11) 知床五湖【知床】Shiretoko Go Ko [ Shiretoko ].
Shiretoko Goko is Five wonderful lakes surrounded by local woods, Goko implies five lakes.
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| The wooden path is open all year round, and it is free. |
The quiet surfaces of the lakes reflects the surrounding trees and Shiretoko mountain area, making you feel you are deep inside an antiquated heaven where you will likewise observe a wide assortment of plants and animals. From observatories along the raised boardwalk, you will see tremendous scenes of the First Lake and the Shiretoko mountain.
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| The 1st lake. |
Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園 Shiretoko-kokuritsukoen) covers the sum of the Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島 Shiretoko-hanto), a remote northeastern corner of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In 2005, the park was assigned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Shiretoko Five Lakes are discreetly settled inside the virgin woods of Hokkaido's Shiretoko Peninsula. There is no water streaming in or out, so the lakes are quiet and otherworldly. Strolling through the virgin forests you will doubtlessly experience the deep spiritual vitality that surrounds the lakes.
Shiretoko is one of the most remote areas in Japan. The national park has no sizable settlements, and the northern part of the peninsula does not have any streets. The park is open all year round and the peak visiting season is during the short summer, while the winter can be very harsh.
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| Deers are everywhere if you are lucky. Bears are everywhere if you are unlucky :). |
There are two strolling courses located in the National Park, the main course is the elevated wooden way is 800 meters in length and takes you to the first Lake. Here you can encounter the magnificence of the Shiretoko goko lakes area, for example, the Shiretoko mountain range reflected in Lake first and the fantastic views of the Sea of Okhotsk.
The second walking course is the ground pathway gives visitors a chance to walk through the native forest from Lake second to Lake fifth. Access is being affected by season. From the park's opening until around May 10 and from August 1 until mid-October you should have to watch a 10-minute lecture video at the Shiretoko Five Lakes Field House. Additionally, you should apply for a permission to enter the park, however, you can easily download the application form from the official website. On the other hand, you can fill it in when you go there.
From around May 10 until the end of July is the active season of brown bear, hence all visitors must in tour groups led by an expert guide. The guide will show you many interesting things concerning the Five Lakes and you'll be able to enjoy Shiretoko's nature from various sides.
Please check the official website for more information about joining a tour group and the fee. After mid-October access is unrestricted and the park is closed during winter.
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| The second lake is the biggest among ther other five. |
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Name:
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知床五湖【知床】Shiretoko Go ko [ Shiretoko ].
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Address:
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Shiretoko GoKo Lakes, Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido
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Website:
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Access:
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The closest railway station
to the national park is JR Shiretoko Shari Station
in the center of Shari Town, about 40 kilometers southwest of the national park.
Shiretoko Shari Station can be reached in 40
minutes from Abashiri (840 yen one way) or in about
2.5 hours from Kushiro (2810 yen one way) by infrequently operating trains.
The approach from Sapporo via Abashiri takes about
6-7 hours and costs around 11,000 yen.
Shiretoko Shari Station is connected with Utoro by infrequent buses (50 minutes, 1650 yen one way),
some of which continue from Utoro via the Shiretoko Nature Center to the Shiretoko Five Lakes) from late April through October.
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Business hour:
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From the end of April to
November, 7:30 - 18:00 *Varies with visitation period.
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Fare:
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Free admission to the
elevated wooden path, as for the ground path, the fare will vary depend
season (The Brown Bear active season).
5000 yen for an adult and 3000
yen for a child, The fare may vary to the season.
Check these sites for the
tour guide fee and more information.
Shiretoko Tour guide.(Shiretoko
touring.)
Shiretoko
FAQ.(Shiretoko National Park FAQ.)
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Phone:
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0152- 24 - 3323
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12) 能取湖サンゴ草群落【網走市】Notoro Ko Sango Gunraku [ Abashiri ].
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| Ubaranai, the easiest part to access at lake Notoro. |
Lake Notoro is sitting west to the Abashiri, it is a salt lake and it connects to the Okhotsk Sea. Common Glasswort or saltworts, which could be found in a certain area even in Hokkaido, grows here in bunches, it used to be a harsh lake that contains both river water and ocean water, however, it has turned into a salt lake where salmon and scallops can be caught from this lake.
