
- April 8th, 2016
- Nature
- TouristSpots
- EasternArea
[Lake Shirarutoro in Shibcha] Lake Between National Route and Railroad
Lake Shirarutoro
Lake Shirarutoro is a freshwater lake at the northeastern part of Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland (釧路湿原) and at the east side of Kottaro Marsh (コッタロ湿原). It is said that the Shirarutoro means "Something between rocks in river (川の中の岩の間)" in Ainu language, but that has not been known in detail. The perimeter of the lake is about 6.5 km. The maximum water depth is about 2.3 m. Lake Balls (マリモ) grow on the bottom of the lake as well as Lake Akan (阿寒湖). The lake is between Mashu National Route (National Route 391) on the east side of the lake and a railroad on th west side of the lake. Lake Shirarutoro Campsite (シラルトロ湖キャンプ場) and Kayanuma Onsen (茅沼温泉) is located at the north side of the lake, and Shirarutoro Onsen (シラルトロ温泉) is located at the northeast side of the lake.

Movie of Lake Shirarutoro
The distance is about 35 km away from the center of Kushiro city, and a convenience store is not built around here. As for a restraunt and a cafe, there are Restraunt Shiroi-tori in the Kayanuma Onsen and Log Cabin in the Shirarutoro Onsen. Sarubo Observatory (サルボ展望台), Sarurun Observatory (サルルン展望台), Lake Toro (塘路湖) and Shimo-osobetsu Onsen (下オソツベツ温泉) are relatively near here.
Kottaro Marsh
Kottaro Marsh (コッタロ湿原) is a wetland beside the north side of the 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. 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 in the northwest side of Lake Toro (塘路湖) and in 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
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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

East Part of Lake Shirarutoro
There is the only parking lot to see the lake near Reizei Bridge (冷泉橋) along the National Route, and visitors can view the lake. The sunset across the wetland can be seen, too. In a winter, a frozen lake can be seen, too. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.

Atmosphere of Lake Shirarutoro Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Lake Shirarutoro
Admission fee | Free of charge |
---|---|
Parking lot | Parking lot is provided (10 cars) |
Business hours | Open 24 hours |
Regular closing day | Open all year round |
Telephone number | +81-15-485-2111 |
Home page | Home page is here |
Mapcode | 795 030 803*11 |
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations near or in the Kushiro. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
KUSHIRO
SHIBECHA
TSURUI
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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