Come and see! We received pamphlets from two elementary schools in Kushiro City ☺ ★ The sixth graders of Shiroyama Elementary School created a pamphlet about the Shiroyama area. They walked the neighborhood themselves and conducted on-site interviews at various facilities, producing very in-depth content. This booklet tightly captures the students’ feelings and the charms of Shiroyama! ★ The fifth graders of Kushiro Elementary School produced a Kushiro tourism pamphlet. Each student researched and reflected on Kushiro’s attractions in their own way, resulting in a collection full of personality. With 31 different entries covering sightseeing spots, recommended shops, information on wildlife, and more, there’s plenty to explore! You can take any pamphlet you like home. Come see the children’s wonderful work (^_^)/ We look forward to your visit. 📍 KKS Convention Center (Kushiro City Tourism and International Exchange Center) 3-3 Saiwaicho, Kushiro City The pamphlets are available at the Tourism Concierge counter.

16:55 Today’s sunset in Kushiro 🟠 What a beautiful color!

[Gems Found in Kushiro💎] While the "jewelry ice" seen in Toyokorocho, Tokachi is very famous, you can find similar ice on Kushiro’s shores during the bitter cold from late January through February. These photos were taken last week at Otanoshike Coast. The light brings out even more beauty, making it truly lovely✨ By the way... can you read the name of the beach? It’s pronounced "Otanoshike" 😙 Not "Dairakke"!

On Saturday, February 21, the Forest Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen will take place in front of the Kawayu Visitor Center. With the theme "Play in Kawayu's Winter," a variety of activities and events will be offered again this year. There are plenty of experiences for adults and children alike, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, campfires in tipis, Sakhalin fir (akaezomatsu) distillation workshops, wooden coaster making, and slide talks. Hot milk and homemade cookies prepared by students from Teshikaga High School will be available in the tents on site. Please come with friends and family. Forest Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen (Event Overview) Date and Time: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00–21:00 Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center and surrounding area (Kawayu Onsen 2-2-6, Teshikaga) Admission: Free (All programs are free to enjoy.) ※ Food and drinks are sold separately. Activities <10:00–16:00> ● Cross-country skiing　● Ski-shoe experience　● Snowshoe experience <Ongoing> ● Snow play area　● Campfire in a tipi Events ● Forest stories and a forest walk　13:00–14:00 ● Sakhalin fir distillation experience　10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 ● Wooden coaster making　10:00 until supplies run out ● Slide talk "With Reverence for the Brown Bear"　15:30–17:00 ● Free talk session　17:30–19:00 ● Stargazing　18:45–19:30 ● Snow candles　17:00–21:00

😉Come hear presentations by high school students from Kyoto😉 Students from Ritsumeikan High School in Kyoto will visit Kushiro next month, March☺ They will present what they felt while touring and learning about Kushiro over several days! How does Kushiro look through the eyes of high school students from outside Hokkaido? These students, who study in a completely different environment, investigated Kushiro’s tourism and industries and will offer proposals for Kushiro’s future as the result of their findings. ✨ This is a very valuable opportunity, so please come and join us(^^)/ ● Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 ● Venue: Kushiro Lifelong Learning Center meeting room 705 and 706 ● Time: Registration 9:00, starts 9:15, ends 10:45 No prior registration required ・ Free admission

●Lotus Leaf Ice on the Kushiro River● On the Kushiro River today, many lotus leaf ice floes were drifting. This phenomenon occurs when several conditions line up, so you might not see it at certain times of day, and finding it always brings a smile☺ It feels like I’ve seen more of it this year than usual. You’re more likely to spot it on cold mornings. You might see it around Nusamai Bridge, Kusuri Bridge, and Asahi Bridge. The beautiful scenery makes the cold disappear‼ Enjoy the magical winter of Kushiro in February to the fullest✨

Every February I go to Kushiro to see red-crowned cranes and the SL Winter Shitsugen train. The courtship dance of the red-crowned cranes, especially visible at the feeding grounds in Kushiro Shitsugen, reaches its peak in February. In the harsh winter snowfields I was able to see the males and females leap and spread their wings in a courtship dance that truly looks like dancing once again this year.

