[Mokotoyama Lookout Parking Park around Lake Kussharo] One of Lake Kussharo Viewing Points

Mokotoyama Lookout Parking Park

Mokotoyama Lookout Parking Park (藻琴山展望駐車公園) is a viewing point at 430 m above sea level in the northeastern side of the Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖), and is built to see the lake along Hokkaido Road 102. You might see a sea of clouds in the early morning if you are lucky. In addition, starry sky is beautiful in the evening, too. In Akan Mashu National Park, there are a gazebo and a parking lot on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.

The Lake Kussharo is the largest caldera lake in Japan in Teshikaga town located in the northeastern part of Lake Akan (阿寒湖), and its shape tuend into the current shape by large-scale eruptions 40,000 years ago. Before then, the lake was larger round lake than the current lake. It is the 2nd largest caldera lake in the world after Lake Toba in Indonesia, too. The perimeter of the lake is about 57 km, and the maximum depth is 117 m, and Nakashima (中島), the largest island on the fresh water lake in the Japan, flotas on the surface of the lake, but landing is prohibited. There are Mt. Mokoto (藻琴山), the Wakoto Peninsula, Bihoro Pass Lookout (美幌峠展望台), Tubetsu Pass Observation Deck (津別峠展望台), Mokotoyama Lookout Parking Park (藻琴山展望駐車公園), Highland Koshimizu 725 (ハイランド小清水725), Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉), Sanko Onsen (三香温泉), Kotan Onsen (コタン温泉), Ike-no-Yu Onsen (池ノ湯温泉), Suna-Yu (砂湯), Nibushi Onsen (仁伏温泉), Wakoto-kohan Campsite (和琴湖畔キャンプ場), Wakoto Campsite (和琴キャンプ場), Suna-Yu Campsite (砂湯キャンプ場) and Highland Koshimizu Campsite (ハイランド小清水キャンプ場) around the Lake Kussharo.

The distance is around 30 km from the center of the Kawayu Onsen, Unfortunately, a restaurant, a cafe and a convenience store is not built around here. Highland Koshimizu 725 (ハイランド小清水725), Highland Koshimizu Campsite (ハイランド小清水キャンプ場) and Kawayu ONsen (川湯温泉) are relatively near here.

Highland Koshimizu 725

Mokoto Pass (藻琴峠) is a pass at 648 m above sea level in the northern side of the Lake Kussharo, and Highland Koshimizu 725 (ハイランド小清水725) is built at 725 m above sea level on the hillside of Mt. Mokoto (藻琴山) near the hilltop of Hokkaido Road 102 connecting Koshimizu town and Teshikaga town, and is a popular viewing point with a view of the Lake Kussharo or Mt. Sharidake (斜里岳). Visitors can sometimes see a sea of clouds covered with the lake. In Akan Mashu National Park, there are the Highland Koshimizu 725, a lookout, a trailhead to the Mt. Mokoto (Koshimizu Course), a public restroom and a parking lot on the site. Spring water of the Mt. Mokoto named "Chomeisui (長命水)" is gushed beside the parking lot. It is well-known as drinkable famous mineral water, and a lot of the visitors come to draw water. By the way, the Highland Koshimizu 725 has a restaurant and a souvenir shop, and the visitors can take a rest ,too. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Kawayu Onsen

Kawayu Onsen (川湯温泉) is a famous hot-spring place in Teshikaga town located in the northern part of Kushiro city. There are Mt. Iou (硫黄山), Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖) and Lake Mashu (摩周湖) around the Kawayu Onsen, and it is a base for sightseeing, and about 0.7 million tourists come every year. Ph of the hot springs is about 1.8, and the Kawayu Onsen is popular for great strong acidic hot springs in Japan together with Tamagawa Onsen in Akita prefecture, Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma prefecture, Zao Onsen in Yamagata prefecture and Sukayu Onsen in Aomori prefecture. They are proud of high quality hot springs, and chant "100% narutal free flowing hot springs" as a whole, and all the hot spring facilities use the 100% narutal free flowing hot springs. Article is here