Shiretoko mountain range and Kunashiri Island. Rooms on the ocean side also offer a view of the sunset. There is a little time before dinner, so take a break.

5 minutes walk from East Harbor Hotel.

For dinner, we will go to "Kaitenzushi Nemuro Hanamaru Nemuro Honten". Don't be fooled by the fact that it is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant; you can enjoy fresh sushi and other items unique to Nemuro at this lively fisherman's town restaurant.

The "Nemuro Hanasaki Crab Gunkan," which is a hard-shelled crab that is difficult to peel, is carefully removed by hand, and the "Two-Story Scallop," which features two large scallops on top of one another.

This is the "Hanasaki Crab Teppo Soup. A big Hanasaki crab rests in a bowl! A large Hanasaki crab is sitting in the bowl. The meat and shells are full of the extract of the Hanasaki crab, and the rich flavor warms the body. Let's enjoy the deepening night while savoring the delicious sushi.

5 minutes walk from Conveyor belt sushi Nemuro Hanamaru Nemuro Honten Arrival at East Harbor Hotel

It is finally the last day of the East Hokkaido leg of the "Gurutto" tour. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will head for Atsugishi-cho by Hanasaki Line from JR Nemuro Station.

From JR Nemuro Station, take the JR Nemuro Line (Hanasaki Line) for 1 hour and 37 minutes to JR Atsugishi Station.

10:00 JR Atsugishi Station

After an hour and a half ride on the JR Nemuro Line (Hanasaki Line), we arrived at Atsugishi. After exiting the station and climbing the stairs, you will see "Atsugishi Taste Terminal Conchiglie" on the top of a small hill, which contains all the charms of Atsugishi.

It takes 4 minutes on foot from JR Atsugishi Station to arrive at the Atsugishi Taste Terminal Conchiglie.

This facility, with its cute oyster-shaped exterior, offers a variety of gourmet foods that can be enjoyed only in Atsugishi-cho, one of the most famous oyster producing areas in Hokkaido! You can enjoy a variety of excellent oyster dishes such as "Steamed Oyster" which is steamed fresh oysters and "Fried Oyster Burger" which is a hearty burger with a lot of fried oysters in between.

In addition, there is an observation room overlooking Lake Atsukishi and an aquarium where you can learn about the ecology of the sea in Atsukishi, so children and families can also enjoy themselves.

Atsukishi Taste Terminal, Conchiglie

Location: 2-2 Suminoe, Atsugishi-cho, Atsugishi-gun
Business hours: April-September 9:00-20:00 / October-December 10:00-19:00 / January-March 10:00-18:00
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15-minute walk from JR Atsugishi Station, arrive at Atsugishi Fishery Cooperative Association direct sales store Aeuroko.

After tasting delicious oysters, how about some souvenirs? The Atsukishi Fishery Cooperative Direct Store Auroko, which is about a 15-minute walk from the station, is a direct store of the Atsukishi Fishery Cooperative where locals also come to buy oysters. In the store, not only oysters but also various kinds of marine products are sold. How about sending delicious seafood to that person you are indebted to?

For lunch, we recommend returning to Conchiglie and grilling oysters and saury bought at the seafood market inside the store! The next train from JR Atsugishi Station that you will board departs at 15:04, so please spend your time as you wish in Atsugishi.

[15 minutes on foot from the Atsugishi Fishery Cooperative Association direct sales store Aeuroko arrival, Atsugishi Taste Terminal, Conchiglie/JR Atsugishi Station arrival].

15:00 JR Atsugishi Station

You are full of stomach and souvenirs in Atsugishi! Let's head for Kushiro again by Hanasaki Line.

From JR Atsugishi Station, take the JR Nemuro Line (Hanasaki Line) for 50 minutes to JR Kushiro Station.

There are many unique coffee shops around Hokudai-dori Street, which connects JR Kushiro Station to the Shidemai Bridge! Kushiro Hokudai-dori Map", a map of Hokudai-dori coffee shops by "Kushiro Hokudai-dori Map", a group of local university students, is available (download here ), so why don't you find your favorite store based on this map?

You can forget about the time until you get on the bus at a coffee shop, enjoy the local gourmet "spakatsu" at a restaurant in the station, or if you forgot to buy some souvenirs, you can choose some souvenirs at WASHO Market, which you visited on the first day! Enjoy your stay in Kushiro while resting your tired body after a long trip.

Take the Starlight Kushiro bus from Kushiro Station Bus Terminal to Sapporo Station Terminal (5 hours and 10 minutes).

23:15 Sapporo Station Terminal