[Pankenuma-enchi Park in Horonobe] Red Swamp in Green Plain

Pankenuma-enchi Park

Pankenuma-enchi Park (パンケ沼園地) is a marshland park in Horonobe town located in the southern part of Wakkanai city. In the middle part of Shimo-sarobetsu Plain (下サロベツ原野) located in the southern part of Sarobetsu Plain (サロベツ原野), Rishiri‐Rebun‐Sarobetsu National Park (利尻礼文サロベツ国立公園), the Pankenuma-enchi Park is near Shimo-sarobetsu-genya-enchi Park (下サロベツ原野園地) with Naganuma Swamp (長沼) and Horonobe Visitor Center (幌延ビジターセンター). Pankenuma Swamp (パンケ沼) is a brackish lake at the marshland. The perimeter of the swamp is about 8 km, and the maximum depth is about 2.5 m. The swamp is the largest lake in the Sarobetsu Plain. The panke means "The downstream side" in Ainu language. Penkenuma Swamp (ペンケ沼) located at the northern part of the Pankenuma Swamp is a pared swamp with the Pankenuma Swamp, and the Penke means "The upstream side" in the Ainu language. Wooden paths are built on the shore in the southeastern part of the Pankenuma Swamp, and visitors can go a round on foot in about 20 minutes. In addition, Here is linked with the Horonobe Visitor Center through Shimo-sarobetsu Nature Observation Trail (下サロベツ原野自然探勝路) of about 3 km total length, so visitors can enjoy hiking. A gazebo, a bird watching hut, a parking lot and a public restroom are built at the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.

Movie of Shimo-sarobetsu Plain

The Sarobetsu Plain is a vast plain of 20,000-24,000 ha. The Sarobetsu means "A river flows through reed beds" in Ainu language. Sarobetsu Wetland (サロベツ湿原) of 6,700 ha is in the plain, and is the largest high moor in Japan. In the Sarobetsu Wetland, wetland of 2,560 ha has bee desingated as Ramsar Convention since 2005. The Toyotomomi side of the northern Sarobetsu Plain is called Kami-sarobetsu Plain (上サロベツ原野), and the Horonobe side of southern Sarobetsu Plain is called the Shimo-sarobetsu Plain. * Japanese people often use the Kami or the Shimo as the northern or the southern. Some large swamps and ponds such as the Naganuma Swamp, the Pankenuma Swamp, the Penkenuma Swamp and Kabutonuma Swamp (兜沼) are dotted with the Sarobetsu Plain. More than 100 types of wild flowers such as Ledum palustre L. subsp, the Iris and the Yezo Daylily bloom at the plain, and about 90 types of wild birds such as Steller's Sea Eagle, Siberian Rubythroat and the Yellow-breasted Bunting can be watched.

Sarobetsu Primeval Garden

Sarobetsu Primeval Garden is a wild flower garden in Toyotomi town located in the southern part of Wakkanai city. In the southern part of Kami-sarobetsu Plain (上サロベツ原野) located in the norhern part of Sarobetsu Plain (サロベツ原野), Rishiri‐Rebun‐Sarobetsu National Park (利尻礼文サロベツ国立公園), the Sarobetsu Primeval Garden is relatively near Wakasanai-enchi Park (稚咲内園地) and Miyanodai Observation Deck (宮の台展望台). Wooden paths of about 1.5 km total length are built at the primeval garden, and rest platforms and observation platforms are also built along the wooden paths. Here is a good place to see Magnificent Mt. Rishirifuji. Except the primeval garden, there are Sarobetsu Wetland Center (サロベツ湿原センター), Peat Industry Building (泥炭産業館), A Dredger, Museum Shop (ミュージアムショップ), Resthouse Sarobetsu (レストハウス サロベツ), Water Purification Wetland (水質浄化湿地) and a parking lot at the site. Addmission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Read More

Shimo-sarobetsu-genya-enchi Park

Shimo-sarobetsu-genya-enchi Park (下サロベツ原野園地) is a marshland park in Horonobe town located in the southern part of Wakkanai city. In the southern part of Shimo-sarobetsu Plain (下サロベツ原野) located in the southern part of Sarobetsu Plain (サロベツ原野), Rishiri‐Rebun‐Sarobetsu National Park (利尻礼文サロベツ国立公園), the Shimo-sarobetsu-genya-enchi Park is near Pankenuma Swamp (パンケ沼) and Otonrui (オトンルイ) Wind Power Station. Naganuma Swamp (長沼) is a freshwater lake at the marshland. The perimeter of the swamp is about 2.5 km, and the depth is about 2 m. A wooden path of about 1 km total length is built around the swamp, and Komochikanahebi Obsevation Platform (コモチカナヘビ観察台 * The Komochikanahebi means "Zootoca vivipara" in English), Yachimanako Obsevation Platform (やちまなこ観察デッキ * The Yachimanako means "Hidden pitfalls at a wetland" in the English), Suiseishokubutsu Obsevation Platform (水生植物観察 * Suiseishokubutsu means "Aquatic plants" in the English) are also built along the wooden path. In addition, Here is linked with Pankenuma Swamp through Shimo-sarobetsu Nature Observation Trail (下サロベツ原野自然探勝路) of about 3 km total length, so visitors can enjoy hiking. Alpine plants, damp plants and aquatic plants containing Yezo Dailily, Iris, Yezo Waterlily, Japanese Spatterdock, Cranberry and Peat Moss grow naturally, and can be observed on the wooden path. Wild birds such as African Stonechat, Black-faced Bunting and Red-necked Grebe can be watched, too. Except the wooden path, Horonobe Visitor Center (幌延ビジターセンター), a parking lot and Horonobe Visitor Center Observation Tower (幌延ビジターセンター展望台) are built at the site. Read More

