*This is an archive of the email newsletter distributed on April 28, 2026.

Hello. This is the Abashiri City Tourism Association.
This email newsletter is sent to those who requested to receive email updates during their Abashiri trip by completing the Abashiri Charm Discovery Survey.
 
This is the eighth issue of our email newsletter.
We will provide you with the latest information on Abashiri, so please use it when planning your trip.

1. Visit Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park and stay overnight in Abashiri!

At Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park, the best time to see the moss phlox is expected to be from May 15th to around May 25th. There is a sightseeing train that offers panoramic views on the way to the top, go-karts where you can enjoy the moss phlox, a fishing pond that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and a day-trip hot spring where you can relax, so it is a great place for families to enjoy themselves.

Admission fee
Adults 700 yen, elementary school students 300 yen

Additionally, from May 7th to May 31st, we will be holding a digital stamp rally where guests who stay at Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park or accommodations in Abashiri City will be entered into a lottery to win local specialties such as hairy crab and Mokoto cheese. For details on how to enter, please see the link below.

↓↓Related sites are here↓↓

Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park (official website)

Access from Abashiri

Stay and watch the digital stamp rally

2. Cycling Campaign: Get a gift with your rental bicycle.

From May 7th to June 30th, rent a bicycle at the "Ryuhyo Kaido Abashiri" roadside station or the JR Abashiri Station Tourist Information Center, take photos at the designated photo spots listed below, and post them on social media to receive a free "Beet Sugar Syrup." Furthermore, answer a survey for a chance to win local specialties such as hairy crabs!

<Photo Spots>
・ Cape Notoro "Bell that Grants Wishes"
・ Tentozan Observatory (Okhotsk Ryu-hyo Museum): View from the observatory
• Tofutsu-ko Waterfowl and Wetland Center: Waterfowl, ponies, and scenery from the center.

↓↓Related sites are here↓↓

Cycling Campaign

Abashiri City Tourism Association Bicycle Rental

Cape Notoro "Bell that Grants Wishes"

3. Abashiri Spring Seasonal Festival Campaign - May 7th (Thu) - May 31st (Sun), 2025

Crabs are at their most delicious after the drift ice melts, with plenty of meat. From May 7th to 31st, when these crabs are at their best, the "Abashiri Spring Seasonal Festival Campaign" will be held. 26 restaurants in Abashiri City will be offering Japanese and Western fusion dishes, including crab, and if you collect three stamps, including one from a participating restaurant, you can enter a lottery to win seasonal hairy crabs and other luxurious prizes.
Why not enjoy some seasonal crab dishes while having fun?

↓↓Related sites are here↓↓

Abashiri Spring Seasonal Festival Campaign

4. Spring Crab Battle in Abashiri: Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th, 2025

Crabs after the drift ice melts are delicious! The "Spring Crab Battle in Abashiri" is an event where crabs fly through the air and people compete to catch them. Those who manage to catch a hairy crab can take it home for free in this generous crab-throwing event, making it a great opportunity to eat delicious crabs from Abashiri.
This year, the event will be expanded to eight sessions over two days, Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th. To participate in the crab-throwing event, you must purchase a ticket, and 100 people will be selected for each session, for a total of 800 participants, through a lottery held on the day of the event.
Even if you don't win the crab-throwing lottery, you can still enjoy crabs after the drift ice melts at the crab lottery where you can win hairy crabs and accommodation vouchers, the limited-time sale of boiled crabs at beach prices, and various food and beverage stalls.
 
Tickets: Advance purchase 1,200 yen, same-day purchase 1,500 yen

↓↓Related sites are here↓↓

Spring Crab Battle in Abashiri

5. Abashiri Nature Cruise

Starting this year, the "Abashiri Nature Cruise" will be operated by the "Northern Sea Animal Center." The cruise will run on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the following public holidays from May 1st to October 31st, with the aim of observing marine animals and collecting data. May and June are excellent times to see large fin whales, some reaching up to 25 meters in length, and you can also observe large flocks of shearwaters. We encourage you to experience it!

Fee
Adults: 8,800 yen, elementary school students: 4,400 yen

↓↓Related sites are here↓↓

Abashiri Nature Cruise

6. Asparagus harvesting experience

Asparagus harvesting experiences will be held at the Omagari Lakeside Park in Abashiri City from mid-May to mid-June.
The experience fee includes work gloves, foot covers, and a complete set of harvesting tools, so you can come empty-handed. You can take home the harvested asparagus for 200 yen per 100g.
[Reservations required] Reservations can be made until 5:00 PM the day before.
Please check our website for more details.

Fee
500 yen for junior high school students and older.
Elementary school students: 300 yen
Free for preschool children
Takeaway: 200 yen per 100g

Asparagus Harvesting Experience in the Delicious Town of Abashiri

7. Abashiri Restaurant Vacancy Guide

During peak tourist season, it can be difficult to find a restaurant with available seats for dinner. You come to Abashiri to enjoy delicious local cuisine, but after calling around to multiple places, you find they're all fully booked...
For times like these, please make use of "Abashiri Restaurant Vacancy Navi," which allows you to check real-time seat availability information from your smartphone.

↓↓Related sites are here↓↓

Abashiri Restaurant Vacancy Navigator

What did you think of this seasonal Abashiri tourist information?
We look forward to your visit.

Abashiri City Tourism Association