Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Perched at the highest elevation of 670 meters, this observatory offers a luxurious moment to savor the mystical deep blue waters and the grand panorama of the Kussharo Caldera all at once.

Accessible via Route 52 from Kawayu Onsen, the Lake Mashu Third Observatory stands as the highest of the three viewpoints overlooking the lake. Upon stepping onto the deck, your eyes are immediately drawn to the profound, deep blue hue known as "Mashu Blue." From this vantage point, you can look almost directly down into the world-class clarity of the water, with the mystical Kamuy-shu Island appearing close enough to touch. As the wind sweeps across the cliffs, the surrounding Erman's birch trees rustle softly, and the cool, crisp alpine air gently brushes against your skin.

Turning around, a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of Japan’s largest caldera, the Kussharo Caldera, unfolds before you. The sight is truly overwhelming, capturing the rising steam of Mt. Io and the mirror-like surface of Lake Kussharo in a single gaze. In the early morning, sea fog drifting in from the Pacific Ocean often settles within the caldera, transforming the landscape into a vast, white carpet of clouds. Surrounded by the vibrant colors of untamed nature and the rhythmic sounds of the wind in the silence, you can fully immerse yourself in the primordial spirit of Hokkaido within this sharpened, pure atmosphere.