Sightseeing Spots

Sobetsu Road Station "Joho-kan i"

Sobetsu Road Station is a facility to gather information about touristic spots and activities, shop for local produce, as well as learn about volcano Mt. Usu and the regional Geopark. On the ground floor you find the desk of the Sobetsu Tourist Association offering information and tips to visit local places. On the same floor you find a shop offering local produce and souvenirs. On the 2nd floor is the volcano exhibition with many photos, documents and other objects that describe the history of the volcano Mt. Usu and its eruption almost every 30 years.
With the spread of electric vehicles, EV chargers and dedicated lanes are also available, so please use them. (It takes about 30 minutes to complete charging)

Mount Showa-Shinzan

During the volcano eruption in 1943, Mount Showa-Shinzan emerged within only 2 years from a simple wheat field. You can still feel the overwhelming earth's energy after 70 years. The area around Mount Showa-Shinzan offers a couple of tourist attractions, such as the Usu Ropeway station, a bear ranch, and the Masao Mimatsu Memorial Hall (the local postmaster who recorded the mountain's birth in 1943), as well as souvenir shops and restaurants.

Lake Toya

Lake Toya represents 110,000 years of history
Lake Toya is a caldera lake that emerged from a huge eruption with pyroclastic flow that formed the lake's shape, more than 110,000 years ago. The caldera accumulated rainwater and surrounding water sources, hence Lake Toya came into existence.

Mount Usu

Mount Usu is a volcano located on the South rim of Lake Toya.

Sobetsu Park

Sobetsu Park is one of the best view points around Lake Toya. You can see Lake Toya, Mt. Usu, Mt. Showa, and Mt. Yotei and Niseko Mountains in the distance. Sobetsu Park, which boasts an area of approximately 86,000 square meters, is also known as a famous spot for plum blossoms, and you can enjoy the blossoming of approximately 300 Bungo plum blossoms in the middle of May every year.

Sobetsu River ("Sobetsu Kawa")

Sobetsu River is a beloved spot with the local townspeople. Not only is it a beautiful stream of clear water, but it also shows a rich ecosystem that leads from Sobetsu Waterfall through the whole town. Come and enjoy a stroll at the river.

Shinzan Numa (Shinzan Swamp)

The Shinzan Swamp ("Shinzan Numa") is a beautiful spot to take a break from busy travelling.

Shinzan Numa Observation Park

The Shinzan Swamp was formed over years through pyroclasic flow from several eruptions of volcano Mount Usu. It is also a wonderful place to spend a relaxing time, observing various animals in as well as around the swamp. From the observatory deck you have a nice view over the town.

Orofure Mountain Pass

Orofure Mountain Pass lays between Noboribetsu and Sobetsu, and it is a beautiful scenery during summer, as well as the autumn leaf period, and the iced trees in winter.

Nakajima Island

Nakajima is the island in the middle of Lake Toya, and it offers scenes of untouched nature, inviting to a stroll on the forest's promenade to see wild deer and a forest of giant spruce.

1977 Eruption Remnants Park

This park shows the remains of a hospital facility that collapsed during the 1977 volcano eruption. The destroyed facility with its surrounding of visible crustal movement have been developed into a observation park that is a part of the Toya-Usu Global Geopark.

Iburi Railway Bridge Remnants Memorial Park

Here you can see the railway bridge of the retired Iburi Line that has been raised about 30m higher than its original location due to the eruption in 1943-45. It is a part of the Toya-Usu Unesco Global Geopark.

Lake Toya Gurutto Chokoku Koen (Sculpture Park)

Beautiful open-air art museum that is laid out around Lake Toya and showing 58 sculptures made by famous Japanese sculptur artists (18 sculpturs are to be found in the Sobetsu area).

Sobetsu Fruit Village

Located next to the Sobetsu Road Station "Joho-kan". Most of the farms offer fruit picking activities, which is a lot of fun during the season: starting with strawberries, then cherries, plums, grapes to apple picking between May and October!

Yokozuna "Kita-no-Umi" Museum & Local Sobetsu Museum

A must-see for Sumo wrestling fans. The famous Yokozuna "Kita-no-Umi" is a legend throughout the sumo world, and it is here in Sobetsu that he was born and raised. At the museum you can see exhibits and explanations, starting with growing up in Sobetsu up to the heights of his Sumo career. Check out the history of Kita-no-Umi's 18 years long career in the Sumo world. In addition this museum also shows the local history of the town.

Showa-Shinzan Bear Ranch

Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch where you can see elephant brown bears up close. You can see bears in their natural state up close, and you can even feed them cookies. From Golden Week every year, you can meet cute bear cubs.

Usuzan Ropeway

The Usuzan Ropeway is an aerial lift line that opened in 1965, climbing Mount Usu in about 6 minutes, the active volcano in Toya-Usu Global Geopark. The gondala and observatory deck have a view of Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan, and the central crater of Mount Usu.

Usu Volcano South Rim Hiking Trail

The hiking trail is located half-way around the crater of Mount Usu. Once going up Mount Usu with the ropeway, this is a great hike of about 1.1km with fantastic views.

Masao Mimatsu Memorial Hall

Displaying many valuable documents and objects connected to the emergence of Mount Showa-Shinzan and the local postmaster Masao Mimatsu, who observed the volcano's birth during 1943-1945.

Showa Shinzan Park Service Center

A place where you can rest (entrance free), and see some displays about local birds and animals.

Winter

Showa-Shinzan International Yukigassen Championships (Snowball Fight World Cup)

Have you ever heard of sports Yukigassen? It's professional snowball fighting, and Sobetsu is the cradle of this sports hosting the annual world championships at the foot of Mount Showa-Shinzan!

Cidre de Sobetsu & Sparkling Apple Juice 100%

"Cidre de Sobetsu"is the local apple cider wine made from 100% Sobetsu brand apples. You have the choice between a DAY & SWEET version. Moreover , a non-alcoholic version is also sold " Sparkling Apple Juice", made from 100% locally grown Sobetsu apples. Both products are limited in production amount. New label make-over in 2017! On sale from Feburary 25, 2017 onwards

Apple Juice "Kitaguni-no-Shizuku"

Produced from apples grown by local farmers. 100% direct juice. Several apple flavors (difference in apple variety) are available.

Fall

Sobetsu Apple Festival

A big festival of Sobetsu is the annual “Sobetsu Apple Festival” which is held in October every year.

Fall

Sams Autumn Harvesting Festival

Here you can find fresh vegetables and fruit made in Sobetsu, and also the fresh harvest of the famous and delicious Sobetsu Rice; all for an astonishing direct sales price!

Pumpkin Cake "Cinderella"

Cake made from the paste of the local "dark horse" brand pumpkin, mixed with other cake ingredients and a sugar content of 18% (same as melon). Imagine cheese cake meets pudding, with the note of the sweet Sobetsu pumkin.

Hand-made Jam and Fruit Preserve

From delicious fruit jam to diverse flavor arrangements of fruit preserve, Sobetsu offers delicious products perfect for a souvenir to take home.

Winter

Scenic Night in Sobetsu "Joho-Kan i "(Toyako Area)

Ice-candle event held in Sobetsu Road Station "Joho-kan" with lots of fun activities!

Fall

Sobetsu Agricultural Highschool Harvest Festival

Event is held in September every year and the fresh vegetables and fruit produced by the students, are sold for small prices. This is a very popular festival among locals and people in the area.

Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

Sobetsu is famous for its delicious fruit as well as vegetables! If you want to buy something fresh, check out the list in this page.