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Like a 'shiome' where fish gather, a place for people to meet and form deep connections. 'Guesthouse Shiome,' run by a fisherman.
Shibetsu is a town located in the heart of the Nemuro Subprefecture, at the easternmost tip of Hokkaido. It's a town that has long prospered from its fishing industry, particularly salmon. Today, we're introducing a guesthouse in this fishing town that is run by actual fishermen. Join us as we explore the charms of this facility, packed with features that bring you closer to the sea and its fish.
A Guesthouse to Experience the Fisherman's Life
Guesthouse Shiome is located about a 25-minute drive from Nakashibetsu Airport. It's situated in a particularly convenient central part of town, with a local hot spring just a 2-minute walk away, a convenience store 3 minutes away, and a home center and pharmacy a 5-minute walk away. The guesthouse's location in Shibetsu also offers easy access for those wanting to explore nearby areas, as it's only about an hour's drive to Cape Nosappu in Nemuro or the World Heritage site of Shiretoko.
Guesthouse Shiome opened in 2024. It was created by "Hasshinkai," a group of active fishermen based in Shibetsu, Hokkaido, led by Tsuyonori Hayashi. Driven by a desire to "connect people with the sea and fish," they renovated a vacant private house to bring their vision to life.
The renovation was a collaborative effort between Hasshinkai members and travelers and students who resonated with their philosophy and activities.
After a renovation period of about a year, the completed guesthouse was named "Shiome," which means the "boundary of ocean currents" where fish gather. The name embodies the wish of Hasshinkai's representative, Mr. Hayashi: "I want this to be a place where guests don't just stay, but where they can deepen their relationships through interaction."
The guesthouse offers dormitory-style rooms only, accommodating up to 10 people. A large Japanese-style room serves as a common living area, providing a space for guests to socialize with one another.
The dormitory room can accommodate up to 10 people
The large room can be used as a living area
The greatest appeal of Guesthouse Shiome is undoubtedly that it is run by fishermen. The live-in manager, Mr. Ui, is one such fisherman who decided to move from Tokyo and become a member of Hasshinkai. This creates an environment where guests can feel free to ask about the life of a fisherman and learn about fish.
Mr. Ui, who moved from Tokyo in 2024 and manages Guesthouse Shiome
Furthermore, with a prior inquiry, it's possible to get a tour of the Hasshinkai warehouse located next to the guesthouse. According to Mr. Ui, the warehouse is a secret scenic spot, offering views of the sea from the back, and on a clear day, you might even see the Shiretoko Mountain Range.
Many guests who stay at Guesthouse Shiome are interested in experiencing the fisherman's life, and it's not uncommon for them to form deep, family-like connections that continue long after their stay. The vision of human connection that inspired the guesthouse's creation is truly taking shape.
From Fish Filleting to Sakura Masu Tours! A Wealth of Fishing Activities
Guesthouse Shiome also functions as a fish shop, selling fresh seafood. Exclusively for guests, they offer a "Seasonal Sashimi Set" carefully selected by the fishermen. This assortment of seasonal fish is said to be exquisite whether eaten as is, or used to make a kaisendon (seafood bowl) or zukedon (marinated seafood bowl). But the unique charms of a guesthouse run by fishermen don't stop there. They also offer a variety of fish-related activities.
One such activity is the "Fish Filleting Experience," where you can learn to prepare fish you've purchased at Guesthouse Shiome. Not only can you learn how to fillet fish from an active fisherman, but a key part of the experience is hearing exclusive stories about "the way of the fisherman" and "what it means to face the sea."
Please note that the "Fish Filleting Experience" is limited to guests staying for multiple nights who have stayed at the guesthouse at least once before. If you want a deep dive into the world of the sea and fish, we highly recommend becoming a regular!
Another highlight is the "Sakura Masu Tour," where you can visit a river in Shibetsu to see wild cherry salmon (sakura masu) swimming upstream. "Watching the sakura masu desperately jump to overcome waterfalls ten times their body size is a powerful sight that makes you reconsider the difficulty of survival in the natural world and the preciousness of life," says Hasshinkai representative Mr. Hayashi.
The sakura masu make their upstream journey for about a month from July to August. Since this activity depends on the workings of nature, seeing them is up to chance, but if you do, it is sure to be an unforgettable memory.
In addition, there are other perks for guesthouse guests, such as a discount on the "Nature Observation & Bird Watching" tour at the Notsuke Peninsula Nature Center. If you're interested, be sure to inquire when making your reservation.
Guesthouse Shiome
■Address: 1-3-1 Minami 8-jo Nishi, Shibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido
■Phone: 090-1641-3990
■Check-in Time: By consultation
Click here for details and a map of "Guesthouse Shiome"
■Guesthouse Shiome's Special Offer: ¥500 discount (A ¥500 discount is applied per day, even for consecutive nights)
For more details on the "DOTO Youth Discount," see this feature page.
Writer's Profile
Nonoka Sasaki
Born in Otofuke, Hokkaido in 1990. She moved to Tokyo for university and became a freelance writer in 2015. In 2021, she returned to her hometown in the Tokachi region, where she now lives with a horse, two cats, and her child, while also hunting deer in the winter. Her published works include "In Search of Love and Family" and "What It Means to Love Yourself (or, On Happiness)" (both from Aki Shobo).
