New earthquake-resistant cruise-ship terminal. 1 km from downtown.

Printable map to take along.

Cruise Schedule

Watch a destination video.

Kushiro is the capital city of the Kushiro subprefecture and the most populous city in eastern Hokkaido. It is situated along both banks of the mouth of the Kushiro River. The natural harbour has been transformed into a very large commercial and fishing port that serves the coalfield worked nearby.

The Kushiro City Museum building resembling a Japanese Crane spreading its wings is well worth visiting.

Eat, shop and relax at the Fishermans Wharf, then stroll to the Nusamai Bridge, arranged with romantic street lights and bronze statues symbolising the four seasons, it truly is splendid. Stroll and relax around Lake Harutori, the largest lake within a city and then visit the Kushiro City Zoo, a fifty minute bus ride from the city.

The Kushiro Shitsugen Norroko-go, the public transport system, is well worth riding.

When you board a taxi, note that the vehicle's left rear door is opened and closed remotely by the driver. You are not supposed to open or close it by yourself. Furthermore, you are not supposed to tip taxi drivers, as the service is included in the price.

If you do not speak Japanese, or your destination is not a well known place, it is recommended to give your driver the precise address of your destination on a piece of paper or, even better, point it out on a map, since the Japanese address system can be confusing even to local taxi drivers.

Beautiful surroundings and lush forests greet disembarking cruise tourists. The best place to start your tour is the Kushiro Shitsugen National Park. With a great view of the Pacific Ocean, the park is home to a rare species of Japanese crane. The crane, thought to be extinct by scientists seventy years ago remains protected in the park.

Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO is a unique building. It is a tourist facility located on the waterfront, close to Nusamai Bridge. It consists of restaurants, shops, and recreational facilities. Tourists, as well as local people, enjoy sightseeing, eating, shopping, and relaxing here.

The currency in Japan is the yen. It comes in denominations of ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 notes, as well as ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1 coins.

ATMs in Japan are becoming more useful, and most can be used to withdraw funds from overseas accounts. Post offices also offer ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted at a majority of stores and restaurants in large urban areas, but if you plan on spending any time in rural areas, be sure to carry sufficient cash. Japan is still very much a cash society and some stores, hotels and restaurants-regardless of location-refuse credit cards.

Don't tip, as it's considered rude!

Currency Converter

Internet cafes are springing up all over the country. Costs vary, with some coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi services and others charging by the hour for cable-enabled PCs

Shops and department stores in Japan are generally open daily, including national holidays (with the exception of New Year's), from 10:00 or 10:30am to 7:30 or 8:00pm. Some specialty shops are closed Sundays and national holidays. Department stores are sometimes closed one day a week on an irregular basis, but since closing days vary for each store, shoppers can always find stores that are open.

Public Holidays in Japan

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