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The 20 Best Driving Spots in the Abashiri & Okhotsk Area [2026 Latest Edition]! Enjoy the Okhotsk Blue and Magnificent Nature
The Abashiri/Okhotsk area, located in northeastern Hokkaido, is a fantastic driving destination known for its stunning "Okhotsk Blue" scenery, a beautiful contrast of clear skies and sea, and majestic nature, including the Shiretoko Peninsula. Dotted with a wide variety of tourist spots, from mystical lakes and flower fields to scenic viewpoints, animal encounters, and craft workshops, this area offers something for everyone. This article introduces 20 recommended spots to visit on a drive, focusing on the Abashiri, Kitami, Mombetsu, Shari, Bihoro, and Ozora areas.
- Bihoro Pass (Bihoro Town): A magnificent panorama hailed as one of Japan's greatest views.
- Kaminokoike Pond (Kiyosato Town): A mystical pond so clear you can see to the bottom.
- Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony (Abashiri City): A stunning contrast of crimson coral grass and blue sky.
- Meruhen no Oka (Ozora Town): A beautiful rural landscape that changes with the seasons.
- Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shari Town): A pristine paradise created by five mystical lakes.
- Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (Yubetsu Town): A spectacular tulip field with about 200 varieties.
- Yama no Aquarium (Aquarium of the Northern Land) (Kitami City): A rare aquarium specializing in freshwater fish.
- North Plain Farm Milk Hall (Okoppe Town): Enjoy soft-serve ice cream outside on a sunny day.
- Hokkaido Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center GIZA (Mombetsu City): Touch real drift ice all year round.
- Okhotsk Tokkari Center Seal Land (Mombetsu City): Observe adorable seals up close.
- Ryuhyo Glass Museum (Abashiri City): Try your hand at making glass crafts.
- Toge no Yu Bihoro (Bihoro Town): Take a break amidst rich nature.
- Cape Notoro (Abashiri City): Enjoy a panoramic view of the Sea of Okhotsk.
- Miharashi no Oka Rose Garden (Mombetsu City): Discover roses and a variety of other beautiful flowers.
- Abashiri Municipal Museum (Abashiri City): The oldest museum in Hokkaido.
- Michi-no-Eki Onneyu Onsen (Kitami City): Wooden playground equipment and craft experiences that kids will love.
- Futago no Sakura (Tsubetsu Town): The "Twin Cherry Trees" that inspired a picture book.
- Bihoro Forestry Museum Kiterasu (Bihoro Town): A facility where parents and children can play with wooden toys.
- Raiun no Mizu (Shari Town): Spring water associated with good fortune.
- Piraoro Observatory (Saroma Town): A place with Ainu heritage overlooking Lake Saroma.
- Choose by Purpose! How to Enjoy a Drive in the Okhotsk Area
1. Bihoro Pass (Bihoro Town): A magnificent panorama hailed as one of Japan's greatest views.
From the Bihoro Pass Observatory at an altitude of 525 meters, you can gaze down upon Lake Kussharo, Japan's largest caldera lake. A majestic panoramic landscape unfolds before you, featuring Mount Io, which still emits volcanic smoke, and in the distance, the peaks of the Shiretoko and Daisetsu mountain ranges. This beautiful scenery has earned Bihoro Pass the title of "one of Japan's greatest views." On early mornings when conditions are right, you can witness a sea of clouds, a natural phenomenon where the clouds resemble an ocean.
■Location: Furuume, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and a map of Bihoro Pass
2. Kaminokoike Pond (Kiyosato Town): A mystical pond so clear you can see to the bottom.
Located deep in the mountains of Kiyosato Town, Kaminokoike Pond is said to be fed by underground water from Lake Mashu (known as "Kamuy-to" or "Lake of the Gods"). The water is so incredibly clear that you can see straight to the bottom, where fallen trees lie submerged like fossils, without decaying. The sight of Dolly Varden trout with their distinct vermilion spots swimming between the trees is a scene of fantastical, painting-like beauty.
■Hours: Open for viewing at any time
*Please note that the road is not cleared of snow during the winter. Snow may remain until after May.
■Closed: The Kaminokoike Forest Road is closed to vehicles during the winter.
■Location: Kiyosumi, Kiyosato-cho, Shari-gun
Click here for details and a map of Kaminokoike Pond
3. Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony (Abashiri City): A stunning contrast of crimson coral grass and blue sky.
