Rausu, Hokkaido
Encyclopedia
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Menashi District
Menashi District, Hokkaido
is a district located in Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 2010, its population is estimated at 6,069 and its area is 397.88 km², with a population density of 15.3/km2 The origin of the name “Menashi” comes from the Ainu word menashi, meaning “to the east.” The local government...
, Nemuro Subprefecture
Nemuro Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. The Japanese claim the disputed Southern Kurile Islands as part of this subprefecture....
, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. As of March 31, 2008 it has an estimated population of 6,202 and an area of 397.88 km².
The word “Rausu” originates from the Ainu
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
word raushi, roughly meaning “Low-land” or “Place of men with beast-like spirit.”
The town occupies the southern half of the Shiretoko Peninsula
Shiretoko Peninsula
is located on the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, protruding into the Sea of Okhotsk. It is separated from the Kunashir Island of Russia by the Nemuro Strait. The name Shiretoko is derived from the Ainu language word sir etok, meaning the end of the Earth or the place where...
. Kunashir Island
Kunashir Island
Kunashir Island , possibly meaning Black Island or Grass Island in Ainu, is the southernmost island of the Kuril Islands, which are controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan ....
, one of the four disputed Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
, can be seen from the town.
Geography
Rausu is located on the east end of Hokkaido’s Shiretoko Peninsula. It is situated on the southeast corner of the peninsula facing the Nemuro StraitNemuro Strait
Nemuro Strait, also called Notsuke Strait and Kunashirsky Strait , is a strait, located at , separating Kunashir Island of the Kuril Islands, Russia from the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaidō, Japan.- External links :*...
. The town stretches along and narrow strip of land, extending 64 km (39.8 mi) from southwest to northeast. The Shiretoko mountain range extends north on the peninsula to the sea where it forms steep cliffs. The Shiretoko mountain range is the source for a myriad of rivers, that all empty into the sea. Village communities are found mostly on the coast line at the mouths of these rivers. The “downtown” of Rausu is at the mouth of Rausu River where it joins the sea at Rausu Harbor.
Two access points to Rausu via highway are through Shibetsu
Shibetsu, Hokkaido (Nemuro)
is a town located in Shibetsu District, Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of April 1, 2009 it has an estimated population of 5,825 and an area of 624.49 km²....
in the south or through Shari
Shari, Hokkaido
is a town located in Shari District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 13,036 and a population density of 18.36 persons per km². The total area is 736.97 km².-External links:...
on the west side of the Shiretoko Peninsula. From Shibetsu, National Highway 335
Route 335 (Japan)
National Route 335 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rausu, Hokkaidō and Shibetsu, Hokkaidō in Japan, with a total length of 42.4 km ....
（the Kunashiri Highway）extends northwards along the coast into Rausu at which point it crosses the peninsula heading west, over the Shiretoko mountain range (the Shiretoko Pass). The Shiretoko Pass leads into Shari and becomes National Highway 334
Route 334 (Japan)
National Route 334 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rausu, Hokkaidō and Bihoro, Hokkaidō in Japan, with a total length of 123.3 km ....
(Shiretoko Crossing). Some sections of both highways (334 & 335) feature steep precipices just off the shoulder and may prove dangerous. There are also a number of tunnels along both highways.
Rausu is about 70 km (43.5 mi) northeast from Nakashibetsu airport. It is 120 km (74.6 mi) northeast of Kushiro City
Kushiro, Hokkaido
is a city located in Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Kushiro Subprefecture, as well as the most populous city in eastern Hokkaidō....
.
- Mountains: Mount RausuMount Rausuis a stratovolcano on the Shiretoko Peninsula on Hokkaidō, Japan. It sits on the border between the towns of Shari and Rausu. Mount Rausu is the northeastern most Holocene volcano on Hokkaidō. It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan....
(1,660m/ 1.03 miles); Mount Shiretoko Sulphur Spring (1,563m/ 0.97miles) - Major rivers: Rausu River
- Major lakes and marshes: Lake Rausu
Climate
Adjoining Municipalities
- Nemuro Sub-prefectureNemuro Subprefectureis a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. The Japanese claim the disputed Southern Kurile Islands as part of this subprefecture....
:
-
- ShibetsuShibetsu, Hokkaido (Nemuro)is a town located in Shibetsu District, Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of April 1, 2009 it has an estimated population of 5,825 and an area of 624.49 km²....
- Okhotsk Sub-prefectureAbashiri Subprefectureis a subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. It was renamed from the earlier Abashiri Subprefecture on April 1, 2010. Abashiri Subprefecture was established in 1897.-Naming:Abashiri Prefecture was named after the subprefectural office in Abashiri...
- Okhotsk Sub-prefecture
- Shari DistrictShari District, Hokkaidois a district located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 24,608 and a population density of 17.25 persons per km². The total area is 1,426.74 km²....
: ShariShari, Hokkaidois a town located in Shari District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 13,036 and a population density of 18.36 persons per km². The total area is 736.97 km².-External links:...
- Shibetsu
History
- 1901 (Meiji 34) — Uembetsu Village split from ShibetsuShibetsu, Hokkaido (Nemuro)is a town located in Shibetsu District, Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of April 1, 2009 it has an estimated population of 5,825 and an area of 624.49 km²....
- 1923 (Taishō 12) — Uembetsu becomes second-class municipality
- 1930 (Shōwa 5) — Uembetsu is renamed Rausu Village
- 1961 (Shōwa 36) — Rausu becomes the Rausu Town
In 2004 there were talks held in Nakashibetsu amongst all the municipalities in the area to form one large township called East Shiretoko. Soon thereafter local residents were polled regarding the proposal. The faction in favor of this change did not receive support and thus abandoned the effort.
Local Economy
Rausu’s local economy consists of three main sources: the fishing industry, Shiretoko tourism, and local businesses.Fishing industry
Rausu is primarily a fishing town. One third of residents are supported by the fishing industry. The main intake by the fishing industry consists of kichiji rockfish (Sebastolobus macrochirSebastolobus
Sebastolobus is a genus of fish in the Sebastidae family. Some authorities do not recognize that family, in which case Sebastolobus is included in Scorpaenidae.It contains the following species:* shortspine thornyhead...
), Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma
Alaska pollock
Alaska pollock or walleye pollock is a North Pacific species of the cod family Gadidae. While related to the common Atlantic pollock species of the same family, the Alaska pollock is not a member of the same Pollachius genus.The Norwegian pollock , a rare fish of Norwegian waters, may actually be...
), konbu kelp
Kombu
Kombu or konbu , also called dashima or haidai , is edible kelp from the family Laminariaceae widely eaten in East Asia....
, salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
, squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
, and sea urchin
Sea urchin
Sea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
. Particularly famous is Rausu konbu (Rausu kelp). There is no other place in Japan to harvest sea urchin from winter to summer other than Rausu.
-
- As for agricultureAgriculture, forestry, and fishing in JapanAgriculture, forestry, and fishing form the primary sector of industry of the Japanese economy, together with the Japanese mining industry, but together they account for only 1.3% of gross national product...
, in southern Rausu there is some dairy farming, but no land suitable for growing rice, produce, or other large scale agriculture. The lumber industryAgriculture, forestry, and fishing in JapanAgriculture, forestry, and fishing form the primary sector of industry of the Japanese economy, together with the Japanese mining industry, but together they account for only 1.3% of gross national product...
does not have much of a presence either (as it does in the rest of Hokkaidō). 70% of the town’s land is lush mountain forest, but it is mostly a part of the Shiretoko National ParkShiretoko National Parkcovers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan.The word "Shiretoko" is derived form an Ainu word "sir etok", meaning "end of the Earth"....
.
- As for agriculture
Local business
-
- Rausu’s second major source of economic income is not any one specific industry, but rather the mix of local retail, municipal employment, food and beverage industry, etc.
Shiretoko National ParkShiretoko National Parkcovers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan.The word "Shiretoko" is derived form an Ainu word "sir etok", meaning "end of the Earth"....
The third major source of revenue for Rausu is related to Shiretoko National Park. The splendor of Shiretoko’s forests and the abundance of aquatic life in the Nemuro StraitNemuro Strait
Nemuro Strait, also called Notsuke Strait and Kunashirsky Strait , is a strait, located at , separating Kunashir Island of the Kuril Islands, Russia from the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaidō, Japan.- External links :*...
form the basis of the local tourist industry. Due to the widening of Kunashiri Highway
Route 335 (Japan)
National Route 335 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rausu, Hokkaidō and Shibetsu, Hokkaidō in Japan, with a total length of 42.4 km ....
, in recent years whale and dolphin watching have become popular in the summer, whereas viewing Steller’s Sea Eagle
Steller's Sea Eagle
The Steller's Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It lives in coastal northeastern Asia and mainly preys on fish. It is, on average, the heaviest eagle in the world, at about , but often lags behind the Harpy Eagle and Philippine Eagle in other...
