Japan's northernmost ice-free lake. Clear water and columnar joints
| From Tomakomai Station | By car about 35 min (about 30 km by road) Estimated from road map data. Traffic lights, congestion and winter roads can make it take longer. |
|---|---|
| Area | Chitose, Eniwa & Kitahiroshima |
| Our photos | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2025 |
| Map | Route from Tomakomai Station / Open map |
What is Lake Shikotsu like?
Lake Shikotsu is a caldera lake in Chitose City and is part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Its maximum depth is about 360 m, making it the second deepest lake in Japan. Even in winter, its surface rarely freezes over completely, so it is known as “Japan’s northernmost ice-free lake.”
The water is very clear, and from the underwater sightseeing boat you can see the shape of the lake bed and columnar joints. On the north side of the lake there are viewpoints such as Poropinai, with views of the lake against Mt. Eniwa and Mt. Fuppushi. In winter, the “Chitose Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival” is held, with ice sculptures on display.
Getting there from Tomakomai and travel time
From JR Tomakomai Station, it takes about 35 min by car. The distance is about 30 km by road.
Travel times are estimates based on the road distance from map data (OpenStreetMap), assuming an average speed of about 55 km/h (about 70 km/h for routes longer than 40 km). Traffic lights, traffic jams and winter road conditions can make the trip longer. Please check the latest road information before you go.
How people living in Tomakomai can enjoy it
Drive from Tomakomai on National Route 276 through the hills, and you soon reach a lake in a national park. Our president has also visited many times in different seasons from 2011 to 2025.
There are hot spring inns and campgrounds on the lakeshore, and you can enjoy day trips all year round: canoeing in summer, autumn leaves in fall and the Ice Festival in winter. For people who want to “spend days off in nature,” it is a big reason to live in Tomakomai.
Our photo record
Our president visited 5 times between April 2016 and May 2025 and recorded about 251 photos.
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Photos: Banana House Inc. (taken by our president). Do not reuse without permission.
Our photo records and timestamp certificates
The 12 photos in this article were taken on site by our president. We list the SHA-256 hashes of the published files and have them signed by timestamp authorities (DateSealed, DigiCert, Sectigo)(First certified: 2026-11-03 12:40 JST). A signature shows that the same file existed before that time; it does not prove the date the photo was taken.
You can check the signature and hash of each photo from its timestamp certificate. To see whether a photo you saved matches our records, use the photo timestamp verification page (Japanese) .
Frequently asked questions
Does Lake Shikotsu freeze in winter?
Because the water is deep, it rarely freezes over completely. It is called Japan's northernmost ice-free lake.
What can I see from the underwater sightseeing boat on Lake Shikotsu?
Through the very clear water, you can see the shape of the lake bed and columnar joints. Check the operator's official information for the operating season.
Nearby spots
- Mt. Tarumae (about 8 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 35 min)
- Inkura Falls (about 14 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 45 min)
- Eniwa Gorge (about 14 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 45 min)
Looking for a home or selling in Tomakomai?
“Lake Shikotsu or Noboribetsu on weekends”, “I want to live near the airport”: we suggest areas that fit the way you want to live. We also help with selling and vacant houses.
Banana House Inc., 1-1-1 Honkocho, Tomakomai. We never use pushy sales. Please write in English or Japanese.