[Sanai-no-Oka Observatory Park in Biei] Typical Scenery of Hokkaido Can Be Enjoyed along Road

Bogakudai

Bogakudai (望岳台) is a lookout in the middle between Shirogane Onsen (白金温泉) and Fukiage Onsen (吹上温泉) linked by Hokkaido Road 996 in Biei town located in the southern direction of Asahikawa city. In the Daisetsuzan National Park (大雪山国立公園), There are a trailhead for Tokachidake Mountain Range, a large parking lot, walks and a shelter in the mountainside at about 930 above sea level. A observation deck is not built. The shelter built in 2016 has a resting place, too, and a restroom is provided for free, too. The walks are built around the Bogakudai, but there are some places closed to the public because a bridge is broken. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. * The road between the Bogakudai and the Shirogane Onsen is closed to traffic from mid October to mid May. Read More

Daisetsuzan National Park

Daisetsuzan National Park (大雪山国立公園) in the center of Hokkaido is the largest national park in Japan, the size of 226,764 ha, and has been designed as the national park since 1934, and is the oldest national park in the Hokkaido along with Akan Mashu National Park (阿寒摩周国立公園). A mountain named Daisetsuzan does not exist, and the whole area including the mountains with over 2,000 m above sea level such as Mt. Asahidake (旭岳), the highest mountain in Hokkaido, Mt. Kurodake (黒岳), Mt. Aibestudake (愛別岳), Mt. Tomuraushi (トムラウシ山) is collectively called "Daisetsuzan", and those are called "A roof of the Hokkaido" ,too. Rare nature such as active volcanoes, Lare Columnar joints, a sea of trees and permafrost even in the Hokkaido can be seen. About 250 types of alpine plants grow naturally, and various forms of life such as brown bear, blakiston's fish owl, dolly varden and pine grosbeak inhabit here. By the way, A right notation is "Daisetsuzan", but local people often call "Taisetsuzan". Read More

Furano and Biei

Furano region (富良野) and Biei region (美瑛) are located in the center of Hokkaido, and are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hokkaido at present. 2 million tourists visit to savor lavenders, shooting places of "From the north country (北の国から)" that is famous Japanese television drama in the Furano and hills of the Biei. Blue Pond (青い池) and Shirahige Falls (白ひげの滝) in Shirogane (白金) has been became famous recently, and charms add to the Biei and the Furano as the popular tourist attractions more and more, and those region are receiving increased attention throughout the country and overseas country. It is one of characteristics that various colors can be enjoyed in the Furano and the Biei. Read More

Fukiage Roten-no-Yu

Fukiage Roten-no-Yu is mixed bathing open-air baths surrounded by forests. Mr. Sutekichi Marutani discovered the hot springs in 1897. After that, a hot-spring inn was built by Mr. Saburo Nakagawa in 1932. But it was shutted down 1943, and only bathtubs were left. Because Mt. Tokachidake (十勝岳) became active in 1987, a temperature of the hot springs rose, and became the just right water temperature suitable for bathing, so it has became a popular secret onsen for enjoying free flowing hot springs that gush out naturally. Fukiage Ikoi Open Park (吹上いこいの広場) was maintained in 1991, so anyone has been easy to come. Furthermore, it was used as a shooting place of the television drama "From the north country (北の国から)", Mr. Kuniei Tanaka, a famous actor, and Ms. Rie Miyazawa, a famous sctress, took a bath, so a lot of tourists has came. In addition, it seems to be popular for oversea people to visit in a winter.

It takes approximately 5 minutes on foot from a parking lot to the open-air baths. There are 2 baths surrounded by rocks on a cliff along a mountain stream. A stairway is built on the cliff, too. The large open-air bath is the size that about 10 people can take a bath. Hot springs that look turquoise blueleave an impression. A hose of spring water is installed, and the water temperature can be adjusted. It is recommended to take a bath in wearing swimsuits or with bath towel covering body, but a lot of Japanese men take a bath withhout wearing anything.

The small open-air bath is the size that about 2 people can take a bath, and very hot springs can be enjoyed. The hot springs are very hot in a winter, so bathers take snow in the hot springs with a shovel to adjust the water temperature. Local volunteers always keep the bath clean. A photography seems to be prohibited at the open-air baths, so you should not take a photo if another bathers take a bath. But in a summer, except the bathers, a lot of tourists visit here, so the bathers may feel ashamed of themselves.

The hot springs are acidic calcium and sodium sulfate chloride spring, and are clear and colorless and have sour taste and no smell. Unfortunately, the hot springs are not got drinkable permission by a health center. But plastic cups were provided, it was quite good sourness when I drank it. The hot springs are effective for Chronic cholecystitis, Cholelithiasis, Chronic constipation, Obesity disease, Diabetes and Gout. The sum total of the hot spring ingredients are 1.526 g/kg. The meta-silicic acid content is 286.3 mg/kg. It is said that the hot springs including the meta-silicic acid with over 200 mg/kg is effective for beautiful skin.

Fukiage Roten-no-Yu is crowded with the bathers in national holidays. Best visit time is early morning. When I visited here at 6 o'clock, there is nobody. An entrance fee to the bath facility and the parking lot are free of charge. There are restrooms on the parking lot. A simplified dressing room is installed beside the large open-air bath. Because an illumination is not installed, the bathers can take a bath in a pitch-dark night while enjoying a starlit sky. But, please be careful about cliffs.

Atmosphere of Fukiage Roten-no-Yu Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Fukiage Roten-no-Yu