[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

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.

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.