Okhotsk Tokkari Center

Okhotsk Tokkari Center (オホーツク とっかりセンター) is Japan’s only seal rehabilitation facility, located near the Sea of Okhotsk where drift ice approaches the coast each winter. Established to care primarily for spotted seals, the center also rehabilitates ringed seals and occasionally ribbon seals, offering sanctuary to individuals that cannot be released back into the wild.

Beyond its rescue mission, Tokkari Center serves as an educational hub. Visitors can meet the seals up close and learn about the region’s unique marine ecosystem, including the seasonal drift ice, through exhibits at the nearby Garinko Tower.

The compassion and commitment of the Tokkari Center team shine through – not only in their hands-on care for resident and soon-to-be-released seals, but also in their engaging and widely followed social media accounts, which offer a window into daily life at the facility and feature seal personalities like ringed seal Yo-chan or spotted seal grandpa Agu who lives in Azarashi Sea Paradise sanctuary next door.