Abashiri and the Shiretoko peninsula
Apparently, Abashiri on the shores of the Okhotsk sea is absolutely freezing in winter, but fortunately, in August the temperature was perfect (although we did get a bit of rain). We had rented a gorgeous cabin on the edge of the park and used it as a base for exploring the Shiretoko national park - bear country! Fortunately, we didn't run into any bears. I loved just knowing that they were in there. We did see deer and plenty of birds though. We took a cruise up the coast and then did hikes in the national park (after attending a mandatory lecture and safety briefing).