insights from frontier Japan

Daisetsuzan National Park's Lake Shikaribetsu stretches through the towns of Shikaoi and Kamishihoro in the Tokachi region and is home to the endemic species Miyabe char fish. On June 21, the recreational fishing season opened for the Miyabe char fish there for the summer season. Recreational fishers gathered from both inside and outside of Hokkaido and enjoyed fishing for Miyabe char fish at the lake.

Volunteers from local construction companies began work on June 12 to erase graffiti that was discovered on part of ‘The Former National Railways Concrete Arch Bridges of the Shihoro Line’, a registered Hokkaido Heritage in the town of Kamishihoro in the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido.

‘Tokapuchi 400’, a cycle route with an excellent riding environment from which the magnificent natural landscapes of the Tokachi region of eastern Hokkaido can be enjoyed, has been selected as one of Japan’s National Cycle Routes. It is the first route in Hokkaido to be selected as such.

Heading north across the Tokachi Plain towards the grand Taisetsuzan Volcanic Group that stands tall in central Hokkaido, a pure white "expanse" surrounded by mountains came into view. This is Lake Nukabira in Tokachi region's Kamishihoro Town. Across the frozen lake surface lined with colorful wakasagi smelt fishing tents, the sandy-tan colored Taushubetsu River Bridge awaits.

Magical naturally created scenes of bubbles in ice on the freezing surface of Lake Nukabira are fascinating visitors to the lake in the town of Kamishihoro in eastern Hokkaido, where mid-winter temperatures continue.

A famous sightseeing spot at Lake Nukabira in the town of Kamishihoro in Eastern Hokkaido – Taushubetsu River Bridge on the former Japan National Railways’ Shihoro Line (closed in 1987) – which is normally submerged under the water until September or so, remains unsubmerged this year, making the entire beautiful concrete-arch structure visible.