Kushiro Wetland Observatories: Hosooka or Kottaro, and How to Get There

By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published
Kushiro Wetland Observatories: Hosooka or Kottaro, and How to Get There

Quick answers

  • Hosooka: the classic panorama of the wetland and the winding Kushiro River, with a free car park
  • Kottaro: a quiet viewpoint on the north side, up wooden steps; closed for construction until late January 2027 (planned)
  • Both are about an hour by car from Kushiro Airport; Kottaro is reached on a narrow gravel road
  • First visit: go to Hosooka, ideally late in the afternoon

The Kushiro Wetland is the largest wetland in Japan, and you see it from observatories on the hills around its edge. The two I recommend are Hosooka, the classic panorama with the Kushiro River winding through it, and Kottaro, a quiet viewpoint on the north side. They show the same wetland in completely different ways. This page explains where each one is, how to drive there, and which to choose.

Where are the observatories?

The Kushiro Wetland spreads north from the city of Kushiro, and there is no road across the middle, so each observatory is reached from a different side.

  • Hosooka Observatory is on the eastern edge, in Kushiro town (a separate small town just north-east of Kushiro city), about an hour by car from Kushiro Airport. It is a short walk from its own free car park, or about 10 minutes on foot from JR Kushiro-Shitsugen Station.
  • Kottaro Wetland Observatory is on the north side, in Shibecha, about an hour by car from Kushiro Airport. The last stretch is a narrow gravel road through the wetland, signposted from Toro (Prefectural Road 1060), so drive slowly.

Hosooka Observatory:

Kottaro Wetland Observatory:

Hosooka Observatory: the classic panorama

The Hosooka Observatory sign of Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, with the wetland behind

Hosooka is the observatory most people mean when they talk about the view of the Kushiro Wetland. It has a car park and the Hosooka Visitors Lounge, a rest house, and the viewing area is wide open, so even on a first visit you see at once what the wetland is.

The Kushiro Wetland stretching to the horizon from the Hosooka Observatory

From here you look out over:

  • the wetland stretching as far as you can see
  • the Kushiro River meandering through it
  • on a clear day, Mt. Meakan on the horizon

The sky, the wetland and the mountains line up in one frame, and you get a feel for the size and the shape of the land at a glance. It is especially beautiful late in the afternoon.

Kottaro Wetland Observatory: the quiet one

The Kushiro Wetland seen from the Kottaro Wetland Observatory

Update, October 2026: from early July 2026 to late January 2027 (planned), the path up to the Kottaro Wetland Observatory is closed while the steps and handrails are rebuilt, according to Shibecha Town, so you cannot climb to the viewpoint. The car park and toilets can be used only until October 31, 2026. Until the work is finished, go to Hosooka.

Kottaro is on the north side of the wetland. From the car park you walk up a path through the woods and a gentle flight of wooden steps to a viewing deck, and the walk itself feels like going into the forest.

The wooden steps up to the Kottaro Wetland Observatory
The viewing deck at the Kottaro Wetland Observatory

From the deck you see reed beds spreading away, a river threading through them, and the sky meeting the land. It feels like a quiet slice of the wetland rather than the whole thing, and there are far fewer people than at Hosooka.

Hosooka or Kottaro: which should you choose?

HosookaKottaro
The viewA panorama of the whole wetlandA quiet, close view of part of it
FeelOpen and dramaticCalm and still
CrowdsThe main stop, busierFew people
AccessPaved road, short walkGravel road, a climb up steps (closed until January 2027)
  • First time at the Kushiro Wetland: go to Hosooka.
  • You want somewhere quiet: go to Kottaro (once it reopens).

With time, see both: Kottaro first for a quiet, close look, then Hosooka for the big panorama.

Hosooka Visitors Lounge

WhatDetails
HoursApril to September 9:00–18:00; October to March 10:00–16:00
ClosedDecember 29 to January 3
Admission and parkingFree; about 70 cars

The Kushiro Wetland on a road trip

The wetland is close to Kushiro Airport, so it makes a good last stop on a road trip around the lakes of eastern Hokkaido before you fly home.

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.

FAQ about the Kushiro Wetland observatories

Q1. Which Kushiro Wetland observatory is best?

For a first visit, Hosooka: the classic panorama, a free car park and a visitors lounge. Kottaro is quieter but is closed until late January 2027.

Q2. How do you get to the Hosooka Observatory?

About an hour by car from Kushiro Airport, with a free car park, or about 10 minutes on foot from JR Kushiro-Shitsugen Station.

Q3. Is Kottaro Observatory open?

Not until late January 2027 (planned). The path up to the viewpoint is closed for construction from early July 2026.

Q4. Can you see the whole Kushiro Wetland from one place?

Not all of it, but Hosooka shows the widest view, with the river and, on a clear day, Mt. Meakan.