Haboro: Seabirds, Island Nature and Culture

Haboro combines insights into the area’s history with distinctive natural experiences on Teuri and Yagishiri. Teuri is known for its seabirds and coastline shaped by marine erosion; Yagishiri is distinguished by its natural forest and distinctive Japanese yews. In Haboro itself, a local history museum, a historic building and a municipal ski area offer a variety of things to discover. When choosing a holiday rental, you can decide whether to focus on island nature, local history or winter sports as well.

Seabirds and Coastal Scenery on Teuri

Teuri Island is one of Japan’s major seabird breeding grounds. Around one million seabirds come here during the breeding season. Along the west coast, they nest on cliffs formed by marine erosion. A seabird observation hut stands above the cliffs. Another prominent feature is the rock 赤岩: this 48-metre-high vertical rock, formed by marine erosion, can be seen from a viewpoint that juts out over the sea.

The Hokkaido Seabird Center introduces eight species found on Teuri Island: ウミウ, ヒメウ, オオセグロカモメ, ウミネコ, ウミガラス, ケイマフリ, ウトウ and ウミスズメ. Light and sound effects illustrate their habitats. This offers different ways to explore seabirds: outdoors, you can see the breeding landscape along the cliffs; in the center, you can learn about the species and their habitats. If you are particularly interested in nature and wildlife, you can take these themes into account when planning your trip.

Forest and Distinctive Trees on Yagishiri

Yagishiri has its own distinctive natural character, too. Natural forest covers one-third of the island. At “Onko no Sho,” there is also a group of Japanese yews that are about one metre tall, with branches spreading more than ten metres across. These low-growing yews stand out for their widely spreading branches. For visitors who want to explore forests and unusual tree shapes as well as birdlife, Yagishiri offers a distinct focus.

Local History and Experiences in Haboro

The Haboro Local History Museum preserves two aspects of the area’s history in its exhibits: valuable fossils excavated in Haboro, as well as numerous materials about the heyday of herring fishing and coal mining in Haboro. The former Konō House, built in 1900, is a tangible cultural property designated by Hokkaido. Together, the museum and historic building offer different perspectives: fossils and the history of the local economy and fishing in one, and a specific building dating from 1900 in the other.

For an active option, Haboro has the municipal “Byu” ski area. It features a spacious family slope with views of the Sea of Japan. From around September, you can watch salmon swimming upstream in Haboro’s rivers. These experiences differ distinctly from the island themes: the ski slope combines winter sports with sea views, while the salmon run is a seasonal natural spectacle in Haboro’s rivers.

Haboro as a Starting Point for Different Interests

The ferry route is useful for navigating between Haboro and the two islands: it runs Haboro–Yagishiri–Teuri–Yagishiri–Haboro. This clearly identifies both island names and the order of the route, without implying a specific travel time. If you are considering a holiday rental in Haboro, you can plan your trip around whether you want to focus on Teuri’s seabird breeding grounds, Yagishiri’s natural forest and Japanese yews, or Haboro’s history and activities.

For the broader travel overview: Tomamae District.