, White-tailed (sea) Eagles
Sea Eagle
Sea eagle mainly refers to Sea eagle, birds of prey of the genus Haliaeetus.It may also refer to:-Aerospace:* Sea Eagle , British, anti-ship missile* Sea Eagle * Supermarine Sea Eagle, 1920s British passenger flying boat-Sports:...
, (earless) seals
Earless seal
The true seals or earless seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal superfamily, Pinnipedia. All true seals are members of the family Phocidae . They are sometimes called crawling seals to distinguish them from the fur seals and sea lions of the family Otariidae...
, and drift-ice
Sea ice
Sea ice is largely formed from seawater that freezes. Because the oceans consist of saltwater, this occurs below the freezing point of pure water, at about -1.8 °C ....
are popular in the winter. These activities are usually done by chartered cruises that cater to researchers, photographers, and bird watchers. Rausu is known for fresh rockfish, early-season salmon and salmon eggs, Alaskan pollock, squid, and sea urchin. The town has many bed-and-breakfasts, lodges, onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
hotels, restaurants, and bars. There is also a Roadside Station
Roadside Station
A is a government-designated rest area found along roads and highways in Japan.In addition to providing places for travelers to rest, they are also intended to promote local tourism and trade...
that sells local Shiretoko-area products.
There are two main Shiretoko-Rausu tourist information centers in Rausu.
Major Local Business Groups
- Rausu Deep Ocean Fishing Association
- Rausu Fisherman’s Association
Japan Post
- Rausu Post OfficeJapan Post Holdingsis a large state-owned enterprise in Japan that deals with mail delivery and financial services. Its headquarters is located in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo. There were plans to fully privatise the agency but these have been put on hold...
(serves as a distribution point for Nakashibetsu Japan Postal Service Center hub) - Misaki-chō annex of the Rausu Post Office
- Yagihama annex of the Rausu Post Office
- Minehama limited-service mail center
Police Force
- Rausu Police Department is a sub-station of Nakashibetsu Police Department
Japanese Military/Coast Guard Presence
Due to the close proximity of Russia and potential fishing-rights disputes, the Japanese Coast GuardJapan Coast Guard
The , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
maintains a presence in Rausu year round. Coast Guard vessels are regularly docked in Rausu Harbor, with the personnel barracks nearby.
The Japanese Self-Defense Force
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The , or JSDF, occasionally referred to as JSF or SDF, are the unified military forces of Japan that were established after the end of the post–World War II Allied occupation of Japan. For most of the post-war period the JSDF was confined to the islands of Japan and not permitted to be deployed...
maintains a permanent presence in the town.
Education System
Like most high schools in Japan, the local senior high school falls under the administration of the prefectural board of educationHokkaido Prefectural Board of Education
Hokkaido Prefectural Board of Education is a governmental agency that mainly oversees public schools in Hokkaidō in Japan.The board directly oversees high schools and provides educational services in Hokkaidō.-Abashiri:...
, while the local middle and elementary schools are operated by the local board of education.
Middle/Junior High Schools
- Shunshō Middle School
- Rausu Middle School
- Chienbetsu Middle School (Closed Spring 2008 due to low population)
- Uebetsu Middle School (Closed Spring 2010 due to low population)
- Tobinitai Middle School (Closed Spring 2010 due to low population)
Elementary Schools
- Shunshō Elementary School
- Rausu Elementary School
- Uebetsu Elementary School (Closed Spring 2010 due to low population)
- Tobinitai Middle School (Closed Spring 2010 due to low population)
The Rausu Board of Education has participated in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT)
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET)
JET Programme
or is a Japanese government initiative that brings college graduates—mostly native speakers of English—to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers and Sports Education Advisors in Japanese kindergartens, elementary, junior high and high schools, or as Coordinators for International Relations in...
Programme since summer 1995. The JET program helps place native English speakers in both prefectural and local boards of education to work as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) with the goal of developing Japan's foreign language education.
Buses
- There is a regional bus route from Kushiro Eki-Mae StationKushiro Station (Hokkaido)is the main railway station in the city of Kushiro in Hokkaidō. It is located on the Nemuro Main Line. The Senmō Main Line trains also terminate here.-External links:*...
to the center of Rausu operated by Akan Bus. Service is limited to four round-trip journeys a day. - There is a line from Utoro Onsen in Shari to Rausu during the summer operated by the regional Shari Bus and Akan Bus companies.
National Highways
- National Highway 334Route 334 (Japan)National Route 334 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rausu, Hokkaidō and Bihoro, Hokkaidō in Japan, with a total length of 123.3 km ....
