Mokotoyama Viewpoint: A Quiet Lake Kussharo Lookout

There are several viewpoints over Lake Kussharo, but when I just want to look at it quietly, the first one I think of is the Mokotoyama viewpoint parking. There is no tourist bustle: you park, and the view is right in front of you. That simplicity is its best feature.

What is the Mokotoyama viewpoint?

A viewpoint partway up Mt. Mokoto, near the border of Teshikaga and Ozora, on the road from Kawayu toward Abashiri. You do not need to climb; a few steps from the car and the whole lake is below you. There are no shops, just a free car park (31 cars), toilets and a shelter.

Few people, all view

What struck me first was how few people there were. Compared with Bihoro Pass and Tsubetsu Pass, visitors come and go less, and sometimes nobody arrives for a while, so you can take your time.

Lake Kussharo and Mt. Io beyond a grassy slope at the Mokotoyama viewpoint

Lake Kussharo with steaming Mt. Io on the far shore, from the Mokotoyama viewpoint

Across the lake you can see Mt. Io, the steaming volcano. The calm water and the rough volcano together are a reminder of how volcanic this land is.

Night and early morning

With few lights, it gets very dark at night; on a clear night the stars are bright. Early mornings and evenings are quiet too, and the mood changes with the time of day.

How it compares

Bihoro Pass has a roadside station and is the easy choice on a first trip; Tsubetsu Pass is special when there is a sea of clouds at dawn. The Mokotoyama viewpoint is plainer, but it is the one for a quiet look at the lake away from the crowds.

Tips

15 to 20 minutes is enough. It is about 20–30 minutes' drive from Kawayu Onsen, and in winter the viewpoint may be closed. There is no shop, so bring a drink. At this height the wind can be cold even in summer, and at night watch your step in the dark. You need a car to get here.

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. The viewpoint is on Prefectural Road 102, the road from Kawayu Onsen toward Abashiri.