🧊Appearance of lotus-leaf ice🧊 This year, lotus-leaf ice has begun appearing frequently. In the bitter cold, a combination of conditions seems to form these shapes.😊 They often vanish by the afternoon even if visible in the morning, but the other day they stayed afloat in perfect form long after the sun rose. You won’t see them every cold day, so consider yourself lucky if you do.✨ Winter in Kushiro is wonderful! Come and visit us ^ ^

●A Big Hit! Sarurun Kamuy — A Journey to Meet the Red-Crowned Cranes● Now Recruiting Participants for Sunday, February 8 and Sunday, February 15 ☺ Special early-morning entry to Akan International Crane Center! Under Director Kawase’s guidance, observe the cranes as they arrive. In February, at the peak of the season, come and watch the cranes dance gracefully. Application Deadline: Friday, January 29 *Limited availability remains for Sunday, February 8!* Please make reservations by phone directly (^^)/ Kushiro Tourism & Convention Association: 0154-31-1996

This is the SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen Train I rode it for the first time in two years and enjoyed photographing it the next day. It runs mainly on weekends through early March and I think you can board on Saturdays or Sundays if you don't insist on choosing a specific seat.

🚂 SL Winter Marsh Train on Friday, January 23rd 🚂 Steam from the SL billows up into the sky above the station. Excited. My heart races. Is it almost here? It’s here—😆 Both the riders and the photographers share the same feeling✨ They wave to each other thinking, “SLs are wonderful!”👋

Announcement: Eastern Hokkaido Three Cycle Routes Traveling Panel Exhibition in Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho)📣 Sharing the charms of cycle routes in the eastern Hokkaido region To introduce the attractions of the eastern Hokkaido cycle routes—Akan, Mashu and the Kushiro Wetland Route; Tokachi 400; and the Okhotsk Cycling Route—we will hold a panel exhibition at the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) so that many people can learn about them 😊 The exhibition will feature panels introducing the attractions of the Akan, Mashu and the Kushiro Wetland Route, Tokapuchi 400, and the Okhotsk Cycling Route; displays of various rental bicycles; event information; and distribution of cycle route maps. Please stop by 🚵‍♀️🚵🚵‍♂️ Location and times: Friday, January 30, 2026, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Venue: Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway, Kita 1-jo Event Space (near Exit 12) Co-hosts: Hokkaido TOKACHI Cycle Tourism Route Promotion Council, Kushiro Cycle Tourism Promotion Council, Okhotsk Route Council, Obihiro Development and Construction Department, Kushiro Development and Construction Department, Abashiri Development and Construction Department Support: Hokkaido For detailed route information, please refer to the website below. https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/...

You can get to the hotel straight from the airport and straight from the station. Easy access is another reassuring part of your trip. Unwind with a relaxing experience at Kushiro Prince Hotel. You can book via the profile URL. 📍Kushiro Prince Hotel https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

We offer a variety of course meals to suit different occasions. À la carte options are also available on the day. Dinner Courses (reservations required) Choose from six sets: ・Western set meal ・Western course (2 varieties) ・Japanese set meal ・Japanese kaiseki-style meal (2 varieties) 📍Kushiro Prince Hotel https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

A time-traveling SUP experience tour KUSHIRO// January 16, 10:00 AM A winter-only SUP tour on the Kushiro River took place ☺️ The temperature that day was -7°C. With instructor support, we set off for the Kushiro River, where lotus leaf ice floats‼︎ I was a little scared and nervous at the start, but as I got used to it, it became more and more fun. I never imagined I’d be cutting through lotus leaf ice and SUPing in the middle of the Kushiro River ✨ It felt like a dream 🥹 Some people worry about the cold, but it’s not as cold as you’d think. You warm up as you paddle 😊 If you do fall in, rest assured you wear a drysuit and life jacket. They’re waterproof and keep you afloat right away 🛟 Kushiro River × SUP = a rare experience ✨ Open for participants until Saturday, January 24. We’re accepting sign-ups ☺ For details and to apply, follow the link in the comments!