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| The Saltworts. |
The saltworts of Lake Notoro is likewise called "coral grasses" and is a plant that grows in the area where close to the ocean when it has high tides. The stems and branches of the saltworts of Lake Notoro turn red and forming a colony around the lake from the middle of August to the early of October. During this season, the view of Lake Notoro become magnificent. The saltworts are named "Akkeshisou" in light of the fact that it was found in Akkeshicho, inside Hokkaido.
The plant was at the edge of extinction previously, however it is recover now after a diligent work of the researcher. The lakeside of Lake Notoro transforms into a wonderful dark red color in September due to the plant turning red in the Autumn, you can enjoy a scene that shows up as though a crimson red carpet has been laid out. There are an eatery and a restroom at a site. Free admission to view the lake as well as the car parking.
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| Scallop and salmon could be found in this lake. |
There are colony points around the lakeside and you can stroll on the pathways and watch the wonderful scene of the coral grass settlements particularly in Ubaranai. Numerous visitors come and stop by as a part of Doto touring.
Lake Notoro is very easy to access because there is a JR Station nearby as well as the national route 238. Particularly, the colony of saltworts in Ubaranai is the most convenient spot in the surrounding of Lake Notoro. There is a cycling path along the national route which once used to be a railroad called "Yumo Line" and you can see a lot of people on a bike trip.
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| The crimson red Carpet in Autumn. |
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Name:
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能取湖サンゴ草群落【網走市】Notoro Ko Sango Gunraku [ Abashiri ].
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Address:
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60-3 Ubaranai,
Abashiri City
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Website:
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Access:
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From Sapporo Sta. to Abashiri Sta. (JR Sekihoku Main
Line):It takes approx. 5 hrs and 20 min. on the limited express.
From Kushiro Sta. to Abashiri Sta. (JR Senmo Main
Line):It takes approx. 3 hrs. and 20 min. on the rapid train.
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Business hour:
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Open 24 hours, but closed
during spring and winter.
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Fare:
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Free admission.
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Phone:
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+81-152-47-2301
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13) オホーツク海の流氷【網走市】 Okhotsk Kai No Ryuhyo [Abashiri].
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| Aurora 2 - the icebreaker. |
Abashiri is situated at 44 degrees north latitude, and the shores of Okhotsk are the Southernmost point where the ocean freezes. Drift ice touring " icebreaking ship Aurora takes you out in the midst of the stunning splendor " whiteness of the ice that spreads South around the Amur stream in midwinter. The icebreakers Aurora and Aurora2 will begin their work when the floating ice has surpassed the horizon.
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| Seagull will gather around the ship, for food, or just curious. |
The enormous river in the Far East, the Amur travel the borders of China and Russia before flowing into the Sea of Okhotsk, the frozen mass of freshwater and saltwater then spreading South. This white, mysterious mass can be seen from the Okhotsk shores around the end of January. The coast around Abashiri and the western shoreline of the Shiretoko Peninsula get the greatest amount of ice. During icy winters, float ice can also be seen at Kushiro along the Pacific Coast and Wakkanai at the northern tip of Hokkaido.
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| Drop me a link if you know the name of this eagle :) . |
As the floating ice arrives, so do the Clione or Sea Angels, Seals, and other marine untamed life and birds can likewise be seen laying on the ice, hunting for food, or just taking a nice sunbath. Every once in a while, creatures like the Ezo Red Fox and Yezo Deer can be seen ashore. In any case, because of an Earth-wide temperature boost, the sum and thickness of the floating ice have decreased extensively since the late 1980s, and it happens progressively that the ice does not exactly arrive at the Japanese coast during a few past Ryu Hyo season.
The ice will always have a different look to it, rely on upon the time and weather. Early in the season, there is "lotus leaf ice" where thin sheets of ice appear like lotus leaves gliding on the water. At that point, as the ice starts to freeze and bind together, the ocean get much thicker. Through winter storms, the ice turns out to be more three dimensional. The scene never appears to be identical, going to the Ryuhyo (Ice flow) is somewhat excited.
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| The lotus leaf ice. |
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Name:
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オホーツク海の流氷【網走市】Okhotsk Kai No Ryuhyo
[Abashiri].
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Address:
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093-0003 Minami 3,
Higashi 4-5-1, Abashiri city, Hokkaido
Roadside station (Ryuhyo Highway)
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Website:
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Access:
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From Sapporo Sta. to Abashiri Sta. (JR Sekihoku Main
Line):It takes approx. 5 hrs and 20 min. on the limited express.
From Kushiro Sta. to Abashiri Sta. (JR Senmo Main
Line):It takes approx. 3 hrs. and 20 min. on the rapid train.
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Business hour:
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9:00am~18:00 depend on the
season and departure time (Ice breaker Aurora).
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Fare:
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Phone:
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81-152-43-6000 Doutou Kanko Kaihatsu (Corporation).
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14) オロロンライン【小樽市～稚内市】Ororon Line [ Otaru - Wakkanai ].
The Ororon Line is a street that keeps running from Otaru City to the horizon of Wakkanai City. Known as the famous hub for bicycle riders, this is one spot where you can appreciate an invigorating ride and feel the wonderfulness of Hokkaido directly! The Ororon line is around 380 km long, and it may take few days to drive through.
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| It takes few days to drive through the Ororon Line. |
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Name:
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オロロンライン【小樽市～稚内市】Ororon Line [ Otaru -
Wakkanai ].
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Address:
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From Otaru to
Wakkanai.
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Website:
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-
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Access:
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By car or
motorbike.
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Business
hour:
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All year round.
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Fare:
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Free admission.
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Phone:
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-
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15) 摩周湖【弟子屈町】Mashu Ko [Teshikaga-cho].
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| The lake is covered by heavy fog. |
Mashu Lake is a caldera lake, made by the eruption of lava and rain accumulate in the massive bowl. There is no water streaming in or out of the lake, yet the water level stays consistent all year round and its water has the best transparent in the world. Although Lake Mashu has no river stream into or out, it keeps stable water level all year round by filtering groundwater from the snow streams into the lake.
You can't get married if you see the Mashu Lake?!
As though the myth is genuine, Mashu Lake is usually covered in heavy mist, seems like another version of Unkai, so it is rare to see its whole shape clearly. The lake is situated in Teshikaga-cho, east part of the Hokkaido, which is around two hours driving from Kushiro-shi. The whole area around the Mashu Lake is a designated special protection area, Akan National Park; along these lines, Japanese government entirely controls its development, the use of car and boat around and in the lake is prohibited.
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| Sunrise at Mashu Lake. |
The lake has radiation fog discharged from the water surface, furthermore moving mist that blows in from the sea over Kushiro, which regularly covers the lake in fog. Mashu Lake is known as the pool of fog thus. The rest house at the Lake Mashu Observatory serves up a well known blue color delicate dessert called Mashu Blue.
At the front of the Mashu Lake, there are rest houses, souvenir shops, and photograph taking spots for visitors. Scenes that you frequently find in the tourist information center were taken from observation deck Number 1 and 3. There was Number 2 between them, yet presently, it's shut. There is another observation deck you can discover behind the Lake Mashu, which is at a lower height than the front lake; consequently, it is said that less likely to be influenced by the mist.
Other than the Mashu Lake, you can likewise visit Mount Io, Sunayu, Lake Kussharo etc, they are much more to see around.
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| Winter Mashu Lake. |
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Name:
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摩周湖【弟子屈町】Mashu
Ko [Teshikaga-cho].
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Address:
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Lake Mashu Tourism Association 088-3211 5-1, Chuo 1-chome, Teshikaga-cho, Kamikawa-gun,
Hokkaido
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Website:
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Access:
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This place is best visit by car as you may want to get around the
Mashu area, alternatively you may travel by train, but it will take you a lot
of energy and time.
Sapporo Station → (JR Limited Express Super Ozora 4h.00min.～4h.30min.) → Kushiro Station → (JR Senmo
Line 1h.30min.～1h. 50min.) →
Mashu Station ／ KawayuOnsen
Station
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Business hour:
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Rest House 8:00 - 18:00 (Late April - Late October)
8:00 - 17:00 (Late October - Late April)
Open daily during the season.
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Fare:
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Free admission to the lake.
Rest House Two-wheeler 200 yen, passenger car 500
yen, microbus 1,000 yen, motorcoach 2,000 yen (tickets are common with the
Iouzan Parking).
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Phone:
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+81-15-482-2200 Lake Mashu Tourism Association
015-482-1530 (Rest House)
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