Northern Lakes -2020- day1

If you read 'Kitano-umi' when you saw '北の湖'!
You are from the same generation as me...
That's not it, this time it's 'Kitano-mizuumi'
I went to the 'Lakes of Hokkaido'.

Amidst the COVID-19 commotion

Shortly before the state of emergency was declared in Hokkaido,
the trip was carried out in the latter half of February.
The destinations this time were 'Lake Shikaribetsu' and 'Lake Nukabira'.
Both are 'lakes' located in the mountainous area on the north side of the Tokachi Plain in eastern Hokkaido.
Why go there? What is there?

Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan

An artificial village (Kotan) built on the frozen lake,
ice structures like accommodations, a church, a bar, a live house, and an open-air bath welcome you.
An open-air bath? Accommodations? Ice? Wait, how does that work?

Well then, let's go!

Snow,

That day, the forecast predicted the weather would turn bad from the afternoon, which is rare for the Tokachi region.
We landed at New Chitose Airport, rented a car, and hurried ahead.
It is a 170km, 3-hour journey to Shikaoi Town, where Lake Shikaribetsu is located.
The expressway was a comfortable cruise.
Getting carried away, we stopped by Obihiro Station to eat the local specialty, 'Butadon' (pork bowl).

Snow is...

When we returned to the car after our meal, snow was falling steadily.
Oh no! It still takes another hour from here in Obihiro to Lake Shikaribetsu.
I hate driving on snowy roads I'm not used to, in a car I'm not used to...

Just in time

Climbing the narrow mountain road and passing through the tunnel...

'Whoa!'

Everything was pure white! Amidst the fog and swirling snow, the faint shadows of buildings could be seen. We arrived at our destination, Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan, and our inn for the night, 'Hotel Fusui'!

Phew.

Right away

As soon as we were shown to our room, without even a moment to catch our breath, we headed to the long-awaited'Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan'!
Let me explain again!
'Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan' is a village made of ice structures that is opened on the surface of Lake Shikaribetsu (on the ice) for only two months from late January to late March.
I wandered around the Kotan fully equipped in ski wear.

This is a guest room bed. The mattress is not made of ice, but the ceiling, floor, and walls are all made of ice blocks. You can rent a sleeping bag as bedding.
You can tour it before the guests check in.

In the snowy mountain village, the temperature drops even further as the sun begins to set.
At times like that...

'Ice Bar!'(Why not?)

It is a 'BAR' made of ice.
Here, you can enjoy alcohol in an 'ice glass'.
It's a deep-winter activity, I suppose.

Drinking 'beer' from an ice glass in this freezing cold,

Delicious!!

As I mutter that, white breath spills from my lips.

However, strangely, I don't feel like shivering.

When I left the building, the sun had set slightly outside, and the atmosphere of the night was beginning to drift in.

That's all for today.
Feeling tipsy, I hurried the 5-minute walk back.
The journey of the 'Northern Lakes' continues.

(To be continued...)

For those interested in other Hokkaido travels