Day Trips from Sapporo900 Grassland Observatory: Big Skies Between Lake Mashu and Akan
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- A town-run ranch of about 1,440 hectares, with almost nothing blocking the view
- Rolling grassland and a huge sky: the scale of eastern Hokkaido
- A cow monument makes the classic Hokkaido photo
- Fits between Mashu and Lake Akan; a short stop, and the rest house is closed
On the road from Teshikaga toward Akan, the view suddenly opens up: this is the 900 Grassland observatory. Unlike the lake and mountain lookouts around it, the stars of the show here are the sky and the grass, and it is simply a wonderful place to stand.
What is the 900 Grassland?
The 900 Grassland (locals say "kyu-maru-maru", and you will also see "900 Sogen") is a huge town-run ranch, about 1,440 hectares, on a hill above Teshikaga, where more than 1,000 cattle graze in summer. There is no big sightseeing facility; you come for the landscape itself. With so little man-made in sight, you feel the width of the sky and the roll of the land directly.
Grass and sky
Gentle hills roll on and on under a huge sky. On a clear day you can watch the clouds and the light move, and time slips by while you just look. There is no single subject like a lake or a volcano, which is exactly why your eyes keep going further, and why it felt so much like eastern Hokkaido.
On the grounds, a cow monument stands against the pasture and the sky, which makes the classic Hokkaido photo.
How it differs from the lake viewpoints
- Lake Mashu Observatories No. 1 and No. 3: the color of the lake and the caldera
- Mokotoyama viewpoint and Highland Koshimizu 725: looking down on Lake Kussharo and the mountains
- 900 Grassland: the width of the sky and the land
When to stop
The observatory is on the drive between the Lake Mashu area and Lake Akan. After Lake Mashu, the order Mashu → 900 Grassland → Sogakudai and Sokodai → Lake Akan takes you from lakes to grassland to mountains. It is a short stop, not a long stay. There is a 360-degree observation building and free parking; the rest house has been closed, so do not count on food.
Getting there: eastern Hokkaido is a long way from Sapporo (about five hours to Teshikaga by car), so most people fly into Memanbetsu, Kushiro or Nakashibetsu airport and rent a car there.
Near the 900 Grassland
Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan: A Local's Eastern Hokkaido Road TripA two-night road trip around Lake Kussharo, Lake Mashu and Lake Akan to the Kushiro Wetland, from a Sapporo local who drove it: the order that works, what each lake is like, the boat to the marimo, and weather and driving tips.
Sogakudai and Sokodai: Mountain and Lake Lookouts on the Road to AkanA local's guide to Sogakudai, Sokodai and Takimi Bridge on Route 241 between Teshikaga and Lake Akan: Mt. Oakan and Mt. Meakan, Lake Penketo, shaped like Hokkaido, and a quiet waterfall, all a few minutes apart.
Lake Mashu Observatory No. 1: The Classic View, Parking and the FogA local's guide to Lake Mashu Observatory No. 1 in eastern Hokkaido: the view, the Kamuy Terrace shop, how the three observatories compare, parking and what to do if the lake is in fog.
FAQ about the 900 Grassland observatory
Q1. What is the 900 Grassland?
A town-run ranch of about 1,440 hectares in Teshikaga, with an observation building looking over it.
Q2. How long should I stay?
Not long: it is a short stop for the view.
Q3. Where is it?
In Teshikaga, on the way from Lake Mashu toward Lake Akan.