Lake Kussharo
Lake Kussharo
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4.0
353 reviews
Excellent
139
Very good
157
Average
54
Poor
3
Terrible
0
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meiji1985
Sendai, Japan3,538 contributions
June 2024 • Solo
The fog that was so thick in the morning has cleared up. I could see the lake clearly. I stayed there for about 30 minutes, but I enjoyed soaking my feet in the foot bath. The foot bath is right in front of the lake from the parking lot. The soft serve ice cream at the rest house was delicious. I was surprised at how clean the toilets in the parking lot were. There is a smoking area next to the rest house.
Written 16 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan C
33 contributions
Nov 2019
Magnificent lake with pretty swans to admire at. Huge lake surrounded by mountains. Great place to chill and relax. We parked near the big souvenir shop where you can get plenty of gifts and ice cream too.
Written 9 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jensen_chua
Singapore, Singapore3,606 contributions
Nov 2014 • Friends
When your tour vehicle pulls up at this venue, you instinctively know you come to a special place. Central to this lake attraction are the famous resident whooper swans (think they pronounce it as 'hoopers').
You can buy food to feed the swans and take pictures of them, among them and possibly with them. But don't alarm them though :)
The lake is very windy and during winter season, exceptionally cold. So do standby your ears mittens and heat pads when you are there.
Pictures of the swans will make any photo albums just that more special :)
You can buy food to feed the swans and take pictures of them, among them and possibly with them. But don't alarm them though :)
The lake is very windy and during winter season, exceptionally cold. So do standby your ears mittens and heat pads when you are there.
Pictures of the swans will make any photo albums just that more special :)
Written 22 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrandonAshin
Hong Kong, China1,041 contributions
June 2013 • Couples
The largest of the three lakes in Akan National Park. We didn't stay near this lake so we chose 2 spots to stop by:-
(1) The Sand Hot Spring on the east where we had so much fun. In early June, the lake water was still very cold. However, once you dig the sand, hot water surfaces. Pretty amazing phenomenon and feeling. So freezing water and hot water were merely 3 inches apart as illustrated. Tip::: bring your slippers!
(2) Bihoro Pass which was up the hill on the western side of the lake. Up there you get to see the lake with a panoramic view. Perfectly romantic!
Will definitely come back to this place again. Perhaps will stay overnight in a resort alongside the lake.
(1) The Sand Hot Spring on the east where we had so much fun. In early June, the lake water was still very cold. However, once you dig the sand, hot water surfaces. Pretty amazing phenomenon and feeling. So freezing water and hot water were merely 3 inches apart as illustrated. Tip::: bring your slippers!
(2) Bihoro Pass which was up the hill on the western side of the lake. Up there you get to see the lake with a panoramic view. Perfectly romantic!
Will definitely come back to this place again. Perhaps will stay overnight in a resort alongside the lake.
Written 11 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John
Leavenworth, KS1,285 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
Lake Kussharo – Lake Kussharo is Japan’s largest caldera lake. It is not a round lake, but does have an island in the middle. We visited Lake Kussharo twice, once in the fall and once in the winter. Swans overwinter on the southeastern side of the lake where hot spring water keeps a small portion of the lake from freezing over. They can be seen by the Kotan rotenburo on HWY 52. About half of the lakeside is accessable to the public by HWY 52 and HWY 243. A drive up HWY 243 to the Bihoro Pass gives will yield a scenic view of the lake, and the pass is open in the winter so you can see the ice-covered lake. Lake Kussharo is pristine, unlike nearby Lake Akan, which is surrounded by tall, ugly hotels. There are a few places to stay on the eastern edge of Lake Kussharo and more places to stay in nearby Teshikaga town. My favorite places at Lake Kussharo are the open-air hot springs beside the lake – Kotan Onsen and Wakoto Onsen. Both are free, mixed bathing, with small changing rooms. Things to see near lake Kussharo are Iouzan, Lake Mashu, and the Bihoro Pass. Visited 9/23/2017.
