[Shinsen-numa Swamp in Niseko kyowa] One of Best Fall Foliage Tourist Attractions in Hokkaido

Niseko Niimi Onsen

Niseko Niimi Onsen (ニセコ新見温泉) is a hot spring place in Rankoshi town located in the southwestern direction of Sapporo city. In the heart of the mountain at 497 m above sea level, there are 2 onsen ryokan, Niimi Honkan (新見本館) and Niimi Onsen Hotel (新見温泉ホテル), along Hokkaido Road 268. The 2 adjacent buildings are built just in front of a gate for closing to traffic in a winter (from late October to late May), and are surrouded by forests, so secret onsen is the perfect word to describe the Niseko Niimi Onsen. It takes about 30 minutes by car from the center of the Rankoshi to here. Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built. Because Mr. Naotaro Niimi (新見直太朗) discovered the hot springs, here was named after his family name. This onsen seemed to reveal to him in a dream. A bronze statue of the Naotaro Niimi is built near the buildings. Both onsen ryokan closed down in 2016, but the Niimi Honkan has been restarted as Niimi Onsen since 2017. Read More

Niseko Yumoto Onsen

Niseko Yumoto Onsen (ニセコ湯本温泉) is a hot spring place at around 560 m above sea level in Rankoshi town located in the southwestern direction of Sapporo city. There are 3 hot spring facilities, Chisenupuri Ski Resort (チセヌプリスキー場), Niseko Oyunuma Pond (大湯沼), Koyunuma pond (小湯沼), Oyunuma Nature Pavilion (大湯沼自然展示館) and Yumoto Onsen Campsite (湯本温泉野営場) at the foot of Mt. Chisenupuri, and footbath can be enjoyed at the Niseko Oyunuma Pond in a summer, and skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed in a winter. Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built. Read More

NISEKO

Niseko (ニセコ) is the general term for towns and villages around Mt. Yotei (羊蹄山) in the southwestern direction of Sapporo city, and contains Niseko town (ニセコ町), Kutchan town (倶知安町), Kyogoku town (京極町), Makkari village (真狩村), Kimobetsu town (喜茂別町), Kyowa town (共和町), Rankoshi town (蘭越町) and Iwanai town (岩内町). The Niseko means "A river in a gorge" in Ainu language, and the origin of the word is Niseko Anbetsu River (ニセコアンベツ川). In a winter, skiing and snowboarding can be enjoyed, and rafting along Shiribetsu River (尻別川) can be enjoyed in a summer. It is one of the features that the Niseko has various nature such as the Mt. Yotei, Shinsen-numa Swamp (神仙沼) and Oyunuma Pond (大湯沼). In addition, tasty water from the Mt. Yotei and tasty ingredients are abundant. In a spring, cherry blossoms can be enjoyed, summer activities and nature can be enjoyed in a summer, fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn, and winter activities can be enjoyed in a winter, so tourists can enjoy the nature of Hokkaido including various onsen and tasty foods in Niseko throughout the year. Read More

Shinsen-numa Wetland and Shinsen-numa Swamp

The Shinsen-numa Wetland is a high moor of 4.18 ha. Small and medium ponds are dotted around the Shinsen-numa Swamp, and the Shinsen-numa Swamp is the largest pond in those. Here is one of the best place to see beautiful fall foliage in Hokkaido. A lot of visitors come to see various colored leaves. If you want to be moved, I recommend you visit here. You may enjoy the fall foliage like a picture. The best time to see the fall foliage is from late September to early October. By the way, Not just the autumn, the summer is comfortable, too. It takes about 1-2 hours to look around on foot. You may be tired because of a difference of elevation, so you should wear comfortable shoes.

2 ways to the Shinsen-numa Swamp are built on the Shinsennuma Rest Station side and Oyachi side. The way on the Shinsennuma Rest Station side is almost wooden path, and it is easy to walk. The visiotrs can reach to the Shinsen-numa Wetland and the Shinsen-numa Swamp for about 20 minutes, and the wooden path to the Naga-numa Swamp is built on the way, too. On the other hand, a trail on the Oyachi side is rough. I got sweaty and walked for about 30 minutes. The visitors can see the state that woodland horsetail, the endangered species, grows wild from Oyachi Parking Lot. The Oyachi Parking Lot has no facilities.

The one-way wooden paths are built to go around on the wetland. Yezo hemerocllis middendorffii and Blackberry lily iris bloom at the wetland. I like the damp ground like a miniature garden and the low shrub very much.

As for the Shinsen-numa Swamp, the perimeter of the lake is about 500 m, and the maximum depth is about 2 m, and it is not so large. An observation platform that about 20 people can enter is built to view the swamp on the shouth side of the swamp. In the autumn, the swamp is sorrounded by Japanese Spruce with autumn leaves as if it is a picture.

Atmosphere of Shinsen-numa Wetland and Shinsen-numa Swamp in Autumn Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Shinsen-numa Wetland and Shinsen-numa Swamp in Autumn

The air of the Shinsen-numa Swamp is so fresh in the summer, and it is slightly chilly. Green and blue scenery is beautiful, and the visitors can be relaxed very much.

Atmosphere of Shinsen-numa Swamp in Summer Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Shinsen-numa Swamp

Oyachi Cluster of Woodland Horsetail

Oyachi Cluster of Woodland Horsetail is in the eastern part of the Shinsen-numa Swamp. The Oyachi Parking Lot is along Hokkaido Road 66, and the visitors can go ahead from here to the Shinsen-numa Swamp and the Oyachi Cluster of Woodland Horsetail. The woodland horsetail is called living plants that are presumably survivors from the Ice Age, and the rare plant grows naturally. The visitors reach to Onuma Swamp (大沼) when the visiotrs keep walking.

Naga-numa Swamp

Naga-numa Swamp at about 780 m above sea level is a man-made lake for water storage on the foot of Mt. Shakunage-dake. Its shape resembls a gourd. The visitors reach to here when they walk for about 30 minutes from the Shinsennuma Parking Lot. It is a place that a mysterious scenery like combining with the hell and the heaven spreads over.

Niseko Goshiki Onsen

Goshiki Onsen Ryokan(五色温泉旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Niseko Campsite(ニセコ野営場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Niseko Yumoto Onsen

Tsukimi-no-Yado Akahane(月美の宿 紅葉音)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Yugomori-no-Yado Adajo(湯ごもりの宿アダージョ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Yumoto Onsen Campsite(湯本温泉野営場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Weiss Onsen

Weiss Onsen(ワイス温泉)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten