Okhotsk Tokkari Center

Get up close and personal with seals!

If you’re an animal lover traveling to Hokkaido, the Okhotsk Tokkari Center needs to be a must-do on your itinerary. The center is all about conserving the earless seal population, so seals that have been injured or caught in fishing nets are brought here until they are ready to be released back into the wild. At the center, the seals interact with you - they are able to do a variety of different tricks, such as catching hoops that you throw around their necks. You’re even able to pose for a picture with one of these amazing animals. The staff members working at the center when I visited definitely seemed to have a special bond with the seals, which also made me feel good about the care they would be receiving. I’d highly recommend visiting here if you’re in the area doing a trip on the Garinko II ice breaker ship - you won’t be disappointed!