[Sakura Falls in Kiyoasto] Cherry Salmons Jumping Touch Person's Heart

Sakura Falls

Sakura Falls (さくらの滝) is a waterfall in Kiyosato town located in the root of Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島), and is relatively near Kiyosato Midori Onsen (清里緑温泉). The small waterfall is at the upper stream of Shari River (斜里川), and the difference of elevation is about 4m, and the width is about 10 m. About 3000 cherry salmons swim upstream to spawn, and the falls is well-known as a good place to watch cherry salmons jumping. I guess that the falls was named as the Sakura Falls because of the cherry salmons swimming upstream. The cherry means “Sakura” in Japanese. The best time to see is about from early July to early August. In a spring, cherry blossoms are in bloom, and fall foliage is beautiful in an autumn. A parking lot is provided at the site, and temporary toilets are also provided only in the busy period. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Please use walking route as a referenc if you come to here on foot. * Fishing is not allowed.

Movie of Sakura Falls

Famous tourist attractions in the Kiyosato are Kaminoko Pond (神の子池), Uramashu Observatory (裏摩周展望台), the Sakura Falls (さくらの滝), Uchu Observation Deck (宇宙展望台), Straight Road (ストレートロード) and Kiyosato Shochu Distillery (清里焼酎醸造所). Speaking of tasty restaurants in the Kiyosato, Handmade Soba Shuhoan (手打ち蕎麦の秀峰庵), Sakanaya Ota (酒菜屋大田), Kiyosato Mugikobo (清里 麦香房) and Restraunt Papas (レストランパパス) are popular in particular. Hot springs gush out in the Kiyosato, and a day trip onsen can be enjoyed in Kiyosato Onsen (清里温泉), Sattsuru Onsen (札弦温泉) and Kiyosato Midori Onsen (清里緑温泉). Some sports events are held, Granfondo Kiyosato is held in early July, and Sharidake Road Race (斜里岳ロードレース) is held in mid September.

Movie of Granfondo Kiyosato

Kiyosato Midori Onsen

Kiyosato Midori Onsen (清里緑温泉) is a hot spring place in Kiyosato town located in the southern direction of Shari town in the Shiretoko peninsula. Midori-no-Yu (みどりの湯) is built nearby Midori Station. There are Midori-ekimae Hiroba Park Golf Course (緑駅前広場パークゴルフ場) and Kiyosato Municipal Midori Ski Resort (清里町営緑スキー場), too. Sakura Falls is realitvely near here. Except a shop, restraunts, cafes, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built around here. Read More

Kaminoko Pond

Kaminoko Pond (神の子池) is a pond in Kiyosato town located in the northern direction of Lake Mashu (摩周湖). In Akan Mashu National Park, the pond is in a primeval forest at about 280 m above sea level. After turning Hokkaido Road 1115 to a forestry road, visitors head the road for about 2 km, and reach to a parking lot. The perimeter of the pond is about 220 m. The maximum water depth is 5 m. The pond is very small. It is said that the Kaminoko Pond is connected to Lake Mashu under the ground, and water of 12,000 t a day spring out from the bottom of the pond. * There is another opinion that the Kaminoko Pond is not connected to the Lake Mashu, too. People in the old days thought of the pond as the son of the Lake Mashu meaned “A mountain god’s lake” in Ainu language, and the pond was named “Kaminoko Pond (A son of the god in Japanese language)”. * There are various opinions. Trees that sank into the pond have never rotted have a good reputation, and it becomes a popular tourist attraction as a spiritual place because of the mystery. There are the Kaminoko Pond, walks, a restroom and the parking lot on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Bears live around here, so you had better do not visite here in the early morning or the evening. By the way, snow is not removed on the forestry road, and the road might be closed almost from mid November to late April. Read More

Uramashu Observation Deck

Uramashu Observation Deck (裏摩周展望台) is a viewing point at the end of Hokkaido Road 150 in northeastern part of Lake Mashu. In Akan Mashu National Park, it built on a somma of the Lake Mashu at about 580 m above sea level, and is in the other side of Mashu 1st Observation Deck (摩周第一展望台) and Mashu 3rd Observation Deck (摩周第三展望台) across the lake, too, and only Uramashu Observation Deck is in Kiyosato town. Uramashu 2nd Observation Deck used to be near here, too. Mt. Mashudake (摩周岳) can be seen on the left side and, Kamuisshu Island (カムイシュ島) can be seen on the right side. An observation deck, a souvenir shop, a rest place, a public restroom and a parking lot are built on the site. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. An entrance gate of the Uramashu Observation Deck is closed from November to late April. * Uramashu means “The back side of the Lake Mashu” in Japanese, and the Mashu 1st Observation Deck and the Mashu 3rd Observation Deck are called “The front side of the lake” because those are famous. Read More

Uchu Observation Deck

Uchu Observation Deck (宇宙展望台) is 4-story steel tower of about 12 m height on the hilltop of Kiyosato Town Ranch (清里町営牧場) in Kiyosato town located in the root of Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島), and was built in 2001. The observation deck is known for enjoying a typical scenery of Hokkaido. Uchu means “Universe” in English. In the evening, the starry sky can be seen from the Uchu Observation Deck, so this is a place that visitors can feel closer to the universe, and the Uchu Observation Deck was named as. Kiyosato Auto Campsite (清里オートキャンプ場) is near the Uchu Observation Deck. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Read More

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Look of Sakura Falls

An entrance of the Sakura Falls is at the parking lot. Brown bears sometimes appear around here, so bewear of them. Here is not a sightseeing facility in particular, and only guide brochure BOX is built. In old days, few tourists come, but the number of tourists is increasing lately. By the way, a mosquito and horsefly attack the tourists in the summer season, so you had better do anti-bug.

It takes about 5 minutes from the entrance to the Sakura Falls on foot. Watch your steps because of the difference of the elevation along the path. A observation place is at the left bank of the Shari River, and visitors can watch cherry salmon jumping.

I visited here at 12:00 once, but the cherry salmon did not jump at all. Other tourist was only one, so I wondered if I mistook the season, and I gave up, and I went to the Kiyosato Midori Onsen to enjoy a day trip onsen. After bathing, I asked a facility maneger about the Sakura Falls, he told me that a lot of the cherry salmons jump in the morning time (to 09:00) or early evening time (from 17:00). I got a good information! So I visited the Sakura Falls again.

I reached here about at 17:30, and some cherry salmons actually jumped. Unfortunately, it is said that few cherry salmons succeed at swimming the upper stream. Although they have a low success rate, they that challenge jumping again and again touch a person’s heart. About 30 tourists came in the early evening when I was watching jumping for about 30 minutes.

Movie of Sakura Falls

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Kiyosato. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Kiyosato

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Hotel Kiyosato(ホテル清さと)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokuten-no-Wagaya Juru(北天の我家 住留)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
YHA Kiyosato Ihatov Youth Hostel(YHA 清里イーハトーヴユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Inn and Meal FUJI(民宿・食事 富士)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Lodge Fukeiga(ロッジ風景画)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Guest House Hagoromo 39(ゲストハウスはごろも39)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Shiretoko Guided Fishing and Cottage Neko-no-Shippo(知床フィッシングガイド＆コテージ　ねこのしっぽ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Okhotsk House Kiyosato(オホーツクハウスきよさと)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kiyodake-so(清岳荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kiyosato Automobile Campsite(清里オートキャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Kiyosato Onsen

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Hotel Ryokusei-so(ホテル緑清荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten