- June 1st, 2013
- Nature
- FamousSpots
- SouthernArea
[Onuma Quasi-National Park] Beautiful Scneries Chosen as One of 3 New Views of Japan Can Be Enjoyed
CONTENTS
Onuma Quasi-National Park
Onuma Quasi-National Park (大沼国定公園) is a quasi-national park at the foot of Mt. Komagatake (駒ヶ岳) in the southern part of Hokkaido, and is between Nanae town, Shikabe town and Mori town. Its area is 9,083 ha. The park has been designated as the quasi-national park since 1958, and 2 million tourists come. It consists of the Mt. Komagatake of 1,131 m elevation, an active volcano, Lake Ounma (大沼湖), Lake Konuma (小沼湖), Junsai Swamp (蓴菜沼), and beautiful scneries are highlights. The Onuma Quasi-National Park has been chosen as one of The 3 New Views of Japan (新日本三景) together with Miho-no-Matsubara (三保の松原) in Shizuoka prefecture and Yabakei (耶馬渓) in Oita prefecture since 1915. It is also famous for fall foliage, and has been chosen as one of The 100 Best Fall Foliage Spots in Japan (日本紅葉の名所100選). When the Mt. Komagatake erupted from 50,000 to 30,000 years ago, a river was dammed by flowing mud flood, and those lakes were created. Wetlands have been registered under the Ramsar Convention since 2012, and wild waterfowls such as Goose and Duck rest their wings on the surface of the lake.
Onuma Quasi-National Park Guide Map
Movie of Onuma Quasi-National Park
The Lake Onuma is the largest lake in the Onuma Quasi-National Park, and the perimeter of the lake is about 24 km, and the maximum water depth is 12.2 m. It is connected with the Lake Konuma, the 2nd largest lake in the quasi-national park, and Tsukimi Bridge (月見橋) along Onuma Park Line (大沼公園線 Hokkaido Road 338) cross on a connection point. The perimeter of the lake is about 16 km, and the maximum water depth is 5 m. 126 large and small islands float on the surface of the lakes, and 18 bridges crossing the islands are built. The topography has fine views, and a lot of nonnative people used to come to enjoy the views in the Meiji period. I feel that it has a foreign atmosphere. Taking a walk on the water is one of ways to enjoy the quasi-national park while viewing the lake and the Mt. Komagatake. In addition, a sightseeing boat sails between the Lake Onuma and the Lake Konuma, and tourists can make a round trip by bicycles. Beautiful sceneries appears in TV CM or posters, and Holiday Club of Adult “Hokkaido Summer” version (大人の休日倶楽部 北海道「北海道の夏」編) that Ms. Sayuri Yoshinaga (吉永小百合), a famous actress, appears on and Seishun 18 Ticket (青春18きっぷ) used here as a shooting place. The Junsai Swamp is a little away from the 2 lakes. The perimeter of the lake is about 7.3 km, and the maximum water depth is 4.6 m. Pond smelt fishing in a winter is famous.
A base for sightseeing is Onuma Park Square (大沼公園広場) in the southern part of the Lake Onuma. A boarding point is built there, and visitors can enjoy a cruise for 30 minutes. In addition, accommodations, restaurants, souvenir shops are also built. Besides it, famous tourist attractions are Oiwa-enchi Park (大岩園地), Oiwa Rocks (大岩) and Onuma Komagadake Shrine (大沼駒ヶ岳神社), Reisendo Spring (霊泉洞) and Higureyama Observation Deck (日暮山展望台). As for popular restaurants in the Onuma Park Square, Numa-no-Ie (沼の家), Yamakawa Ranch Milk Plant (山川牧場ミルクプラント), Lumber House, Country Kitchen Wald, Table De Rivage, Brew House Onuma and Gengoro (源五郎) have a good reputation in particular. By the way, hot springs gushes out near the Lake Onuma, and the tourists can enjoy onsen at Higashi-Onuma Onsen (東大沼温泉) and Nishi-Onuma Onsen (西大沼温泉).
