Travel / Tourism Spots in Kushiro / Three Great Lakes Area

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Kushiro / Three Great Lakes

Category

Travel / Tourism

Kushiro Tancho Japanese Crane Reserve

4.0

251 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Tsuruoka 112

The purpose of the Kushiro Tancho Japanese Crane Reserve is protection and breeding for the Tancho Japanese crane located in the Kushiro City. The Tancho Japanese crane has been designated as a Special Natural Monument and about 20 Tancho Japanese cranes have been released in the reserve. You can see them up close in all seasons and all weather. This park is located ten minutes from Tancho Kushiro Airport by car.

We visited this reserve as part of our tour of the island. I was really looking forward to seeing lots of cranes acting naturally in the wild. However we saw several pairs of cranes in separate...
Kushiro Marsh Observatory

3.5

305 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Hokuto 6-11

The building of Kushiro Marsh Observatory was designed by architect Kiko Mozuna and is reminiscent of a Western European castle. Inside are exhibits which tell us about the background and seasons of the marshland as well as a diorama replicating the marsh. The views from the observatory on the third floor overlooking the vast marshy grassland are really quite spectacular. A 2.5 kilometers long boardwalk has been built around the building from where you can possibly catch a glimpse of the wildlife such as the White-faced Darter dragonfly or the Siberian salamander.

Unfortunately on the day we visited it was snowing hard, but the center has numerous exhibits regarding wildlife seen in the Kushiro area. There is an open air observatory at the top, a gift shop and...
Roadside Station Mashu Onsen

4.0

151 Reviews

Transportation

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou Yunoshima 3-5-5

This roadside station is located along National Route 241 in Yunoshima in Teshikaga-cho. It provides information about attractions in Teshikaga-cho, lodging, hot springs and transportation. There are also two computers that you can freely use. In addition, there is a gallery, pamphlet corner and rest corner, making it a place where tourists can relax. In the special product sales corner for Teshikaga, there are products rooted in the local community such as sweets made locally and works by local artists. There is also a simple alkaline foot bath on the premises, giving you a place to heal the wear from your travels.

Clean and effificient and the same as all the other roadside service areas. Good coffee available plus usual souvenirs.
Akan International Crane Center 'Grus'

4.0

146 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Akanchoukamiakan 23sen 40

Established in 1996, this is the only center in Japan dedicated to the study of the ecology and life of the Japanese crane. The center houses displays depicting the body structure of a crane, the life of the crane, as well as lively images and videos of the crane. In front of the adjoining crane observatory is a feeding area. The center is located around 20 minutes by car from the Tancho Kushiro Airport.

Theres an observation area next to a large field, where the migrating red crowned cranes land, eat, and mate. Easy to see these cranes, and photograph them. It was a great experience.
Lake Mashu First Observation Deck

4.5

61 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou

Lake Mashu, which is located in Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido, has some of the clearest water in the world, with a unique blue tint that has come to be known as “Mashu Blue”; it is a very popular tourist attraction. Lake Mashu is often covered with dense fog; tourists from all over Japan flock to the Lake to experience its mysterious beauty during the brief periods when the fog lifts. Of the three observation decks around the Lake, the First Observation Deck is the most widely used; it provides excellent views of Lake Mashu, Kamuishu Island in the middle of the Lake, and the imposing mountains that surround the Lake. There is a rest house where visitors can buy snacks and local specialty products.

訪れた日は風が強くて怖いくらいでしたが、とても綺麗に晴れ渡った摩周湖を眺めることができました。遠くは知床半島の山々まで見渡せました。
Tsurumidai

4.0

82 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Akanguntsuruimura Shimosetsuri

Tsurumidai is a bird-feeding station that every year, between November and March, is visited by large numbers of Japanese Red-crowned Cranes. The Cranes are fed twice a day, in the morning and around 2:30 p.m. Originally, the Cranes were fed by the teachers and students of the local elementary school. When the school closed down, Ms. Tome Watanabe, who lived nearby, decided that she would keep feeding the Cranes, and has continued to do so since then, which is another reason for Tsurumidai’s fame. Sometimes, nearly 200 Cranes can be seen.

Visited on a sunny but very cold day in late March and the snow has melted. There were perhaps 5-6 cranes. Feeding has stoppped here but I saw a field of cranes feeding themselves on fresh crops...
Kushiro Port Festival

4.0

64 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hokkaido Kushiro-shi Shunkodai 1-7

Kushiro City Museum celebrated its 60th anniversary in July 2016. The Museum is focused mainly on themes relating to Kushiro, and it makes effective use of three-dimensional displays that incorporate surround sound to create a multisensory experience for visitors. The Dio-Nature-Dome, with its artificial sky, is a must-see. To reach the Museum from JR Kushiro Station by bus takes around 15 minutes; get off at the “Shiritsu Byoin” bus stop, and the Museum is five minutes’ walk away.

The exhibits in this museum do a great job of explaining the local history. While most of the exhibits are self explanatory, very few exhibit descriptions are in both English & Japanese.
Akankohan Eco-Museum Center

4.0

81 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Akanchouakankonsen 1-1-1

Akankohan Eco-Museum Center introduces you to the lush nature in the Akan National Park Akan area. The Akan Marimo (round green algae) has been designated as a Special Natural Monument. The resting room has a big fireplace and is good for a rest after walking around the lake. You can hire the snowshoes and cross country skis. You can enjoy a walk on the Bokke nature trail which is behind the museum.

We went here with our family and it was a nice stop for about an hour. There are tons of hands on learning type events and my kids enjoyed the glassed in room with telescopes. Its certainly a nice...
Kawayu Eco-Museum Center

4.0

56 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou Kawayuonsen 2-2-6

Located in the Akan Mashu National Park, this nature encounter center combines field experience and a building where the natural environment, history and culture of the local Mashu region are introduced. In addition to the panel and model displays, one can take free guided walks, and craft-making out of the natural materials. The second floor is used for community space where one can enjoy a coffee, high-definition videos or relax in the space to just enjoy viewing the woodlands.

Quite a bit of the information is in English and this is made very well to learn about the nature in the area- highly recommended to stop and read about where you are, the wildlife and plants of the...
Lake Akan

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Akanchouakankonsen

Located within Akan National Park, Lake Akan is the fifth largest freshwater lake in Hokkaido. Lake Akan is famous as the habitat of the Marimo alga and the Kokanee landlocked salmon, both of which have been designated as Special Natural Monuments. In winter, the entire lake freezes over, enabling people to enjoy winter activities and sports such as fishing for Japanese Pond Smelt through the ice-skating, etc.
Kobunkan

3.5

53 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Omachi 2-1-12

The Kokubunkan museum, a building with a distinctive brick exterior, has displays relating to famous poet Ishikawa Takuboku. The building was originally constructed in 1908 for use by the former “Kushiro Shimbun” newspaper (since taken over by the “Hokkaido Shimbun”); Ishikawa spent 76 days working here as a reporter for the “Kushiro Shimbun.” The museum’s displays include letters exchanged between Ishikawa and his friends and acquaintances in Kushiro, photographs, etc. The museum also has information about monuments engraved with poems by Ishikawa in Kushiro City.

釧路川幣舞橋から徒歩すぐのところに佇む旧釧路新聞社社屋です。１９０８年建築のレンガ造りの社屋を平成5年に復元された建物です。1階には釧路港資料館とカフェ。2階が石川啄木資料館になってます。小樽から釧路駅に降り立った啄木がたった７６日の滞在期間に意外に浮名を流したことがわりますね。写真を見るとそこそこイケメンですかね。・・・・
Onnenai Boardwalk

4.5

40 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Akan-gun Tsuruimura Onnenai Onnenai Visitor Center

This is a wooden pathway that starts from the Onnenai Visitor Center at the western end of the Kushiro Wetlands. There is a two-kilometer barrier-free wooden boardwalk that allows you to stroll through the Kushiro Wetlands, observing the flora and fauna of the changing seasons. Also leading to the promenade of Kushiro Marsh Observatory, it is a very popular place to enjoy a gentle stroll. It takes approximately one hour to go around once. Depending on the season, you can enjoy seeing flowers such as bogbean, cotton grass and bog rosemary as you go around wetlands of reed, sedges and peat moss. In addition, you can see wild birds, and Heike fireflies from July to August.

Arriving just after daybreak the bridge was busy but people faded away. I counted approx 15 cranes you need decent binoculars or scope, as well as the cranes I saw a white tailed eagle, kingfisher...
Watanabe Experience Farm

4.5

31 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou Teshikagagenya 646-4

The Watanabe Experience Farm is located in the east of Hokkaido at the foot of Mt. Mashu. In the certified Dairy Education Farm you can have a go at milking the cows, driving a tractor around the prairie, and making butter and ice cream. The farm is close to Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. You won’t be able to miss the big, red sign with a cow on it! All of the souvenir confectionery and drink made with milk from cows on the farm is lovely.

We have 3/7/9 kids and had a lots of fun! That was a cloudy Friday and we were the only customers to have the half day course. Never before saw our lovely kids worked so hard to try picking grass and...
Akan Sightseeing Cruise

4.5

30 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Akanchouakankonsen 1-5-20

The Akan Sightseeing Cruise travels around Lake Akan, famous for its marimo (ball shaped green algae), from May to November. As well as the pleasure cruiser, you can also choose to ride in a motor boat, or a Japanese houseboat. The pleasure cruise takes about 85 minutes which includes a 15 minute stop so you check out the unusual looking marimo. Cruises depart from the Marimo-no-sato Pier and the Koun-no-mori Pier.

This is not exactly the most active way to spend 75 minutes but we enjoyed taking some great photos of the lake and blue skies while onboard. The highlight for me at least was stopping for 15...
Sarubo Observatory

3.5

36 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunshibechachou Touro

Sarubo Observatory is located on top of a low hill to the north of Lake Toro. Besides Lake Toro (the largest coastal lagoon in the Kushiro Shitsugen), visitors can also enjoy views over four nearby ponds (Sarurunto, Ponto, Eoruto and Makunto). This is a very popular spot for enjoying Hokkaido’s beautiful natural scenery.

小さな駐車場にクルマを停めて、山を少し登ります。駐車場は最初通り過ぎてしまいました。登っている時に鹿がいました。
Marimo exhibition and observation center

4.0

29 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kushiro-shi Akancho Akankonsen 1-5-20

This nature-observation center is on Churui Island, in the northern section of Lake Akan. You can observe the area's Special Natural Monument, marimo algae, and learn about its habitat. Inside the facility is a massive tank recreating the bottom of Lake Akan, letting you see ball marimo resting quietly in its natural environment. You can sometimes find shockingly large specimens, as well. Outside are spots where you can watch Lake Akan's native Sakhalin taimen salmon and white throated char. Altogether, this is a relaxed atmosphere where you can learn about and enjoy Lake Akan's natural scenery. You can get to the center via sightseeing cruise or high-speed ferry.

Its a small museum you get to visit if you take the sightseeing cruise in Akan lake. This small museum is nice to see for 10 mins but could be maintained better and felt a bit old to me.
Kushiro Art Museum, Hokkaido

3.5

26 Reviews

Leisure / Hobbies

Hokkaido Kushiroshi Saiwaichou 4-1-5

Located around 15 minutes' walk from JR Kushiro Station in the waterfront area in Kushiro's city center, Kushiro Art Museum is an important center for culture and the arts in the Kushiro / Nemuro region. The main focus of the museum's collections and exhibits-which include everything from Nihonga paintings, oil paintings, woodblock prints and photographs to three-dimensional sculptures-is on works based on natural themes, and works that are connected to the Kushiro / Nemuro region. The Arts Hall-which is a combined concert hall and lecture hall-is used for holding film showings, museum seminars, lectures to accompany special exhibitions, etc. Workshops and experiential activities are also held in the Free Art Room.

芸術館とありますが、内容的には一般的な美術館に近いです。このエリアに関連した人物などの作品が展示されています、あまり存じ上げる方は正直少なかったので詳しい人じゃないとじっくりとは楽しめないかもしれません。
Lake Mashu

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou

The mysterious caldera lake also called “Lake Mashu of Mist” has a circumference of 20 kilometers and depth of 212 meters. The water level of the lake remains unchanged although the lake has no rivers flowing in or out. The lake is characterized by its high water transparency because impurities do not flow into it. The Ainu people call the lake Kintan Kamuy-to (Lake of the Mountain Gods) and has long been idolized by them.
Teshikaga Town Kussharo Kotan Ainu Folklore Museum

3.5

21 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou Kussharo City Ichijyu 11

This museum which passes on the history, culture, manners and customs of the Ainu is located on the southern shore of Lake Kussharo in eastern Hokkaido. The architect Kikou Mozuna who was born in Kushiro City designed this unique building which is very interesting. You can wear traditional Ainu dress for free and experience making bookmarks with the Ainu motif embroidery as well as coasters. The museum is open from April 29 to October 31.

Dedicated to the Ainu people with a small collection of artefacts but the exhibits still cover a range of themes with some English descriptions. The best part is the approx. 25 mins English video...
Lake Kussharo

Travel / Tourism

Hokkaido Kawakamigunteshikagachou

Lake Kussharo is located in the Akan National Park in Eastern Hokkaido. It is the largest caldera lake in Japan and also the largest freshwater lake in Japan to freeze over completely in winter. On the south side the Wako Peninsula juts out and in the lake is Nakajima Island. It is said that about 500 swans migrate to the lake during the winter months and it is a popular spot to take photos.

Hokkaido Kushiro / Three Great Lakes

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour Factory / Workshop Sightseeing Spot Experience / Training / Vehicle Nature Travel / Tourism Information Rental Car / Bicycle / Motorcycle Souvenirs Rest Spot Other Sightseeing

Hokkaido Areas

Not just a prefecture but an island of its own, Hokkaido is the most northerly prefecture and island of the Japanese archipelago. Arriving in Hokkaido, which is rural and bursting with breathtaking nature, means entering a world where vast national parks, towering mountains, and natural hot springs can be found at every turn. Come December, these natural splendors freeze over and morph into a winter wonderland.