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.

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, a glass museum 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

Enjoy Lake Toya through all the seasons: the lush greenery surrounding Lake Toya in Spring and Summer, the colorful leaves falling into the water in autumn, and the beautiful silenence during winter.

Mount Usu

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

Sobetsu Park

Sobetsu Park is one of the must-see sightseeing spots of Sobetsu. From here you have a panorama that shows you not only the breathtaking Lake Toya with Mount Yotei in its background, but also the two volcanoes Mount Usu and Mount Showa-Shinzan all at once. There are around 300 plum trees planted around the park, and once they bloom between mid-May to End of May, it is a carpet in pink to be enjoyed with this spectacular view.

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.

Chikaraiwa Observatory Park

Great spot that offers a great view, if you want to check out Lake Toya from its lakeside!

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

Around 100 brown bears reside in the bear ranch. Several observatories (from above, from a window next to the bears etc) are available. In Spring, you can see baby bears, born to the bears from the ranch.

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.

Shimeien Cottage and Shimeien Kaitaku (Pioneer) Memorial Park

Recommended spot for exploring the history of Sobetsu. The surrounding park is beautiful and perfect for relaxing a bit during travels.