The Onuma Park has some events, too. Onuma Hakodate Snow and Ice Festival (大沼函館雪と氷の祭典) is held between 2days in early February, and Onuma Lakeside Long‐distance Relay Road Race (大沼湖畔駅伝競走大会) is held only in a day, late April, and Lake Onuma Jazz Festival (レイク大沼ジャズフェスティバル) is held only in a day, late June, and Onuma Lake Festival (大沼湖水まつり) is held between 2days in late July, and Southern Hokkaido Komagatake Circuit Tour “Great Earth” Ride (GREAT EARTH みなみ北海道駒ケ岳一周ライド) is held only in a day, late September, and Hokkaido Onuma Great Run Walk (北海道大沼グレートラン・ウォーク) is held only in a day, mid October.
List of Tourist Attractions
There are the Onuma Park Square (大沼公園広場), Takahashi Sanyaso Park (高橋山野草公園), Onuma Kohan Marshland (大沼湖畔湿地), Hakodate Nanae Gondola (函館七飯ゴンドラ), Skunk Cabbage Colony (水芭蕉群生地), Lat. 42 N Marker (北緯42°の標), Higashi-Onuma Camping Site (東大沼キャンプ場), the Oiwa-enchi Park (大岩園地), the Oiwa Rocks and Onuma Komagadake Shrine and the Reisendo Spring around the Lake Onuma. There are Shin-Onuma Kosenkyo Bridge (新大沼跨線橋) and the Higureyama Observation Deck around the Lake Konuma. Greenpia Onuma (グリーンピア大沼) is built near the Junsai Swamp.
Lake Onuma with Fall Foliage
Lake Onuma (大沼) is the largest lake in Onuma Quasi National Park, and is well-known as a beauty spot to see fall foliage in Hokkaido, too. A combination of Mt. Komagadake (駒ヶ岳) and small islands with fall foliage floated on the surface of the Lake Onuma is very good. 4 trails, Oshima Trail (大島の路), Forest Trail (森の小径), Island Hopping Trail (島巡りの路) and Sunset Trail (夕日の道), are provided around Park Plaza (公園広場), and I have walked the Oshima Trail and the Island Hopping Trail on foot. By the way, bicycles are prohibited on the trails. The best time to see is from late October to early November. Admission free. A parking lot is chraged. Read More
Onuma Park Square
The Onuma Park Square is the base for the sightseeing in the Onuma Park near Onuma Koen Station between the Lake Onuma and the Lake Konuma, and pay parking lots, the accommodations, the restaurants, the souvenir shops and the boarding point are built. Here are also rental bicycle shops. In addition, some trails are built, and the tourists can enjoy a scenery in those days as if they were old nonnative people. Admission free. The parking lots are charged.
The Onuma Park Square has 4 walking courses, Oshima Trail (大島の路), Forest Trail (森の小径), Island Hopping Trail (島巡りの路) and Sunset Trail (夕日の小沼道), and the each times it takes to go a round on foot are 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 50 minutes and 25 minutes. As for the Island Hopping Trail, visitors can walk through bridges and narrow paths, so I feel as if views were a Chinese garden. The fall foliage was very nice, so I was moved very much.
