[Sarubo Observatory and Sarurun Obseravatory in Shibecha] Beautiful Water Scenery

Lake Toro

Lake Toro (塘路湖) is a freshwater lake at the northeast part of Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland (釧路湿原). The Toro means "A place with a lake" in the Ainu language. The perimeter of the lake is about 18 km. The maximum water depth is about 7 m. The lake is the largest lake in the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland. Lake Balls (マリモ) grow on the bottom of the lake as well as Lake Akan (阿寒湖). In addition, here is well-known for enjoying a canoe, most popular activity in the Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland. Tourists can float down through Kushiro River by the canoe. Some activity companies serve a paid canoe tour. There are Sarubo Observatory (サルボ展望台), Sarurun Observatory (サルルン展望台) and Nihonmatsu Lookout (二本松展望地) around the lake, and tourists can look over around the Lake Toro. Those are not so famous, but it is popular as sightseeing spots with tourists expert. Article is here

Nihonmatsu Lookout

Nihonmatsu Lookout (二本松展望地) is near Nihonmatsu Bridge cross Kushiro River (釧路川) in Shibcha. It is not a tourist spot officially, so there is not a facility at all. A signboard is not provided, too, and a lot of tourists are hard to find it. It is known as a secret tourist spot. In my case, I was somehow able to find trails (foot stamps) on a hillslope. It took about 10 minutes on foot, and white mountaintop came into sight. That is the Nihonmatsu Lookout. It commanded a fine view, and Kushiro-shitsugen wetland different from Hosooka Observatory (細岡展望台) can be seen. Cars can come to the mountaintop, but a path is very uneven, I think only off-road vehicles can get there. Admission free. Article is here

Kayanuma Onsen

Kayanuma Onsen is a hot spring place in Shibecha town located in the northern part of Kushiro city, and is located at the northern tip of Kushiro-Shitstugen Wetland National Park (釧路湿原国立公園). Visitors turn along Mashu National Route (National Route 391), and go straight for around 2.5 km along Hokkaido Road 959, and the end of the road is the Kayanuma Onsen. Only Kushiro Marshland National Park "Ikoi-no-Ie Kayanuma" (くしろ湿原パーク 憩の家 かや沼) that is one of compound facilities called Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland Park (くしろ湿原パーク) built on a hill facing Lake Shirarutoro (シラルトロ湖). Except a hot spring facility, there are a park golf course, Shirarutoroko Campsite, Shirarutoro Walking Path (シラルトロ歩道) and Cho-no-Mori Observation Deck (蝶の森展望台). Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built around there. Kayanuma Station that is famous for feeding Japanese cranes is at the middle of the Hokkaido Road 959, and a lot of photographers come to take a picture of Japanese cranes with SL Winter Wetlands (SL冬の湿原号). Article is here

Shimo-osobetsu Onsen

Shimo-osobetsu Onsen is a hot spring place in Shibecha town located in the northern part of Kushiro city. Only Ajikoen (味幸園) is built in Osobetsu plain (オソツベツ原野) beside the northern tip of Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland (釧路湿原), and is about 1 km away from Mashu National Route (National Route 391). Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built around the building. Article is here

Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park

Kushiro-Shitsugen Wetland National Park (釧路湿原国立公園) that 500,000 people visit every year is a famous sightseeing spot in the Eastern Hokkaido and is the largest wetland with 18,290 ha in Japan. It was designed as a wetland under Ramsar Convention in 1980, and developments had been limited strictly. There are many rare animals inhabit and plants including Japanese cranes, Blakiston's fish-owls that are only 100 in Hokkaido, Iijima Ruriboshiyanma (イイジマルリボシヤンマ) that is the remaining specy in the glacial epoch, Itou fish (イトウ) that is said to be a very rare fish, Kushiro jacob's ladder (クシロハナシノブ) that is the remaining specy in the glacial epoch, Bogberry and Yachibouzu (ヤチボウズ). Article is here

Sarubo Observatory

Sarubo Observatory is built on a small hill at about 70 above sea level. The Sarubo means "A small marsh" in Ainu language. It takes 15 minutes from the parking lot to here on foot. The trail is hard to walk. The visitors can view the Lake Toro, Eoruto Pond (エオルト沼) and Makunto Pond (マクントー). The Lake Shirarutoro is hardly to be seen. A scenery with the railroad across the wetland is beautiful. It is popular with photographers of the railroad fan.

Atmosphere of Sarubo Observatory Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Sarubo Observatory

Sarurun Observatory

Sarurun Observatory is built on the same hill at about 70 m above sea level. The Sarurun means "A wetland" in the Ainu language. It takes 20 minutes from the parking lot to here on foot. The trail is hard to walk, too. The visitors can view the Lake Toro, Ponto Pond (ポントー), the Eoruto Pond, the Makunto Pond and Sarurun Pond (サルルン沼). Yezo white-faced darter (エゾカオジロトンボ) that inhabits only in the Eastern Hokkaido lives in Sarurun Marsh at the foot of the hill, and is called a flying jewel for rare species. A lot of people seem to come to only take a picture of the Yezo white-faced darter.

Atmosphere of Sarurun Observatory Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Sarurun Observatory

Kushiro-shitsugen Wetland

Lake Shirarutoro Campsite(シラルトロ湖キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kushiro Marshland National Park "Ikoi-no-Ie Kayanuma"(くしろ湿原パーク 憩の家 かや沼)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Yamahana Onsen Rifre(山花温泉リフレ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Circle House Red Beret(サークルハウス赤いベレー)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kushiroshitsugen Toro Inn(釧路湿原 とうろの宿)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Lodge Shirarutoro(シラルトロ温泉 ロッジ シラルトロ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tsurui Dosanko Ranch(鶴居どさんこ牧場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kushiro Shitsugen Tohro Youth Hostel(釧路湿原とうろユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Kushiro Downtown

Palude Kushiro(駅前ホテル パルーデ釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Super Hotel Kushiro-ekimae(スーパーホテル 釧路駅前)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Super Hotel Kushiro(スーパーホテル釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Route-Inn Kushiro Ekimae(ホテルルートイン釧路駅前)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel AreaOne Kushiro(ホテルエリアワン釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kushiro Century Castle Hotel(釧路センチュリーキャッスルホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
La Vista Kushirogawa(ラビスタ釧路川)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Rasso Kushiro(ホテルラッソ釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Comfort Hotel Kushiro(コンフォートホテル釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Crown Hills Kushiro(ホテルクラウンヒルズ釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Axia Inn Kushiro(ホテルアクシアイン釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kushiro Royal Inn(釧路ロイヤルイン)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Paco Kushiro(天然温泉ホテルパコ釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kushiro Prince Hotel(釧路プリンスホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Kushiro(ANAクラウンプラザホテル釧路)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyoko Inn Kushiro Jujigai(東横イン釧路十字街)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Athele Inn(アスリートイン)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Lasting Hotel(ラスティングホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Kano(民宿かのう)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Business Hotel Frontier(ビジネスホテル フロンティア)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Marshland(ホテル マーシュランド)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Mercci(バリアフリーホテル メルシー)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Business Ryokan Tokiwaso(ビジネス旅館 富喜和荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Marshland Annex(ホテル マーシュランド別館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Guest House Yasumizaka(民宿 休坂)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Green Park(民宿グリーンパーク)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sumire Ryokan(すみれ旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Business Hotel Nakazono Daiichi(ビジネス ホテル 中園第一)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Wakatake Ryokan(若竹旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Heart'n Tree(ハートン ツリー)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten