Hot Spring River Turned Hot Soring Falls into Natutal Open-air Spa -Kamuiwakka Hot Falls in Shiretoko Peninsula-

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls (カムイワッカ湯の滝) in Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島) that has designed as the World Natural Heritage site are natural open-air baths that are few falls in Japan. Hot springs flow into Kamuiwakka River (カムイワッカ湯の滝) and hot falls flow, and waterfall basins are born. Now those are natural bathtubs. There are 4 waterfall basins in total, but tourists can only reach to the nearest basin, Ichi-no-Taki (一の滝), in danger of falling rocks now. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

Kamuiwakka Hot Falls are located in a place that is just called a little-known onsen, the tourists turn right on a road just before Shiretoko Goko Lakes (知床五湖) and come to the Kamuiwakka Hot Falls, and visitors drive along a long gravel road with about 10 km in length. Because the road is no wider than a driveway, an attention is necessary for driving. At prime tourist season, summer, an approach of their privately-owned cars are prohibited. In that case, the tourists must use a public bus.

There are no facilities except a restroom and a parking lot at the site. Because it seemed to be dangerous for walking barefoot in the river, I entered the river in wearing shoes. * Footwears are sold in Shiretoko Nature Center (知床自然センター). Water temperature is about 30 degrees Celsius and it is lukewarm. The tourists might hard to take a bath. It seems to only play in the water. The tourists reach to Ichi-no-Taki basin after walking a riverbed with about 100 m in length along the river and can take a bath at Ichi-no-Taki basin in their swimsuits, but it is lukewarm, you may take a bath only in a summer. When I licked hot water with my hands, it tasted considerably sour. Acidity seems to be high. In addtion, beware of bears, too.

Atmosphere of Kamuiwakka Hot Falls Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Kamuiwakka Hot Falls

Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around Kamuiwakka Hot Falls.

Hotel Chi-no-Hate(ホテル地の涯)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Iwaobetsu Youth Hostel(知床岩尾別ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Booking.com

A page of Shiretoko National Park is here