It is believed that the town's name, which is in the indigenous Ainu language, translates roughly into "the place where the tide passes over the rocky shore".

Situated at the mouth of the river Charo into the Pacific Ocean, Shiranuka is flanked on both sides by small hills and has two narrow stretches of sand beaches.

Snowfall tends to be slightly lower than the rest of Hokkaido, and the local region is known for a high proportion of overcast or foggy days.

Kushiro wetlands have become famous in Japan since the recovery of the crane population, and Akan National Park is approximately an hours drive from the town.

Shiretoko National Park (one of Japan's three World Natural Heritage Sites) is slightly further, but still accessible within 3 hours by car.