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
Ships berth in the centre of Abashiri itself.
Sightseeing
Abashiri combines varied cultures with museums and scenic places. Visit the chilly Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum for hands-on displays, explore the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples and photograph Hokkaido’s natural beauty from Abashiri Phlox Park. Beyond the Prison Museum, there are few sightseeing attractions in Abashiri.
Nearby places
Shiretoko National Park is a World Heritage Site. Stop to photograph Shiretoko’s largest waterfall and enjoy views across two of the Shiretoko Five Lakes. One of Japan’s most unspoilt and scenic areas, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Oshinkoshin, one of Japan’s most spectacular waterfalls, drops from 80 meters and divides halfway down, earning the name "Twin Beauty Falls". Steps beside the falls provide striking views.
Food and shopping
The Dramatic morning market is a good place to sample local produce, including fresh-from-the-sea basket freshwater clams, paired with Abashiri Beer, the town’s own microbrew.
Money
Japan’s currency is the yen, with notes of ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000, and coins of ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1.
ATMs in Japan are increasingly useful, and most allow withdrawals from overseas accounts; post offices also have ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted by most stores and restaurants in large urban areas, but take enough cash for rural travel. Japan remains a strongly cash-based society, and some stores, hotels and restaurants refuse credit cards regardless of location.
Do not tip: it is considered rude.