Hello everyone! This is the Mashu Lake Tourism Association. We will introduce many highlights and ways to enjoy Teshikaga in Hokkaido to viewers of Cool Japan Video! First, can everyone read the name "Teshikaga"? It is pronounced "Teshikaga". When people think of Hokkaido, Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo come to mind as popular spots visited by many tourists, and both lakes are located in Teshikaga. Lake Mashu spreads out in a deep blue and is known as the sacred lake. Its blue surface is called Mashu Blue and boasts the highest transparency in Japan and ranks among the world’s very clearest lakes. To fully enjoy this beautiful lake surface, we recommend visiting the observatories. The Lake Mashu First Observatory is the most popular lookout, attracting about one million visitors a year. It has a large parking lot and rest house with restrooms, so you can stop by to take a break. The Lake Mashu Third Observatory and Uramashu Observatory also offer free parking and let you see different faces of Lake Mashu. From the Lake Mashu First Observatory and the Lake Mashu Third Observatory, when luck and weather conditions are favorable, the entire lake can be covered in fog, and the settled mist can appear as a sea of clouds. Lake Kussharo is one of the world’s largest caldera lakes and the largest caldera lake in Japan (a lake formed when a volcanic crater filled with water after an eruption). Numerous natural hot springs gush out along the lakeshore, so you can enjoy hot springs in open-air baths and saunas that make the most of nature, as well as in large hotels. In summer you can fully enjoy water sports such as camping, canoeing, and sailing. Across the great outdoors of Teshikaga you can also enjoy activities like horseback riding, golf, fishing, cycling, and dairy farm experiences. When you visit Teshikaga, please also savor the town’s local specialties and gourmet foods. These include Mashu Soba, known as the prized "phantom soba" for its careful quality; Mashu Melon, in season from early to late August; potatoes packed with the bounty of the land; and popular products from Teshikaga farms such as Mashu Pork and Mashu Wagyu. Teshikaga in Hokkaido is conveniently accessible by car—about 75 minutes from Kushiro Airport and about 70 minutes from Memanbetsu Airport. Please come and enjoy the vast nature of Teshikaga. Through Cool Japan Video, we will continue to bring you attractions and travel information about Teshikaga, Lake Mashu, and Lake Kussharo, so please follow us if you like!