Onuma Quasi-National Park

Ōnuma Quasi-National Park (大沼国定公園 Onuma-kokuteikōen) [1] is a national park centered around Lake Ōnuma (大沼湖) in southern Hokkaido, Japan.

Culture and History

Ōnuma means "great marsh", a fairly apt description of this placid lake. Divided in two by a thin strip of land, the smaller western portion of the lake is known as Konuma (小沼). At the southern edge of the strip lies the small eponymous village and tourist center of Onuma.

Travel to Onuma Quasi-National Park - Visa Requirements

The nearest major center is Hakodate.

By train

Leaving Hakodate, if you take the Ltd Express Super Hokuto train, it takes 19 minutes to reach Onuma Koen station. The regular JR Hakodtate train takes about 50 minutes. The trains leave about once an hour for the park. Be sure to check the return schedule because trains are more infrequent in the evening and they don't run very late so you may find yourself missing the last one.

Buses to Onuma Quasi-National Park

There are also buses to Hakodate that take a comparatively slow 60 min for the journey.

Tours and Getting around Onuma Quasi-National Park

A less frequently traveled branch line from Ōnuma station runs along the southern shore of the lake.

There are a few easy-to-spot places that rent bicycles to tourists. You can get normal bicycles, bicycles built for two, and tricycles that can interlock with each other (for families and groups).

Onuma Quasi-National Park tourist attractions and sightseeing

The lake is known for its 126 islands.

Onuma Quasi-National Park city tours

Hiking in the area is popular.

• The most popular courses through the little islands that dot the southern shore start from near Onuma Koen station, and the time-pressed can even opt for a 15-minute circuit. Ask at the tourist office for a map.

• Paddle boats and row boats are available to rent.

• The volcanic Mt. Komagatake (駒ヶ岳) dominates the scenery, but the mountain has been off-limits to climbers recently.

There are many hot springs scattered around the shores of the lake.

• Yūtopia Onuma (ユートピア大沼). An unremarkable modern hot spring facility whose main feature is its convenient location near the campground. Entry ¥370, open 10 AM to 9 PM daily except Monday.

Onuma Quasi-National Park souvenirs and shopping

Onuma Quasi-National Park Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Although you can buy food from little shops and stalls, you might consider bringing your own food in case you find the local tastes disagreeable.

Onuma Quasi-National Park nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Onuma Quasi-National Park cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

• Higashi-Onuma Yaeijō (東大沼野営所). Wonderful little lakeside campground at the eastern tip of the lake, nearest train station Chōshiguchi. Toilets, running water, communal fireplaces all provided for free and the Yūtopia spa is only a short walk away. Beware of thieving foxes!

Get out

Contact

• Drop by the tourist office in the the grandly named Onuma International Exchange Plaza (大沼交際交流プラザ Onuma kokusai kōryū puraza), near JR Onuma Koen, for maps and information (some in English too).

This page was last edited by Ryan Holliday. Based on work by Ravikiran Rao and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) DorganBot, Milly and Episteme and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license