Lake Saroma Coastal Lagoon & Kamiyubetsu Windmill Tulip Park

Category: Giant Coastal Lagoon & Dutch Floral Park | Location: Hokkaido

Spanning across three coastal municipalities (Saroma, Yubetsu, and Kitami) on Hokkaido's northeastern shore, Lake Saroma (Saroma-ko) is Japan's largest brackish lagoon and the nation's third-largest lake overall, surpassed only by Lake Biwa and Lake Kasumigaura. Separated from the open waters of the Sea of Okhotsk solely by a delicate 25-kilometer coastal sandbar blanketed by the wild coastal flora of the Wakka Nature Reserve, this immense 152-square-kilometer lake serves as a world-renowned aquaculture haven harvesting Japan's sweetest, plumpest scallops (Hotate) and oysters (Kaki). The defining and most poetic rite of passage at Lake Saroma is beholding its legendary sunset from the summit observatory of Mount Horoiwa (Saromako Tenbodai) at an altitude of 376 meters. From this panoramic vantage point, travelers clearly witness the narrow sandbar bisecting two contrasting marine realms: the deep cobalt swells of the Okhotsk Sea on one flank and the calm emerald mirror of the lagoon on the other. At twilight, the immense water basin reflects dying sunbeams, glowing in magnificent shades of molten gold, amber, and crimson that dissolve into the distant mountains. A short 20-minute drive west brings visitors into Yubetsu Town to experience the enchanting Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, transforming the northern plains into a vivid Dutch wonderland. Every May, seven rolling hectares explode with over 700,000 blooming tulips spanning 200 distinct varieties beneath an authentic observation windmill. The sublime symphony of rainbow floral rows, nostalgic Dutch architecture, and delicious butter-grilled Saroma scallops creates an unforgettable springtime journey along the northern sea.