Sunayu on Lake Kussharo: Dig Your Own Hot Spring Foot Bath

By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published
Sunayu on Lake Kussharo: Dig Your Own Hot Spring Foot Bath

Quick answers

  • Dig in the sand at the water's edge and warm water, about 40°C, fills the hole
  • Free beach and car park, with a shop and a campsite; shovels can be rented
  • Whooper swans gather from about November to April
  • About 20 minutes by car from Lake Mashu, an hour from Memanbetsu Airport

Sunayu is a beach on the east shore of Lake Kussharo, in eastern Hokkaido, where hot spring water wells up through the sand. Dig a hole at the water's edge and it fills with warm water, about 40°C, so you can make your own foot bath by the lake. It is free, with a car park, a shop and a campsite, and in winter whooper swans gather on the shore.

What is Sunayu like?

The name means "sand hot spring". Lake Kussharo, in Teshikaga, is the largest caldera lake in Japan, and hot springs rise in several places along its shore; at Sunayu they come up right through the beach. It is a popular stop for sightseers, campers and motorcyclists.

  • Dig your own foot bath. Scoop out the sand at the water's edge and warm water seeps in, around 40°C. You can rent a small shovel at the campsite office (300 yen for 3 hours) or bring your own, and a towel is handy. The temperature depends on where you dig, and some spots are hot, so test it with your hand first.
  • Whooper swans (winter only). From about November to April, whooper swans come to the lake, and you can watch them resting on the shore close up. It is very cold by the lake in winter, so dress warmly.
  • Canoes. Canoe tours take you out onto the lake.
The Sunayu sign on the beach at Lake Kussharo

How to get to Sunayu

By car:

  • About an hour from Memanbetsu Airport
  • About 20 minutes from Lake Mashu
  • About 40 minutes from the Bihoro Pass
  • About an hour from Lake Akan

Facilities

Campsite (RECAMP Sunayu)

  • Open: April 24 to November 23 in 2026
  • Fees are per site, and bookings are taken online or by phone; see the official page (in Japanese)
  • Rentals include tents, sleeping bags and the shovels for the sand bath
  • Toilets and a car park for about 100 cars

Shop and restaurant (late April to the end of October)

  • Soft-serve ice cream, including vanilla and haskap
  • Jingisukan (Hokkaido-style grilled lamb) set meals
  • Light meals such as curry and ramen
  • Local souvenirs

Near Sunayu

Sunayu is in the middle of the best viewpoints over Lake Kussharo, and all of these are within an hour by car:

  • The Bihoro Pass, with a roadside station and a panorama over the whole lake
  • The Tsubetsu Pass, a quieter viewpoint known for mornings when cloud fills the caldera below you
  • Mt. Io (Iozan), the steaming volcano, about 10 minutes away
  • Kawayu Onsen, the hot spring town where I stayed, with strong, acidic sulfur water
Kawayu Kanko Hotel: Acidic Sulfur Baths in Kawayu OnsenA local's review of Kawayu Kanko Hotel in Kawayu Onsen, eastern Hokkaido: the strong, acidic sulfur water, the quiet hot spring town, day bathing, and why it is a good base for Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo.

My eastern Hokkaido road trip has Sunayu on the first day, between the passes and Mt. Io.

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 Sunayu

Q1. How do you make a foot bath at Sunayu?

Dig a hole in the sand at the water's edge; warm water, about 40°C, seeps in. Rent a shovel at the campsite office or bring your own, and test the temperature with your hand first.

Q2. Is Sunayu free?

Yes. The beach and the car park are free; only the campsite is paid.

Q3. When can you see swans at Lake Kussharo?

From about November to April, when whooper swans gather at Sunayu.

Q4. How far is Sunayu from Lake Mashu?

About 20 minutes by car.