[Kiritappu Wetland National Trust in Hamanaka] Kiritappu Wetland Can Be Observed on Wooden Paths

Kiritappu Wetland National Trust

Kiritappu Wetland National Trust (霧多布湿原ナショナルトラスト) is a specified nonprofit corporation established for the protection of the wetland in 1986 in Hamanaka town located between Kushiro city and Nemuro city, and has wetland observation facilities in the south side of the Kiritappu Wetland. Information Center, Cafe YACHIBOUZU, Biwase Wooden Path (琵琶瀬木道), Naka-no-Hama Wooden Path (仲の浜木道) and a parking lot are built on the site, and visitors can go a tour, and can take a break. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.

The Kiritappu Wetland has the 5th largest area, 3,168 ha, after Kushiro Wetland (釧路湿原), Bekkanbeushigawa Wetland (別寒辺牛川流域湿原), Konsengenya Wetland Groups (根釧原野湿原群) and Sarobetsu Plain (サロベツ原野) in Japan, and has been designed as the Ramsar Convention Wetland since 1993. It is called the wetland of flowers (花の湿原), and Corydalis Ambigua and Skunk Cabbage are in funll bloom in May, and Cotton Grass, Yezo Dailylily and Gentiana triflora bloom sequentially from June to August, and about 400 types of wild flowers can be seen. A lot of wild birds can be seen, too, and about 100-200 types of the wild birds such as Japanese Crane, Swan, Steller's Sea Eagle, Solitary Snipe and Common Redshank inhait here. 3 facilities, Kiritappu Wetland National Trust (霧多布湿原ナショナルトラスト), Kiritappu Wetland Center (霧多布湿原センター) and Biwase Observation Deck (琵琶瀬展望台), and 4 wooden paths, the Biwase Wooden Path, the Naka-no-Hama Wooden Path, Okubiwase Wooden Path (奥琵琶瀬木道) and Yachibozu Wooden Path (やちぼうず木道), are built on the wetland and around the wetland, and tourists can observe the wetland, and can see the wetland along MG (Marshy Grassland) road.

The distance is around 5 km away from the center of the Hamanaka, and a convenience store are built near here. the Kiritappu Wetland Center, the Biwase Observation Deck and Okubiwase Wildbird Park (奥琵琶瀬野鳥公園) are relatively near here. The Hamanaka is famous for Haagen-Dazs using Choice Hokkaido 4.0 Milk (特選・北海道4.0牛乳) of Takanashi Milk Products (タカナシ乳業), and a soft serve ice cream using that milk is sold at Corp Hamanaka (コープはまなか), and it is so popular.

Kiritappu Wetland Center

Kiritappu Wetland Center (霧多布湿原センター) is a tourist attraction facility with viewing the whole wetland on a small hill in the west side of Kiritappu Wetland (霧多布湿原) in Hamanaka town located between Kushiro city and Nemuro city. There are Museum Shop, Display Hall and a restroom on the 1st floor, and there are Kiritappu Cafe, a library, a restroom and Outlook Hall on the 2nd hall, and wooden toys and tasty Komatsu Milk (小松牛乳) are popular. In addition, Nature Tour is held, too. They rent outdoor goods, and the visitors can rent a mountain bike for JPY 1,000, and can rent boots or binoculars to observe the wetland, too. Yachibozu Wooden Path (やちぼうず木道) is built at the foot of the Kiritappu Wetland Center. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Biwase Observation Deck

Biwase Observation Deck (琵琶瀬展望台) is on a hill in the south side of Kiritappu Wetland (霧多布湿原), Hamanaka town is located between Kushiro city and Nemuro city. An observation house of one story is built along Hokkaido Road 129. The Kiritappu Wetland can be seen from the north side, and the Pacific ocean can be seen from the south side, so 360-degree view can be enjoyed. There are the observation deck, Shop "Fuji" (物産店「ふじ」), a public restroom and a parking lot on the site. Pumpkin dumpling (カボチャ団子) of the Fuji is popular. The Fuji may open from late April to early November, but it sometimes does not open. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Okubiwase Wildbird Park

Okubiwase Wildbird Park (奥琵琶瀬野鳥公園) is at the south side of Kiritappu Wetland (霧多布湿原), Hamanaka town is located between Kushiro city and Nemuro city. In 2004, Kiritappu Wetland National Trust (霧多布ナショナルトラスト) bought this land, and built a wooden path and a birdwatching place. There are the wooden path, the birdwatching place and a parking lot on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Around Kiritappu

Kiritappu (霧多布) is in Hamanaka town located between Kushiro city and Nemuro city. "Kiri (霧)" of Kiritappu means "Fog" in Japanese. It is said that the name of the Kiritappu means "A place that a lot of fog occur". But the true origin of the name is "A place that people cut miscanthus reed (茅を刈る場所)" in the Ainu language. The name is happen to get the fog. Temperature rarely exceeds 20 degrees, and it is chilly by the fog even in a summer. There are famous tourist attractions such as Cape Kiritappu (霧多布岬), Cape Azechi (アゼチの岬) and Kiritappu Wetland (霧多布湿原) to see superb views, and Namidamisaki Observatoion Deck (涙岬展望台) and Chanai Rakuno Observatoion Tower (茶内酪農展望台) are a little far from the Kiritappu, but those are tourist atractions with very good views. By the way, Japanese movie "Hanamizuki (ハナミズキ)" that Mr. Nobuhiro Doi (土井裕泰) produced, and Ms. Yui Aragaki (新垣結衣), a popular actress, and Mr. Toma Ikuta (生田斗真), a popular actor, played the leading characters was filmed in Kiritappu Peninsula. Article is here