The best time to visit Lake Shikaribetsu is during winter, when an entire ice village is set-up near the lake and you can experience snowmobile driving. There is also the possibility to make an igloo, along with a host of other activities like ice cup making, enjoying drinks at the ice bar and so on.
The easiest way to get around Lake Shikaribetsu is either by car or public transportation, since the major sights and attractions are easily accessible. Though, travelers will have to rely on single tickets or a prepaid card, since no special train or bus passes are provided within this area. If you decide to rent a car, it is advised to do so from the nearest airport in the vicinity. You can use our car rental widget in the FAQ menu below.
Public transportation:
Travelers who come by train will have to transfer at Obihiro station. From there, it is around 1 hour and 40 minutes by bus to Lake Shikaribetsu. Be advised that buses run infrequent in this area. For up-to-date bus schedules, we recommend syncing Google Maps with our customized map above (to do this: click the top right icon on the map to expand to full screen, and select a route between your destination and your current destination).
Nearest airport:
The nearest and most convenient airport is Tokachi-Obihiro Airport.
by car: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
by public transport: approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes
Car rentals:
We recommend staying here for about half a day.
The nearest and most convenient airport is Tokachi-Obihiro Airport.
by car: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
by public transport: approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes
There are two well-known festivals in this area. Please be advised that the following info is based upon previous entries of the festival and that the dates might have changed for the following year. It is also possible that the entire festival is cancelled in the case of heavy rainfall or a natural disaster. Please check with the official organisers' website for the most up-to-date information.
For the exact location of the festivals, you can consult our map above by clicking on the icon in the upper most corner of the map to open the map legend. Festivals are hidden by default but can be made visible by clicking on the "Festivals" checkbox in the map legend.
Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan Ice Festival
Date: January 25th until March 22nd
Hakuja Hime Festival
Date: July 6th
Time: 18:30 - 21:00
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