10 Things to Do in Sobetsu

10 Things to Do in Sobetsu


Sobetsu (壮瞥町) is a town in the Iburi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. The name of the town was derived from the Ainu name of the current Sobetsu River, "so-pet" which means waterfall/river.


For those planning to visit Sobetsu to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Sobetsu:

Sobetsu Roadside Station / Roadside Station Sobetsu Johokan I

1. Visit the Sobetsu Roadside Station / Roadside Station Sobetsu Johokan I and buy products that are produced or made in the town. You can also get the roadside station stamp here for the Hokkaido Stamp rally booklet. This roadside station has various displays about Mt. Usu which are very informative.


Statue of Masao Mimatsu with Showashinzan

2. Take a picture with the Statue of Masao Mimatsu with Showashinzan as your background. 


Sobetsu Shrine

3. Visit the Sobetsu Shrine. You can pay your respects and offer prayers here any time of the day. You can also get a goshuin here.


Sobetsu Park Lake Toya Observatory

4. Visit the Sobetsu Park Lake Toya Observatory. It has an awesome view of Lake Toya. Aside from that, you would also see the Sobetsu Park Plum Garden inside the park. Visit around late April or early May to see it in full bloom.


Sobetsu Falls

5. Visit and take a picture of the Sobetsu Falls. The best time to visit is in spring or summer when the vegetation around it is lush.


Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch

6. Say hi to the bears at Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch. You can also feed the bears some cookies which costs 200 yen per pack.


Usuzan Ropeway

7. Ride the Usuzan Ropeway and enjoy the view from Mt. Usu Terrace. You will be able to see Showashinzan and Lake Toya from a better vantage point.


Mt. Usu crater

8. Trek up to Usu Volcano Observatory for a better view of Mt. Usu. If you have the energy, follow the trail until Minami-gairinzan Lookout.


Nakajima Island

9. Nakajima Island, shared by the municipalities of Toyako and Sobetsu, is one of the highlights of the Lake Toya Cruise. You may trek some of its mountains or simply wander along its paths. You will undoubtedly love its magnificent scenery.


Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu Terrace

10. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lake Toya. There are several spots to view Lake Toya from Sobetsu. My favorite one is on Mt. Usu Terrace.


I hope my list of the 10 Things to Do in Sobetsu gave you an idea and inspiration to visit one of the two towns located around Lake Toya of Hokkaido in the future.

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Summary

Location: Sobetsu, Usu District, Hokkaido, Japan

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 12, 2024 at 7:29 AM

    No Sobetsu manhole or Sobetsu Pokemon manhole cover this time?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Neil Alvin NicerioMarch 16, 2024 at 4:18 PM

      I'm glad you noticed. Sadly, I wasn't able to see one. Next time, I'll look for it and update the article or make a new one.

      Delete

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