[Ubaranai Common Glasswort Colony in Abashiri] Red Carpet Can Be Enjoyed in Colony

Ubaranai Common Glasswort Colony

Ubaranai Common Glasswort Colony (卯原内のアッケシソウ群生地) is a tourist attraction on the south beach of Lake Notoro (能取湖) in the western part of Abashiri city, and is well-known as the largest coral grass colony in Japan. In early September, the coral grass turns red, and the lakeshore is covered with red color. It was on the verge of extinction under the influence of soil improvement in the past, but it is recovered at present. The colony is in good condition on the lakeshore along a road from Okhotsk National Route (National Route 238) to Ubaranai Fishing Port (卯原内漁港). It is hard to find the road, so visitors should use Notoro-no-so Kagariya (能取の荘 かがり屋) in front of the colony as a landmark. A small restraunt, a public restroom and a parking lot are on the site. The best season to see the red coral grass is from early September to mid September. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. Lake Notoro Common Glasswort Festival is held on Saturday and Sunday, early September.

Movie of Ubaranai Common Glasswort Colony

The coral grass is an annual plant with 10 cm-20 cm in height, and means "Akkeshisou (アッケシソウ)". Mr. Kiyotoshi Sugiyama (椙山清利) discovered the plant in Kaki island, Akkeshi town in 1891, and Mr. Kingo Miyabe (宮部金吾), a famous botanist, named it after the place name. Another name is Sangosou (サンゴ草), and it is more famous than the Akkeshisou, and the Sango means "Coral" in English, and it is called so because shapes of leaves looks like the coral. In Japan, it is a rare plant growing wild only in a part of Hokkaido, Okayama prefecture and Kagawa prefecture, and in some lakes such as the Lake Notoro, Lake Saroma (サロマ湖) and Lake Komuke (コムケ湖), Hokkaido, the coral grass can be seen. Because it is very rare plant, to harvest it is forbidden in Japan, but Europe people seem to eat it as vegetables. It is usually green, but it turns red in an autumn. By the way, the coral grass in the Hokkaido is difference from the coral grass in the Inland Sea.

The Ubaranai is about 15 km away from the center of the Abashiri city, and Abasihiri Railroad Museum (網走市鉄道記念館), a convenience store, a super market and a cafe around here. Cape Notoro (能取岬), Lake Abashiri (網走湖) and Lake Saroma (サロマ湖) are relatively near here, too. A direct bus does not run between Sapporo or New Chitose Airport and here, but a express bus "Dollymint Okhotsk-go (ドリーミントオホーツク号)" runs between the Sapporo and the Abashiri.

List of Highway Bus

Refer to following a company for the highway bus service between the Abashiri and the Sapporo.

(Chuo Bus)中央バス	From Sapporo to Abashiri	HP	Jalan	Rakuten
(Chuo Bus)中央バス	From Abashiri to Sapporo	HP	Jalan	Rakuten

Cape Notoro

Cape Notoro (能取岬) is a cape beside Utsukushi-misaki Ranch (美岬牧場) in the northwestern part of Abashiri city, and is close to Lake Notoro (能取湖). Notoromisaki Lighthouse (能取岬灯台) of about 21 m height is built to keep a safe voyage on cliffs of 40-50 m height. The cape is well-known for a beautiful scenery, and The blue sky, green grass and a blue sea are comfortable in a summer, and a lot of drift ice come in a winter, and the winter view can be enjoyed. In addition, a road to the cape looks like a road to the sea, and the view is popular. A parking lot and a public restroom are on the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge. The restroom is closed in the winter. Article is here

ABASHIRI

Abashiri (網走) that about 40,000 people live is the 20th largest tourist city in Hokkaido, and is one of regional hub cities of the Northeastern Hokkaido area. It is also a fisheries city facing the Sea of Okhotsk, and Crab, Idiot Fish, Whale and Salmon are famous as a local specialty. As for a climate, it is chilly that temperature rises to nearly 25 degrees in a summer, and it is cold that temperature falls to nearly -5 degrees in a winter, and it does not snow hard, too. It may be said that the Abashiri is relativelly warm climate in the Hokkaido. The Abashiri is well-known for drift ice reaching to the coast, and is famous as a winter tourist spot, too, and is roughly divided into 2 areas, a old city area (a neighborhood of Abashiri River mouth) and a new suburbs area. The new suburbs area is more developed than the old city area, and has more restaurants than the old city area. Article is here