[Kobukariishi Lookout in Urahoro] Splendid View Created by Spacious Sky and Sea

Kobukariishi Lookout

Kobukariishi Lookout (昆布刈石展望台) is a lookout point in Urahoro town located in the southeastern part of Obihiro city, and is near Ogon Falls (黄金の滝) and Otsu Coast (大津海岸) that is famous for Jewery Ice. The lookout is known as a good spot to see the spacious pacific ocean on cliffs at about 90 m elevation. A narrow graval road is built between National Route 336 (国道336号) and Hokkaido Road 1038 (北海道道1038号), and visitors can drive their cars along a coast, so it is a popular spot for tourist motorbike riders from all over Japan. A motorbike rider that I met at Horoyaknto Marsh (ホロカヤントー) recommended the Kobukariishi Lookout. Few people visit here, and here is a little-known spot, so visitors may have a splendid view all to themselves. But the shoulder of the road is soft, and the road is rough, so drive safely. At the Ogon Falls, a death from fall accident was occurred once. You had really better get drive safe. Admission free. A parking lot is not provided.

Movie of Kobukariishi Lookout

Jewelry Ice

Jewelry Ice is ice on Otsu Beach (大津海岸) in Toyokoro town located in the southeast part of Obihiro city, and was named by Mr. Hisashi Urashima (浦島久), a school principal of an english school, because it looked like a beautiful jewery. Water of Tokachi River is frozen, and river ice flows to the sea, and is washed ashore on the sandy beach at the mouth of the river. Here is well-known for a shooting place for a work of Mr. Mitsuhiko Kamata (鎌田光彦), a famous photographer. Clear ice polished by the waves is beautiful, so here becomes a popular shooting place. It was featured by the New York Times, and attracts the world's attention. This splendid scenery can be seen in a cold winter, about from mid January to early March. Read More

I wonder if the spacious view is superb, and Japanese movie "Year One in The North (北の零年)" that Ms. Sayuri Yoshinaga (吉永小百合), a famous actress, played the leading role, Music Video of Road sung by TVXQ (東方神起), a popular Korean vocal group, and CM of Subaru FORESTER used here as a shooting place. A view from the sky is very good.

Movie of Year One in The North

Tokachi Coast Wetlands Group

Tokachi Coast Wetlands Group (十勝海岸湖沼群) is a group of wetlands spreading over in the southeastern part of Tokachi District. I do not know exactly where the extent of the Tokachi Coast Wetlands Group is. It is said that Yudo Swamp (湧洞沼), Choubushi Swamp (長節沼), Oikamanai Swamp (生花苗沼), Horokayanto Swamp (ホロカヤント沼), Kimontou Swamp (キモントウ沼), Kimontou-konuma Swamp (キモントウ小沼) and Touen Wetland (当縁湿原) are between Toyokoro town and Taiki town. The group of the wetlands has been chosen as one of 500 Important Wetlands in Japan (日本の重要湿地500), and is a site proposed for the Ramsar Convention Wetland, so people say that it is a paradise for wild flowers and wild birds. About 200 types of the wild birds are observed here. I also encountered Japanese cranes. Because those wetlands do not become tourist attractions, it is said that the group of the wetlands is a little-known spot that tourists can enjoy nature calmly. Therefore, those places are not accessible by public transportations unfortunately. Read More

Look of Kobukariishi Lookout

There is nothing other than a signboard "Kobukariishi Lookout" on the shoulder of the gravel road. Thanks to that, nothing obstructs visitors' sight, so they can view Cape Erimo (襟裳岬) and the pacific ocean. The superb view can be seen if it is fine weather. I reccomend a person that want to view the vast sea. A scenery of direction of Atunai Tunnel (厚内トンネル) is also good. However, please ensure your security yourself because there is not a safe appliance.

Atmosphere of Kobukariishi Lookout Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Kobukariishi Lookout

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Urahoro.