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[2025 Edition] 20 Recommended Driving Spots Near Abashiri & Okhotsk! Includes Breathtaking Photo Spots
The Okhotsk Sea coastal area, stretching across northeastern Hokkaido, is famous for its abundant seafood and seasonal drift ice. It's also a spectacular driving destination, characterized by clear skies and coastal scenery so vivid it's known as 'Okhotsk Blue.' In this article, we'll introduce you to the most captivating driving spots unique to the Okhotsk region.
- Bihoro Pass (Bihoro Town): A Grand Panorama Called a 'World-Class View'
- Kaminoko Pond (Kiyosato Town): A Mystical Pond So Clear You Can See the Bottom
- Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony (Abashiri City): A Stunning Contrast of Crimson Coral Grass and Blue Sky
- Märchen no Oka (Ōzora Town): A Beautiful Rural Landscape That Changes with the Seasons
- Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shari Town): A Primeval Paradise Created by Five Lakes
- Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (Yūbetsu Town): A Magnificent Tulip Field with 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 (Monbetsu City): Touch Real Drift Ice All Year Round
- Okhotsk Tokkari Center Azarashi Land (Monbetsu City): Observe Cute Seals Up Close
- Ryuhyo Glass Museum (Abashiri City): Try Your Hand at Glassmaking
- Toge no Yu Bihoro (Bihoro Town): Take a Break Amidst Rich Nature
- Cape Notoro (Abashiri City): Enjoy a Spectacular View of the Okhotsk Sea
- Miharashi no Oka Rose Garden (Monbetsu City): Encounter Roses and Various Other Beautiful Flowers
- Abashiri Municipal Museum (Abashiri City): The Oldest Museum in Hokkaido
- Michi-no-Eki Onneyu Onsen (Kitami City): Wooden Playsets and Woodcraft Workshops for Kids
- Futago no Sakura (Tsubetsu Town): The 'Twin Cherry Trees' That Inspired a Picture Book
- Bihoro Forestry Museum Kiterasu (Bihoro Town): A Place for Parents and Children to Play with Wooden Toys
- Raiun no Mizu (Shari Town): Spring Water Associated with Good Fortune
- Piraoro Observatory (Saroma Town): An Ainu-Related Spot Overlooking Lake Saroma
1. Bihoro Pass (Bihoro Town): A Grand Panorama Called a 'World-Class View'
From the Bihoro Pass observatory at an altitude of 525m, you can see Lake Kussharo, Japan's largest caldera lake, below. Before you unfolds a magnificent panorama featuring the still-smoking Mount Iō and, in the distance, the majestic peaks of the Shiretoko and Daisetsu mountain ranges. This beautiful scenery has earned Bihoro Pass the title of 'world-class view.' On early mornings when conditions are right, you can witness a 'sea of clouds' (unkai), a natural phenomenon where clouds look like an ocean.
■Location: Furuume, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and map of Bihoro Pass
2. Kaminoko Pond (Kiyosato Town): A Mystical Pond So Clear You Can See the Bottom
Located deep in the mountains of Kiyosato Town, Kaminoko Pond is said to be fed by underground water from Lake Mashu (known as Kamuito, or 'Lake of the Gods'). The water is so incredibly clear that you can see every detail at the bottom, where fallen trees lie preserved like fossils without decaying. The sight of Dolly Varden trout with their distinct red spots swimming between the trees is a fantastically beautiful scene, like something out of a painting.
■Hours: Open for viewing anytime
*Please note that the road is not cleared of snow during winter. Snow may remain until after May.
■Closed: The Kaminoko Pond forest road is closed to vehicles during the winter.
■Location: Kiyosei, Kiyosato-cho, Shari-gun
Click here for details and map of Kaminoko 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 bright red coral grass, creating a fantastic contrast with the blue sky and offering a unique view distinct from typical autumn foliage. A wooden boardwalk allows you to walk right into the middle of the crimson carpet of coral grass.
■Best time to visit: Mid-August to mid-October
■Location: 60-3 Ubaranai, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and map of the Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony
4. Märchen no Oka (Ōzora Town): A Beautiful Rural Landscape That Changes with the Seasons
The seven symbolic trees standing on a small hill, along with the surrounding fields that change their appearance with each season, create a beautiful rural landscape. The fields are lush green in spring, dotted with white potato flowers in summer, golden with wheat in autumn, and covered in a blanket of snow in winter. This picturesque scenery, with its ever-changing colors, is a popular spot for photography enthusiasts.
