Shiretoko Peninsula

The Shiretoko Peninsula is located on the east side or pacific Ocean side of Hokkaido. The Sea of Okhotsk is located north of the peninsula and is noted for sending ice floes to the shores of the peninsula. It also tempers the climate which tends to be significantly cooler than other parts of Japan. The Pacific Ocean side of Honshu has a climate moderated by warm ocean currents flowing north.
August 7, 2012 the Shiretoko Hotel shuttled us to the waterfront of Utoro Port where we boarded the Aurora II which cruised along the more northerly shore of the peninsula. We were unable to see the very tip as the captain thought the water was too rough there. But regardless the scenery we did see was beautiful and cannot be seen except by boat as there are no roads to the distal portion of the peninsula.
The first photograph below is of Kashuni Falls.
August 8, 2012 after we checked out of the hotel the bus took us to see a number of scenic sights including Lake Mashu-ko in Akan National Park which is reputed to be a breathtakingly beautiful lake. We have been relatively fortunate with most of our sight seeing but this lake was entirely enshrouded in fog. There is a photograph of us in front of 'nothing' which I simply cannot publish.

Click on Shiretoko Peninsula to see photographs on Picasa.