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. Education system 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. Senior high schools Rausu Senior High School Middle/junior high schools Shunshō Middle School Rausu Middle School Chienbetsu Middle School Uebetsu Middle School Tobinitai Middle School Elementary schools Shunshō Elementary School Rausu Elementary School Uebetsu Elementary School Tobinitai Middle School The Rausu Board of Education has participated in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT) Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme since summer 1993. The JET program helps place native English speakers in both prefectural and local boards of education to work as Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) with the goal of developing Japan's foreign language education. Transportation Airports Nemuro-Nakashibetsu Airport (Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido) Buses 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. Major roads National highways National Highway 334 National Highway 335 Prefectural highways Hokkaidō Route 87 (Shiretoko National Park—Rausu Drive) Roadside stations Shiretoko-Rausu Scenic and historical places Festivals/events Rausu observes most of the same national Japanese traditional holidays found throughout the country, such as Children's Day, Hatsumōde, etc. However, some festivals, like O-bon and Coming of Age Day are celebrated earlier due to the fishing industry and the large number of college students enrolled in schools in Honshū. Other annual festivals/events include: Isaribi Festival 漁火祭り (mid-September) Rausu Ekiden Race (October) Rausu Art and Culture Festival (early to mid-November) Middle School Sports Day (first weekend of June) Elementary School Field Day (second weekend of June) Shiretoko Biraki Festival 知床開き祭り (late June): a fireworks, yosakoi, and traditional dance festival celebrating summer Rausu Shrine Festival 神社祭, jinja-sai (July 1–3): a Shintō mikoshi festival unique to Rausu World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO) Shiretoko Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Rausu Luminous Moss – roped-off walking path to guide visitors through this natural site Rausu Geyser –