- April 8th, 2016
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- FamousSpots
- EasternArea
[Hosooka Observation Deck in Kushiro] Beautiful Sunset and One of Best Views in Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland
CONTENTS
Hosooka Observation Deck
Hosooka Observation Deck (細岡展望台) is the most famous tourist attraction in Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland in the east side of the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland. It is a popular reason that visitors can enjoy a famous scenery with using ridgeline of Mt. Oakandake (雄阿寒岳) and Mt. Meakandake (雌阿寒岳) as the backdrop, and Kushiro River (釧路川) meandering through the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland. It is rumored that the setting sun is beautiful, and it is said that everyone would like to go to at least once. There are Hosooka 1st Observation Deck (第一展望台), Hosooka 2nd Observation Deck (第二展望台), Hosooka Visitor Lounge (細岡ビジターラウンジ) and a public restroom, and it takes about 10 minutes from Kushiro-Shitsugen Station (釧路湿原駅) to the Hosooka Visitor Lounge on foot. Steps from the station to the Hosooka Observation Deck are steep, so you will get tired a little. Except above, the Kushiro-Shitsugen Station and Inn Nomu, there is nothing. A road to the Hosooka Observation Deck is a narrow unpaved road, so drive carefully. A restroom, a cafe and a souvenir shop are at the Hosooka Visitor Lounge, so tourists can take a break. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.
The distance is about 20 km away from the center of Kushiro city, a convenience store is not built around here. Lake Takkobunuma (達古武沼) and Hosooka Canoe Port (細岡カヌーポート) are relatively near here.
Lake Takkobunuma
Lake Takkobunuma (達古武沼) is a freshwater lake in the east side of Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland (釧路湿原). The Takkobu means "A rising-shaped hill" in Ainu language. The perimeter of the lake is about 5 km. The maximum water depth is about 3 m. Lake Balls (マリモ) grow on the bottom of the lake as well as Lake Akan (阿寒湖). The lake is well-known for seeing the beautiful sunset. Tatsukobu Auto Campsite (達古武オートキャンプ場) is at the north shore of the lake, and that is only facility around the lake. The campsite has Center House (センターハウス), and everybody can savor meals, and can take a rest there. Tatsukobu Yumegaoka Walk (達古武夢ヶ丘歩道) of 2.3 km length is built along shore of the lake, and Yumegaoka Observatory (夢ヶ丘展望台) is at the end of the walk, and visitors can see a scenery with a railroad track across the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland. Therefore the visitors can find variety states of the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland that artifacts blended into nature. Read More
Hosooka Canoe Port
Hosooka Canoe Port (細岡カヌーポート) near Hosooka Station in the western part of Lake Takkobunuma is a landing place for canoes along Kushiro River. There are only the canoe port and a parking lot. Tourists can enjoy the canoe that is most popular extreme activity in Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland, and ordinary people can view the river. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park
Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park (釧路湿原国立公園) among Kushiro city, Kushiro town, Shibecha town and Tsurui village is a famous tourist attraction in the Eastern Hokkaido, and about 500,000 people visit every year, and is the largest wetland with 18,290 ha in Japan. It has been designed as Ramsar Convention since 1980, and developments had been limited strictly. More than 700 plants grow, and about 200 birds and about 1,100 insects inhabit. A lot of rare animals inhabit and plants including Japanese cranes, Blakiston's fish-owls that are only 100 in Hokkaido, Iijima Ruriboshiyanma (イイジマルリボシヤンマ) that is a remaining specy in the glacial epoch, Itou fish (イトウ) that is said to be a very rare fish, Kushiro jacob's ladder (クシロハナシノブ) that is a remaining specy in the glacial epoch, Bogberry and Yachibouzu (ヤチボウズ) are in the wetland. Read More
By the way, a direct bus does not run between Sapporo or New Chitose Airport and the Kushiro. But highway buses "Star Light Kushiro-go (スターライト釧路号)" and "Kuhsiro Limited Express New Star-go (釧路特急ニュースター号)" run between the Sapporo and the Kushiro, and Sunrise Asahikawa-Kushiro-go (サンライズ旭川・釧路号), an express bus, runs between the Kushiro and Asahikawa, and Sweets Liner-go (スイーツライナー号) runs between Obihiro and Tancho Kushiro Airport, and Senpoku-go (釧北号), an express bus, runs between the Kitami and the Kushiro, and Akan Airport Liner (阿寒エアポートライナー) runs between Lake Akan and the Tancho Kushiro Airport. Besides, Rent-a-car can be rented around Kushiro Station and Kushiro Airport. An airplane flies between Kushiro Airport and Okadama Air Port, and an airplane flies between the Kushiro Airport and New Chitose Airport. As for transport facilities for the Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland sightseeing, Kushiro-shitsugen train Norokko-go (くしろ湿原ノロッコ号) and Kushiro-shitsugen bus Isshu-go (釧路湿原一周号) run.
