Trip Report

Shiretoko Loop Tour Day 5: Utoro to Rausu

Posted on Aug 5, 2012
1

Posted on Aug 5, 2012

After a very chilly descent back down to sea level, we ended up at a dingy old ryokan (an old-style Japanese inn) for the night. They did a special deal for us: 7,000yen for the room. The only redeeming feature of the place was the attached natural onsen. Which was dilapidated (like the rest of the ryokan), but hot and good for tired muscles and frazzled nerves.

Last updated Oct 8, 2018

Today it was raining when we got up.

Ready for a wet climb up Shiretoko Pass (739m) in Hokkaido, Japan

It was still raining after about a 2 hour climb up Shiretoko Pass (739m, starting at sea level).

At the top of Shiretoko Pass (735m) in Hokkaido, Japan

Incredulously, Haidee seemed still in a decent mood.

At the top of Shiretoko Pass (735m) in Hokkaido, Japan

Although, this may have had something to do with the promise of a dry room when we arrived in Rausu, rather than a soggy campsite (as was the original plan…well, at least, the original plan was for a nice dry campsite opposite a free onsen…but sometimes the weather plays foul).

After a very chilly descent back down to sea level, we ended up at a dingy old ryokan (an old-style Japanese inn) for the night. They did a special deal for us: 7,000yen for the room. The only redeeming feature of the place was the attached natural onsen. Which was dilapidated (like the rest of the ryokan), but hot and good for tired muscles and frazzled nerves.

Old Japanese ryokan (inn) in Rausu (Hokkaido, Japan)

Drying off in an old Japanese ryokan (inn) in Rausu (Hokkaido, Japan) Drying off in an old Japanese ryokan (inn) in Rausu (Hokkaido, Japan)

Route map


View Larger Map

Distance: 33.6km | Time on bikes: 2h 59m | Average speed: 11.2km/h | Bears: 0
Financials: Food: 4,600yen | Accommodation: 7,000yen | Onsen (hotspring): 0yen

Comments | Queries | Discussion

1 thought on “Shiretoko Loop Tour Day 5: Utoro to Rausu”

  1. Our big day from Utoro to Rausu dawned sunny, but halfway up to Shiretoko Pass we hit cloud and rain. No view from the pass. We put all our cold weather gear on and plummeted down to the Kumanoyu hot springs. Passed a guy on a mamachari heading up, zigzagging on his one-speed bike. Respect!
    We stayed at the campground opposite the springs.
    I recommend a visit to the Rausu Visitor Centre https://map.uu-hokkaido.jp/e/rausu-visitor-center/) for its excellent natural history displays.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

See More Like this