Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Lake Saroma, the third largest in Japan and the largest in Hokkaido, stretches from east to west and is a brackish lake separated from the Sea of Okhotsk by a sandbar.
Standing at the observatory on the summit of Horoiwa Mountain, you see below the distinctive blue lake called Saroma Blue. A breathtaking panorama stretching from end to end of the lake. The narrow sandbar separating the lake from the Sea of Okhotsk lies like a single line drawn by nature, with the Shiretoko Mountains beyond. As wind caresses your cheeks and seagulls cry, the Saroma Blue water surface ripples and sparkles in the waves.
At dusk, the sky and lake become one, changing from orange to reddish-purple in breathtaking beauty. This distinctive blue comes from the lake's depth and transparency, unique to a brackish lake where seawater and freshwater mix. At lakeside restaurants, you can taste fresh Saroma Lake scallops, their plump texture and sweetness filling your mouth. Time flows surrounded by spectacular views woven by the vast lake, sky, and sea.

An observation deck at the summit of Mt. Horoiwa, located almost in the center of the lakeshore of Lake Saroma, Japan's third-largest lake adjacent to the Sea of Okhotsk.

Spread out below is a magnificent panorama from the only viewpoint offering a full view of the lake. The narrow sandbar separating the lake from the sea is called "Ryugu Kaido," creating a unique landscape contrasting the blue of the Sea of Okhotsk with the calm surface of the lake. The wind blowing through the mountaintop carries the scent of the sea, while the lake surface below sparkles as it reflects the sunlight.

On clear days, visibility extends even further. The ridgeline of the Shiretoko Mountains rising beyond the horizon serves as a backdrop that further accentuates the grandeur of Lake Saroma. The gradient of colors woven by the lakeside greenery, the white of the sandbar, the blue of the sea, and the distant mountain ranges tells the story of Hokkaido's natural abundance.

Coral grass colony at Lake Notoro in Abashiri City, boasting the largest scale in Japan.

Coral grass, officially named Akkeshi-so, grows naturally in the wetlands along the lakeside as a salt plant. From spring to summer it is green, but in autumn the entire area turns vivid crimson, dyeing the lakeside in a burning red. Wooden walking trails are maintained, and you can walk through the coral grass that spreads like a red carpet while observing its beauty up close. When the wind blows, the small grass sways like waves, and the red colors reflected on the lake surface catch the eye.

The contrast between Lake Notoro's quiet water surface and the crimson coral grass spreading across the entire area is a landscape that symbolizes autumn in Hokkaido. The color contrast of the blue sky, blue lake, and red coral grass leaves a strong impression on visitors. As Japan's largest colony, it shows the art of nature representing autumn in Hokkaido.

A mountain aquarium adjacent to a roadside station where you can experience the world of Hokkaido's freshwater fish through Japan's first and largest exhibits.
In Japan's first tank viewing a waterfall basin from below, you can closely observe fish swimming powerfully against the strong current. Looking up from the clear water, you clearly see the surface bubbling white and fish vigorously moving their tail fins to avoid being swept away. River murmurs echo throughout the facility, and the refreshing scent of water drifts. In winter, tanks where the water surface freezes like a natural river appear, spreading a sight you can never see elsewhere—fish swimming quietly under ice.
The Ito exhibit tank boasts Japan's largest scale, with the overwhelming sight of large individuals over 1 meter swimming leisurely. No other facility allows such close observation of the powerful appearance of Ito, the great fish of the north also called a phantom fish. In the exhibition space with cool air drifting, you can thoroughly learn about fish's natural behavior and ecology, deeply understanding the rich freshwater world of Hokkaido.

A garden where flowers bloom through the four seasons, cultivated by the Ueno Sayuki family based on an English-style garden adapted to Hokkaido's climate.

Ueno Farm, spreading at the foot of Asahikawa's hills, is a "Hokkaido Garden" created by the Ueno Sayuki family, who designed the garden for TV drama "Kaze no Garden," based on an English-style garden adapted to Hokkaido's climate and soil. In spring, pale pastel-colored flowers sprout; in summer, vividly colored plants bloom competitively; in autumn, deep red and purple plants adorn the garden. Within the garden, you can sometimes encounter ducks and chickens strolling leisurely, and enjoy a natural atmosphere enveloped in sweet flower fragrances and bird songs.

Shateki-yama spreading behind the garden is a romantic spot certified as a "Lover's Sanctuary." Under the large weeping willow that is the symbol tree at the summit, you can spend special moments in the shade created by gently swaying branches and leaves. At NAYAcafe in the garden, you can also enjoy takeout lunch or sweets at your favorite spot in the garden, where time flows leisurely surrounded by flowers.

A ramen theme park facility where eight famous Asahikawa ramen shops gather, allowing you to enjoy taste comparisons in one place.
Asahikawa ramen is characterized by a soy sauce-based soup combining seafood and pork bone, and medium-thin curly noodles. Inside the facility, eight unique famous shops line up, each with its own commitment to soup, noodles, and char siu. Upon entering the shops, the fragrant aroma of soup and the sound of boiling noodles resonate, whetting the appetite. Passing through the noren of each shop, you can see craftsmen boiling noodles and carefully pouring soup up close over the counter. With one sip of piping hot ramen, the umami of rich soup and the texture of noodles spread throughout your mouth.
Inside the facility is "Asahikawa Ramen Shrine," beloved as the god of noodle connections. Visitors can be seen passing through the torii gate and praying for good relationships and wishes, and it is also popular as a photo spot. Located in a corner of the Powers shopping center, it has a large parking lot that can accommodate large buses. This is a tourist facility representing Asahikawa gourmet where you can tour famous Asahikawa ramen shops in one place.

This zoo is famous for its "behavioral displays," creating comfortable spaces tailored to the animals' ecology and showcasing their natural behaviors. You can witness penguins freely swimming through an underwater tunnel in the "Penguin House," seals moving up and down a cylindrical tank in the "Seal House," polar bears making powerful dives into their pool in the "Polar Bear House," orangutans nimbly moving through the air in a 17-meter-high tower in the "Orangutan House," hippos swimming as seen from directly below in the "Hippo House," and animals living vibrantly in exhibits unique to a Hokkaido zoo such as the "Red-crowned Crane House," "Ezo Deer Forest," and "Hokkaido Native Animal House." In 2022, the "Ezo Brown Bear House" opened, allowing visitors to closely observe Hokkaido's representative wild animals in an indoor enclosure modeled after Shiretoko.

Among the highlights is "Mogumogu Time" (feeding time), where you can observe the animals in their natural feeding behaviors – a must-see! The schedule is decided on the morning of the event, so it's recommended to check the notice boards within the zoo or the official website to plan your route accordingly.

Seasonal events are also appealing. The "Night Zoo," held only during the Bon Festival period in summer, is a summer tradition where the zoo stays open at night. You might see animals sleeping, nocturnal birds of prey actively moving, and even hear the howling of wolves. During the winter snowfall, the "Penguin Walk" offers a charming sight of penguins waddling freely along a course without fences.