Sobetsuwaterfall is the only outlet of Lake Toya. The waterfall that flows down from a head of about 18m is very powerful. Sobetsu is an Ainu language, "sou" is a waterfall, and "petsu" is a river. There are tables and chairs on the path to the waterfall.
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)
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 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 is a volcano located on the South rim of Lake Toya.
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 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.
The Shinzan Swamp ("Shinzan Numa") is a beautiful spot to take a break from busy travelling.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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).
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A place where you can rest (entrance free), and see some displays about local birds and animals.
