[Sanko Onsen in Teshikaga] Day Trip Bath and Wild Onsen Can Be Enjoyed at Caldera Inn "Sanko Onsen" on Shore of Lake Kussharo

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

Wakoto Onsen

Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉) is hot spring place in Teshikaga town located in the northern direction of Kushiro city. The hot spring gushes out at the lakeshore in the southern part of Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖) in Akan Mashu National Park. The Wakoto Onsen is the generic name of some onsen. 2 campsites, Wakoto Hanto Kohan Campsite (和琴半島湖畔キャンプ場) and Wakoto Campsite (和琴野営場), are at Wakoto Peninsula. There are a shop, a public restroom and Onsen Ryokan Koshin-so (湖心荘) around a public parking lot. Unfortunately, a convenience store is not built around here. Read More

Inn “Sanko Onsen”

Inn “Sanko Onsen” is a small-sized onsen inn only with 4 guest rooms near Wakoto Peninsula, and has opened a business since 1980. Visitors possibly may be hard to find it because there is not a direction board along a road. A main building and a wooden entrance were built when I arrived at there. The appearance and the interior decoration have an atomosphere such as a typical old wooden house in Hokkaido. I felt as if visited my uncle’s house in the old days. A dog was kept in front of the entrance, and he was gentle. His name is Kinta (キン太). An entrance fee to a bath facility is JPY 400. A staying is possible, too, and a public bathroom for hotel guests is provided, too. A paid resting room is provided for JPY 800, too.

The building had a good old atmosphere such as the Showa period when I entered the entrance. An owner came out, and said “Only Open-air Bath”. I did not understand the meaning at first, but I think he worry about rain on that day. I was fine, and paid an entrance fee to the bath facility to him. He said “Our bath is very wild!”, too. I could not help expecting it.

I went out of the entrance once, and went to a dressing hut. The distance between the hut and the entrance is about 10 m. A bird feeder is built on the way, and wild animals such as wild birds or Yzeo squirrel come to eat. A firewood stove is set at a wooden dressing room. It is cold in a winter. I went to the bath space.

There are 3 open-air baths at the bath space. 3 parts are partitioned by wooden walls, and each water temperature are different. The largest open-air bath is the size that about 10 people can take a bath, and others are the size that about 8 people can take a bath, and the baths use 100% natural free flowing hot springs. A shower is not installed at the bath space, so you must pour the hot springs on yourself to rinse off your surface dirt and sweat before entering the bath.

It is surely wild without a roof. A view from open-air bath is not good because of trees, but the bathers will feel a sence of openness very much. Wash places established along the bathtub was extraordinary, I got into high spirits, too. It is amazing. Fresh green can be enjoyed in a summer, Fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn, and snow can be enjoyed in a winter while taking a bath. In addition, stary sky seems to be beautiful in the evening.

The hot springs are simple hot spring, and are clear and colorless and have tasteless and a little oil smell. The sum total of the hot spring ingredients are 0.630 g/kg. Because the hot springs seem to be drinkable, it tasted typical hot springs when I drank it. But unfortunately, it seems to have no effect. Shampoos and soaps are provided at the bath space. There is not a restroom at the dressing room. You should get a wash beforehand at the rest room of the main building.

Atmosphere of Sanko Onsen Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Sanko Onsen

Types of Hot Springs	Simple hot spring (Type: Weak alkali, Osmotic Pressure: Low, Spring Temperature Type: Extra hot spring)
Water temperature of Hot Spring Source	48.0 C
ph	7.0
Indications	Neuralgia, Muscular pain, Arthralgia, Frozen shoulder, Motor paralysis, Tightening of the joint, Bruise, Sprain, Chronic, Relieving fatigue, Chronic digestive diseases, Hemorrhoid, Cold sensitivity, Convalescent convalescence, Healthy increase
Contraindications	Acute disease(when there is the heat in particular), Active tuberculosis, Malignant tumor, Severe heart disease, Respiratory failure, Renal insufficiency, Hemorrhagic disease, High anemia, Other diseases during condition of a patient progress generally
Indications of drinking	Nothing
Facilities	Open-air bath(3). * Sex-Segregated Bathhouse.
Entrance fee to the bath facility	Adult: JPY 400. Elementary school student: JPY 300.
Business hours	10:00-18:00
Regular closing day	Irregular closing day
Parking lot	A free parking lot is provided (20 cars)
Telephone number	+81-15-484-2140
Home page	Home page is here
Reservation	Jalan is here, Rakuten is here
Mapcode	731 548 489*15