Things to do in Asyoro：Onneto

Mysterious Lake Onneto: The natural beauty of Akan-Mashu National Park

“Onneto” means “old swamp” or “big swamp” in the Ainu language, and is a beautiful lake located at the westernmost tip of Akan-Mashu National Park. It is a dammed lake formed by lava that flowed from the eruption of Mt. Meakandake, with a circumference of 2.5 km and a maximum depth of about 10 m. The color of the lake surface changes from blue to emerald green to dark blue depending on the weather, angle, and season, and its mysterious beauty attracts many tourists. From the observation deck on the west side of Lake Onneto, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful lake with majestic Mt. Meakandake and Akan Fuji in the background.

 

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りょん/旅行記(@ryoko_daisukiman)がシェアした投稿

A walking course to enjoy the nature around Onneto

Onneto has a variety of walking courses where you can enjoy the tranquility of nature surrounded by virgin forests. Among them, the following courses are popular.

 

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@himawarichan0805がシェアした投稿

Observation Deck Course (800m): Starts opposite the observation deck on the west side of the lake and climbs a somewhat steep slope to reach the observation deck where you can enjoy beautiful views of Onneto and Mt. Meakan.

Onneto East Bank Course (1.6km): On this course along the east bank, you can enjoy the changing colors of Onneto from various angles. You can also see trees such as Scots spruce and Japanese rowan.

Pure Scots spruce forest course (2.2km): This route continues from Meakan Onsen to the east bank course, and the highlight is the pure forest of Picea spruce and changes in vegetation.

Yunotaki Course (1.4km): This course runs from the parking lot at the southern end of Onneto to Yunotaki Falls, where you can enjoy a leisurely nature walk along the wide sidewalk.

 

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tomo(@tomo_brown)がシェアした投稿

The seasonal beauty of the lake and a request for nature protection

The surface of Lake Onneto freezes when conditions are right from late November to early December, and you can enjoy the beautiful “ice bubble” and “sound of the lake.” However, the thickness of the ice varies depending on the season and year, and the ice may be thin in areas where gas or hot springs are gushing out, so please be careful as there is a risk of falling into the water. In addition, motorized boats and snowmobiles are prohibited from entering the lake, and people are urged to refrain from canoeing and water sports in order to preserve the tranquil natural environment.

 

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Winter access and how to enjoy snowshoe tours

Part of the Onneto Line, Prefectural Route 949, is closed in the winter, making it impossible to drive to the lakeside, so be careful when visiting Onneto in the winter. It is possible to go there on foot from Meakan Onsen, but due to the heavy snowfall, snowshoes and cold weather gear are essential. During the winter season, snowshoe tours are held in early February sponsored by the NPO Ashoro Tourism Association, and you can safely enjoy the snowy scenery around Onneto with the guidance of a professional guide.

 

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金沢 貴樹(@takakikanazaw)がシェアした投稿

A request to protect nature

Many people visit Onneto in search of a quiet natural environment, so please refrain from making loud noises when walking and be considerate of other tourists and nature. Additionally, there is almost no cell phone reception, so it may take some time to arrive in case of an emergency, so if you are concerned, consider taking a guided tour.

 

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福福亭(@fu9fu9tei)がシェアした投稿

Link：Hokkaido official tourism website