In autumn, a part of Lake Notoro becomes covered in crimson coral grass, creating a fantastic contrast with the blue sky and offering a unique view distinct from typical autumn foliage. You can walk along a wooden boardwalk that takes you right into the middle of the vast, red carpet of coral grass.
■Best time to see: Mid-August to mid-October
■Location: 60-3 Ubaranai, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and a map of the Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony
4. Meruhen no Oka (Ozora Town): A beautiful rural landscape that changes with the seasons.
The seven iconic trees standing on a small hill, along with the surrounding fields that change their appearance with the seasons, create a beautiful rural landscape. The scenery is popular among photographers, with lush green fields in spring, white potato blossoms in summer, golden wheat in autumn, and the trees standing silently in a snow-covered plain in winter. The hill's colors change with the seasons, offering a picturesque view year-round.
■Closed: Open all year round
■Location: Showa, Memanbetsu, Ozora-cho
Click here for details and a map of Meruhen no Oka
5. Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shari Town): A pristine paradise created by five mystical lakes.
These five mystical lakes are surrounded by a primeval forest. Enveloped in tranquility, their surfaces reflect the lush surrounding forests and the Shiretoko Mountain Range, making them a true oasis in the wilderness. You can also see a wide variety of plants and wildlife. From the observatory, you can enjoy a grand panoramic view of the First Lake and the Shiretoko mountains.
■Hours: Ground-level trails 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM / Elevated wooden boardwalk 8:00 AM - 6:15 PM
*Please check the official website for details.
■Location: Onnebetsumura, Shari-cho, Shari-gun
Click here for details and a map of Shiretoko Five Lakes
6. Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (Yubetsu Town): A spectacular tulip field with about 200 varieties.
This 125,000-square-meter park features a vast 70,000-square-meter tulip field. Every spring, the delicate flowers of about 200 tulip varieties come into bloom. It's a famous flower spot, bustling with visitors during the Tulip Fair, which is typically held from May 1st to May 31st.
■Hours: During the Tulip Fair period, typically May 1st - 31st
■Fee: High school students and older: 600 yen / Elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen
■Location: Tonden Shigaichi, Kamiyubetsu, Yubetsu-cho, Mombetsu-gun
Click here for details and a map of Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park
7. Yama no Aquarium (Aquarium of the Northern Land) (Kitami City): A rare aquarium specializing in freshwater fish.
This is a rare freshwater aquarium, a rarity in Japan. The sight of the legendary Sakhalin taimen (itou), Japan's largest freshwater fish, swimming in schools is truly overwhelming. The world's first "Four Seasons Tank" freezes over in winter, recreating a natural river in Hokkaido. You can also enjoy other innovative exhibits, such as a touch pool where you can interact with aquatic creatures and Japan's first "Waterfall Basin Tank," which lets you look up from under a waterfall.
■Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM *Last admission is 20 minutes before closing.
■Closed: April 8th - 14th, the second Monday to Friday of December, December 31st, January 1st
■Fee: General: 830 yen / Junior high school students: 440 yen / Elementary school students: 400 yen
■Location: 1-4 Matsuyama, Rubeshibe-cho, Kitami-shi
Click here for details and a map of Yama no Aquarium (Aquarium of the Northern Land)
8. North Plain Farm Milk Hall (Okoppe Town): Enjoy soft-serve ice cream outside on a sunny day.
Here you can purchase dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well as sweets, all made with the dedication and pursuit of deliciousness that only a dairy farmer can offer. They also ship nationwide, making it a perfect place for souvenirs and gifts. On a sunny day, eating soft-serve ice cream on the outdoor terrace while looking out at the farm makes for a wonderful travel memory.
■Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Lunchtime 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
■Closed: Tuesdays (may be open on public holidays)
■Location: 116-2 Hokko, Okoppe-cho, Mombetsu-gun
Click here for details and a map of North Plain Farm Milk Hall
9. Hokkaido Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center GIZA (Mombetsu City): Touch real drift ice all year round.
Located by the Sea of Okhotsk, this is a science museum themed around drift ice. The Sub-zero Experience Room recreates the -20°C world of an Okhotsk winter. Here, you can touch real drift ice on display year-round. Other popular attractions include an ice aquarium and the chance to make freezing soap bubbles. In the dome theater, you can watch powerful videos of the four seasons in Okhotsk, including the drift ice.
■Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Last admission to the science museum exhibition room is 30 minutes before closing.
■Closed: Every Monday (except public holidays), the day after a public holiday, December 29th - January 3rd
*Open daily during long holiday periods, summer vacation, and from January 4th to the end of March.
