Aurora Cruise: Cruising to Japan's Northeasternmost Point

Shiretoko peninsula, home to the Shiretoko UNESCO Natural Heritage site, is Japan’s northeasternmost point. There are no roads or other ways to get there, so the only way to see that is by taking the Aurora Cruise from Utoro.

Getting a ticket at the Aurora Cruise Ticket Office

Aurora Cruises is a tour company that operates in Utoro. They offer 3 normal cruises. The longest and the only one that goes to the cape of the Shiretoko Peninsula is the Aurora Cruise, which leaves at 10:15 and takes 3.75 hours round trip.

You can purchase the ticket at the Aurora Cruise ticket office. It is ¥7,800 for adults and ¥3,300 for children for this cruise.

Alternatively, there are shorter tours which focus on some of the famous waterfalls on the Shiretoko Peninsula, such as the Kamui Hot Falls. These cruises are shorter and the price is naturally lower as well.

You must get a ticket at the ticket office before going to the embarkation point. If you come by car, this is where you can park, walk back a couple hundred metres/yards to the ticket office, and then walk to the pier where the Aurora Cruise leaves from.

The ship

The Aurora is the largest ship operated in the area. It has two decks, a covered lower deck with tables and chairs, and a food/drink kiosk. The upper deck is uncovered and offers unfettered views of the ship’s surroundings, primarily the peninsula and the ocean.

As the ship is larger, it can go farther into the ocean, which allows for a smoother ride than the other ships that the company operates. When it gets to points of interest, the operators bring the ship closer to shore, so you will have the same views as on the smaller ships but with a smoother ride in between points of interest.

There are several gendered toilets on board as well, so it is unlikely that you will have to wait if the urge strikes you.

The Cruise

The cruise that goes to the end of the cape leaves Utoro pier at 10:15. This is the only time that it is offered during the day but it is offered every day of the week.

To the Cape

On the way to the cape, the ship passes by the various mountains, volcanoes and waterfalls that give the peninsula its sense of wonder. These start with Furepe Falls and Man’s Tears (only visible by boat) through the Kokeshi Fels (near Shiretoko Goko lakes) and Kamuiwakka Falls and end with the Kashuni Waterfall.

There are also several interesting rocks along the way, including Ummen Rock and Takoiwa, which kind of looks like an octopus.

During this time, one of the operators gives you information about the area and the sites in Japanese. However as I was on the upper deck the entire time and the sound system there was not great, I did not hear much of what was said.

The vague island shape in the background is Kunashiri, which is controlled by Russia.

The Cape and back

Once the Aurora Cruise reaches the cape, it stays there for about 10 minutes, allowing you to take pictures of the end of the land. They also pass out certificates for reaching the cape as a sort of “you made it!” moment.

On a clear day, you can also see Kunashiri, the nearest island that is controlled by Russia.

At this time, the ship turns around and takes the same route back to Utoro. This is a great opportunity if you missed anything along the coast or need to take more photos of something.

Drinks and Snacks Onboard

The operators recommend that you take something with you for lunch as they only offer primarily drinks and small snacks on board. You can go to the 7-Eleven or Seicomart near the ticket office to buy bento (pre-prepared lunches) or onigiri (rice balls with a filling) and eat them.

If you have not had a blue beer or blue cider in Japan, you can buy these on the boat, which are regional products of the Okhotsk subprefecture.