Written 11 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carynlwong
Singapore, Singapore91 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Was here at sunset and sunrise. Both views were great. At sunset, we saw the huge flock of swans. There are actually two areas where the swans are at. One is at Kotan Onsen, where we saw grannies and grandpas soaking in, with 5 whooper swans nearby. Very tranquil, peaceful and quiet. And we can see some locals getting ready their cameras for sunset shots. The other area to catch the swans is Sunayu, whereby I think there are easily 100 swans? There were more tourists there, and the swans made more sounds. There’s also a souvenir shop whereby u can buy popcorn to feed the swans. We spent more time at Sunayu, till the sun sets. And then the next morning, we came back to Sunayu for the sunrise. It was MAGICAL. There was a layer of fog formed across the frozen lake, and makes us feel like we were in heavens. Refer to photos attached. Very cold in the wintry morning. Very peaceful and quiet. definitely will not regret waking up early for this. Will highly recommend to visit this lake!! Hope this is a useful post!
Written 18 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JamesKMTan
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia21,531 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
This is one of the most beautiful lakes we have seen during photography tour with Michele Michiko. It was frozen when we were there. There were many swans and ducks swimming on the part that is not frozen near the rest area and Koran Onsen. The view is incredible and beautiful.
Written 9 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wander & Wonder
Singapore, Singapore1,698 contributions
Dec 2018 • Family
Visited Lake Kussharo to view beautiful crater lake with white swans by the shores. Feed the swans with popcorn and took some close up photos. Then had a hot pot lunch with special fatty tuna sashimi which was excellent.
Written 21 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John
Leavenworth, KS1,285 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
I would love to spend a summer at Lake Kussharo. We visited in September, when the trees were green and the lake was blue, and in February, when the caldera top was snow-covered and the lake was frozen. This time we approached from the Bihoro Toge (pass) from the west and were able to see the frozen lake from above. The lakeside has camping and hot springs galore, small museums, the Io volcano, boating and canoeing, and winter-time swans at the Kotan hot springs right beside the lake. Visited 2/21/2018
Written 21 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil
Enfield, London318 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Walked around Wakoto Peninsula that is in Lake Kussharo. It is about 5km and clearly signposted. Fantastic views across the lake, hot springs in one place you couldn't get close to but could see steam coming out of the lake, but in a couple of places you could get really close and feel how hot the water is. Hardly anyone else there that made it more special. We parked at the campsite.
Written 29 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
May I ask if the swans are there all the time during winter? Do we need to be there at a specific time such as early morning or dusk to see them in groups. We will be visiting Lake Kusshoro in late December. Thank you.
Written 5 June 2018
The swans are migratory and are at the lake at least early December through April. Before Lake Kusharro freezes, the swans may be found anywhere on the lake. When the lake freezes, the swans are found mainly at the Sunayu and Kotan hot spring areas on the eastern side of the lake because the hot springs that drain into the lake keep the water unfrozen. You can see the swans all day and night long. When the lake is solidly frozen, you can walk on the lake around the swans. There are often professional photographers around the swans and the photos on the Internet are subsequently much better than those you can take yourselves.
Written 5 June 2018
Noticed that there are public baths here. Some mixed gender. Do you have to be naked ?
Written 20 July 2017
Wearing clothes in a public bath is indecent. while there is no such mixed gender public bath in any tourist spots.
Written 7 November 2017
Hello,
I am trying to find out about seeing the swans in the winter here. I'm planning on visiting there in March and I can't really find out much info. Are there boats that go out on to the lake? Is there someone I can contact to make arrangements to take me out, if there are? Are there places to stay nearby, I'd like to spend about 2 days there. Any and all information would be great!!
Thanks,
Kristen
Written 21 December 2014
Not many places to stay. There is Sunayu Campsite close to the onsen beach.
Written 6 September 2015
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