■Fee
・Permanent Exhibition: General: 700 yen / High school/university students: 300 yen
・Set Ticket (Permanent Exhibition & Dome Theater): General: 1,100 yen / High school/university students: 500 yen
*Free for junior high school students and younger *Group rates available
■Location: 11-6 Moto-Mombetsu, Mombetsu-shi
Click here for details and a map of Hokkaido Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center GIZA
10. Okhotsk Tokkari Center Seal Land (Mombetsu City): Observe adorable seals up close.
This is the only facility in Japan dedicated to the protection and care of seals, housing dozens of animals, primarily spotted seals, along with ringed and ribbon seals. During feeding times, held five times a day, you can watch them eat and perform charming tricks, while keepers provide detailed explanations about seal ecology. The walls of the breeding pool have underwater viewing windows, allowing you to observe the cute seals as they swim.
■Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
*Feeding times: 10:30 AM / 11:30 AM / 1:30 PM / 2:30 PM / 3:00 PM
■Closed: New Year holidays
■Fee: Adults: 400 yen / Elementary, junior high, and high school students: 200 yen / Preschoolers: Free
■Location: 2 Kaiyo Koen, Mombetsu-shi
Click here for details and a map of Okhotsk Tokkari Center Seal Land
11. Ryuhyo Glass Museum (Abashiri City): Try your hand at making glass crafts.
This facility combines a glass workshop, a shop, glass-making experiences, and a cafe. You can try your hand at craft experiences like sandblasting using recycled glass made from fluorescent lamps. Inside the facility, the "Scenic Cafe Bōshiiwa" allows you to enjoy coffee or soda served in Ryuhyo glass cups while gazing out at the Sea of Okhotsk and watching the glass-making process.
■Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Last order at the cafe is 4:30 PM
■Closed: *Please check the official website.
■Fee: Free admission *Fees apply for each craft experience.
■Location: 2-1 Minami 4-jo Higashi 6-chome, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and a map of the Ryuhyo Glass Museum
12. Toge no Yu Bihoro (Bihoro Town): Take a break amidst rich nature.
Located along National Route 243 amidst a rich natural environment, this hot spring facility is characterized by its dome-shaped roof. The men's and women's baths, which have different designs, are swapped daily and are equipped with dry and mist saunas, as well as a cold water bath. In addition to bathing, there are facilities for all ages to enjoy, including a lounge and community hall where you can telework or relax, a summer-only RV park, log cabins, and a dedicated space for motorcycle campers.
■Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Last entry at 9:20 PM, bathing until 9:45 PM)
■Closed: The second Wednesday of every month (if it's a public holiday, closed the next day) *May be closed for maintenance.
■Fee: Junior high school students and older: 600 yen / Ages 4 to elementary school: 300 yen
■Location: 40-1 Miyakobashi, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and a map of Toge no Yu Bihoro
13. Cape Notoro (Abashiri City): Enjoy a panoramic view of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Cape Notoro juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk and is a popular spot for its spectacular views and the lighthouse at its tip. It's also famous as a filming location for commercials and movies. To the west, you can see Lake Notoro and the coast of Tokoro Town; to the north, the vast Sea of Okhotsk stretches out; and to the east, you can see the Shiretoko Mountain Range in the distance. At night, it becomes completely dark year-round, making it a perfect spot for stargazing and astrophotography.
■Location: Misaki, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and a map of Cape Notoro
14. Miharashi no Oka Rose Garden (Mombetsu City): Discover roses and a variety of other beautiful flowers.
A vast garden spanning about 9,000 square meters. The sight of over 100 varieties of roses and about 120 types of perennial plants blooming from summer to autumn creates an extraordinary atmosphere, making you feel as if you've visited a foreign country.
■Best time to see: Spring to autumn
■Fee: Free
■Location: 4-25-14 Oyamacho, Mombetsu-shi
Click here for details and a map of Miharashi no Oka Rose Garden
15. Abashiri Municipal Museum (Abashiri City): The oldest museum in Hokkaido.
This museum exhibits artifacts excavated from the Moyoro Shell Mound, which represents a unique culture, as well as local historical materials from the establishment of fishing grounds during the Edo period. It also showcases the nature and industries of the Abashiri region. The nearby Katsuragaoka Park is a famous spot for cherry blossoms.
■Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
*November - April: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
■Closed: Mondays, public holidays, December 29th - January 3rd
■Fee: Adults: 120 yen / Elementary and junior high school students: 60 yen
■Location: 1-1-3 Katsuracho, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and a map of the Abashiri Municipal Museum
16. Michi-no-Eki Onneyu Onsen (Kitami City): Wooden playground equipment and craft experiences that kids will love.
This Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station) features a multiscreen display providing real-time tourist and road information, as well as a rest area and facilities for families to enjoy. At "Karakuri Oukoku," you'll find a restaurant and souvenir shop where you can enjoy delicious ice cream and light meals. The "Kamurin no Yakata" building houses the "Kamurin Shop," which sells local specialty products, "Kamurin World," where both adults and children can play on wooden playground equipment, and the "Craft Experience Workshop," where you can try woodworking.
■Hours: Roadside Station 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
*Please check the official website for the operating hours of each facility.
■Location: 1-4 Matsuyama, Rubeshibe-cho, Kitami-shi
Click here for details and a map of Michi-no-Eki Onneyu Onsen
17. Futago no Sakura (Tsubetsu Town): The "Twin Cherry Trees" that inspired a picture book.
Behind the Tsubetsu Woodcraft Museum Kinosu, a pair of Ezo mountain cherry trees stand on a gentle slope. These trees were the theme of a picture book published by photographer Kazuma Anezaki and poet Shuntaro Tanikawa. Watching them stand quietly together brings a mysterious sense of happiness.
■Location: 127-2 Kyowa, Tsubetsu-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and a map of Futago no Sakura
18. Bihoro Forestry Museum Kiterasu (Bihoro Town): A facility where parents and children can play with wooden toys.
This is a wood-centric educational facility where parents and children can play safely, featuring a playroom for 0-2 year-olds and a nursing room. Kids will never get bored with a variety of wooden play equipment, including a wooden slide, tunnel, and a ball pit filled with wooden balls.
■Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
■Closed: December 31st - January 3rd
■Fee: Free
■Location: 2nd Floor, JR Bihoro Station, 3 Shinmachi, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and a map of Bihoro Forestry Museum Kiterasu
19. Raiun no Mizu (Shari Town): Spring water associated with good fortune.
The spring water in Raiun Park is a hidden gem. It is said that snow that fell on the magnificent Mount Shari has filtered through the ground over decades to emerge here. Due to its auspicious-sounding name, "Raiun," which can be interpreted as "good luck arrives," it's said that visiting brings good fortune and makes wishes come true. Many people travel from afar to collect this water.
■Location: Raiun, Shari-cho, Shari-gun
Click here for details and a map of Raiun no Mizu
20. Piraoro Observatory (Saroma Town): A place with Ainu heritage overlooking Lake Saroma.
"Piraoro" means "place of the cliff" in the Ainu language, with "pira" meaning cliff and "oro" meaning place. The Piraoro Observatory is located on the shore of Lake Saroma, offering an excellent view of the lake. Because of its great vantage point, it is said that the Ainu people once used it as a lookout to spot schools of fish. There is also a legend that it was the setting for the tragic love story of a young Ainu man and woman.
■Location: Tomiushi, Saroma-cho, Tokoro-gun
Click here for details and a map of Piraoro Observatory
Choose by Purpose! How to Enjoy a Drive in the Okhotsk Area
For Nature Lovers
The Abashiri/Okhotsk area is home to the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage site, as well as mystical lakes, wetlands, and scenic spots colored by seasonal flowers. You can enjoy a classic Hokkaido-scale drive while admiring the ever-changing landscapes.
・Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony (Abashiri City)
・Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shari Town)
・Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (Yubetsu Town)
For Scenic View Enthusiasts
The Abashiri/Okhotsk area has numerous scenic spots that showcase the interplay of vast lakes, the Sea of Okhotsk, and rolling hills. Along with an exhilarating drive, you can enjoy the majestic views that are unique to Hokkaido.
・Meruhen no Oka (Ozora Town)
・Cape Notoro (Abashiri City)
・Piraoro Observatory (Saroma Town)
For Hands-On Experiences
The Abashiri/Okhotsk area is also full of spots that families and couples can enjoy, including animal encounters, craft workshops, and hot springs. You can make a stop during your drive for a memorable Okhotsk experience.
・Okhotsk Tokkari Center Seal Land (Mombetsu City)
・Ryuhyo Glass Museum (Abashiri City)
・Toge no Yu Bihoro (Bihoro Town)
*All information is current as of June 2026.
*Please note that information may change. Please check official websites for the latest details.
