Tsubetsu Pass Observatory around Lake Kussharo

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[Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower around Lake Kussharo] 360 Degree View and Sea of Cloud Can Be Enjoyed in Highest View Point around Lake Kussharo

May 6th, 2017

CONTENTS

Tsubetsu Pass
Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower
List of Activities
- Sea of Clouds Tour
- Starry Sky Tour
List of Accommodations

Tsubetsu Pass

Tsubetsu Pass (津別峠) is a pass at 745 m above sea level in the western part of Lake Kussharo. Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower (津別峠展望台) near the mountaintop of Hokkaido Road 588 connecting Tubetsu town and Teshikaga town is a popular viewing point with a view of the Lake Kussharo, and is the highest viewing point at 951 m above sea level in some viewing points around the lake. In Akan Mashu National Park, the Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower and a parking lot are built on the site. A food truck "Yamasuke (山輔)" sometimes opens on the parking. The Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower is well-known for seeing a sea of clouds, and the sea of the clouds tour is held with the growing popularity of it recently. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. By the way, Drive safety because the Hokkaido Road 588 is narrow, and has a lot of sharp curves, too. In addition, the road is closed from November to June.

Movie of Sea of Clouds from Tsubetsu Pass Observation Deck

The distance is around 20 km from the center of the Tubetsu, Unfortunately, a restaurant, a cafe and a convenience store is not built around here. The Bihoro Lookout, the Wakoto Peninsula, the Wakoto Onsen, the Sanko Onsen and Okukussharo Onsen (奥屈斜路温泉) are relatively near here.

Wakoto Peninsula

Wakoto Peninsula (和琴半島) is the only peninsula extending out Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖) in the southern side of the Lake Kussharo. In Akan Mashu National Park, Wakoto Field House (和琴フィールドハウス), Wakoto-Kohan Campsite (和琴半島湖畔キャンプ場), Wakoto Campsite (和琴キャンプ場), a nature trail (自然探勝路), Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉), a souvenir shop, a restraunt, a boat for hire, Koshin-so (湖心荘), a public restroom and a parking lot are built on the site. Fresh green, a canoe and fishing can be enjoyed in a summer, Fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn and a snow scenery can be enjoyed in a winter, and it is said to be a sightseeing base of the Lake Kussharo. By the way, Min-min-zemi cicada (ミンミンゼミ) inhabits here, and they do not inhabit further north than the Lake Kussharo, so they have been designated as a special natural treasure since 1951. Admission free. A parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Bihoro Pass Lookout

Bihoro Pass (美幌峠) is a pass at about 493 m in height in the northwestern side of the Lake Kussharo, and is a popular viewing point with a view of the Lake Kussharo on the hilltop of Bihoro National Route (National Route 243) connecting Bihoro town and Teshikaga town, and is a shooting place for Japanese movie "What is your name? (君の名は)", too. In Akan Mashu National Park, Bihoro Pass Lookout (美幌峠展望台), Roadside Station "Gurutto-Panorama Bihoro-Toge (ぐるっとパノラマ美幌峠)", a monument inscribed with a song "Bihoro-Toge (美幌峠)" sang by Ms. Hibari Misora, a public restroom and a parking lot are built on the site. A restaurant, a souvenir shop and a restroom are provided at the roadside station, and visitors can take a rest, too. A soft serve ice cream with striped bamboo flavor is popular in particular. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Article is here

Wakoto Onsen

Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉) is hot spring place in Teshikaga town located in the north part of Kushiro city. The hot spring gushes out at the lakeshore in the southern part of Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖) in Akan Mashu National Park. The Wakoto Onsen is the generic name of some onsen. 2 campsites, Wakoto Hanto Kohan Campsite (和琴半島湖畔キャンプ場) and Wakoto Campsite (和琴野営場), are at Wakoto Peninsula. There are a shop, a public restroom and Onsen Ryokan Koshin-so (湖心荘) around a public parking lot. Unfortunately, a convenience store is not built around here. Article is here

