Cruise along the Shiretoko Peninsula

From mid-April to mid-November, it is possible to board a shared cruise along the dramatic western coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula from the small fishing village of Utoro. This three-hour cruise takes you around the Shiretoko Peninsula and the Sea of Okhotsk for a glimpse of the largely inaccessible peninsula. A cruise in one of the smaller vessels gives you the best chance of seeing some of the resident wildlife. If you are lucky, you will have chance to spot whales and orca (best seen between April to August), sea lions, dolphins, deer, foxes, brown bears (best seen June and July) and numerous species of birds. This is a great chance to appreciate the dramatic beauty and diverse wildlife of this isolated corner of Japan.