Ultimate Japanese RV Adventure: Discover Japan on Wheels

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Hokkaido, Day 4 Part 2, Lake Mashu

Hello.

We visited the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum, a popular science museum in Abashiri, alongside the Abashiri Prison. The Drift Ice Fantasy Theater inside features five screens—front, left, right, and top and bottom—with a total of 400 inches. You can see impressive images of drift ice, the sky, and the creatures of the Sea of Okhotsk.


In the Drift Ice Experience Terrace, the indoor temperature is minus 15°C, so you need to wear a thick coat to enter. Here, you can touch real drift ice. They also lend you a wet towel, and after spinning it 30 times to freeze it, the towel becomes stiff like a stick. Be sure to give it a try!
From the observation terrace, you can enjoy a magnificent 360-degree view of Lake Abashiri, Lake Notoro, Lake Tōfutsu, Lake Mokoto, and across the Sea of Okhotsk to the Shiretoko mountain range and the Akan mountains.
At the café inside, you can try the drift ice soft-serve ice cream, which is flavored with salt caramel made from salt from the Sea of Okhotsk.

Next, we went to the Gurutto Panorama Bihoro Touge roadside station.
This place has won first place in the scenic category of the annual Hokkaido roadside station rankings by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for six consecutive years. Located at an elevation of about 525 meters, it offers a breathtaking view of Lake Kussharo, one of Japan’s leading caldera lakes. This popular tourist destination attracts about 600,000 visitors annually.

Then we headed to Sulfur Mountain.
This mountain, the source of the famous Kawayu Onsen, is called “Atosanupuri” in the Ainu language, meaning “naked mountain.” True to its name, the slopes are bare of trees, with steam rising and roaring from over a thousand fumaroles, filling the area with a distinct sulfur smell. From the parking lot, a short walk over gravel will take you close to the fumaroles. You can see many yellow sulfur crystals and experience the pulsating energy of the Earth up close.

This mountain once prospered from sulfur mining and export. In the newly renovated Sulfur Mountain MOKMOK Base exhibit, you can learn about its past. At MOKMOK Base, we tried the onsen-steamed eggs, a beloved local specialty. The eggs are steamed using water from the Kawayu Onsen, infused with a subtle sulfur aroma and saltiness. Here, you peel the shells after wrapping them with tape. It’s fun!

Next, we went to the sand bath at Lake Kussharo.
In Teshikaga, Hokkaido, there are many hot springs like Kawayu Onsen, Mashu Onsen, and Mokoto Onsen. At Lake Kussharo, you can dig in the sand to find a natural hot spring. With just a little digging, hot water starts bubbling up. However, digging can be quite hard, and most people stop once they find some hot spring water. If you dig a little deeper, more hot spring water will flow. If you find digging challenging, there is a foot bath nearby.

After that, we went to the first observation deck of Lake Mashu. It’s been a full day!
We rushed to arrive before sunset to enjoy the views.

Lake Mashu, called “Kamuito” in Ainu, is a mysterious place known as the “Lake of the Gods.” From the observation deck, the deep blue water seems to pull you in, constantly changing with the movement of the clouds. This blue, known as “Mashu Blue,” is a unique color created by the reflection of the sky on the lake, which boasts some of the highest transparency in the world. The steep cliffs around the lake prevent access to the water’s edge. The beautiful mystery of this lake continues to attract many visitors over time.

The first observation deck is one of three around Lake Mashu, commonly known as “Omote Mashu.” During winter, the other observation decks are closed, but the first observation deck remains open year-round, bustling with tourists admiring Lake Mashu.

Lake Mashu is Japan’s sixth largest caldera lake, with a circumference of 20 km, an area of 19.2 km², an average depth of 145.9 m, and a maximum depth of 211 m. A caldera is a depression formed after a volcanic eruption, where water collects in this sunken area, creating a caldera lake.

Finally, we arrived at the Pappas Land Satsuru roadside station, where we’ll spend the night in our car.
This roadside station is located in Kiyosato Town, where the waters of Lake Mashu spring forth. The name “Pappas” means “potato” in Spanish, named after the local specialty potatoes.
Well then, see you later.

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テーマの著者 Anders Norén