Abashiri

Getting Here and Around

The significant distance from Sapporo to Abashiri makes it advisable to take one of the four daily so-called express trains out. This is a five-hour-plus trip, sometimes chugging along at almost walking speeds through the northern Daisetsu mountain area, then a dead-end turn at Engaru, where passengers must stand and turn the seats to face forward again.

Abashiri has enough sights for a day or more as you set out to cycle the 27-km (17-mi) lakeside cycling road (or the equally easy 40-km [25-mi] one-way cycle along Lake Notoro to Tokoro town). There are seven buses a day from the station, circling the sights on Tento-san; a day pass costs ¥900. Be careful if you arrive on the morning train from Sapporo that gets in at 12:46 pm because you'll only have eight minutes to run for bus stop Number 2, or face a two-hour wait for the next bus. Tourist office staff will keep bags for ¥300 per item. After taking in Abashiri's sights, rent a car or go by bus to the Shiretoko, Akan, or Kushiro Marsh areas.