🦢 Hokkaido · 2 days
Far-East Hokkaido Drive: Kushiro Wetlands, Cape Nosappu & Notsuke
Japan's easternmost coast — the Kushiro wetlands, the oyster town of Akkeshi, Cape Nosappu at the country's far edge and the ghost-forest sandbar of Notsuke, home to red-crowned cranes and whooper swans. 5 michi-no-eki.
This is the far edge of Japan: the Pacific coast east of Kushiro, where the great Kushiro wetlands give way to oyster bays, a lighthouse cape at the country's easternmost point, and the strange dead-forest sandbar of Notsuke. It is empty, weather-swept country famous for its birds — red-crowned cranes in the marshes, whooper swans on the lagoons.
The drive runs east from Urahoro and the Shiranuka coast, past the oyster town of Akkeshi and Cape Aikappu, to Nemuro and Cape Nosappu — the easternmost point you can drive to in Japan, looking out at the disputed islands — then north to Odaitō and the Notsuke Peninsula, a 26-km sandspit of bleached tree stumps and swan lagoons.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Urahoro 道の駅 うらほろ · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Urahoro (道の駅 うらほろ) is a government-designated roadside station in 十勝郡浦幌町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2009 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 74 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Sutera ★ Honbetsu, Sarabetsu and Chuurui.
Nearby: 🌄Kobukariishi Viewing Platform (9.4 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koi Ton 道の駅 しらぬか恋問 · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Shiranuka Koi Ton (道の駅 しらぬか恋問) is a government-designated roadside station in 白糠郡白糠町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, an observation deck and a baby room. There is free parking for about 169 cars and 25 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–19：00 テナント10：00–19：00(ラストオーダー18：30）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Akan Tanchou No Sato, Urahoro and Sutera ★ Honbetsu.
Nearby: 🌄サテライト展望台 (14 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Akkeshi Gurumepaaku 道の駅 厚岸グルメパーク · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Akkeshi Gurumepaaku (道の駅 厚岸グルメパーク) is a government-designated roadside station in 厚岸郡厚岸町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1994 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 97 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（4–10月） 10:00–18:00（11–3月）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Suwan 44 Nemuro, Shiranuka Koi Ton and Mashuu Onsen.
Nearby: 🗿Cape Aikappu (4.9 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Suwan 44 Nemuro 道の駅 スワン44ねむろ · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Suwan 44 Nemuro (道の駅 スワン44ねむろ) is a government-designated roadside station in 根室市, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 1999 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 70 cars and 4 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（4–6,10月） 9:00–18:00（7–9月） 9:00–16:00（11–3月）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Odaitou, Akkeshi Gurumepaaku and Shiretoko ・ Rausu.
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Odaitou 道の駅 おだいとう · Hokkaido
Michi-no-Eki Odaitou (道の駅 おだいとう) is a government-designated roadside station in 野付郡別海町, Hokkaido, Japan, registered in 2011 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 47 cars and 7 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（5–10月） 9:00–16:00（11–4月） 火曜日定休（10月–6月） ※７–9月無休. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Hokkaido road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Suwan 44 Nemuro, Shiretoko ・ Rausu and Utoro ・Shirietoku.
Nearby: 🌄トドワラ (9 km) · 🌄野付半島ネイチャーセンター (10.1 km)
Make this route yours — load all 5 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Cape Nosappu, reached from the Swan 44 Nemuro area, is the easternmost point in mainland Japan — the country's first sunrise.
- Akkeshi is oyster country; the Gourmet Park michi-no-eki lets you grill them on site.
- Winter brings red-crowned cranes to the Kushiro marshes and whooper swans to Fūren Lagoon and Odaitō.
- Notsuke's Todowara ghost forest is reached from the Notsuke Nature Center; distances are long out here, so fuel up in Nemuro.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Far-East (Nemuro & Notsuke)
How many days do you need for the Far-East (Nemuro & Notsuke) route?
2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 240 km of driving with 5 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Urahoro and ends at Notsuke (Betsukai). Load all 5 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
June–September (wetlands & wildflowers); winter for cranes & swans.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →