Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

This is an exhibition hall themed around drift ice and the creatures of the Sea of Okhotsk. Visitors can experience Okhotsk winter throughout the year in the drift ice experience room, where real drift ice is kept at minus 15 degrees Celsius. Visitors will be amazed at the adorable creatures on display, such as the clione, known as the “drift ice angel,” the balloon fish, and the sea slug. From the Tentozan Observatory, which is located next to the museum, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Shiretoko Mountain Range, a World Natural Heritage site, as well as the changing scenery of the four seasons. This spectacular view has been designated as a national cultural asset and a “place of scenic beauty.

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 is an active volcano with an altitude of 512 m. White smoke containing sulfur rises from the mountainsides, which have a countless number of fumaroles. You can go up close to the fumaroles for the full impact as the smell of sulfur envelopes you. A large community of marsh tea, which produces beautiful, pure white flowers from June to July, spreads across the foot of the mountain. The Tsutsujigahara Nature Trail has been developed from Kawayu hot spring town to Mt. Io, so you can take a leisurely walk along the trail. Guided tours are conducted from early June to early July.

Atosanupuri, the Ainu name for Mount Io, is an active volcano that sporadically erupts into clouds of sulfur. To explore this fascinating landmark, walk along a 2.4-kilometer trail that connects the mountain to the Kawayu Onsen. Despite the relatively short distance and low elevation, you can admire beautiful alpine plants and trees that can normally only be seen on steep mountain paths thanks to the effects of Mount Io’s volcanic activity on the soil. Why not enrich your adventure with the help of a guide? A local expert can show you how past eruptions have carved out this stunning landscape and created the perfect habitat for unique wildlife.

Kawayu Onsen, located in Akan-Mashu National Park, is one of the representative hot spring resorts in East Hokkaido. Kawayu Onsen is one of the representative hot spring resorts in East Hokkaido, and boasts an abundance of hot spring water from its source, the still active Mt. The town of Kawayu Onsen is filled with the aroma of sulfur and has footbaths with free-flowing hot spring water, making it an easy place to enjoy the hot spring. The highly acidic water has been loved by many people since long ago for its excellent sterilizing and skin beautifying properties. During the harsh winter season, you may be able to observe the fantastic diamond dust phenomenon in the area. After observing the phenomenon, the hot springs will warm your cold body from the inside out.

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.