SL Winter Shitsugen Train trial ride‼︎// A trial ride for the SL Winter Shitsugen Train, which began operating on Saturday, January 17th, was held on the 14th～🚂Enjoy the unique sounds, vibrations and smells of the steam locomotive, the view of Kushiro Shitsugen sliding past the windows, and the train’s retro interior✨Use all your senses to take it in‼️If you’re lucky, you might spot wild animals🦌This experience is for tourists and local residents alike—come and feel the charm of the SL😊

Ice Land Akan, the on-ice activity area on Lake Akanko, opens on January 19th♪ Activities available starting tomorrow include: 1. Smelt fishing (wakasagi fishing) 2. Banana boat rides 3. Four-wheel ATV rides You can fully enjoy the vast snowfield on the lake now that it is completely frozen. For the best deals when enjoying Lake Akanko, use the dedicated reservation site and Marimo Pay!! Access the link in our profile♪ Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/akan_tourism_association/...

✨The first wedding consultation event of the New Year!✨ Start the year by planning your ideal wedding together. On the day, enjoy plenty of free experiences, including a couple photo shoot📸, personal color analysis🎨, body type and face type assessments✨, and a nail tip trial💅. You’ll find lots of tips to help shape your wedding vision. Please feel free to join us💍 We warmly look forward to your visit. Advance reservations are required. Event date and times Sunday, January 18, 2026 ① 10:00 A.M. ② 11:30 A.M. ③ 1:00 P.M. ④ 2:30 P.M.

A SUP Experience Tour Beyond Time and Space KUSHIRO It has finally begun (^O^)／ the Kushiro River winter-only SUP tour. Though strong winds delayed the start, today marks the START‼ The weather is fine, the waves have calmed, and it’s the perfect day for SUP✨ Most participants were beginners, so they trembled with fear at first😱 As they got used to it, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces...🥰 They were clearly having a great time‼ Kushiro River × SUP = a rare experience✨ Open for participation until Saturday, January 24th. We are accepting participants☺

📸✨ The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest — Deadline Approaching!! The annual Teshikaga Photo Contest is underway again this year. With the theme "Experience Teshikaga’s volcanoes, forests, and lakes through the four seasons," winners will be announced on the tourism portal site Teshikaga Navi. Please check the PDF below for contest entry details. We look forward to your participation. Call for entries: "15th Teshikaga Photo Contest" Entry period November 1, 2025 (Saturday) to January 20, 2026 (Tuesday) — postmarked by the deadline Categories Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Open Prizes Grand Prize: 1 winner — 30,000 yen plus additional prizes (accommodation vouchers, Mashu melon, etc.) Excellence Awards: 3 winners — 10,000 yen plus additional prizes / Honorable Mentions: 5 winners — additional prizes / Special Prize and Tourism Association Prize: several winners ■ Thanks to local businesses, many additional prizes such as accommodation vouchers, meal vouchers, and local products are available. Organizer: Mashu-ko Tourism Association (regional DMO) Supported by: Teshikagacho, Teshikagacho Board of Education, Lake Mashu Agricultural Cooperative, Teshikagacho Promotion Corporation, Teshikaga Chamber of Commerce, Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association, Mashu Onsen Ryokan Association, Mashu Melon Producers Association, Hokkaido Shimbun, Akan-Mashu National Park Management Office (Ministry of the Environment), Kushiro Shimbun

Four top spots to see frost flowers at Akanko! 1. Thin ice with no snow cover 2. Clear, early mornings when temperatures fall below −15°C 3. Completely calm, windless days 4. Consult a professional guide to enjoy the scenery with peace of mind Note: Frost flowers are extremely delicate natural phenomena. Even if these conditions are met, you may still be unable to view them.

SUP experiences on the Kushiro River this winter!! They finally start tomorrow. Kushiro River winter-only tours! Lotus leaf ice SUP cruising and Sunset & Night SUP adventures, we bring you SUP experiences that transcend time and space. For details and reservations, follow the link in our profile. Instagram profile link https://www.instagram.com/kushiro.lakeakan/... SUPER FANTASTIC → Time‑and‑space‑transcending SUP experience tour banner

Popular!! Recruiting participants for a bus tour [A journey to meet Sarurun Kamuy (God of the Marsh) and the red-crowned crane] At Grus, the Akan International Crane Center, the birthplace of artificial feeding, we will hold a day-trip bus tour to watch the cranes arrive, guided by Director Kawase ☺ This rare tour lets you see red-crowned cranes spread their great wings and take flight against the early morning sky ✨ Please join us! Operation dates: Sunday, February 8, 2026 and Sunday, February 15, 2026 Time: 7:00 AM–10:25 AM *Meet at 6:55 AM / KKS Convention Center (Kushiro City Tourism and International Exchange Center) Participation fee: JPY 5,500 (tax included) Capacity: 20 people per tour For details and to apply, please see the website. https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/overview/19962/...

