[Lake Eniwa and Izarigawa Dam in Eniwa] Relax Place for Eniwa People

Lake Eniwa and Izarigawa Dam

Lake Eniwa (えにわ湖) is a man-made lake in Eniwa city located in the southeastern part of Sapporo city, and is one of good places to see fall foliage in Eniwa Valley (恵庭渓谷), and is near Ecorin Village (えこりん村) and Lake Shikotsu (支笏湖). Izarigawa Dam (漁川ダム) that Izari River (漁川) floats into was built in 1980, and the lake was born. The water surface is 1.1 km2. Its height is about 46 m. An impervious wall is built in the center part of the dam, and the dam is a rockfill dam with a center core, a worldwide standard dam, and is used for a multipurpose dam such as a flood control. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge.

Movie of Lake Eniwa and Izarigawa Dam

Eniwa Valley

Eniwa Valley (恵庭渓谷) is a valley in Eniwa city located in the southeastern part of Sapporo city, and is near Lake Shikotsu. Hakusen Falls (白扇の滝), Rarumanai Falls (ラルマナイの滝), Sandan Falls (三段の滝) and Izarigawa Dam (漁川ダム) are along Rarumanai River (ラルマナイ川), Izari River (漁川) and Hokkaido Road 117 Eniwadake Park Line (道道117号恵庭岳公園線). Here is far away from the downtown of the Eniwa, so a convenience store and a restaurant are not built near here. The Eniwa Valley is one of famous places to see fall foliage in the central Hokkaido. The best season is about from early October to mid October. Admission free. Parking lots are free of charge. Read More

Lake Shikotsu

Lake Shikotsu (支笏湖) in Chitose city is the 2nd largest caldera lake after Lake Kussharo in Japan, and was born by large-scale eruptions 40,000 years ago. In Shikotsu-Toya National Park, the perimeter of the lake is about 40 km, and the maximum depth is 360 m, and is the 2nd deepest lake after Lake Tazawa in Akita prefecture in Japan. It is said that the Lake Shikotsu is an unfrozen lake in the northernmost of Japan, but it sometimes is frozen actually. It is famous for clear water of the lake, too, and has transparency as well as Lake Mashu and Lake Baikal. Because the lake is close to New Chitose Airport, Sapporo city and Tomakomai city, it is a popular tourist attraction that a lot of tourists visit. Around the Lake Shikotsu, there are Shikotsuko Onsen Resort (支笏湖温泉街), Marukoma Onsen (丸駒温泉), Former Poropinai Camping Ground (ポロピナイ元キャンプ場), Bifue Camping Ground (美笛キャンプ場), Okotan Camping Ground (オコタン野営場), Lake Okotanpe (オコタンペ湖), Morappu Camping Ground (モラップキャンプ場), Mt Eniwadake (恵庭岳), Mt. Fushidake (風不死岳), Mt. Tarumae (樽前山) and Mt. Monbetsudake (紋別岳). Read More

Fall Foliage of Hokkaido

It is said that the Fall Foliage of the Hokkaido turns into red color at the earliest in Japan. The best time to see the fall foliage comes in Daisetsu-zan at high altitude, and it comes gradually in low areas. It comes in Mt. Asahidake (旭岳) and in Mt. Kurodake (黒岳) in mid September, and autumn leaves fall in early November. As for the highlight of the Fall Foliage of the Hokkaido, tourists are bowled over by vast nature with the fall foliage, or are bowled over by small space that goes well with the fall foliage. Except famous beauty spots for the fall foliage, there are less famous beauty spots for the fall foliage such usual mountains and rivers or gorges here and there. Read More

Look of Lake Eniwa and Izarigawa Dam

Izarigawa Dam Management Branch (漁川ダム管理支所), Sakura Park (桜公園), Lake Eniwa Free Open Space (えにわ湖自由広場) are built at the site. Cherry blossoms and fall foliage can be enjoyed depending on seasons, so Eniwa people use here as a relaxing place. At the Lake Eniwa Free Open Space, barbecue facilities are provided. In addition, some events such as Dam Study Tour (ダム見学会), Momiji Festival (紅葉まつり) and Lake Eniwa Itsukushimi Festa (えにわ湖慈しみフェスタ) are held. By the way, fishing trout can be enjoyed, too.

Izarigawa Dam Exhibition Room (漁川ダム展示室) at the Izarigawa Dam Management Branch is opened to the public, and documents related to the dam are displayed. Admission free. A dam card is distributed, too.

Kasei Bridge (火精橋), Suisei Bridge (水精橋), Mokusei Bridge (木精橋), Kinsei Bridge (金精橋) and Dosei Bridge (土精橋) are built around the Lake Eniwa. Those names are related to plantes. * The Kasei means "Mars" in English, and the Suisei means "Mercury" in English, and the Mokusei means "Jupiter" in English, and the Kinsei means "Venus" in English, and the Dosei means "Saturn" in English. I do not know why, but the Lake Eniwa may be related to planets of the solar system. By the way, fall foliage was beautiful from the Mokusei Bridge, so I dropped by.

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Eniwa. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Eniwa Business Hotel SG(えにわビジネスホテルSG)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Eniwa Station Hotel(えにわステーションホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Nakamura Ryokan(中村旅館)	Only Tel:+81-123-33-2014
Meisho Minshuku(明勝民宿)	Only Tel:+81-123-32-3321
memori(メモリー)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Koukaso(江花荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Guest House IZARI(ゲストハウス漁)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kashiwagi Area Recreation Facility Campsite(柏木地区レクリエーション施設キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten