The nanisaki (Naniwazu) flowers have begun blooming on the shores of Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai). Even though the snow has melted, the northern landscape still lacks much green, and the yellow blooms brighten it cheerfully. (Image provided by Lake Utonai Wildlife Center)

Morning at Utonai-ko ✨ The silhouette of a large all-white heron, the Great Egret, gleams against the morning sun. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

A Ezo squirrel eating near Lake Utonai Sanctuary🐿 Ezo squirrels replace their fur with highly insulating winter coats and remain active through the winter without hibernating. They dig up the nuts they buried in autumn little by little to secure food. Spring will soon arrive in Hokkaido. (Image courtesy of Lake Utonai Sanctuary)

A long-tailed rosefinch nibbling on seeds. This charming wild bird is slightly smaller than a sparrow and is notable for the reddish coloring on its head. The bird in the photo is male, since both its head and chest are red. (Females have a white chest and only a red head.) (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai) looks at first glance like a snowy plain when it freezes over. Roadside Station Utonai Lake posts warnings across its social media asking people not to walk onto the ice and not to leave the trail and enter the scrub. Please keep these notices in mind for the safety and coexistence of people and wildlife.🙏 (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

A tiny bird even smaller than a sparrow, with round, charming eyes—the subspecies of long-tailed tit known as the shiraneaga (shimaenaga). Found only in Hokkaido, this wild bird is beloved by birdwatchers and nicknamed the "snow fairy." In winter it grows a fluffy, pure-white plumage and looks just like a snowball! It mainly lives in forests and woodlands; with leaves gone in winter it becomes easier to spot, and it is often seen along the Lake Utonai lakeside. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Recently, part of Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai) froze over. A swan standing on the ice flaps its wings✨🦢 Roadside Station Utonai Lake, which posts many stunning photos on social media, is open in winter from 9:00 to 17:00. It offers plenty of delicious local food and goods, so please stop by for a break during winter road trips. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Early winter at Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai). The swans’ silhouettes stand out against the gradient, making the scene look like a painting. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Many of the autumn leaves around the city fell in the storm on November 1st, but today, November 2nd, is bright and clear! The second photo shows a dusky thrush bathing. It looks so comfortable. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai-ko)

Lake Utonai in mid-October. Swans, geese and other autumn migratory birds are gathering here one after another. In particular, the communal dawn flight to nearby feeding grounds, known as the "negradachi" roost flight, is a must-see. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Lake Utonai on a clear, calm August day ✨ Enjoy the spectacular view from the Lake Utonai observation facility! (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Lake Utonai)

A Ezo deer wading in Lake Utonai. It appears to be eating aquatic plants.✨ It looks cool and refreshing. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Early summer has arrived in Tomakomai, and some days now reach a high of 20°C. The Ezo squirrel, now in its summer coat, somehow looks quite cool! (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai-ko)

By the shores of Lake Utonai. A red songbird, the benimasiko, and a narcissus flycatcher with a striking black-and-yellow contrast. They look like vividly colored wild birds straight out of a fairy tale. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

The black, white, and red color coordination looks stylish! This is a woodpecker species, the great spotted woodpecker (akagera).✨ (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Will Tomakomai continue into spring...? On March 17th the city recorded about 25 cm of snowfall. Since it was wet March snow, it is expected to melt soon. At Utonai Lake, the snowy landscape made a great backdrop for a graceful great egret in flight.✨ (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Is this a great egret? It is releasing a small twig it grabbed along with a tiny fish. Today marks the start of March. The expected high is 11°C, and it looks set to be a warm, springlike day. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Is it the moment it lands on the branch? This shot perfectly captures the majestic presence of a white-tailed eagle ✨ (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

A tilting long-tailed tit at Utonai Lake ✨ (shimaenaga) (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

A great egret standing still in the cold wind. It looks as if it is shrugging its shoulders. (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake Wildlife Protection Center)

What made these patterns left in the snow? The answer is… the tracks of an Ezo deer! 🦌 Ezo deer are one of the animals familiar to Tomakomai residents, sometimes appearing around Tomakomai Station and in residential neighborhoods. (Image provided by the Utonai Lake Wildlife Protection Center)

Utonai Lake in January. (Image courtesy of the Utonai Lake Wildlife Protection Center)

A scene at Utonai Lake on one day. I thought it was a gathering of swans…? January is a time when most of the lake freezes over, so there are few waterfowl, but due to various circumstances you can still see a few swans wintering at Utonai Lake. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Here are the main spots in Tomakomai City to watch the first sunrise of the year 🌅 Sunrise is expected at 7:04 AM. Please refrain from disruptive behavior like idling near private homes. ● Roadside Station Utonai Lake ● Tarumae Shrine ● Midorigaoka Park Observatory ※ Temporarily open from 11:00 PM on December 31 to 9:00 AM on January 1 ● The coasts of Itoi and Tarumae ● Yufutsu Marina waterfront breakwater

Friday, December 12th morning at Lake Utonai 🌅 Tomakomai has been experiencing a spell of severe cold recently. This image comes from the Roadside Station Lake Utonai Facebook page. It shows the season’s uniquely beautiful sunrise and the lake’s surface.✨ (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Lake Utonai)

On the shore of Lake Utonai, the samaras of the karakogi maple sparkle in the sunlight ✨ You can also see whooper swans 🦢 (Image provided by the Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center)

These are the late-autumn fall colors along the shores of Lake Utonai ✨ They’re vivid, aren’t they! (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai-ko)

Migratory birds arriving at Lake Utonai. Their numbers are increasing day by day ✨ (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Lake Utonai)

The view from the Lake Utonai observatory sparkles ✨ The opposite side of the lake is beautiful too! (Image provided by Roadside Station Lake Utonai)

📷 Why not rediscover the charms of Tomakomai? 💁‍♀️ We are recruiting participants for the day trip "Rediscover Tomakomai Tour," departing from nepia Ice Arena! 📢⚡ Departure date: Sunday, February 25, 2024 Price: ¥3,000 Other: Advance registration is required (until February 16, but applications will close once capacity is reached) ※This project is supported by Tomakomai City's "Tourism Attraction Promotion Project" and "MICE Attraction Promotion Project." For details, please see the "News" section on the Tomakomai Tourism Association website!