On the way to Shiretoko Pass
Mt. Rausu
After Shiretoko Cape Line, we went up to Shiretoko Pass, the the highest point of the road connecting the western and eastern coasts. The weather was getting worse as we went up to the pass. It was cloudy and misty. I took lots of pictures from the bus but most of them were blurred and blurred :( anyway, still managed to took a shot of the road leading to the pass and Mt. Rausu. Mt. Rausu is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan. Mt. Rausu is a composite volcano, same type with Mount Fuji (as far as i know^^). Mt. Rausu is also an ideal place for mountain climbers in summer time. (well, I am not a fan of mountain climbing, but always good to know ^^) anyway, when we got off the bus, it was shocking freezing! :O I think we only stayed out for 5 minutes for pictures, then quickly rushed back to the bus before we got frozen! By the time, it started snowing, again!
知床観光船の後は、知床峠に上りました。上れば上るほど曇ってきました。バスからたくさん写真を撮りましたが、ほとんどダメでした。（残念）外は風が強くてすごく寒かったです。写真のために5分ぐらいだけバスを降りて、すぐに戻ってきました。その時には、再び雪が降ってきました。真っ白でした。
Us on Shiretoko Pass
Us on Shiretoko Pass
Our next stop after Shiretoko Pass was Shiretoko Five Lakes. This is the most visited spot within Shiretoko Park. There are actually 5 lakes in this area, that’s why it is named Shiretoko Five Lakes :) This place is known as home to wildlife animals, especially Japanese brown bears. A long boardwalk has been built to allow visitors walking around the lakes in safety. The boardwalk is built high up with electric wire along both sides to keep visitors safe from bears. We didn’t see any bears this time :) but lots of deers here and along the way.
A view of Shiretoko 5 Lakes
A view of Lake 1 in Shiretoko 5 Lakes
the deers at Shiretoko 5 Lakes. We saw a lot of deers along the way in Shiretoko too 知床五湖だけじゃなくて、知床のあちこちでシカをたくさん見ました^^
A view of Shiretoko 5 Lakes
Long boardwalk at Shiretoko 5 Lakes
Us at Shiretoko 5 Lakes この後は急いでバスに走って戻った :)
It’s such a pity we didn’t have much time at Shiretoko Five Lakes! Well, not enough for me, at least. We had to come running back to the bus :( and head to Oshinkoshin Falls, where I think may be skipped to give more time to Shiretoko Five Lakes.
Us at Oshinkoshin Falls オシンコシンの滝で
it seemed a lot colder than 7.3degree, especially when it's May ^^
Public Onsen - there are many public Onsen like this in Japan. It's free of charge, and only for warming up legs :)
Day 2 ended early, around 6pm. We stopped for the night at a hotel in a small town. Took a walk around the town to see how it was like. Well, not much. It’s really a small town. Everyone stayed in cuz it was cold. We went to a public Onsen (hot springs) for me to “enjoy the Onsen”, or technically deep my hands into the Onsen. I still can’t get used to this traditional bathing. Yet. ^^
Had crab miso soup at dinner, nice :) Then had Mashuu ice cream (Hokkaido style ice cream) for dessert, very nice! Enjoyed a hot bath in my room and called it a day!
2日目の行程は早く終わりました。川湯温泉に泊まりました。6時ぐらいにはもうホテルに到着したので、晩御飯の前に、街を巡ってみました。が、寒かったので（かな？）、道には誰もいませんでした。たまたま近くのあし湯に寄りました。私、ちょっと ”温泉に入りました”、といっても手だけでした。なかなか温泉に入るという習慣になれていません。＾＾
カニ味噌汁を夕食で食べました。そして、摩周ブルーという味のアイスクリームをデザートとして食べました。とても美味しかったです。北海道に行ったら、是非摩周ブルーアイスクリームを食べてください。おすすめです。:)