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Pay parking lot is provided (1000 cars) * Parking fee: JPY 400 |
| Business hour | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | Open all year round |
| Telephone number | +81-138-65-2517 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 86 816 661*42 |
Onuma Kohan Marshland
Onuma Kohan Marshland (大沼湖畔湿地) is a wetland in the east side of the Lake Onuma (大沼), Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city, and is relatively near Nagareyama Onsen Station. The lake has been registered under the Ramsar Convention since 2012. This place is known for skunk cabbage and narcissus in an early spring, and Mt. Komagadake can be seen on the lakeshore. Here is one of tourist spots for cycling, so there is not sightseeing facility containing a parking lot at all. Admission free. Read More
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Oiwa-enchi Park
Oiwa-enchi Park (大岩園地) is a nature park in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. It is in the north side of the Lake Onuma (大沼), the largest lake in Onuma Quasi-National Park (大沼国定公園), and is near Onuma Komagadake Shrine (大沼駒ヶ岳神社) and Reisendo Spring (霊泉洞). I tried searching the Oiwa-enchi Park on the internet, but I did not know because a place containg the shrine and Oiwa Rock (大岩) is called the Oiwa-enchi Park or a place jutting into the Lake Onuma is called the Oiwa-enchi Park. Walks, a public restroom and a parking lot are built at the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
Onuma Komagadake Shrine and Oiwa Rocks
Onuma Komagadake Shrine (大沼駒ヶ岳神社) is a shinto shrine in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. It is in the north side of the Lake Onuma (大沼), the largest lake in Onuma Quasi-National Park (大沼国定公園), and is near Oiwa-enchi Park (大岩園地) and Reisendo Spring (霊泉洞). The shrine is known for beautiful fresh green and fall foliage, and visitors can enjoy a conbination of the scneries and a solemn atmosphere. The shrine has been established since 1914. An enshrined deity is Ooyamatsumi (大山祗神). A trailhead for Mt. Komagadake (駒ヶ岳) used to be built at the site, and the Onuma Komagadake Shrine was built for praying for safety of hikers. Here is also famous as a spiritual place, and huge rocks called “Oiwa Rocks (大岩)” is at the site, too. Admission free. Read More
Reisendo Spring
Reisendo Spring (霊泉洞) is a spring in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. The spring gushes out in the north side of the Lake Onuma (大沼), the largest lake in Onuma Quasi-National Park (大沼国定公園), and is one of water resources of the Lake Onuma. Here is famous as a spiritual place, and Torii (a gateway to shinto shrine) and a small shrine building are built at the site. Admission free. A parking lot is at Oiwa-enchi Park (大岩園地), and is free of charge. Read More
Higashi-Onuma Camping Site
Higashi-Onuma Camping Site is located in the east side of the Lake Onuma. There are a stall and restraunt, a common kitchen, a restroom. A campsite manager is not at the campsite.
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Free parking is provided (80 cars) |
| Business hour | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | From November to late April |
| Telephone number | +81-138-47-9439 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 490 356 247*10 |
Higureyama Observation Deck
Higureyama Observation Deck (日暮山展望台) is a lookout point in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. Mt. Komagadake (駒ヶ岳), Lake Onuma (大沼) and Lake Konuma can be viewed from the mountaintop of the Mt. Higure (日暮山) of 303 m elevation between the Lake Konuma, the 2nd largest lakes in Onuma Quasi-National Park, and Junainuma Swamp (蓴菜沼), the 3rd largest lake in the park. The lookout is well-known as a good place to savor a wonderful scenery, and the sea of clouds may be seen in the early morning, too. A poster of Seishun 18 Ticket (青春18きっぷ) used here as a shooting place. After all, a good picture can be taken here. A lookout, a parking lot and a public restroom are built at the site. Brown bears may appear, so beware of them. In addition, drive safely because a road to the mountaintop is a gravel road and the width of the road is only one car size. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
Shinonuma Kosenkyo Bridge
Shinonuma Kosenkyo Bridge (新大沼跨線橋) is a bridge in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. In the southwestern part of Lake Konuma, Onuma Park Line (大沼公園線 Hokkaido Road 338) and Hakodate Main Line (函館本線) cross there. Around here is a lookout point to see beautiful Mt. Komagadake (駒ヶ岳) and the Lake Konuma, and the Hakodate Main Line under one’eyes is a famous photogenic place of railroad pictures. A poster of Seishun 18 Ticket (青春18きっぷ) used here as a shooting place. Read More
Junsainuma Swamp
Junsainuma Swamp (蓴菜沼) is a freshwater swamp in Nanae located in the northern direction of Hakodate city, and the 3rd largest lakes in Onuma Quasi-National Park. The perimeter of the swamp is about 7.3 km, and the maximum water depth is 4.6 m. As its name suggests, the swamp was named after harvesting the water shield. The water shield means “The Junsai” in Japanese. It is located in the western part of National Route 5, walking paths and spring water called Gozensui spring (御膳水) as sightseeing spots are in Junsainuma Swamp Area. But it seems that the spring water is not drinkable. Smelt pond fishing can be enjoyed in a winter. A parking lot, a public restroom and buckwheat noodle restaurant “Gozensui” are built at the site. The buckwheat noodles are popular, too. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More
List of Tasty Foods
Speaking of the Onuma, Onuma Beef, Onuma Beer and Yamakawa Ranch’s milk are famous, and soft serve ice creams of the Yamakawa Ranch has a good reputation, too. In some famous tasty foods, the most famous food is the Numa-no-Ie’s Onuma Dumplings (大沼だんご). A lot of poeple come to buy it. In addition, the Lumber House, the Country Kitchen Wald, the Table De Rivage, the Brew House Onuma and the Gengoro are popular in particular. Restaurant Kerun (レストラン ケルン), Lucky Pierot (ラッキーピエロ) and Pikata-no-Mori Ice Cream Studio (ピカタの森アイス工房) relatively near the Onuma Park are also popular. My visited restaurants are as follows.
Onuma Dumplings
Numa-no-Ie (沼の家) is a long-established Japanese-style confectionary store between Lake Onuma and JR Onuma Koen Station in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city, and has opened a business since 1905. Onuma Dumplings (大沼だんご) devised by Mr. Kamekichi Horiguchi (堀口亀吉), the founder, is famous. A box of the Onuma Dumplings represents the Lake Onuma and Lake Konuma, the dumplings without skewers represent 127 small islands floating on the lakes. They serve 2 types of the Onuma Dumplings, sweet red bean paste (餡) and sweet sesame paste (胡麻), and 2 sizes, large size (大) and small size (小). The Onuma Dumplings with Sweet Red Bean Paste is sold at Limited Express Super Hokuto (スーパー北斗), too, but the Onuma Dumplings with Sweet Sesame Paste is sold only at this store. Read More
Kerun
Kerun (ケルン) is a famous restaurant in Mori town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. There is a building along the National Route 5. A hamburger steak and a steak using beef produced in Hokkaido are popular. I heard from my friend that it was very popular restaurant, but I did not think that it was crowded before entering a restaurant possibly. The preceding visitors were 8 groups. I wrote my name on a board before business hours and ordered small hamburger steak combo (スモールハンバーグランチ). The price was JPY 999. The visitors waited at each cars until opening a business. Read More
List of Onuma Onsen
The hot springs gush out near the Lake Onuma. The Higashi-Onuma Onsen in the east side across the Lake Onuma and the Nishi-Onuma Onsen in the west side across the Lake Onuma are famous. In addition, Komagamine Onsen Chappurinkan (駒ケ峯温泉ちゃっぷ林館) is also in the north side of the Lake Onuma. My visited onsen is as follows.
Onuma Onsen
Onuma Onsen (大沼温泉) is a hot spring resort in Nanae town located in the northern direction of Hakodate city. In Onuma Quasi-National Park, the Onuma Onsen is divided into Nishi-onuma Onsen in the west side and Higashi-onuma Onsen in the east side acrose Lake Onuma (大沼), and Hakodate-Onuma Price Hotel (函館大沼プリンスホテル) and Onsen Ryokan Tome-no-Yu (温泉旅館 留の湯) are built in the each places. The Onuma Onsen is a place of scenic beauty surrounded by trees and the Lake Onuma, Lake Konuma (小沼湖) and Junsai Swamp (蓴菜沼) in the foot of Mt. Komagadale (駒ヶ岳), and there are some famous tourist attractions such as Onuma Park Square (大沼公園広場) or Shirotai Ranch Observation Point around here. There are Lucky Pierrot (ラッキーピエロ) that is famous for a hamburger, Kerun (ケルン) that is famous for a hamburger steak and a convenience store along National Route 5 nearby here. Read More
List of Events
Around the Lake Onuma, some events are held from a spring to a winter.
Movie of Onuma Hakodate Snow and Ice Festival
Movie of Lake Onuma Jazz Festival
Movie of Onuma Lake Festival
Movie of Southern Hokkaido Komagatake Circuit Tour “Great Earth” Ride
Movie of Hokkaido Onuma Great Run Walk
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Onuma Park. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
Onuma Onsen
Nanae
Mori
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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