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There are some means of transportation for the Sarobetsu Plain tourism, for example, a fixed-route bus, a sightseeing taxi, a rental car and a rental bicycle. I suppose that the best means of transportation is that visitors rent a rental car in the Wakkanai.

List of Means of Transportation for Plain Tourism

Refer to following the means of the transportation in the Sarobetsu Plain. 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).

Nippon Rent-a-car(ニッポンレンタカー)	Their offices are near Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Times Car Rental(タイムズカーレンタル)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyota Rental Lease(トヨタレンタリース)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Nissan Rent-a-car(日産レンタカー)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Orix Rent-a-car(オリックスレンタカー)	Their offices are near the Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Airport.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Chiseki Sekiyu Choinori Rent-a-car(チセキ石油・ちょいのりレンタカー)	Their offices are near the Minami-wakkanai Station and Toyotomi Onsen.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyotomi Tourist Information Center(豊富町観光情報センター)	They rent a rental bicycle at the Toyotomi Tourist Information Center and Yu-no-Mori Pokke (湯の杜ぽっけ).	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyotomi Hier(豊富ハイヤー)	Reservation is required.	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
Horonobe Town Office(幌延町)	They lend a bicycle for free at Horokaru (ホロカル).	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park (利尻礼文サロベツ国立公園) located in the northern Hokkaido between Rishiri Island, Rebun Island, Toyotomi Town and Horonobe Town is the northernmost national park in Japan, and has been designated as the national park since 1974. The area is 24,166 ha. It consists of 2 islands, wetlands and the coast, and beautiful nature such as the sea, mountains, wild flowers and wetlands is highlight. Because the Northern Hokkaido has few famous tourist attracsions, the national park is one of the most famous nature tourist attracsions. The Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park is divided into 4 areas, Rishiri Area (利尻), Rebun Area (礼文), Coastal Sand-dune Area (海浜砂丘) and Sarobetsu Area (サロベツ), and the Rishiri Area (利尻), the Rebun Area (礼文) and the Sarobetsu Area have a lot of highlights. Read More

Look of Pankenuma-enchi Park

The water color of the Pankenuma Swamp turns into reddish brown depending on iron of the peat bed permeated water. Common Gold Fishes, Comet Goldfish and Corbicula inhabit there. Of course, fishing is prohibited. Because the Comet Goldfish in Yutorinuma Swamp (魚取沼), Miyagi prefecture has been designated as the National Monument, rare fishes inhabit. Magnificent Mt. Rishirifuji can be seen across the swamp, too.

3 viewing platforms are built along the wooden paths, and hygrophytes or wild birds can be observed from June to September. Wild birds such as YSiberian Rubythroat, Latham's Snipe and Grey Heron and wild flowers such as Yezo Daylily and Iris Ensata are often seen.

Atmosphere of Pankenuma-enchi Park Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Pankenuma-enchi Park

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Toyotomi, the Horonobe and the Teshio. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Horonobe

Minshuku Ryokan Sarobetsu(民宿旅館サロベツ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Business Hotel Hokutoso(ビジネスホテル北斗荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Business Ryokan Koeiso(ビジネス旅館光栄荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Meizanso(民宿名山荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Furusato-no-Mori Forest Park Campsite(ふるさとの森森林公園キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Teshio

Teshio Onsen Yubae(てしお温泉 夕映)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sato Minshuku(さとう民宿)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sun Hotel(サンホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Takahashi Ryokan(高橋旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Nishizawa Ryokan(西澤旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hinomaru Ryokan(日の丸旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Ichihana(ホテルいち花)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Maruse Ryokan(マルセ旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kagaminuma Seaside Park Campsite(鏡沼海浜公園キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Toyotomi Onsen

Kawashima Ryokan(川島旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
New Onsnekaku Hotel(ニュー温泉閣ホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Toyotomi(ホテル豊富)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Win(ウィン)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Yukaiyado(湯快宿)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Yunohanaso(湯の花荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Share House "Yado"(シェアハウス「宿〜YADO〜」)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Ukasuymosir(湯治の宿「ウカスイモシリ」)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten