Shari Town is located on the northwestern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk at the northeastern tip of Hokkaido. The area from the south to the east of the town is surrounded by a mountain range that crosses the Shiretoko Peninsula from Mt. Shari, while a vast plain spreads out at the base of the peninsula.
In July 2005, the Shiretoko Peninsula was registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, recognized for its unique ecosystem brought about by drift ice and its diverse flora and fauna.
The key industries are agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Agriculture is centered on large-scale field farming with major crops such as potatoes and wheat. Fishing is primarily coastal fishing for salmon and trout, with the town recording the highest salmon catch among all municipalities in Japan. Both industries have a production value of about 10 billion yen each. In tourism, more than 1 million tourists visit annually to enjoy the natural landscapes and hands-on experiences.