Lakes · Hokkaido
Lake Shikotsu
支笏湖しこつこShikotsu-koA deep, clear caldera lake that never freezes
Lake Shikotsu (Shikotsu-ko) is a caldera lake in the city of Chitose, about an hour from Sapporo, and at 360 metres the second-deepest lake in Japan. Its great volume keeps it from freezing, making it Japan's northernmost ice-free lake.
Overview
Lake Shikotsu lies south-west of Sapporo and west of New Chitose Airport, in the caldera of a volcano that collapsed around 40,000 years ago. It is the second-largest caldera lake in Japan after Kussharo and, at about 360 metres, second only to Lake Tazawa in depth. Its average depth of over 250 metres gives it an enormous volume of water, which holds enough heat to keep the lake from freezing in all but exceptional winters.
Three volcanoes stand on the caldera rim: Eniwa-dake to the north, Fuppushi-dake and the active Tarumae-zan to the south. The lake regularly ranks among the clearest in Japan in the Ministry of the Environment's water-quality surveys, and its blue is known locally as 'Shikotsu blue'.
The small settlement of Shikotsuko Onsen on the east shore, where the Chitose River leaves the lake, is the main base, with hot-spring hotels at Marukoma and Okotan on the shore.
Landscape and formation
The Shikotsu caldera formed in a huge eruption about 40,000 years ago whose pyroclastic flows covered much of the Ishikari lowland, including the ground on which Sapporo and Chitose now stand. Post-caldera volcanoes grew on its rim: Eniwa-dake (1,320 m), Fuppushi-dake (1,102 m) and Tarumae-zan (1,041 m), whose lava dome formed in 1909 and which remains one of Hokkaido's active volcanoes.
Highlights
Tarumae-zan
樽前山Tarumae-zanActive volcano with a distinctive lava dome, a popular half-day hike from the seventh station.
Eniwa-dake
恵庭岳Eniwa-dakeSteep volcano on the north shore, site of downhill skiing at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.
Koke no Dōmon
苔の洞門Koke no DōmonNarrow ravine lined with moss near the south shore; access is restricted after rockfalls.
Yamasen Railway Bridge
山線鉄橋Yamasen TekkyōOld steel railway bridge at the outflow in Shikotsuko Onsen, now a footbridge.
Marukoma Onsen
丸駒温泉Marukoma OnsenHot spring on the north-west shore with natural pools at lake level.
Ecology
The lake's cold, nutrient-poor water supports introduced kokanee salmon, known locally as chippu. The surrounding forest is subarctic mixed woodland; large parts were flattened by a typhoon in 1954 and have regrown.
Flora
Mixed forest
Sakhalin fir, Ezo spruce, birch and maple on the caldera walls.
Fauna
Kokanee salmon
チップchippuLocal name for the lake's kokanee (himemasu), introduced from Lake Akan in 1894; the fishing season is in early summer.
Ezo brown bear
Present in the national park forests.
Culture
The name comes from the Ainu shikot, 'large hollow', originally the name of the river now called Chitose. The lake is a leisure area for the Sapporo region, and its winter ice festival, with sculptures made from sprayed lake water, is one of the best-known events of the Hokkaido winter.
Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival
千歳・支笏湖氷濤まつりChitose-Shikotsuko Hyōtō MatsuriWinter festival from late January to February with ice structures tinted blue by lake water.
History
c. 40,000 BP
A climactic eruption forms the Shikotsu caldera.
1894
Kokanee salmon are introduced from Lake Akan.
1909
Tarumae-zan's lava dome is extruded during an eruption.
1949
Shikotsu-Toya National Park is designated.
1972
Men's and women's downhill races of the Sapporo Winter Olympics are held on Eniwa-dake.
Through the seasons
Spring
Snow remains on the volcanoes into May; fishing for kokanee opens in early summer.
Summer
Canoeing, diving and glass-bottom boats on the clear water; hikes on Tarumae-zan.
Autumn
Autumn colour in October on the rim and along the Chitose River.
Winter
The lake stays ice-free; the ice festival draws visitors from late January.
Routes and trails
Tarumae-zan from the seventh station
Round trip of about three hours to the outer crater rim, with views of the lake and the Pacific.
Eniwa-dake
Steep ascent from the north shore; the final section is loose volcanic rock.
Lake cruise
Underwater-viewing boats from Shikotsuko Onsen show the drowned caldera walls.
Practical notes
- Buses run from New Chitose Airport and Chitose Station to Shikotsuko Onsen in under an hour.
- Check the Tarumae-zan volcanic alert level before hiking.
- The water is cold year-round and deep close to shore.
Frequently asked questions
Does Lake Shikotsu freeze?
Almost never. Its huge volume of deep water stores enough heat to keep it ice-free; it is the northernmost lake in Japan that does not freeze.
How far is Lake Shikotsu from Sapporo?
About an hour by car; from New Chitose Airport it is about 40 minutes.
How deep is Lake Shikotsu?
About 360 metres, second in Japan after Lake Tazawa.
What is chippu?
The local name for the kokanee salmon of Lake Shikotsu, eaten as sashimi or grilled in early summer.
Related
Sources
- 1.統計FAQ 日本の湖沼の面積 (opens in a new tab) — 総務省統計局
- 2.支笏洞爺国立公園 (opens in a new tab) — 環境省
- 3.千歳市 (opens in a new tab) — 千歳市