Making the most of Abashiri
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
You will be docked in the center of Abashiri.
Sightseeing
Diverse cultures come alive with a variety of museums and sites of scenic beauty. Tour the chilly Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum with hands-on displays, explore the unique Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples and photograph the natural beauty of Hokkaido from Abashiri Phlox Park. There are not many sightseeing spots in Abashiri except for Prison Museum.
Nearby places
The World Heritage Site Shiretoko National Park. Enjoy a photo stop at Shiretoko's largest waterfall and take in the spectacular views of two of the Shiretoko Five Lakes. One of Japan's most unspoiled and scenic, Shiretoko National Park, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of Japan's most spectacular waterfalls, Oshinkoshin cascades from 80-meters high and splits midway, earning the name "Twin Beauty Falls." Stairs alongside the falls afford breathtaking views.
Food and shopping
The Dramatic morning market is a great place to sample local delicacies, including fresh-from-the-sea basket freshwater clams, perfect with an Abashiri Beer, the town's own microbrew.
Money
The currency in Japan is the yen. It comes in denominations of ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes, as well as ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.
ATM's in Japan are becoming more useful, and most can be used to withdraw funds from overseas accounts. Post offices also offer ATM's. Major credit cards are accepted at a majority of stores and restaurants in large urban areas, but if you plan on spending any time in rural areas, be sure to carry sufficient cash. Japan is still very much a cash society and some stores, hotels and restaurants regardless of location, refuse credit cards.
Don't tip, as it's considered rude!