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[Lake Komuke in Monbestu] Red Coral Grass and Paradise of Wild Birds

September 21st, 2017

CONTENTS

Lake Komuke
List of Lake Komuke Tourist Attractions
- Lake Komuke Coral Grass Colony
- Komuke International Campsite
Accommodations

Lake Komuke

Lake Komuke (コムケ湖) is a brackish water lake in Monbetsu city located in the northwest part of Abashiri city, and means "Bent Marsh" in Ainu language. The perimeter of the lake is about 22.7 km. The maximum water depth is 3.8 m. 3 large and small lakes are connected each other, and are collectively called the Lake Komuke. It is hardly become a sightseeing spot, and a beautiful scenery has been left in its natural state. A sandy road is between the Lake Komuke and the Sea of Okhotsk, and visitors can observe the nature along the road. But pay attention to stuck your car. A lot of flowers grow naturally in sandy beach, and I think that here is a primeval flower garden. The moderate salty lakeshore is suitable for coral grass, and some coral grass colonies are around the lake. It begins turning red in early September. It can be said a valuable place that the natural Coral Grass can be seen. Admission free.

Lake Komuke and Coral Grass Colony in Monbestu — Lake Komuke

The Lake Komuke is well-known as a paradise of wild birds, and about 170 kinds of the wild birds can be observed. A flamingo that ran away from Asahiyama Zoo (旭山動物園) flew here in old days, too. I asked a person that observed a wild bird by chance. He told me that he observed a Steller's sea-eagle, and lent his telescope to me. When I watched the Steller's sea-eagle, it was powerful. In addition, a bear sometimes appears. By the way, here was used in CM of SKII that Mr. Masaharu Fukuyama (福山雅治), a famous singer-songwriter, played the piano as a shooting place.

Movie of SKII CM

The distance is about 20 km away from the center of the Monbetsu, and is about 15 km away from the center of Yubetsu town, and a restaurant, a cafe and a convenience store are not built. Monbetsu Airport (紋別空港), Komuke Primeval Flower Garden (コムケ原生花園) and Lake Shibunotsunai (シブノツナイ湖) are relatively near here. A direct bus does not run between Sapporo or New Chitose Airport and here, but a express bus "Ryuhyo Monbetsu-go (流氷もんべつ号)" runs between the Sapporo and the Monbetsu.

List of Lake Komuke Tourist Attractions

The Lake Komuke Coral Grass Colony and Komuke International Campsite are around the Lake Lake Komuke. My visited places are as follows.

Lake Komuke Coral Grass Colony

The coral grass grows naturally here and there. There is no sighseeing facility, so the visitors look around to find the coral grass colony theirselves in wearing rainboots. In that case, pay attention not to tread on the coral grass. The coral grass colony can be seen in a distance from the road. But the visitors are allowed to observe the coral grass closely in the Lake Komuke, and I looked around about for 2 hours. I got tired, but it was interesting.

The coral grass is an annual plant with 10 cm-20 cm in height, and means "Akkeshisou (アッケシソウ)". Mr. Kiyotoshi Sugiyama (椙山清利) discovered the plant in Kaki island, Akkeshi town in 1891, and Mr. Kingo Miyabe (宮部金吾), a famous botanist, named it after the place name. Another name is Sangosou (サンゴ草), and it is more famous than the Akkeshisou, and the Sango means "Coral" in English, and it is called so because shapes of leaves looks like the coral. In Japan, it is a rare plant growing wild only in a part of Hokkaido, Okayama prefecture and Kagawa prefecture, and in some lakes such as the Lake Komuke (コムケ湖), Lake Saroma (サロマ湖) and Lake Notoro (能取湖), Hokkaido, the coral grass can be seen. Because it is very rare plant, to harvest it is forbidden in Japan, but Europe people seem to eat it as vegetables. It is usually green, but it turns red in an autumn. By the way, the coral grass in the Hokkaido is difference from the coral grass in the Inland Sea.

Atmosphere of Lake Komuke and Coral Grass Colony Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Lake Komuke and Coral Grass Colony

Admission fee	Free of charge
Parking lot	Parking lot is not provided
Business hours	Open 24 hours
Regular closing day	Open year all round
Telephone number	+81-158-27-5181
Home page	Home page is here
Mapcode	801 418 361*17

Komuke International Campsite

Komuke International Campsite (コムケ国際キャンプ場) is in the western side of the Lake Komuke, and opens from late April to late October. A shower facility and a coin-operated washing machine are provided.

Atmosphere of Komuke International Campsite Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Komuke International Campsite

Camping fee	Adult: JPY 200. Child: JPY 100.
Parking lot	Free parking lot is provided (68 Cars)
Business hours	-
Regular closing day	From November to mid April
Telephone number	+81-158-27-5181
Home page	Home page is here
Mapcode	1040 002 355*43

Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around Lake Komuke. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Komuke International Campsite(コムケ国際キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Monbetsu Prince Hotel(紋別プリンスホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Monbetsu Central Hotel(紋別セントラルホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Okhotsk Palace(ホテルオホーツクパレス)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Sakura House Annex(民宿さくらハウス別館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Sakura House Main Building(民宿さくらハウス本館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kibarashikan(気晴館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Booking.com

Map

Transportation to Lake Komuke

New Chitose Airport (新千歳空港) --> (Approximately 50 minutes by Plane) --> Memanbetsu Airport (女満別空港) --> (Approximately 5 minutes on foot) --> Memanbetsu-kuko bus stop (女満別空港停留所) --> (Approximately 45 minutes by Kitami bus [To Kitami] (北見バス「北見行き」)) --> Kitami bus terminal (北見バスターミナル) --> (Approximately 10 minutes on foot) --> Kitami station (北見駅) --> (Approximately 65 minutes by Limited express Okhotsk [To Sapporo] (特急オホーツク号「札幌行き」)) --> Engaru station (遠軽駅) --> (Approximately 3 minutes on foot) --> Engarueki-mae bus stop (遠軽駅前停留所) --> (Approximately 90 minutes by Kitami bus [To Monbetsu bus termial] (北見バス「紋別バスターミナル行き」)) --> Monbetsu bus termial (紋別バスターミナル) --> (Approximately 30 minutes by Taxi)