Things to Do in Kushiro Town (釧路町), Hokkaido: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Kushiro Town (釧路町) in Hokkaido Prefecture (Hokkaido, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Kushiro Wetlands, Kushiroshi Tanchōzuru Shizen Park (釧路市丹頂鶴自然公園), Yanagimachi Park (柳町公園) and served by Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) via the regional hub at Sapporo Station & New Chitose Airport (CTS). Set at 33 m elevation (42.9989°N, 144.4651°E), Kushiro Town offers travelers a base for sampling regional Sapporo miso ramen, Jingisukan (grilled lamb), Hokkaido soup curry cuisine and exploring neighboring Kushiro (釧路市) (7 km), Tsurui (鶴居村) (31.2 km), Akkeshi (厚岸町) (31.3 km), Shibecha (標茶町) (33.7 km).

Kushiro Town is located in southeastern Hokkaido, east of the city of the same name. It stretches 31.5 kilometers east-to-west and 20.4 kilometers north-to-south. Kushiro town is divided into five districts. JR Nemuro-Main-Line Beppo Station building. The town is L-shaped, with its wide north–south west and narrow east. The Kushiro Wetlands, which stretches across one city and three towns, including Kushiro Town, is the largest marsh in Japan and became the first wetland in Japan to be registered under the Ramsar Convention in 1980. Within Hokkaido Prefecture, Kushiro Town (釧路町) serves as a town (町) in Hokkaido Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1889-04-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Vast national parks (Daisetsuzan, Shiretoko, Akan-Mashu), powder ski resorts (Niseko, Furano), volcanic calderas, port towns (Hakodate, Otaru), and Japan's richest seafood and dairy.

What to See & Do in Kushiro Town (釧路町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Kushiro Town (釧路町) from Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) at 33 m elevation (42.9989°N, 144.4651°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Kushiro Town):

• Kushiro Wetlands — local sightseeing landmark near Kushiro Town (釧路町).
• Kushiroshi Tanchōzuru Shizen Park (釧路市丹頂鶴自然公園) — local sightseeing landmark near Kushiro Town (釧路町).
• Yanagimachi Park (柳町公園) — local sightseeing landmark near Kushiro Town (釧路町).
• Tsurugadai Park (鶴ヶ岱公園) — local sightseeing landmark near Kushiro Town (釧路町).
• Shinrin Park (森林公園) — local sightseeing landmark near Kushiro Town (釧路町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Kushiro Town: Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) (connecting to Sapporo Station & New Chitose Airport (CTS)).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Kushiro Town

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Kushiro Town (釧路町) and Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Hokkaido Prefecture and Hokkaido:

• Kushiro (釧路市) — 7 km from Kushiro Town (Hokkaido Prefecture)
• Tsurui (鶴居村) — 31.2 km from Kushiro Town (Hokkaido Prefecture)
• Akkeshi (厚岸町) — 31.3 km from Kushiro Town (Hokkaido Prefecture)
• Shibecha (標茶町) — 33.7 km from Kushiro Town (Hokkaido Prefecture)
• Shiranuka (白糠町) — 43 km from Kushiro Town (Hokkaido Prefecture)

Getting to Kushiro Town & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Kushiro Town (釧路町) via Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km): 1h 30m flight from Tokyo Haneda to New Chitose (CTS), or 4h on the Tohoku–Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto plus limited express train. From Sapporo Station & New Chitose Airport (CTS), transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) to reach central Kushiro Town (42.9989°N, 144.4651°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Sapporo with Kushiro Town (釧路町) and neighboring Kushiro, Tsurui, Akkeshi. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Kushiro Town, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Kushiro Town and continuing toward Kushiro can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Kushiro Town: While Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) anchors public transit for Kushiro Town, picking up a rental car at Sapporo Station & New Chitose Airport (CTS) makes it easy to link Kushiro Wetlands and Kushiroshi Tanchōzuru Shizen Park (釧路市丹頂鶴自然公園) with nearby Kushiro (釧路市) (7 km), Tsurui (鶴居村) (31.2 km), Akkeshi (厚岸町) (31.3 km), Shibecha (標茶町) (33.7 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Kushiro Town (釧路町) & Hokkaido

Dining near Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) and across Kushiro Town (釧路町) highlights the regional food culture of Hokkaido Prefecture and Hokkaido. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Kushiro Town:

• Local specialty & terroir of Kushiro Town (釧路町): orchard cultivation of crisp apples and seasonal tree fruits alongside coastal oyster and scallop aquaculture alongside fresh harbor seafood.
• Sapporo miso ramen — regional specialty enjoyed across Kushiro Town (釧路町) and Hokkaido Prefecture.
• Jingisukan (grilled lamb) — regional specialty enjoyed across Kushiro Town (釧路町) and Hokkaido Prefecture.
• Hokkaido soup curry — regional specialty enjoyed across Kushiro Town (釧路町) and Hokkaido Prefecture.
• Kaisendon (sea urchin, crab & salmon roe bowls) — regional specialty enjoyed across Kushiro Town (釧路町) and Hokkaido Prefecture.
• Soft-serve dairy & melon — regional specialty enjoyed across Kushiro Town (釧路町) and Hokkaido Prefecture.

If you are dining in Kushiro Town (釧路町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km).

Where to Stay in Kushiro Town (釧路町)

Visitors staying overnight in Kushiro Town (釧路町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km), or base at major rail hubs in Sapporo (Sapporo Station & New Chitose Airport (CTS)) or neighboring Kushiro, Tsurui, Akkeshi for quick train access into Kushiro Town. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Kushiro Town & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Kushiro Town (釧路町, 33 m elevation at 42.9989°N, 144.4651°E): June–August for lavender fields and cool hiking (22–26°C); December–February for world-famous powder skiing and snow festivals; late September–October for early autumn foliage.

Wider sightseeing across Hokkaido Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Kushiro Wetlands in Kushiro Town (釧路町) includes: Vast national parks (Daisetsuzan, Shiretoko, Akan-Mashu), powder ski resorts (Niseko, Furano), volcanic calderas, port towns (Hakodate, Otaru), and Japan's richest seafood and dairy.

Practical Travel Tips for Kushiro Town (釧路町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Kushiro Town: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Sapporo Station & New Chitose Airport (CTS) or Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) for local bus schedules to Kushiro Wetlands and walking maps of Kushiro Town (釧路町).
• Cash & ATMs in Kushiro Town: Convenience stores and major hotels around Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Kushiro Wetlands often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Kushiro Town accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Kushiro Town: Around Beppo Station (別保駅) (0.6 km) and neighboring Kushiro, Tsurui, Akkeshi, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.