Раусу қаласы: Хоккайдоның Ширетоко түбегіндегі балықшыл елді мекені

Rausu (羅臼町) is a town located in Nemuro Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 30, 2016, it has an estimated population of 5,395, and an area of 397.88 km2. The word "Rausu" originates from the Ainu word Raushi, roughly meaning "Low land" or "Place of men with beast like spirit". The town occupies the southern half of the Shiretoko Peninsula. Kunashir Island, one of the four disputed Kuril Islands, can be seen from the town.

1901 (Meiji 34) — Uebetsu Village split from Shibetsu. 1923 (Taishō 12) — Uebetsu becomes second class municipality. 1930 (Shōwa 5) — Uebetsu is renamed Rausu Village. 1961 (Shōwa 36) — Rausu becomes the Rausu Town. In 2004, there were talks held in Nakashibetsu amongst all the municipalities in the area to form one large township called East Shiretoko. Soon thereafter local residents were polled regarding the proposal. The faction in favor of this change did not receive support and thus abandoned the effort.

Rausu's local economy consists of three main sources: the fishing industry, Shiretoko tourism, and local businesses.

Rausu is primarily a fishing town. One third of residents are supported by the fishing industry. The main intake by the fishing industry consists of kichiji rockfish (Sebastolobus macrochir), Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), konbu kelp, salmon, squid, and sea urchin. Particularly famous is Rausu konbu (Rausu kelp). There is no other place in Japan to harvest sea urchin from winter to summer other than Rausu. As for agriculture, in southern Rausu there is some dairy farming, but no land suitable for growing rice, produce, or other large scale agriculture. The lumber industry does not have much of a presence either (as it does in the rest of Hokkaido). 70% of the town's land is lush mountain forest, but it is mostly a part of the Shiretoko National Park.

Rausu's second major source of economic income is not any one specific industry, but rather the mix of local retail, municipal employment, food and beverage industry, etc.

The third major source of revenue for Rausu is related to Shiretoko National Park. The splendor of Shiretoko’s forests and the abundance of aquatic life in the Nemuro Strait form the basis of the local tourist industry. Due to the widening of Kunashiri Highway, in recent years whale and dolphin watching have become popular in the summer, whereas viewing Steller’s sea eagle, white tailed (sea) eagles, (earless) seals, and drift ice are popular in the winter. These activities are usually done by chartered cruises that cater to researchers, photographers, and bird watchers. Rausu is known for fresh rockfish, early season salmon and salmon eggs, Alaskan pollock, squid, and sea urchin. The town has many bed and breakfasts, lodges, onsen hotels, restaurants, and bars. There is also a roadside station that sells local Shiretoko area products.

Due to the close proximity of Russia and potential fishing rights disputes, the Japanese Coast Guard maintains a presence in Rausu year round. Coast Guard vessels are regularly docked in Rausu Harbor, with the personnel barracks nearby. The Japanese Self Defense Force maintains a permanent presence in the town.

Like most high schools in Japan, the local senior high school falls under the administration of the prefectural board of education, while the local middle and elementary schools are operated by the local board of education.

There is a regional bus route from Kushiro Eki Mae Station to the center of Rausu operated by Akan Bus. Service is limited to four round trip journeys a day. There is a line from Utoro Onsen in Shari to Rausu during the summer operated by the regional Shari Bus and Akan Bus companies.