(Road Closed from approximately mid-November to April, making Rausu only accessible via Shibetsu/ Highway 335) - National Highway 335Route 335 (Japan)National Route 335 is a national highway of Japan connecting Rausu, Hokkaidō and Shibetsu, Hokkaidō in Japan, with a total length of 42.4 km ....
Festivals/Events
Rausu observes most of the same national Japanese traditional holidays found throughout the country, such as Children's Day, HatsumōdeHatsumode
is the first shrine visit of the New Year in Japan. Some people visit a Buddhist temple instead. Many visit on the first, second, or third day of the year as most are off work on those days. Generally, wishes for the new year are made, new o-mamori are bought, and the old ones are returned to the...
, etc. However, some festivals, like O-bon
Bon Festival
or just is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed...
and Coming of Age Day are celebrated earlier due to the fishing industry and the large number of college students enrolled in schools in Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
. Other annual festivals/events include:
- Isaribi Festival 漁火祭り (mid-September)
- Rausu EkidenEkidenis a term referring to a long-distance relay running race, typically on roads. The Japanese term originally referred to a post-horse or stagecoach which transmitted communication by stages.-History:...
Race (October) - Rausu Art and Culture Festival (early to mid-November)
- Middle School Sports Day (first weekend of June)
- Elementary School Field Day (second weekend of June)
- Shiretoko Biraki Festival 知床開き祭り (late June): a fireworks, yosakoiYosakoiYosakoi is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan. Yosakoi started in the city of Kōchi in 1954, as a modern rendition of Awa Odori, a traditional summer dance. Yosakoi-style dancing has spread throughout much of Japan. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional...
, and traditional dance festival celebrating summer - Rausu Shrine Festival 神社祭, jinja-sai (July 1st-3rd): a ShintōShintoor Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
mikoshiMikoshiA is a divine palanquin . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine...
festival unique to Rausu
World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO)
- Shiretoko Park (UNESCO World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
) - Rausu Luminous MossSchistostegaSchistostega pennata, also called goblin's gold or luminous moss or luminescent moss , is a moss known for its glowing appearance in dark places. It is the only member of the family Schistosteagaceae...
– roped-off walking path to guide visitors through this natural site - Rausu GeyserGeyserA geyser is a spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by a vapour phase . The word geyser comes from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb...
– marked trail/designated viewing area for visitors - Shiretoko Ibuki-Taru Club – percussion group that plays casks made of Chinese juniper, using wooden mallets as beaters (almost like Japanese taiko drums.)
- Remains of the former Uebetsu Shrine – a Rausu historical site
- Remains of Kyuuemon Kan (久右衛門の澗)
Sightseeing
- Rausu National ParkShiretoko National Parkcovers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan.The word "Shiretoko" is derived form an Ainu word "sir etok", meaning "end of the Earth"....
- Mt. RausuMount Rausuis a stratovolcano on the Shiretoko Peninsula on Hokkaidō, Japan. It sits on the border between the towns of Shari and Rausu. Mount Rausu is the northeastern most Holocene volcano on Hokkaidō. It is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan....
- Shiokaze “Sea Breeze” Park – located at Rausu harbor. From here one can view the Northern TerritoriesKuril Islands disputeThe Kuril Islands dispute , also known as the , is a dispute between Japan and Russia over sovereignty over the South Kuril Islands. The disputed islands, which were occupied by Soviet forces during the Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation at the end of World War II, are under Russian...
(now a part of Russia). - Luminous MossSchistostegaSchistostega pennata, also called goblin's gold or luminous moss or luminescent moss , is a moss known for its glowing appearance in dark places. It is the only member of the family Schistosteagaceae...
(a protected moss-species) – the novel Hikari Goke is about this site - Rausu OnsenOnsenAn is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
: kuma no yu, or “bear hot-spring ” - From the television series, Kita no kuni kara there is the restaurant Jun no Banya (also known as Kamoiunbe-gawa)
- Seseki Onsen – an onsen on the coast that is only accessible at low tide (it is submerged at high tide)
- Aidomari Onsen
- Shiretoko Point
- Whale & dolphin watching – accessible via a variety of charted tour boats
- free campsites
Famous People from Rausu
- Toyoshima Yukari 豊島由佳梨 – actress, singer
- Ishii Eiji 石井英二 - nature & wildlife videographer
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Shiretoko-Rausu Tourist Association
- Rausu-chō Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Japanese)
- Snowy Landscapes: Rausu (HD Videos & Images) (Japanese)