Footloose in Okhotsk: Japan's ancient northeast

KITAMI, Japan -- Far from the flash and fame of Japan's megacities, the Okhotsk region of Hokkaido, the most northerly of Japan's four main islands, sits quiet and unassuming along the coast of its namesake, the Sea of Okhotsk.

Part of the greater eastern Hokkaido region, an endpoint of sorts for travel in Japan, Okhotsk is often overlooked by travelers set on more renowned sights. But lack of eminence ought not to diminish Okhotsk's value. It is home to both myth and beauty, sandwiched between the towering Daisetsuzan mountain range and three great national parks, Shiretoko, Akan-Mashu and the Kushiro Wetlands.