Highland Koshimizu 725: A Lake Kussharo Viewpoint with a Rest House

Going around the Lake Kussharo viewpoints, you start to want a place that shows not just the lake but the sheer size of the land. Highland Koshimizu 725 is that place. Besides the lake, you see the highlands around it and the land of eastern Hokkaido stretching far away.

1What is Highland Koshimizu 725?

A viewpoint on a highland in Koshimizu, 725 meters up, looking over Lake Kussharo from the north. There is a car park and a rest house, so it works well as a break on a drive. Many lake viewpoints feel like mountain passes, but this one is open highland: the view opens up the moment you get out of the car.

2The view

You can see the lake, but your eyes do not stop there: the highlands and the distant mountains come into view too, so you see the lake as part of the whole landscape. On a clear day you can see as far as the Sea of Okhotsk and Mt. Shari, and the Skyline Trail to the top of Mt. Mokoto (about an hour one way) starts here.

Unlike a pass, it does not feel closed in, and the sky feels huge. The wind blows through and the air feels light; even a short stop clears your head.

3Rest house

The rest house has toilets, snacks and a place to sit, which makes this one of the better-equipped viewpoints around the lake, and an easy stop even in poor weather.

4How it compares

Bihoro Pass is the classic, easy view of the lake; Tsubetsu Pass is special when there is a sea of clouds; the Mokotoyama viewpoint is for a quiet look. Highland Koshimizu 725 is where you feel the lake, the highlands and the width of eastern Hokkaido together.

5Tips

20 to 30 minutes is enough: the view and a short rest. The road has few sharp bends and is easy to drive, but at this height the weather changes fast and the wind can be cold even in summer, so bring a jacket.

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.

6Near Highland Koshimizu 725

Mokotoyama Viewpoint: A Quiet Lake Kussharo LookoutA local's guide to the Mokotoyama viewpoint parking above Lake Kussharo: a quiet car park with the lake and steaming Mt. Io in view, stars at night, facilities, how long to stay and how it compares with Bihoro and Tsubetsu passes. Bihoro Pass: The Classic View of Lake Kussharo and Its Roadside StationA local's guide to the Bihoro Pass in eastern Hokkaido: the panorama over Lake Kussharo, how it compares with the other viewpoints, the roadside station and its curry bread, how long to stay, and winter road closures. Tsubetsu Pass: A Sea of Clouds over Lake KussharoA local's guide to Tsubetsu Pass, the highest viewpoint on the Kussharo caldera rim (947 m): a sea of clouds over Lake Kussharo on summer and autumn mornings, the observation building, season, hours, dawn tours and how it compares with Bihoro Pass. 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.

7FAQ about Highland Koshimizu 725

Q1. What can you see from Highland Koshimizu 725?

Lake Kussharo from the north, with the highlands and distant mountains around it.

Q2. Is it open in winter?

The rest house is closed from November to April, and the access road is not plowed.

Q3. Are there toilets?

Yes, at the rest house.