Sanko Onsen

Sanko Onsen (三香温泉) is a hot spring place in Teshikaga town located in the northern part of Kushiro city. Only Inn "Sanko Onsen" is built on the shore of Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖) in Akan Mashu National Park, and the distance from the center of the Teshikaga is around 20 km. Unfortunately, a convenience store is not built around here. There are Wakoto Peninsula (和琴半島), Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉), Kotan Onsen (コタン温泉) and Ike-no-Yu Onsen (池の湯) around the Sanko Onsen, and various natural open-air baths can be enjoyed throughout the year. Cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in a spring, Fresh green and the canoe can be enjoyed in a summer, fall foliage can be enjoyed in an autumn, and whooper swans can be watched in a winter. Article is here

Lake Kussharo

The Lake Kussharo is the largest caldera lake in Japan in Teshikaga town located in the northeastern part of Lake Akan (阿寒湖), and its shape tuend into the current shape by large-scale eruptions 40,000 years ago. Before then, the lake was larger round lake than the current lake. It is the 2nd largest caldera lake in the world after Lake Toba in Indonesia, too. In Akan Mashu National Park, The perimeter of the lake is about 57 km, and the maximum depth is 117 m, and Nakashima (中島), the largest island on the fresh water lake in the Japan, flotas on the surface of the lake, but landing is prohibited. There are Mt. Mokoto (藻琴山), the Wakoto Peninsula, Bihoro Pass Lookout (美幌峠展望台), Tubetsu Pass Observation Deck (津別峠展望台), Mokotoyama Lookout Parking Park (藻琴山展望駐車公園), Highland Koshimizu 725 (ハイランド小清水725), Wakoto Onsen (和琴温泉), Sanko Onsen (三香温泉), Kotan Onsen (コタン温泉), Ike-no-Yu Onsen (池ノ湯温泉), Suna-Yu (砂湯), Nibushi Onsen (仁伏温泉), Wakoto-kohan Campsite (和琴湖畔キャンプ場), Wakoto Campsite (和琴キャンプ場), Suna-Yu Campsite (砂湯キャンプ場) and Highland Koshimizu Campsite (ハイランド小清水キャンプ場) around the Lake Kussharo. Article is here

Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower

The Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower like a small fort in Europe is built on the mountaintop. As for The Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower, a public restroom is on the 1st floor, a rest place is on the 2nd floor, a observation deck is on the rooftop of the 2nd floor, and a round observation deck is on the 3rd floor. 360 degree view is can be enjoyed on the round observation deck, and the Lake Kussharo, Mt. Mashudake (摩周岳), Mt. Iou (硫黄山), Mt. Meakan (雌阿寒岳) and Mt. Oakan (雄阿寒岳) can be seen. The observation tower opens from June to October. The public restroom opens for 24 hours, but observation decks are closed from 19:00 to 09:00. While closing time, a observation space is built at the front of the observation tower, and visitors can enjoy a superb view, too. A lot of the visitors come to see the sea of the clouds and starry sky, so they often stay at their cars.

Atmosphere of Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower

Admission fee	Free of charge
Parking lot	Free parking is provided (32 Cars)
Business hours	09:00-19:00
Regular closing day	Winter season
Telephone number	+81-152-76-2151
Home page	Home page is here
Mapcode	739 897 008*40

List of Activities

Lamp-no-Yado Moritsubetu (ランプの宿森つべつ) holds a sea of clouds tour and a starry sky tour in the Tsubetsu Pass Observation Tower. Only tour participants can enter the observation tower during closing time. Refer to following websites for the activity companies around the Lake Mashu. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Sea of Clouds Tour

Movie of Sea of Clouds Tour

Lamp-no-Yado Moritsubetu(ランプの宿森つべつ)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

Starry Sky Tour

Lamp-no-Yado Moritsubetu(ランプの宿森つべつ)	HP	ASOVIEW	Jalan	Sotoasobi

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around the Tsubetsu Pass. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

Moritsubetsu(奥屈斜路温泉ランプの宿森つべつ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kussharo Prince Hotel(屈斜路プリンスホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Lakeside Resort Pension CHATRAN(レイクサイドリゾートペンションチャトラン)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Onsen Ryokan Koshin-so(温泉旅館湖心荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Lake Kussharo Tsuruga Auberge SoRa(屈斜路湖鶴雅オーベルジュ SoRa)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Sanko Onsen(三香温泉)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten