Mount Rausu
羅臼岳
The highest peak of the Shiretoko mountain range, at 1,661 meters. It is one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, with a round trip from the Iwaobetsu Onsen trailhead taking 8 to 10 hours.
Mount Rausu rises 1,661 meters and is the highest peak on the Shiretoko Peninsula and one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. From the summit you can see the Sea of Okhotsk, the Nemuro Strait, and Kunashiri Island. The most common route starts from the Iwaobetsu Onsen trailhead on the Utoro side and takes 8 to 10 hours round trip, so it requires good fitness. Snowmelt streams remain into July. The trail runs through brown bear habitat, so you must carry bear bells and bear spray and use bear-proof food containers. Check bear activity at the Shiretoko Nature Center before you set out. You can admire the mountain's majestic form from Shiretoko Pass or the Shiretoko Five Lakes without climbing it.
Opening hours
Climbing season approx. late June–September
Nearby sights
- Shiretoko Pass
- Iwaobetsu Onsen
- Kuma no Yu Hot Spring
- Lake Rausu
- Shiretoko Five Lakes
- Kamuiwakka Hot Falls
- Rausu Kunashiri Observatory
- Rausu Whale & Eagle Watching Cruise