Shiretoko was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2005. When you think of Shiretoko, many people may imagine the Shiretoko Peninsula that juts out into eastern Hokkaido, but in fact there are many restrictions and ordinary tourists cannot go to the end of the peninsula. "So then, let's see it from the sea!" is what the cruise company Godzilla Rock Tourist thought. What kind of tour is it? First of all, you should know that on the west side of the Shiretoko Peninsula is Shari Utoro, and on the east side is Rausu Town, and the atmosphere and sights are different on each side. For Godzilla Rock sightseeing, there are cruises that depart from Utoro and cruises that depart from Rausu, and the content of each is also different. This time, we participated in the "Shiretoko Peninsula Utoro Cruise" that departed from Utoro, which was held until October 15th! First, we walked with the other participants from the meeting place to the port. On the way, we were surprised to see "Godzilla Rock", which is the origin of the name of Godzilla Rock Tourist! And finally, we arrived at the port. Whether we liked it or not, we got excited as we saw the cruise ship we were about to board and the ocean in front of us. The boat moves along the cliffs of the Shiretoko Peninsula at a comfortable speed. After a while, we come across a brown bear searching for fish on the beach. The guide staff member said to us, "You're all so lucky!" and our excitement rose again! Along the way, the cruise continues, with visitors witnessing a variety of natural sights, including columnar jointed rock faces, numerous waterfalls, and seabirds resting on protruding rocks. Our excitement, which had been building up throughout the trip, reached a peak when we encountered a large group of dolphins! Many of the dolphins were hopping out of the sea, as if inviting us to come play with them. The trip takes about three to three and a half hours. In addition to this, various other cruises and activities are available depending on the season. For example, there is the "Drift Ice Walk" which is held for a short period from February to March on the same Utoro side, as well as the "Whale, Dolphin, and Bird Watching Cruise" (April 28th to October 15th) and "Nemuro Strait Cruise" (February 1st to the end of March) departing from Rausu.

(Photo courtesy of Godzilla Rock Tourism)

Why not choose one based on the time and purpose of your visit? A cruise that lets you enjoy the World Heritage Site from the sea is sure to be an unforgettable memory. We recommend you start considering it now as a possible destination for next year's trip. <Thumbnail image provided by> Godzilla Rock Sightseeing [Utoro Office] Location: 51 Utoro Higashi, Shari-cho, Shari-gun, Hokkaido Phone: 0152-24-3060 [Rausu Office] Address: 30-2 Honmachi, Rausu-cho, Menashi-gun, Hokkaido Phone: 0153-85-7575 Official website: https://kamuiwakka.jp