Things to do in Shikaoi：Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan

A phantom village made of ice and snow that only appears during the winter season…that is Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan

Kotan means “village” in Ainu language. Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan began when three young people built an igloo, a house made of ice blocks, to enjoy the harsh winters of Shikaribetsu.
More than 40 years have passed since then, and volunteers are still building the kotan with the desire to enjoy Lake Shikaribetsu. Would you like to come and experience this beautiful sight that will make you feel as if you have been immersed in a story?

 

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詩歩/Shiho (死ぬまでに行きたい!世界の絶景📚著者)(@shiho_zekkei)がシェアした投稿

What kind of place is Lake Shikaribetsu, the lake in the sky?

The setting for the phantom village is Lake Shikaribetsu, also known as Lake in the Sky. Located about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from Obihiro city, it is the highest natural lake in Hokkaido.
The area is surrounded by virgin forests and is a rich natural environment, and in addition to rare birds such as the Black-headed Woodpecker, white-tailed eagle, and Blakiston’s Blakiston’s Fish Owl, the Ezon Pika, which is said to have been around since the Ice Age, also lives there. It is a motif of Hokkaido tourism PR character “Kyun-chan”.

 

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松本 宏樹(@mattsu_dream_factory)がシェアした投稿

A phantom village of ice and snow that only appears for 60 days.

Shikaribetsuko Kotan is a phantom village that appears on a frozen lake. Kotan means “village” in the Ainu language, and all of the buildings at Kotan are made from ice and snow from the highly transparent Lake Shikaribetsu. There are many things you can only experience here, such as the “Ice Bar,” where you can enjoy drinks in glasses made of ice, and the “Open-air bath on ice,” where the changing room is made of snow and ice. Some couples even hold real weddings at the romantic Ice Chapel. Contact Shikaribetsu Lake Nature Center for popular winter activities such as snowmobiling and snow rafting!

 

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えり🐷｜十勝中心の北海道ガイド(@goto_hokkaido)がシェアした投稿

Cheers with an “ice glass” handmade from ice!

The largest building in the village is an igloo consisting of an ice bar and an ice hole.
It’s surprisingly warm inside. When you take a deep breath and look inside, you’ll be surprised to see that everything, including the pillars and tables, is made of ice. This igloo can be two stories tall depending on the year. Of course, when you go up to the second floor, you don’t have the fear of stepping on thin ice; in fact, you will be reminded of the strength of ice that supports the building.

After enjoying the fantastic igloo, toast at the ice bar! Here you can enjoy drinks in ice glasses made of ice. The colorful cocktails look like jewels and will make you feel even more extraordinary.
Concerts are held mainly on weekends in the hall attached to the ice bar. Beautiful tones that match the atmosphere and singing voices with a passion that can withstand the winter cold reverberate through the hall, entertaining the visitors.

 

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みのり(@minorin5616)がシェアした投稿

Ice chapel with beautiful fantastic light

The Ice Chapel, whose design changes dramatically depending on the year, also attracts visitors. Several couples hold their wedding ceremonies at the Ice Chapel every year.
The inside of the chapel during the day is a fantastical world that shines blue and white with the light shining through the ice of the igloo. The church is so quiet that you can almost hear the sound of falling snow if you listen closely, and it is filled with a sacred and solemn atmosphere.
At “Candle Night,” which is held every night starting in mid-February, flickering candles create a relaxing and warm atmosphere. Spending time in a romantic church is sure to be an unforgettable memory.

 

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大西 あゆみ(@ayumi.ohnishi.79)がシェアした投稿

An open-air bath on ice where you can enjoy the silver world and starry sky

If you get cold from your stay at Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan, warm up in the famous “open-air bath on ice.” On days when the temperature difference between the outside temperature and the bathtub is close to 50 degrees, your hands and feet will feel numb when you take a bath, but by the time that subsides, you can relax while looking out over the silver world. A heavenly time is waiting for you when you can fully enjoy the open-air bath. Moreover, the hot springs are fed directly from the source. The murky brown water contains a lot of iron and warms your body from the core.

During the day, the baths are mixed, but you can wear a swimsuit to take a bath, and after 6:00 pm, the baths are separated by gender. When you look up at Lake Shikaribetsu, where there are no street lights, you can see countless stars in the night sky, and enjoy a completely different view than during the day. It’s sure to be a great experience both day and night.
We will be staying at Hotel Feng Shui, the only hotel on the lake. There is also an “Ice Lodge” within Kotan where you can stay in an igloo, so it would be fun to spend the night here.

 

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ジュン(@ziyun176)がシェアした投稿

A “phantom village” disappearing as the snow slowly melts

When spring comes and the snow slowly melts at Lake Shikaribetsu, the kotans quietly return to the lake.
From then on, Lake Shikaribetsu becomes crowded with people enjoying the rich nature and activities. If you take a canoe or kayak to the lake, which boasts some of the clearest water in Japan, you can even see the fish swimming on the bottom of the lake. In addition, the autumn leaves and lakebed railway are beautiful, making it a popular photogenic spot.
Then, when winter arrives, the phantom village appears again.

Link：Hokkaido official tourism website