Shari

Shari (斜里町) is a town on the northern coast of Hokkaido, Japan.

Understand

Shari is east of Abashiri and west of Shiretoko National Park. In fact, the village of Utoro, a part of this area, is one of the two gateways to the national park.

• 1 Utoro & Shirietokku Michi no Eki (Roadside rest area) (斜里町道の駅うとろ・シリエトク), Utoro Nishi 186-8, Shari (on Highway 334 in central Utoro, a few hundred meters SW of the major hotels), ☏ +81 152 22-5000. This rest area has a gift shop, visitor desk with maps and information, and large parking lot. If you're headed into Shiretoko National Park, it would be better to go to the park visitor center, but if you're wandering through Utoro, this is a good starting point. 
• 2 Michi no Eki Shari (道の駅しゃり), 本町３７ (1 block NE of JR Shiretokoshari Station.), ☏ +81 152 26-8888. Information daily 09:00-19:00, restrooms 24 hr. This small rest area is located in downtown Shari. Though quiet in the evening, it is a useful information stop during the day.  

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in

Shari can be reached by car, bus, or train. That being said, having a car once you're in Shari is highly desirable, so renting one in Abashiri is a reasonable idea.

Get around

Traveling by car is recommended. It is also not uncommon to see bicyclists and motorcyclists.

See

• 1 Oshinkoshin Waterfalls (Japanese: オシンコシンの滝 Oshinkoshin no taki; Ainuic: オ・シュンク・ウㇱ) (By the roadside on the way to the hostel.). A more ordinary but still impressive set of waterfalls.  

Do

Utoro, a seaside village with hotels, seafood, and onsen, is the main attraction in this area.

Sleep

• 1 Shiretoko Noble Hotel (知床ノーブルホテル), 3 Utoro Higashi, Shari (2 minutes walk from Utoro Bus Terminal), ☏ +81 152 22-5211. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. New hotel with good seafood served in its restaurant. Room with 2 meals ¥8500. 

Go next

• Visit Abashiri and see its icebergs and prison museum.
• Go hiking in Shiretoko National Park, famous for Mt. Rausu and its large bear population.