Mount Rausu

Mount Rausu at 1,661 metres is the highest peak on the Shiretoko Peninsula and the dominant figure on the east side of the ridge. The standard ascent takes five to six hours from the trailhead near Rausu town, through dense dwarf bamboo and mountain birch forest before breaking above the treeline onto the rocky volcanic summit. The views from the top are exceptional — the Sea of Okhotsk to the east, the Shiretoko volcanoes extending northeast, and on clear days the Russian islands visible across the strait.

The mountain sits astride the main ridge trail that connects Utoro on the west side with Rausu on the east, allowing a one-way traverse for fit hikers with transport arranged at both ends. The trail crosses some steep and exposed terrain and the weather changes rapidly on the Shiretoko ridge — check conditions and carry full wet-weather gear. Brown bear encounters are possible on the upper slopes; most guided hikes carry bear bells and spray.

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Mount Rausu is an active stratovolcano, and the Rausu hot springs at its base are geothermally fed. The mountain last had significant eruptive activity in the 19th century, but fumarolic vents on the upper slopes remain active. On clear days from the summit, you can see the disputed islands of the Northern Territories — the closest Japanese soil to Russian-administered Kunashir Island.