Shibetsu Town is located in the center of the Nemuro Subprefecture, the easternmost tip of Hokkaido. It's a town that has long prospered from fishing, primarily salmon. Today, we're introducing a guesthouse in this fishing town, run by a fisherman. We'll explore the charms of this facility, packed with features that bring you closer to the sea and its fish.

Guesthouse Shiome is located about a 25-minute drive from Nakashibetsu Airport. It's in a particularly convenient central part of town, with a hot spring popular among locals just a 2-minute walk away, a convenience store about 3 minutes away, and a home center and pharmacy about 5 minutes away. The guesthouse's location in Shibetsu is also easily accessible for those who want to explore nearby areas, as it's about an hour's drive to Cape Nosappu in Nemuro and the World Heritage site of Shiretoko.

Guesthouse Shiome opened in 2024. It was created by the "Hasshinkai," a group led by active fisherman Takanori Hayashi, who is based in Shibetsu, Hokkaido. Driven by the desire to "connect people with the sea and fish," they renovated a vacant private house.

The renovation was carried out by members of Hasshinkai, along with travelers and students who sympathized with their philosophy and activities.

The name "Shiome," given to the guesthouse after a renovation period of about a year, means a "meeting of currents" where fish gather. It embodies the wish of Hasshinkai's representative, Mr. Hayashi, to create a place where guests are not just 'customers' who stay overnight, but where they can deepen their relationships through interaction.

The guesthouse only has dormitory rooms, which can accommodate up to 10 people. The large Japanese-style room serves as a common living area, providing a space for guests to interact with each other.

The dormitory room can accommodate 10 people

A large room that can be used as a living room

The charm of Guesthouse Shiome is, without a doubt, that it's run by fishermen. Mr. Ui, the live-in manager, is also a fisherman who decided to move from Tokyo and became a member of Hasshinkai. This creates an environment where you can casually ask about the fisherman's life and fish.

Mr. Ui, who moved from Tokyo in 2024 and manages Guesthouse Shiome

Furthermore, if you inquire in advance, you can get a tour of the Hasshinkai's warehouse located next to the guesthouse. According to Mr. Ui, you can see the sea from behind the warehouse, and if you're lucky, you might even see the Shiretoko Mountain Range, making it a hidden scenic spot.

Many who have stayed at Guesthouse Shiome are interested in experiencing the fisherman's life, and it seems that many continue to maintain deep, family-like relationships afterward. The vision of human interaction that was imagined at its founding is truly taking shape.

Guesthouse Shiome also has the face of a "fishmonger," selling seafood. Guests can exclusively enjoy a "Seasonal Sashimi Set" carefully selected by the fishermen. This sashimi platter, filled with various seasonal fish, is said to be exquisite whether eaten as a kaisendon (seafood bowl) or zukedon (marinated seafood bowl). But the charms of a guesthouse run by fishermen don't stop there. There are also activities related to fish.

One such activity is the "Fish Filleting Experience," where you can learn to fillet fish purchased at Guesthouse Shiome. Not only can you learn how to fillet fish from an active fisherman, but you can also hear exclusive stories about "the way of a fisherman" and "what it means to face the sea," which is a real treat.

Please note that the "Fish Filleting Experience" is limited to guests staying for multiple nights who have also stayed at the guesthouse at least twice before. If you want to get to know the sea and fish on a deeper level, we highly recommend becoming a regular!

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Another highlight is the "Sakura Masu Salmon Tour," where you can visit a river in Shibetsu Town to see wild cherry salmon swimming upstream. "The sight of the cherry salmon desperately jumping to overcome waterfalls about 10 times their body size is a powerful reminder of the difficulty of survival in the natural world and the preciousness of life," says Mr. Hayashi, the representative of Hasshinkai.

The cherry salmon swim upstream for about a month from July to August. Since this is an activity that depends on the workings of nature, whether you can see them is up to chance, but if you do, it will undoubtedly 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 you make your reservation.