[Ryugudai Observation Park in Yubetsu] Lake Saroma and Sea of Okhotsk Can Be Seen at Ryugudai Observation Deck

Ryugudai Overlook Park

Ryugudai Overlook Park (龍宮台展望公園) is a park in Yubetsu town located in the north part of the Lake Saroma. Ryugudai Observation Deck (龍宮台展望台) at the end of Hokkaido Road 656 is built on sandbar of about 200 m width between the Sea of Okhotsk and Lake Saroma. In a summer, the sea and the lake can be viewed, and drift ice can be enjoyed closely in a winter. Mr. Keigetsu Omachi (大町桂月), a famous Japanese poet, that was well-known for naming Sounkyo (層雲峡) and Hagoromo Falls (羽衣の滝) compared the sandbar to "A path to the Palace of the Dragon King (龍宮 * Ryugu)", so around here was named "Ryugudai". Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Sanrihama Camping Ground (三里浜キャンプ場) is near here, so a lot of campers come in the summer. By the way, the camping ground is charged.

Movie of Ryugudai Overlook Park

The Nakayubetsu, a closest town, is about 20 km away from here, and a restaurant, a cafe and a convenience store are not built around here. Saginuma Primeval Flower Garden (サギ沼原生花園) is relatively near here.

Lake Saroma

Lake Saroma (サロマ湖) is a brackish water lake among Kitami city, Saroma town and Yubetsu town, and is the 3rd largest lake after Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) and Lake Kasumigaura (霞ヶ浦) in Japan. A sandbar of 200 to 700 m width separates the lake from the Sea of Okhotsk (オホーツク海), and the lake links the sea with only 2 points. In old days, the sandbar separeted the lake from the sea depending on seasons perfectly. The perimeter of the lake is about 87 km, and the maximum depth is 19.6 m. The lake has no name in Ainu language, and they called it just lake. It is well-known for tasty seafood such as Oyster and Scallop, and fishing Japanese pond smelt is popular in a winter. Read More

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An express bus "Dreamint Okhotsk-go (ドリーミントオホーツク号)" runs between the Sapporo and the Kitami, and Limited Express Sekihoku-go (特急石北号), an express bus, runs between the Kitami and Asahikawa, and Senpoku-go (釧北号), an express bus, runs between the Kitami and Kushiro, and an express bus "Engaru-go (えんがる号)" runs between the Sapporo and Engaru. Besides, Rent-a-car can be rented around Kitami Station.

List of Means of Transportation

Highway buses run between the Kitami and the Sapporo, the Asahikawa and the Kushiro, and an express bus "Engaru-go (えんがる号)" runs between the Sapporo and Engaru. Refer to following the means of the transportation. As for car rental comparison websites, you can compare vehicle rental prices on Tabi-Plaza Rental Car Reservation (旅ぷらざレンタカー予約), Jalan Rental Car (じゃらんレンタカー) and Rakutem Travel Rental Car (楽天トラベルレンタカー).

Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Kitami	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Kitami to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokkaido Kitami Bus(北海道北見バス)	From Asahikawa to Kitami	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokkaido Kitami Bus(北海道北見バス)	From Kitami to Asahikawa	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Akan Bus(阿寒バス)	From Kushiro to Kitami	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Akan Bus(阿寒バス)	From Kitami to Kushiro	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Sapporo to Engaru	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chuo Bus(中央バス)	From Engaru to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nippon Rent-a-car(ニッポンレンタカー)	Their office is near the Kitami Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Times Car Rental(タイムズカーレンタル)	Their office is near the Kitami Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyota Rental Lease(トヨタレンタリース)	Their office is near the Kitami Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nissan Rent-a-car(日産レンタカー)	Their office is in Koueinishi-machi.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Orix Rent-a-car(オリックスレンタカー)	Their office is in Tondennishi-machi.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Station Rent-a-car(駅レンタカー)	Their office is near the Kitami Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nico Nico Rent-a-car(ニコニコレンタカー)	Their office is near the Kitami Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Carsta Rent-a-car(カースタレンタカー)	Their office is near the Kitami Station.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

Ryugudai Observation Deck

The Ryugudai Observation Deck of about 5 m height, a monument engraved with a waka poem composed by spouses Keigetsu Omachi and the parking lot are built on the site. The Lake Saroma and the Sea of Okhotsk can be viewed on the top of the observation deck, but electric wires unfortunately obstruct people's views to the Lake Saroma. In the winter, the sea often is covered with drift ice fully, and tourists can go a beach to touch the drift ice with their hand.

Atmosphere of Ryugudai Observation Deck Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Ryugudai Observation Deck

List of Accommodations

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

Saroma

Saromakohan Youth Hostel(サロマ湖畔ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Saromako Yurinkan(サロマ湖悠林館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tabibito-yado Saromanian(旅人宿 さろまにあん)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Watanabe(民宿わたなべ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Piraoroso(旅館 ピラオロ荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Morita Ryokan(もりた旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ryokan Oshiro(旅館 大城)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kimuaneppu-Misaki Campsite(キムアネップ岬キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Tokoro

Lake Saroma Tsuruga Resort(サロマ湖鶴雅リゾート)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sencho-no-Ie(船長の家)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Matsunoya Sato Ryokan(松乃屋/佐藤旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten