Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

An exhibition hall where you can experience the Okhotsk winter year-round, with views of the Shiretoko Mountain Range from the Mt. Tento Observatory, designated as a national scenic beauty.

One step inside the building, the drift ice experience room kept at minus 15 degrees awaits. In the room lined with real drift ice, cold air pierces the skin, and through the sensation of breath freezing white, you can experience the Okhotsk severe cold with your whole body. Touching the drift ice, the coldness and hardness transmitted to your palm evokes the journey of ice that has drifted from distant seas. In the aquarium, clione called "angels of drift ice" swim with their transparent bodies swaying, and balloon lumpsuckers and snailfishes with their round forms and adorable appearance soothe visitors.

From the attached Mt. Tento Observatory, a 360-degree panorama including the Okhotsk Sea and the Shiretoko Mountain Range, a World Natural Heritage site, spreads out. The view from this observatory is a valuable scenic beauty designated as a national cultural property. You can overlook the magnificent nature showing seasonal expressions - mountains of fresh green in spring, the brilliantly blue sea in summer, land dyed in autumn colors, and the sea covered white with drift ice in winter. The experience of gazing at the great nature of Okhotsk spreading below while receiving the cold wind is deeply engraved in visitors' hearts.

Held from early May to early Jun.

Shibazakura, also known as moss phlox, is the representative flower of Spring in Hokkaido. Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park is one of the most well-known places for shibazakura in the whole prefecture! The ten-hectare park is painted with the most glorious pink and white colors from early May to early Jun. At the top of the hill is an observatory from which to take stunning photographs of the picturesque landscape. The photogenic pink torii shrine gate is also a popular spot to take pictures. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and find that perfect place to capture the mass of pink that signals Spring’s true arrival in Northern Japan!

Mt. Io, an active volcano that is the source of Kawayu Onsen. You can observe white smoke rising from countless fumaroles up close and experience the powerful sensation of being enveloped in the smell of sulfur.
Mt. Io, called Atosanupuri meaning "naked mountain" in Ainu language, is an active volcano that is the source of Kawayu Onsen. Once prosperous with sulfur mining, plants hardly grow on the brown, desolate mountain slopes, and white smoke containing sulfur vigorously rises from countless fumaroles. You can approach very close to the fumaroles, the sound of steam spouting from the ground echoes, and the strong smell of sulfur pervades the area.
Around the fumaroles, when you bring your hand close to the ground warmed by geothermal heat, you feel heat, and rising steam flows in the wind and touches your skin. Yellow sulfur crystals underfoot cover the rock surface, and you can witness the vitality of the volcano with your own eyes. At the foot of the mountain, a large colony of "Ezo Isotsutsuji," endemic to Hokkaido, spreads, and from June to July every year, pure white small flowers bloom all at once. From the town of Kawayu Onsen to Mt. Io, "Tsutsugahara Nature Exploration Path" is maintained, guided tours are also conducted, and you can stroll while learning about the geology and vegetation of the volcano.

A hot spring resort known for its highly acidic water sourced from Mt. Io (Sulphur Mountain), an active volcano in Akan Mashu National Park. Visitors can also observe the breathtaking diamond dust phenomenon in winter.

The greatest draw of Kawayu Onsen is its exceptional water quality. The highly acidic water, rare even in Japan, boasts a strong acidity of pH 1.6 to 1.8. This unique quality has made it popular for centuries, thanks to its excellent bactericidal properties and its skin-beautifying effect, which leaves the skin smooth and soft. The thermal warmth of the hot springs penetrates deep into the body's core. Throughout the onsen town, you can easily enjoy the local bounty at free-flowing footbaths (ashiyu).

Located in a region of severe cold, Kawayu Onsen offers a unique winter spectacle. During the coldest months, the "Diamond Dust" phenomenon—where frozen water vapor glitters in the clear air—can be observed. After witnessing this beautiful, fantastical sight, the highly acidic hot water is the perfect cure, warming your body and soothing your fatigue. Enjoy this unforgettable, sensory experience unique to winter in Kawayu.

While enjoying the view of Lake Kussharo, you can relax in a hot spring rich in salt and carbon dioxide gas, which warms your body from the core and is expected to have beautifying effects. This hot spring area, with good access to both the Okhotsk and the Nemuro-Kushiro regions, heals travelers' fatigue.