Shiretoko Peninsula is located on the easternmost portion of the Hokkaido, protruding into the Sea of Okhotsk.
It is separated from Kunashiri Island by the Nemuro Strait. Kunashiri is one of the Northern Territories of Japan、
which are illegally occupied by Russia.
Shiretoko Peninsula was registered as a UNESCO in 2005, in recognition of the peninsula being the southernmost
point where sea ice, usually forms in the Northern Hemisphere.


Siretoko Peninsula

The Shiretoko Peninsula is home for many species of both conifers and broadleaf trees.
Red foxes and sika-deer also inhabit the area. There are a large number of Ussuri ( Ezo) brown bears.


A wild bear at Shiretoko Peninsula ( Photpgraphed by Captain 76)

Shiretoko World Heritage Site 知床世界遺産センター

日本国内最東北端に位置する知床半島中央部から知床岬までの周辺海域を含む約60,000ヘクタールが公園区域に
なっている。厳正な保護規制がかけられている「特別保護地区」が陸域公園面積の半分以上を占めており、知西別岳は、
「遠音別岳原生自然環境保全地域」に隣接している。知床国立公園を含む一帯は、2005年に「世界自然遺産」に
登録された。


Furepe Waterfall Trial

Furepe Waterfall Trial

Furepe Waterfall and a cliff: On the top of cliff, a Utro Light-house stands lonely.

　フレペの滝

Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園） covers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of
the island of Hokkaido. The word 'Shiretoko' is derived from an Ainu word "sir etok," meaning the place
where the earth protrudes. One of the remotest regions in Japan, much of the peninsula is only accessible
on foot or by boat. Shiretoko is best known as the home of Japan's largest brown bear population and for
offering views of Kunashiri Island. The park has a hot springs waterfall called Kamuiwakka Falls
（カムイワッカの滝 ）.

(L) Shiretoko-goko Field House （M) A guidance lecture (R) The certificate of Entry to the restricted area

(L) Board walk (R) A trail goes through the dense forest.

Shiretoko Ikko 知床一湖

Shiretoko Ikko 知床一湖

(L) Shiretoko Ikko (R) Protection fence to prevent going back

(L) Shiretoko-Goko and the Shiretoko mountain ranges (M) The base of a board walk
(R) An electric hedge is placed underneath of a board walk to prevent bear harming people.

An extensive board walk throughout the land covered by a bamboo grass.

(L) A straight board walk, beginning a parking lot
(R) Beyond bamboo field, there is the Nemuro Strait and Kunashiri Island, that is occupied
by Russia after 1945.


There is no permission is needed to enter the board walk. It makes easy to enter the place to the sightseeing
spots, even by a wheel chair; however, the question remains is it really necessary to set an electric hedge,
and invade the natural bear country?

　知床五湖

Utoro

Smoke-free Hotels in Japan
A summary of smoking-room rate studied in local hotels of Japan

H
Smoking Restriction at Hotels in the World: Actual Survey
The ratio of a smoking guest room to the total hotel rooms was calculated,
based on-the-spot investigation.


知床国立公園
執筆 　医学博士　宮本順伯
★This Web site is link-free.
This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The article was written in Octobr 2019.
All photography was taken by Dr. Junhaku Miyamoto in September 2019.
Copyright (C) 2019 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.

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