Lake Shikotsu (Shikotsuko)

Lake Shikotsu, or Shikotsuko, is Hokkaido’s southernmost ice-free lake and one of Japan’s deepest, plunging to 363 metres in places — second only to Lake Tazawa nationally. Formed by a caldera collapse, the lake occupies a dramatic basin within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, ringed by three prominent volcanoes: Eniwa-dake, Fuppushi-dake, and Tarumae-zan, the latter still visibly active with fumarolic venting on its summit dome. The water is of extraordinary clarity and purity, consistently ranking among Japan’s cleanest lake waters, and takes on a shade of blue so intense it has inspired its own colour designation in Japanese — shikotsu blue. Kayaking and canoeing on the lake are exceptional, allowing paddlers to explore the volcanic shoreline at close quarters and peer into waters of startling transparency. Trout fishing is permitted with a licence, and the lake’s cold, oxygenated depths support healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout, Dolly Varden, and the native Miyabe char. The lakeside resort area of Shikotsu Kohan provides hot spring accommodation and boat tours. Each January and February the Shikotsu Ice Festival transforms the lakeshore with ice sculptures illuminated at night, drawing visitors from across the region. The area’s volcanic drama and water clarity make it one of Hokkaido’s most compelling natural destinations.