Nemuro: History, Nature and Crab Market

Nemuro reveals its past and present through a variety of traces: a shrine preserves a long tradition of prayers related to fishing and seafaring, monuments commemorate music and international encounters, and a museum explores both archaeological finds and the region’s natural environment. There are also walks in Meiji Park and a crab market at the station. These themes offer different starting points for discovering Nemuro according to your interests.

Religious Tradition and Japanese-Russian History

Kotohira Shrine was founded in 1806, after part of the divine spirit was transferred from Kotohira-gu in Kagawa to Nemuro. For more than 200 years, the shrine has been associated with prayers for safe fishing, safe voyages and abundant catches. Its founding story and these prayers draw attention to the religious traditions surrounding the concerns of fishing and navigation.

The monument “歴史の然” offers a different historical perspective. It commemorates 20 October 1792, when the party of Adam Laxman, the first Russian envoy, arrived in Nemuro aboard the sailing ship Ekaterina II. The voyage aimed, among other things, to return the shipwrecked Daikokuya Kōdayū and two other people, as well as to establish trade relations. The arrival marked the beginning of diplomatic and trade negotiations between Japan and Russia. The date and the people named make this history a tangible part of the cityscape today.

Archaeology and Nature at the Museum

The Nemuro History and Nature Museum displays archaeological materials from local excavation sites, including clay figurines dating back around 3,000 years. Natural history specimens introduce regional wildlife, including sea otters, Steller’s sea eagles, white-tailed eagles and tufted puffins. The museum’s scope thus ranges from early traces of human presence to the region’s animal life.

Relations between Japan and Russia are also represented at the museum. Among the materials on display about Laxman’s arrival and the historical relationship is a boundary marker erected in 1905 in the former Karafuto, now the Sakhalin region. Nature observation events and special exhibitions also explore Nemuro’s history and nature.

Cityscapes, a Park and a Crab Market

Meiji Park combines historical value with beautiful scenery and is recommended for walks and photography. It provides a scenic counterpoint to the historic memorials and museum exhibits. Nemuro Christian Church shows another side of the cityscape: the white building is surrounded by green trees and has a romantic appearance. It is located in the centre of the urban area.

In front of City Hall, the music monument “ここに幸あり” commemorates two late pioneers of Japanese popular music: lyricist Kikutarō Takahashi and composer Saburō Iida. Its location and dedication link a public monument with the history of a song and its creators.

The crab market at the station is a culinary highlight. Its direct-sales stalls line up, selling cooked Hanasaki crabs, horsehair crabs and king crabs. These three varieties give the market a distinctive character, while the various historic sites and the museum offer other themes for your trip of discovery.

Discover Nemuro According to Your Interests

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Nemuro, you can start by considering which themes you want to shape your stay. The shrine, monuments and historical materials at the museum offer different ways to explore the past. For nature lovers, the animal specimens and nature observation events held at the museum are a focus; Meiji Park adds walks and scenery to the picture. The crab market adds a connection to local food culture. This way, you can choose your destination based on the experiences that interest you most, without reducing Nemuro to a single theme.

Discover more destinations: Rebun District, Urakawa, Toyotomi, Soyamisaki, Obihiro, Sapporo, Sōunkyō, Kitahiroshima.

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