KUSHIRO
Kushiro (釧路) that about 170,000 people live is the 5th largest fisheries city in Hokkaido, and is one of regional hub cities of the Eastern Hokkaido area. The Kushiro became incorporated with Akan town (阿寒) and Onbetsu (音別) in 2005, and has became the 3rd largest city by area in the Hokkaido. In Japan, it is the 7th latgest city by the area. The Kushiro is also well-known as a tourist city with rich nature, and has 2 very famous national parks, Kushiro-Shitsugen wetland (釧路湿原), the largest wetland in the Japan, and Lake Akan (阿寒湖) consisted by primeval forests and lava. In addition, the beautiful sunset can be seen, too, and the Kushiro is one of the three major places to see the beautiful setting sun in the world together with Manila in Philippines and Bali in Indonesia. Read More
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Hosooka 1st Observation Deck and Hosooka 2nd Observation Deck
Walks is built as a starting point from the Hosooka Visitor Lounge to the Hosooka Observation Deck. The Hosooka 1st Observation Deck called "Tenbo-Hiroba (展望広場)" is built at about 57 m above sea level, and the Hosooka 2nd Observation Deck called "Daikanbo (大観望)" is built at about 52 m above sea level. It takes within 30 minutes to go round trip along the walks on foot.
Speaking of the Hosooka Observation Deck, it refers to the famous Hosooka 2nd Observation Deck that about 100 people can enter. Because branches of trees do not obstruct people's views, Cape Miyajima (宮島岬) and Cape Kirakotan (キラコタン岬) jutting out into the wetland with using the ridgeline of the Mt. Oakandake (雄阿寒岳) and the Mt. Meakandake (雌阿寒岳) as the backdrop can be enjoyed. The Kushiro River runs meandering through the wetland consist of dark green and light green, and a spacious view is very comfortable. A bench to take a rest is set, too.
The Hosooka 1st Observation Deck on a hillside is smaller than the Hosooka 2nd Observation Deck. A few people come, so it may be said that it is a little-known good spot. But branches of trees obstruct people's views, so a feeling of satisfaction is worse than the Hosooka 2nd Observation Deck. A gazebo and a bench are built, too.
I visited here to look at the famous setting sun in early October. The sunset was around 17:00 that day. People that happened to be there said "Best time to see the sunset is around 16:45". The sun sinking in the depths of the Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland was a magnificent view. I saw that it was said "The setting sun must be seen at least once". Finally, about 40 visitors came and cheered.
Atmosphere of Hosooka Observation Deck Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Hosooka Observation Deck
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Free parking is provided (30 Cars) |
| Business hours | 09:00-18:00 * It changes on the period |
| Regular closing day | The year-end and New Year holidays |
| Telephone number | +81-154-40-4455 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 149 654 371*31 |
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations near or in the Kushiro. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
SHIBECHA
TSURUI
KUSHIRO
YAMAHANA ONSEN
TANCHO-no-SATO ONSEN
AKANKO ONSEN
A page of Kushiro-shitsugen National Park is here
Kushiro-shitsugen National Park
By the way, Club Tourism (クラブツーリズム), a Japanese tour travel agency, provides various types of tours such as day trip tours or ordinary tours. In the case of bus tours, tourists do not drive their cars themselves, so they can savor alcohol. Choosen tourist attractions are national parks such as Rishiri and Rebun, Shiretoko, and popular tourist places such as Furano and Biei, and some activities such as hiking and fruit picking are also enjoyed depending on seasons. If you are interested in tour trips, you should visit the club tourism's website for details.
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