Shiretoko (from the native Ainu siretok meaning “end of the Earth”) is a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site located on Hokkaido’s northeasternmost peninsula. Not only does it have one of the richest, most integrated ecosystems in the world (especially the interplay between marine and alpine terrestrial ecology), not only is this the southernmost place in the northern hemisphere to have sea ice form, the volcanoes that make up the peninsula are some of Japan’s most spectacular. Shiretoko Goko (五胡, “goko” means 5 lakes in Japanese) is one of the main attractions of this area.

These lakes are an important part of the ecosystem, serving as the watering holes for brown bears and deer and as the lifeblood of the forests and plants in this area. The plants’ wide variety and biodiverse nature are like a gourmet restaurant to the larger animals in the area.

To visit Shiretoko Goko, you must go on a walking tour with an experienced guide. Hokkaido in general but Shiretoko in particular is home to many brown beers and an encounter with one could be deadly. As a result, only the edge of one lake is visitable by yourself – on top of a 5-metre (16-foot) high boardwalk that is electrified to stop bears from climbing on it. If you want to see more, you need to go on a walking tour.

The Shiretoko Goko Lakes

As the name suggests, there are five lakes at Shiretoko Goko. The walking tour starts from the Shiretoko Goko Field House and goes in reverse order, starting with Lake 5 and moving to Lake 1 in a circular route.

Lake 5

The fifth lake is the smallest of the five lakes. From the Field House, this is the longest segment of the walk. In this area, there are many signs of bears, deer and other animals in the area. The guides also do an excellent job of telling you about the forest, the area and its importance to the animals around Shiretoko Goko.

The segment before and at Lake 5 is the most likely area where a bear will be spotted. This is because there are a lot of plants that bears and deer like to eat in this area. The lake can only be seen from one viewpoint (see photos above) and only part of the lake is visible due to the field of vision.

This lake does not have any rivers flowing into or out of it.

Lake 4

Lake 4 is approximately twice the size of Lake 5 and is only a couple of minutes down the trail. The fourth lake has 2 different viewpoints:

Around Lake 4 you need to be careful and stick closely to the trail as there is a lot of poison ivy, even just one step away. Not only does it climb up trees but there is also a free-standing form that causes as much irritation, so leaving the path is highly unadvised (and also not allowed on the tour).

Lake 3

Lake 3 is where you get the first lake with multiple views (and multiple angles) as the trail goes around the far side of the lake. It is also the northernmost of the lakes in Shiretoko Goko.

There are also some interesting features around this lake, which has some of the oldest trees in Shiretoko Goko. There are some examples of hollow trees, which you can see in the gallery above.

Lakes 3 and 2 are also connected by a water slipway. When Lake 2 overflows, the runoff goes into Lake 3. These are the only two lakes that are sometimes connected.

Lake 2

Lake 2 is the largest in the park. The walk goes along the western side of the lake. This lake is also unique as it has two islands in the middle.

Lake 1

Lake 1 is the final lake and the last stop on the walking tour. Part of the lake is visible without being on the tour, so the tours end at this section. The rest is self guided.

Wildlife (Bear) Encounters

The most common wildlife in the area are bears, deer and birds, depending on the season. While the deer and birds won’t cause any problems for a group of humans, encountering a bear is a different story.

The walking tour starts with a video lecture on what you should do. Emphasis is on avoiding a confrontation altogether rather. As a group, make a good amount of noise. Brown bears in Hokkaido typically avoid humans when they can (and if there isn’t anything interesting to otherwise occupy their attention), so the more noise you make as you go, the better. This includes your voice, bells (which ring as you move and inform wildlife where you are) and even clapping at intervals are good ways to announce your presence.

If you do come across a bear, then you should back away slowly. Do not make any sudden movements or loud, aggressive noises. A shocked or scared bear is the most dangerous and is the most likely to attack and kill humans.

Never run away from a bear. They are faster than you and running away is what prey does, so their instincts to chase you will kick in. Brown bears are also known for making “false charges”, which is where they start running at you and then stop. In this situation, continue to back away slowly but do not run. The guides carry bear repellent and are trained in its use. Simply stay behind the guide and follow any and all instructions given to you.

Getting to Shiretoko Goko

Due to the extremely limited public transportation options on the Shiretoko peninsula, the best way to get there is by car. National Route 334 goes past the Shiretoko National Park Nature Center, where you can turn onto the road that runs partway up the western coast of the peninsula to Kamuiwakka Hot Falls. This road is known as 知床公園線 (Shiretoko Kouen Sen, meaning “Shiretoko Park Route” – although there is no official English name for it).

If you do not have the option to go by car, the only other option is the infrequent local buses, which run at very specific times. Please refer to the following table (as of summer 2024):

There is no “best” time to visit Shiretoko Goko as something is always happening. In the spring, many of the forest plants are beginning to flower. You should look at the blooming schedule to decide when would be best to go for you then.

In the summer the forest is lushly green and the lakes are at their most picturesque in terms of lakes in a forest. In autumn you start getting the leaves changing colours. In the winter the lakes freeze over completely and you can take walking tours that go onto the lakes. I was told by my guide that the best time in winter to visit is February.

Regulations for visitors

As part of the walking tour, you go through a 10-minute video lecture that tells you what you should do in case of emergencies, the primary one being bear encounters.

Additionally, no food is allowed in the Shiretoko Goko area. All drinks apart from water and tea are also prohibited. Bears have a very acute sense of smell and these items will attract them.

Something to keep in mind is that if a bear is spotted near a tour that day, that tour and all following tours for the rest of the day are immediately cancelled. Any tours that are currently out return to the field house immediately. This is for the safety of visitors.

Finally, all participants in the walking tour must wear hiking boots or similar footwear suitable for the mountainous, forested outdoors.

Additional Activities in Shiretoko Goko

Helpful links

Here is the link to the official Shiretoko Goko page (available in English and Japanese). You can find information about the lakes, bear sightings, accident/injury numbers and more.

Thanks for reading! Want to do some more exploring? Have a look at the travel map:

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