Travel from Shiretoko to Abashiri to visit the fascinating former prison museum, offering insight into the harsh realities of Meiji-era convict labour in northern Japan. Continue to the Museum of Northern Peoples to discover artefacts and exhibitions celebrating indigenous Ainu culture. Later, visit Kitami, once famed for producing the majority of the world’s mint oil, where you’ll explore a heritage mint museum, visit a traditional distillery and sample the region’s refreshing mint ice cream.