Rausu is the main town on the east side of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a real fishing town with a working harbour that processes crab, salmon, and kelp. It has a quieter and more authentic feel than Utoro across the mountain. Whale-watching tours operate from the harbour in summer — the cold productive waters attract sperm whales, minke whales, orca, and Dall's porpoises, and the sighting rates are high.
The town sits beneath Mount Rausu and the geothermally heated Rausu hot spring resort area is a five-minute walk from the centre. The Shiretoko Pass road connecting Rausu to Utoro offers spectacular mountain views and is one of the best places on the peninsula to spot brown bears from a car — particularly in late summer when they forage at the roadside. The pass road is closed from November to late April due to snow.