Page 324 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

plentiful, while in winter, both offering a wealth of great
PICTURE PERFECT white-tailed and Steller’s sea bird-watching opportunities
Here Comes eagles can be seen. Offshore and plenty of wildflowers en
the Sun and in the many sheltered route. In winter, the frozen
Cape Nosappu, on the bays, there are flocks of sea lagoon and adjacent areas are
Nemuro Peninsula, ducks, particularly scoters and good for cross-country skiing.
is the perfect spot to harlequins, and many other
celebrate hatsuhinode – seabirds can be spotted.
the first sunrise of the w
EXPERIENCE Hokkaido and a folk performance q 厚岸湾
year. Hot drinks are
Akkeshi Bay
served free of charge,
ushers in the New Year.
Lake Furen
! C2 ⌂ 230 miles (370 km)
風蓮湖
E of Sapporo k Kushiro
! C2 ⌂ 263 miles (424 km)
£ Akkeshi Stn n 1st Floor,
0
Suminoe, Akkeshi-cho,
£ Nemuro Stn
Nemuro Peninsula
Akkeshi-gun; (0153)
Situated on Hokkaido’s
根室半島 E of Sapporo k Kushiro Akkeshi Gourmet Park, 2-2
52-4139
east coast, beautiful Lake
! C2 ⌂ 280 miles (450 km) Furen is the seasonal haunt of Akkeshi’s sheltered tidal lagoon
E of Sapporo k Nemuro- hordes of birds: migrating is renowned for its oysters. The
Nakashibetsu £ Nemuro
Stn n In front of Nemuro waterfowl in spring and fall, bay is extensively farmed, and
Stn; (0153) 24-3104 swans in late fall, sea eagles there is a shrine to the oysters
in winter, and red-crowned on a rocky islet. Throughout
The low-lying Nemuro cranes in summer. the winter, and during spring
Peninsula, a coastal plateau Nearly 12 miles (20 km) and fall migration, whooper
carved by streams into steep- long and up to 2 miles (4 km) swans gather in the inner bay,
sided gullies, is well loved by wide, the lagoon is only 6 ft while in summer red-crowned
naturalists. The best way to (2 m) deep or less in places. It cranes breed upriver and at
explore the area is by car. is fringed by forests of fir and the near by Kiritappu wetland.
The red fox is common here spruce, with alder and birch The scenic coastal road from
and, in forests around Onneto, scrub in wetter areas. Some Akkeshi around to Kiritappu
there are also many sika deer. easy forest walks start from is well worth driving for an
In summer, lilies, fritil laries, the south end of the lake, at insight into the fishing and
and other wildflowers are Hakuchodai and Shunkunitai, seaweed-harvesting lifestyles
of some of the local people.
Walking at the cape beyond
Lake Furen is the seasonal haunt of hordes Kiritappu is exhilarating, but
of birds: migrating waterfowl in spring early summer mornings are
and fall, swans in late fall, sea eagles in best avoided because this
is when a sea mist is most
winter, and red-crowned cranes in summer. likely to conceal the view.

Sailing on the icy waters of
the Strait of Nemuro, in the
Nemuro Peninsula
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