■Closed: Open year-round
■Location: Memanbetsu Showa, Ōzora-cho
Click here for details and map of Märchen no Oka
5. Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shari Town): A Primeval Paradise Created by Five Lakes
These five mystical lakes are surrounded by a primeval forest. Reflecting the lush trees and the Shiretoko Mountain Range on their surfaces, they are enveloped in tranquility, truly an oasis in the wilderness. You can also see many plants and wild animals here. From the observatory, you can enjoy a grand panorama of the First Lake and the Shiretoko mountains.
■Hours: Ground-level trails 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM / Elevated wooden boardwalk 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
*Please check the official website for details.
■Location: Onnebetsumura, Shari-cho, Shari-gun
Click here for details and map of Shiretoko Five Lakes
6. Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park (Yūbetsu Town): A Magnificent Tulip Field with 200 Varieties
Within a 125,000-square-meter park lies a vast 70,000-square-meter tulip field. Every spring, the delicate flowers of about 200 tulip varieties bloom here. The Tulip Fair, usually held from early to late May, attracts many visitors, making it a true floral landmark.
■Hours: During the Tulip Fair, typically from May 1 to May 31
■Admission: High school students and older: 600 yen / Elementary and middle school students: 300 yen
■Location: Kamiyubetsu Tonden Shigaichi, Yūbetsu-cho, Monbetsu-gun
Click here for details and 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, one of the few in Japan. The sight of a school of Sakhalin taimen (Japanese huchen), Japan's largest freshwater fish and considered a 'phantom fish,' is truly overwhelming. The world's first 'Four Seasons Tank' freezes over in winter, recreating a natural river in Hokkaido. You can also enjoy innovative exhibits praised worldwide, such as a touch pool where you can interact with aquatic creatures and Japan's first 'Waterfall Basin Tank,' which lets you look up at a waterfall from below.
■Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM *Last admission is 20 minutes before closing
■Closed: April 8 - April 14, the second Monday to Friday of December, December 31, January 1
■Admission: General: 670 yen / Middle school students: 440 yen / Elementary school students: 300 yen
■Location: 1-4 Matsuyama, Rubeshibe-cho, Kitami-shi
Click here for details and 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 and sweets, including milk, cheese, and yogurt, made with the dedication and pursuit of deliciousness that only a dairy farmer can offer. They also ship nationwide, making it perfect 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, Monbetsu-gun
Click here for details and map of North Plain Farm Milk Hall
9. Hokkaido Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center GIZA (Monbetsu City): Touch Real Drift Ice All Year Round
Located by the Okhotsk Sea, this is a science museum themed around drift ice. The Severe Cold Experience Room recreates the -20°C world of an Okhotsk winter. You can directly touch real drift ice, which is on display year-round. Other popular attractions include an ice aquarium and an experience where you can 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 exhibition hall is 30 minutes before closing
■Closed: Every Monday (except on public holidays), the day after a public holiday, December 29 - January 3
*No closures during long holiday periods, summer vacation, and from January 4 to the end of March
■Admission
・Permanent Exhibition: General 450 yen / High school/University students 150 yen
・Set Ticket (Permanent Exhibition & Dome Theater): General 750 yen / High school/University students 250 yen
*Free for junior high school students and younger, and for those 65 and older *Group rates available
■Location: 11-6 Motomonbetsu, Monbetsu-shi
Click here for details and map of Hokkaido Okhotsk Drift Ice Science Center GIZA
10. Okhotsk Tokkari Center Azarashi Land (Monbetsu City): Observe Cute Seals Up Close
This is the only facility in Japan that protects and raises dozens of seals, primarily spotted seals, as well as ringed seals and ribbon seals. During feeding times, held five times a day, you can watch them eat and perform charming tricks, while the keepers provide detailed explanations about seal ecology. The walls of the breeding pool have underwater windows, so you can also 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: Year-end and New Year holidays
■Admission: Adults 400 yen / Elementary, middle, and high school students 200 yen / Preschoolers free
■Location: 2 Kaiyokoen, Monbetsu-shi
Click here for details and map of Okhotsk Tokkari Center Azarashi Land
11. Ryuhyo Glass Museum (Abashiri City): Try Your Hand at Glassmaking
This facility combines a glass workshop, shop, hands-on experiences, and a café. You can try activities 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 Okhotsk Sea and watching the glassmaking process.
■Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Last order at the cafe is 4:30 PM
■Closed: *Please check the official website
■Admission: Free entry *Fees apply for each hands-on experience
■Location: 2-1 Minami 4-jo Higashi 6-chome, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and map of Ryuhyo Glass Museum
12. Toge no Yu Bihoro (Bihoro Town): Take a Break Amidst Rich Nature
Located along National Route 243 in a lush natural environment, this onsen facility is characterized by its dome-shaped roof. The men's and women's baths have different designs and are swapped daily, and both are equipped with dry and mist saunas, as well as a cold water bath. In addition to bathing, there are facilities for people of all ages to enjoy, including a lounge for teleworking or relaxing, an exchange hall, 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)
■Admission: Middle 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 map of Toge no Yu Bihoro
13. Cape Notoro (Abashiri City): Enjoy a Spectacular View of the Okhotsk Sea
Cape Notoro, which juts out into the Okhotsk Sea, is a popular spot with a lighthouse at its tip offering magnificent views. 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 Okhotsk Sea 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 prime spot for stargazing and astrophotography.
■Location: Misaki, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and map of Cape Notoro
14. Miharashi no Oka Rose Garden (Monbetsu City): Encounter Roses and Various 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 offers an extraordinary experience, making you feel as if you've traveled abroad.
■Best time to visit: Spring to Autumn
■Admission: Free
■Location: 4-25-14 Oyamacho, Monbetsu-shi
Click here for details and 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 cultural form, as well as local historical materials from the establishment of fishing grounds during the Bunka era of the Edo period. It also showcases the nature and industries of the Abashiri region. The nearby Katsuragaoka Park is also 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 29 - January 3
■Admission: Adults 120 yen / Elementary and middle school students 60 yen
■Location: 1-1-3 Katsuracho, Abashiri-shi
Click here for details and map of Abashiri Municipal Museum
16. Michi-no-Eki Onneyu Onsen (Kitami City): Wooden Playsets and Woodcraft Workshops for Kids
This roadside station features a multi-screen display providing real-time tourist information and road conditions, as well as a rest area and facilities for families to enjoy. In 'Karakuri Ōkoku,' you'll find a cafeteria and souvenir shops 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 Taiken Kōbō,' where you can try your hand at 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 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, two Ezo mountain cherry trees stand together on a gentle hill. These trees were the theme of a picture book published by photographer Kazuma Anezaki and poet Shuntaro Tanikawa. Seeing them quietly nestled together brings a mysterious sense of happiness.
■Location: 127-2 Kyowa, Tsubetsu-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and map of Futago no Sakura
18. Bihoro Forestry Museum Kiterasu (Bihoro Town): A Place for Parents and Children to Play with Wooden Toys
This is a 'wood education' facility that makes extensive use of wood, where parents and children can play safely. It includes a playroom for 0-2 year-olds and a nursing room. Children will never get bored with the 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 31 - January 3
■Admission: Free
■Location: 2nd Floor, JR Bihoro Station, 3 Shinmachi, Bihoro-cho, Abashiri-gun
Click here for details and 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 the snow that falls on the magnificent Mount Shari seeps into the ground and emerges here after decades. The auspicious name of the area, 'Raiun' (meaning 'luck comes'), has led to a belief that 'luck will come and wishes will be granted,' attracting many people from afar to seek this water.
■Location: Raiun, Shari-cho, Shari-gun
Click here for details and map of Raiun no Mizu
20. Piraoro Observatory (Saroma Town): An Ainu-Related Spot Overlooking Lake Saroma
'Piraoro' means 'place with a cliff' in the Ainu language, with 'pira' meaning cliff and 'oro' meaning place. The Piraoro Observatory, named for this, is located on the shore of Lake Saroma with a commanding view. It is said that the Ainu people used this spot to watch for schools of fish for their fishing activities. There is also a legend that it was the setting for a tragic love story between a young Ainu man and woman.
■Location: Tomitake, Saroma-cho, Tokoro-gun
Click here for details and map of Piraoro Observatory
*All information is current as of May 2025.
*All information is subject to change. Please check official websites for the latest details.
