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

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

Guesthouse Shiome opened in 2024. It was created by "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 the "meeting point 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. A 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 main charm of Guesthouse Shiome is that it's run by a fisherman. Mr. Ui, the live-in manager, is also a fisherman who moved 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 warehouse next to the guesthouse. According to Mr. Ui, the sea is visible from behind the warehouse, and if you're lucky, you can 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 quite a few have continued to maintain deep, family-like relationships afterward. The vision of human connection that was imagined at its founding is truly taking shape.

Guesthouse Shiome also has the face of a "fishmonger," selling the bounty of the sea. For guests only, they offer a "Seasonal Sashimi Set" carefully selected by fishermen. This sashimi, packed 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 prepare fish purchased at Guesthouse Shiome. Not only can you learn how to fillet fish from an active fisherman, but a real highlight is hearing exclusive stories about "what it means to be a 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 used 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 "Sakuramasu Tour," where you can visit a river in Shibetsu Town to see wild cherry salmon (sakuramasu) 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, seeing them is up to chance, but if you do, it will undoubtedly become 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.

＜DOTO Youth Discount × Guesthouse Shiome＞

■Guesthouse Shiome's Special Offer: 500 yen off (500 yen off per day for consecutive stays as well)

For more details on the "DOTO Youth Discount," please see this feature page.