- April 8th, 2016
- Nature
- Little-KnownGoodSpots
- EasternArea
[Kottaro Marsh in Shibecha] Little-Known Good Spot! in Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park
CONTENTS
Kottaro Marsh
Kottaro Marsh (コッタロ湿原) is a wetland beside the north side of Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park. The Kottaro means “A place that water gushes out from underground” in Ainu language, and the place is fitting its name. Because it is not the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland, few tourists come, but it is a little-known spot that the tourists can enjoy nature. A scenery looks like original nature, and it has been designated as the special protection district of the Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park. The Kottaro Marsh is well-known as a nesting place for Japanese cranes. Visitors may have a chance to watch the Japanese cranes from a spring to a summer. A half gravel road called Hokkaido Road 1,060 “Kucchoro-genya Toro Line (クチョロ原野塘路線)” stretches on the marsh, and there are 1st Kottaro Viewpoint (第一展望台), 2nd Kottaro Viewpoint (第二展望地) and 3rd Kottaro Viewpoint (第三展望地) along the road. The 3rd Kottaro Viewpoint seems to be on a hill, but I have never found it.
Movie of Kottaro Marsh
The distance is about 40 km away from the center of Kushiro city, and a restraunt, a cafe, a souvenir shop and a convenience store are not built around here. Nihonmatsu Lookout (二本松展望地), Sarubo Observatory (サルボ展望台), Sarurun Observatory (サルルン展望台) and Lake Shirarutoro (シラルトロ湖) are relatively near here, and Kayanuma Onsen (茅沼温泉), Shirarutoro Onsen (シラルトロ温泉) and Shimo-osobetsu Onsen (下オソツベツ温泉) are around there, too.
Nihonmatsu Lookout
Nihonmatsu Lookout (二本松展望地) near Nihonmatsu Bridge cross Kushiro River (釧路川) in Shibcha town is a lookout at about 40 m above sea lavel in the northern part of the Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park. It is not a tourist attraction officially, so there is not a facility at all. A signboard is not provided, too, and a lot of tourists are hard to find it. It is known as a secret tourist spot. In my case, I was somehow able to find trails (foot stamps) on a hillslope. Read More
Sarubo Observatory and Sarurun Observatory
Sarubo Observatory (サルボ展望台) and Sarurun Observatory (サルルン展望台) are observation decks in the northeastern part of Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland (釧路湿原), and is located at the northwest side of Lake Toro (塘路湖) and at the south side of Lake Shirarutoro. There are a lot lakes and marshes around here in the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland, so wetlands, lakes, a road and a railroad make a good combination. 2 trailheads to the Sarubo Observatory and the Sarurun Observatory are provided, and there is the nearest trailhead on a parking lot. After visitors go up along the precipitous trails, the trails ahead split in two way around the top of a hill. The trails are rough, so you should wear comfortable shoes. By the way, please be careful for thefting from your vehicle on a parking lot. You had better bring an insect repellent because a lot of gnats try to bite your skin in a summer. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
Kayanuma Onsen
Kayanuma Onsen is a hot spring place in Shibecha town located in the northern direction of Kushiro city, and is located at the northern tip of Kushiro-Shitstugen Wetland National Park (釧路湿原国立公園). Visitors turn along Mashu National Route (National Route 391), and go straight for around 2.5 km along Hokkaido Road 959, and the end of the road is the Kayanuma Onsen. Only Kushiro Marshland National Park “Ikoi-no-Ie Kayanuma” (くしろ湿原パーク 憩の家 かや沼) that is one of compound facilities called Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland Park (くしろ湿原パーク) built on a hill facing Lake Shirarutoro (シラルトロ湖). Except a hot spring facility, there are a park golf course, Shirarutoroko Campsite, Shirarutoro Walking Path (シラルトロ歩道) and Cho-no-Mori Observation Deck (蝶の森展望台). Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built around there. Kayanuma Station that is famous for feeding Japanese cranes is at the middle of the Hokkaido Road 959, and a lot of photographers come to take a picture of Japanese cranes with SL Winter Wetlands (SL冬の湿原号). Read More
Shimo-osobetsu Onsen
Shimo-osobetsu Onsen is a hot spring place in Shibecha town located in the northern direction of Kushiro city. Only Ajikoen (味幸園) is built in Osobetsu plain (オソツベツ原野) beside the northern tip of Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland (釧路湿原), and is about 1 km away from Mashu National Route (National Route 391). Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built around the building. 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
List of Kottaro Marsh Tourist Attractions
There are 3 viewing point, the 1st Kottaro Viewpoint, the 2nd Kottaro Viewpoint and the 3rd Kottaro Viewpoint. My visited places are as follows.
1st Kottaro Viewpoint
1st Kottaro Viewpoint in the west side of the marsh is built halfway up a hill at about 80 m above sea level, and a wooden observation deck is provided. A public restroom is beside a parking lot at the foot of the hill. By the way, please be careful for theft from your vehicle on the parking lot. You had better bring an insect repellent because a lot of gnats try to bite your skin in a summer. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.
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The wooden observation deck is the size that about 4 people can enter, and a paid binocular telescope is built, too. It takes about 15 minutes from a parking lot to the observation deck on foot. You may be tired because of steep steps, so you had better wear comfortable shoes. I often felt out of breath when I went up along the steps. But a scenery was splendid! Kottaro River and Kushiro River run meandering through the wetland, and some small ponds are dotted with the wetland. Wide views are comfortable. The views are less magnificent than the Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland, but a shape of the Kottaro River located like a miniature garden is popular with tourist experts.
Atmosphere of 1st Kottaro Viewpoint Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Kottaro 1st Kottaro Viewpoint
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Free parking is provided (10 Cars) |
| Business hours | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | Open all year round |
| Telephone number | – |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 900 086 222*21 |
2nd Kottaro Viewpoint
2nd Kottaro Viewpoint is along the Hokkaido Road Route 1,060 “Kucchoro-genya Toro Line” in the west side of the marsh. But a view is not good because trees disturbing people’s views, so tourists may not enjoy it. The tourists can park their cars on the shoulder to see the Kottaro Marsh. Admission free.
Atmosphere of Kottaro 2nd Kottaro Viewpoint Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Kottaro 2nd Kottaro Viewpoint
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Parking lot is not provided * Pull over to the shoulder |
| Business hours | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | Open all year round |
| Telephone number | – |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 900 115 617*14 |
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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