[Ike-no-Yu Onsen in Teshikaga] Mixed Bathing Open-air Bath on Shore of Lake Kussharo beside Matsuya Ryokan

Lake Kussharo

The Lake Kussharo is the largest caldera lake in Japan in Teshikaga town located in the northeastern direction of Lake Akan (阿寒湖), and its shape tuend into the current shape by large-scale eruptions 40,000 years ago. Before then, the lake was larger round lake than the current lake. It is the 2nd largest caldera lake in the world after Lake Toba in Indonesia, too. In Akan Mashu National Park, The perimeter of the lake is about 57 km, and the maximum depth is 117 m, and Nakashima (中島), the largest island on the fresh water lake in the Japan, flotas on the surface of the lake, but landing is prohibited. There are Mt. Mokoto (藻琴山), the Wakoto Peninsula, Bihoro Pass Lookout (美幌峠展望台), Tubetsu Pass Observation Deck (津別峠展望台), Mokotoyama Lookout Parking Park (藻琴山展望駐車公園), Highland Koshimizu 725 (ハイランド小清水725), Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉), Sanko Onsen (三香温泉), Kotan Onsen (コタン温泉), Ike-no-Yu Onsen (池ノ湯温泉), Suna-Yu (砂湯), Nibushi Onsen (仁伏温泉), Wakoto-kohan Campsite (和琴湖畔キャンプ場), Wakoto Campsite (和琴キャンプ場), Suna-Yu Campsite (砂湯キャンプ場) and Highland Koshimizu Campsite (ハイランド小清水キャンプ場) around the Lake Kussharo. Read More

Wakoto Peninsula

Wakoto Peninsula (和琴半島) is the only peninsula extending out Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖) in the southern side of the Lake Kussharo. In Akan Mashu National Park, Wakoto Field House (和琴フィールドハウス), Wakoto-Kohan Campsite (和琴半島湖畔キャンプ場), Wakoto Campsite (和琴キャンプ場), a nature trail (自然探勝路), Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉), a souvenir shop, a restraunt, a boat for hire, Koshin-so (湖心荘), a public restroom and a parking lot are built on the site. Fresh green, a canoe and fishing can be enjoyed in a summer, Fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn and a snow scenery can be enjoyed in a winter, and it is said to be a sightseeing base of the Lake Kussharo. By the way, Min-min-zemi cicada (ミンミンゼミ) inhabits here, and they do not inhabit further north than the Lake Kussharo, so they have been designated as a special natural treasure since 1951. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Read More

Sunayu

Sunayu (砂湯) is a touring attraction along Hokkaido Road 52 in the eastern side of Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖), and is named because hot springs ooze out from sandy beach on the lakeside. It means “A place that sand gushes out” in Ainu language, too, so the hot springs have oozed out since a very long time ago. In Akan Mashu National Park, Sunayu Campsite (砂湯キャンプ場), Sunayu Resthouse Letarachip (砂湯レストハウス レタラチップ), Koike Shoten souvenir shop (小池商店), a public restroom and a parking lot on the site. The Sunayu Resthouse Letarachip has a restraunt and souvenir shop, and a swan boat can be rented, too. In addition, they accept a motorboat tour. Fresh green, camping, playing in water, fishing and canoeing can be enjoyed in a summer, fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn, and a winter scenery and Whooper swans can be enjoyed in a winter. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Read More

Ike-no-Yu

Ike-no-Yu is a natural open-air bath on the lakeshore, and is popular for a good sense of openess. Bathers can forget daily life. It opens for 24 hours, and the sunset seems to be beautiful early in the evening. Starry sky may be beautiful, too. An entrance fee to the bath facility is free of charge.

There is 1 mixed bathing open-air bath. This is a pond with about 15 m in diameter, and is the size that about 20 people can take a bath. The hot spring gush out from the bottom of the pond without oxidizing, 100% natural fresh free flowing hot springs can be enjoyed.

The hot springs are unexpectedly hot, and water temperature is around 40 C. Bathing is comforatable only in a summer, but except the season, I think that it is too cold. When I visited here, few algae floated on the surface of the hot springs, and the hot springs looked considerably clean. But watch your steps, because moss grow on the surface of pebbles that spread all over the bottom of the bath, and those are very slippery.

The hot springs are simple hot spring, and are clear and colorless and have neither taste nor smell. Dressing rooms for men or women are built beside the pond. The bathers can take a bath in wearing swimsuits or with a bath towel covering body, but a lot of Japanese men take a bath withhout wearing anything. I guess female bathers are too shameful to take a bath without wearing somtheing. By the way, a use of shampoo and soap is prohibited because water of the lake is polluted.

In a winter, whooper swans and deers gather around the open-air bath. When I visited here, a deer ate dried grass. The grass is not frozen by steam, so here is really useful by wild animals.

Atmosphere of Ike-no-Yu Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Ike-no-Yu Onsen

Movie of Ike-no-Yu Onsen in Winter