A luxurious gift campaign is starting🎁 Enjoy winter in the Kushiro region and win fantastic local specialties! Just share the winter charms of the Kushiro region on Instagram, and you’ll have a chance to win wonderful local products! The Kushiro region is full of winter-only vistas such as Lake Akan Onsen in Kushiro City, Hosooka Observatory in Kushiro Town, Otowa Bridge in Tsuruimura, Lake Mashu in Teshikaga, and Tawahei Observatory in Shibecha—refresh your mind and body at hot springs and nature-rich spots! Check the details at the URL below▼ https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/22082/...

From Kushiro, Happy New Year again for 2026! The long New Year holidays have ended. How has everyone been? In Kushiro City the red-crowned cranes have arrived for the season, and 100 to 200 birds are currently being observed at the feeding station 😊 Also, from Saturday, January 17, the SL Winter Marsh Train began operating, ushering in the best time to enjoy winter sightseeing! On cold mornings you might see lotus-leaf ice or ke-arashi (steam fog) over the Kushiro River⁈ Viewed from around Nusamai Bridge, the scene becomes even more magical. You can also enjoy winter canoeing on the Kushiro River as it flows through Kushiro Shitsugen! Thanks to the clear winter air, the sunset in Kushiro—hailed as one of the world’s three great sunsets—shines with even more vivid colors, and Kushiro offers many sights and experiences you can only encounter at this time of year. Please come visit us✨ The official Kushiro and Akan tourism site, super fantastic, is here https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com// Wishing everyone a great year again this year (^^)

Even after Lake Akanko begins to freeze, the ice remains very thin! It can be hard to see, but hot springs bubble up from the lakebed in places, making the ice dangerously thin. When people work on the ice, they do so only after taking safety precautions. Even with warning signs and ropes to keep people out, local residents sometimes report those who try to venture onto the ice. Going onto the ice at this time of year is a life-threatening risk. Do not go onto the ice under any circumstances.

New Year Greetings and Information on the Operating Status of Tourist and Bathing Facilities Happy New Year. I pray that 2026 will be a wonderful year for everyone. We will continue working to ensure that everyone spending time in Teshikaga this year can enjoy memorable moments, and we appreciate your continued support. (New Year’s Day, 2026) Information about the operating status of tourist attractions and bathing facilities during the New Year period is available on Teshikaga Navi. Please note that hours and opening days may differ from the usual schedule. Also, some bathing facilities may be closed temporarily, so we recommend contacting each facility before you go.

☆Notice of Closure☆ ⁡ We will be closed from December 31st to January 1st. We will resume normal business hours from January 2nd for the New Year period!

Kushiro, famed as one of the world’s top three sunset cities, actually offers unmissable sunrises as well. At Kushiro Prince Hotel, you can enjoy a luxurious sunrise and a sumptuous morning meal at the top-floor restaurant. Using kombu from the Nemuro Strait, the light soy-flavored Kushiro ramen and the fresh seafood rice bowl come with unlimited servings. Even Kushiro’s indulgent gourmet offerings include plenty of lighter options for morning diners who prefer a milder start. 【Instagram】 https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

Light-up Color Schedule for Nusamai Bridge in January, R8🌈// Nusamai Bridge is Kushiro City’s landmark. From the bridge you can enjoy views of the Kushiro River and its estuary, Kushiro Port, and sunsets over the pacific ocean. After sunset the bridge is illuminated. During local events and social occasions, the lights shift through a special pattern of 14 colors. Enjoy January’s light-up display🌈 *Note: Nusamai Bridge is read as Nusamai.* Kushiro and Akan Tourism Official Site SUPER FANTASTIC https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/13397/... 📍kushiro city kita odori 1-1