Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan
A phantom village built entirely of ice and snow on the frozen lake in winter
A village of ice and snow appearing on Lake Shikaribetsu in winter. All Kotan buildings, meaning "village" in Ainu, are made from the lake's ice and snow.
Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan, appearing for the winter season only on Lake Shikaribetsu in Kita-Urimaku, Shikaoi Town, is an ice and snow settlement bearing the Ainu word "Kotan" meaning "village." On the completely frozen surface of the highly transparent Lake Shikaribetsu, all buildings are made only from ice and snow. Buildings made by stacking ice blocks are translucent bluish-white, and during the day, sunlight illuminates the interior through the ice.
The ice open-air bath is an outdoor bath set up on the frozen lake, with changing rooms also made from ice and snow. While soaking in warm water, cold outside air brushes your cheeks, and a sky full of stars spreads overhead in an extraordinary experience. At the Ice Bar, you can enjoy drinks in transparent ice glasses, with the coldness of ice conveyed to your hands. The romantic Ice Chapel has ice altars and chairs lined up, with some couples actually holding wedding ceremonies. Winter activities like snowmobiles and snow rafting are also abundant, with the exhilaration of racing across snowfields and engine sounds echoing across the silent lake. This is a fantastic world of ice and snow that can only be experienced at Lake Shikaribetsu in winter.
- * Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
- * The event information is based on the dates and content of the most recently held events. Please check the official website for details as the contents are subject to change.
- Travel Inspiration
- Enjoy spectacular views
- Picturesque spots
- Nearest airports
General Information
- Event period
- 2026/1/24 - 3/15
- Event venue
- Lake Shikaribetsu
- Postal code
- 〒081-0344
- Address
- 北海道河東郡鹿追町北瓜幕無番地
- Telephone Number
- 0156-69-8181（Lake Shikaribetsu Nature Center）
- Open
- 9:00-20:00 (January and February)
9:00-18:00 (March) - Closed
- Open every day during the period (usually from late Jan. to late Mar.)
- Prices
- Sponsorship available (see related link)
- Car Park
- 100 spaces, free
- Directions
- ●By car: About 50 minutes from JR Shintoku Station
●By car: About 60 minutes from Doto Expwy Tokachi Shimizu IC
●By bus: About 100 minutes from Obihiro Station by Hokkaido Takushoku Bus - Website
* Information on facilities is subject to change. Please check each official website for the latest information.
