You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who would dispute that this eastern area is a gem in Hokkaido’s crown of natural beauty. For those cyclists with a month or so set aside for exploring Hokkaido, it should be a must-do on their itinerary. For cyclists with only a week or two, it may be a more difficult decision to make the trek out here.

For those shorter-term cyclists, the most convenient way to access this area is by Japan Rail. There are regular direct trains from Sapporo to Abashiri, which is what we used for our two-week meander around the area in 2012. Alternatively, a non-loop ride from Abashiri to Nemuro via the Shiretoko Peninsula could also be feasible; there are daily trains that will take you back to Sapporo from Nemuro.

Below, I outline a ride my wife and I completed around the area in 2012. Campsite information is up to date, however (as of June 2016), and during a cycle-and-drive trip out there in 2015, the views and natural beauty was still as gorgeous as ever. The Shiretoko Pass is a substantial one, but the views all the way up, and down, are spectacular on a good day. Absolutely worth the effort.

Note that the daily distances are fairly short in this route guide. Stronger riders on a tighter schedule could very easily merge many of the days below into longer one-day stretches.