UNESCO · Natural · 2005

Shiretoko

知床しれとこShiretoko

Where sea ice, salmon and bears connect ocean and land

Shiretoko is a volcanic peninsula in north-eastern Hokkaido, together with its surrounding sea, where seasonal sea ice at the southern limit of its range in the northern hemisphere drives a rich marine ecosystem linked to the land through salmon, brown bears and seabirds. It was inscribed in 2005 as Japan's third natural World Heritage site.

Inscribed 2005Criteria: ix, xHokkaido

Overview

The Shiretoko Peninsula projects some 70 km into the Sea of Okhotsk from the north-eastern corner of Hokkaido. A chain of volcanoes, including Rausu-dake and the still-active Io-zan, forms its spine, falling in cliffs and waterfalls to the sea. Its name comes from the Ainu word sir etok, often explained as 'the end of the earth'. The western side belongs to the town of Shari, the eastern side, facing Kunashiri Island across the Nemuro Strait, to Rausu.

Every winter drift ice formed near the mouth of the Amur River reaches Shiretoko, the southernmost point in the northern hemisphere where the sea freezes regularly. The ice carries and nurtures plankton that start a highly productive food chain: fish and squid, seals and sea lions, whales, and huge numbers of seabirds. In autumn, salmon and trout swim up the peninsula's short rivers, where they are caught by brown bears and Blakiston's fish owls and carry marine nutrients into the forest.

The property includes the land area of the central and northern peninsula and the sea up to about 3 km from the shore. Much of it has no roads, and its northern tip can be reached only by boat or on foot. Shiretoko National Park has protected the area since 1964, and a citizens' trust bought back abandoned pioneer farmland from 1977 onward to return it to forest.

Why it is World Heritage

Shiretoko was inscribed under two natural criteria. It is an outstanding example of the interaction between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, shaped by the formation of seasonal sea ice at the lowest latitude in the northern hemisphere, which drives exceptional marine productivity (criterion ix).

The peninsula is of particular importance for a number of marine and terrestrial species, several of them threatened, including Blakiston's fish owl, Steller's sea lion and wintering Steller's sea eagles, and it supports one of the highest densities of brown bears in the world (criterion x).

At inscription, the Committee asked Japan to strengthen marine protection and to improve fish passage on rivers blocked by erosion-control dams; a marine management plan and the modification of dams followed.

Component sites

Shiretoko Five Lakes
知床五湖Shiretoko Goko
Five small forest lakes on a lava plateau near Utoro, reflecting the peninsula's mountains; an elevated boardwalk allows access regardless of bear activity, while ground paths are subject to seasonal rules.
Rausu-dake
羅臼岳Rausu-dake
At 1,661 m the highest peak of the peninsula, a volcano climbed from Iwaobetsu or Rausu with views over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Nemuro Strait.
Kamuiwakka Falls
カムイワッカ湯の滝Kamuiwakka Yu-no-taki
A stream of warm, acidic water from the slopes of Io-zan that flows down a series of cascades; the approach road is closed to private cars for much of the year.
Sea ice
流氷Ryūhyō
Drift ice that reaches the coast from late January to March, the engine of the marine ecosystem and a spectacle viewed from the shore and on guided ice walks.
Blakiston's fish owl
シマフクロウShima-fukurō
One of the world's largest owls, endangered in Japan and dependent on rivers with fish and old trees for nesting; the peninsula holds a significant part of Hokkaido's population.
Brown bear
ヒグマHiguma
The Hokkaido brown bear lives in exceptional density on the peninsula and is often seen from boats along the coast, feeding on salmon at river mouths.

History

1964
Designation of Shiretoko National Park.
1977
The town of Shari launches the Shiretoko 100 Square Metre Movement to buy back abandoned farmland for reforestation.
1980s
Controversy over logging in the national park raises national awareness of Shiretoko's forests.
2005
Inscription on the World Heritage List, including a marine area.
2007
Adoption of a multi-use integrated marine management plan for the property.

Visiting

Utoro on the Shari side is the main gateway, reached by bus from Shiretoko-Shari Station or from Memanbetsu Airport; Rausu on the east side is closer to Nakashibetsu Airport.
The northern half of the peninsula has no roads; sightseeing boats from Utoro and Rausu run along the coast in the ice-free season, and from Rausu whale and bird-watching tours operate.
Brown bears are common: food must be kept secured, trails closed for bear activity must be respected, and bears must never be approached or fed. The Shiretoko Nature Center provides current guidance.
Winter brings sea ice and eagle-watching; many roads, including the Shiretoko Pass road between Utoro and Rausu, close in winter.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the sea important to Shiretoko's World Heritage status?

The seasonal sea ice drives an unusually productive marine food chain, and salmon link it to the forests; the property therefore includes the sea up to about 3 km from the coast.

Can you see bears in Shiretoko?

Yes, often from sightseeing boats along the coast or from vehicles. Walking near bears is dangerous, and visitors must follow the park's guidance.

When does the drift ice arrive?

Usually from late January or early February until March, varying from year to year with winds and temperatures.

What does Shiretoko mean?

The name comes from the Ainu sir etok, usually interpreted as 'the place where the earth ends' or 'the tip of the land'.

Sources

1.Shiretoko (opens in a new tab) — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
2.日本の世界自然遺産 (opens in a new tab) — 環境省
3.知床国立公園 (opens in a new tab) — 環境省