Cape Notoro

Cape Notoro, with its towering cliffs of 40-50 meters high, juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk. The name "Notoro" is derived from the Ainu language, meaning "place of the cape."

Known as the prime scenic spot in Abashiri, the cape offers panoramic views of the Okhotsk Sea to the north and the Shiretoko mountain range to the east. The changing views from sunsets to starry skies are particularly beautiful. The cape's end, where a lighthouse was erected in 1917, is covered with grasslands where you can see a variety of wildflowers like the Ezo daylily and Rosa rugosa, as well as cattle and horses from the adjacent Abashiri municipal Mihama ranch grazing peacefully.

With the arrival of winter, the cape's scenery dramatically changes. From late January to early March, drift ice from Russia's Sakhalin covers the surrounding sea, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle that is a must-see. Because of its year-round beauty, Cape Notoro is often chosen as a location for commercials and film shooting.