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[Orofure Pass Lookout in Noboribetsu] Beautiful Pacific Ocean and Mountains
October 9th, 2016
CONTENTS
Orofure Pass
Orofure Pass (オロフレ峠) is a pass along Hokkaido Road 2 with a lot of sharp turns on Mt. Orofure with about 1230 m in height between Noboribetsu city and Sobetsu town, and Orofure Parking Lot Park (オロフレ駐車公園), Orofure Pass Lookout (オロフレ峠展望台) and a public restroom are at the Orofure Pass. The Orofure Pass Lookout is famous for seeing a conbination of Pacific Ocean and mountains. There is a trailhead to Mt. Orofure, so a lot of hikers come, too. The Hokkaido Road 2 is closed in the evening (17:00-09:00) from late November to late April. A view from Okei Parking Lot (黄渓駐車場) along the Hokkaido Road 2 is comforatable, too. The Hokkaido Road 2 has continuous sharp curves, so drive safety in a winter.
Mt. Orofure Hiking Guide Map in Japanese
Movie of Mt. Orofure Hiking
The Orofure means "River with red underwater" in Ainu language, and was named after a red tributary oozed out by iron ore of Shiramizu River near here. At the foot of the Mt. Orofure, Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen (登別カルルス温泉) and Sunlaiva Ski Resort (サンバイラスキー場) are at the noboribetsu side, and Benkei Onsen (弁景温泉) and Orofure Ski Resort (オロフレスキー場) are at the Sobetsu side. Fresh green and hiking can be enjoyed in a summer, fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn, and snow views and skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in the winter. Beautiful trees covered with hoar frost can be seen from January to February. A restaurant, a cafe and a convenience store are not built near here.
Movie of Trees Covered with Hoar Frost along Orofure Pass
Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen
Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen (登別カルルス温泉) is a hot spring place at about 350 m above sea level in the most remote of Noboribetsu city, and is close to Noboribetsu Onsen, most famous onsen in Hokkaido, in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. There are Suzuki Ryokan (鈴木旅館), Orofure-so (オロフレ荘) and Sanseikan (山静館) along Noboribetsu river, and Hotel Iwai (ホテル岩井) is built on a small hill. There are Orofure Pass (オロフレ峠), Sunlaiva Ski Resort (サンバイラスキー場), Karurusu Sportsland (カルルスサンスポーツランド), Lake Tachibana (橘湖) and Keifuen Park (渓楓園) around the Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen. Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built. Speaking of the Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen, BATHCLIN bathing powder is famous. That is milky white hot water, and it reminds Japanese people of the hot springs like Noboribestu Onsen, but the hot springs are actually clear and colorless. Article is here
Benkei Onsen
Benkei Onsen (弁景温泉) is a hot spring place in Sobetsu town near Lake Toya (洞爺湖). Kubonai Fureai Center (久保内ふれあいセンター) and Benkei Onsen Public Bath (弁景温泉共同浴場) for members only are built at the foot of Orofure Pass (オロフレ峠). Common visitors can take a bath only at Kubonai Fureai Center. It maybe difficult to find a building because the building facing Osaru River does not built along Hokkaido Road 2. A convenience store is not built around here. The distance is around 7 km away from the center of the Sobetsu, and Bakei Onsen (蟠渓温泉), Orofure Pass (オロフレ峠) and Orofure Ski Resort (オロフレスキー場) are relatively near here. Article is here
Orofure Pass Lookout
The Orofure Pass Lookout is a viewing point at about 930 m in height around the mountaintop of the Mt. Orofure, and the Pacific Ocean, Lake Kuttara, Lake Toya and Mt. Yotei can be seen. Another name is "Daikanbou (大観望 * Great View)". A former road covered with grass has decadent beautifulness. Unfortunately, the Lake Kuttara, the Lake Toya and the Mt. Yotei could not be seen clearly when I visited here. A beautiful sea of clouds might be seen in the moring or the late afternoon, June. The Orofure Pass Lookout is closed from late November to early June. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. By the way, white soil is chosen as the 100 best geological feature in Hokkaido.
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Atmosphere of Orofure Pass Lookout Can Be Watched on Youtube
Movie of Orofure Pass Lookout
| Admission fee | Free of charge |
|---|---|
| Parking lot | Free parking is provided (80 cars) |
| Business hour | Open 24 hours |
| Regular closing day | From late November to early June |
| Telephone number | +81-143-84-3311 |
| Home page | Home page is here |
| Mapcode | 603 459 825*13 |
List of Accommodations
Refer to following websites for the accommodations around Orofure Pass Lookout. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.
| Suzuki Ryokan(鈴木旅館) | Booking |
Rakuten |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Iwai(ホテル岩井) | Booking |
Rakuten |
||
| Yumoto Orofureso(湯元オロフレ荘) | Booking |
|||
| Mori-no-Yu Sanseikan(森の湯山静館) | Rakuten |
JalanA page of Shikotsu-Toya National Park is here
Shikotsu-Toya National Park
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Comment
Hi, Cindy san,
I found as follows on the internet (I am not acquainted with them unfortunately).
http://www.geocities.jp/english_guide_taxi_hokkaido/index.html
http://www.tabi-hokkaido.co.jp/guidetaxi/
http://hamanasukai.com/engllish/
They can drive their cars and communicate with the client in English
Please try to contact them, so you will respond to the your client’s request.
Hi, Cindy san,
Please give me some time because I will look into it.
Hi,
Thank you for your advice regarding Orofure Pass last year. Although I did not manage to drive through it to visit Lake Toya, I had a wonderful time in Hokkaido. I love it so much that I have started a free lance travel planning service (https://cinleehan.wordpress.com/personalised-travel-services/) to help people visiting Hokkaido and other parts of Japan.
I am currently planning 2 trips for end of this year. One trip is for a family of 6 visiting Hokkaido. They will not be driving and would like to hire a van and driver. Do you have any good contacts that I can work with?
Thank you Cindy san!
I appreciate your support.
Have a nice trip!
Thank you 🙂 Will heed your advice and drive carefully.
Just want to let you know that your website is fantastic! Your articles have helped me planned my upcoming trip.
I mentioned your site in my blog (https://cinleehan.wordpress.com/2016/08/31/planning-a-14-day-hokkaido-winter-trip/) so others can know about it.
Please continue to share your Hokkaido adventures!
Hi, Cindy san,
Yes, you can drive Orofure Pass from 09:00 to 19:00.
That road is closed to motor vehicles from 19:01 to 08:59.
But it may snow in early December and that road may freeze.
Careful of driving!
In addition, Orofure Pass Observatory is closed from November to June.
I’m be in Hotel Mahoroba early Dec. Can I drvie to Lake Toya via Orofure Pass?