The Wakoto Peninsula

The Wakoto Peninsula on Lake Kussharo was once a separate volcanic islet that gradually connected to the shore as sediment accumulated. A 3.2-kilometer nature trail circles the peninsula through Sakhalin spruce and Katsura forest, passing Oyakotsu Jigoku, an area of intense geothermal activity where sulfurous steam rises from ground fissures. An observation deck above the plumes offers a safe vantage point. Because the peninsula's ground stays warm year-round from geothermal activity, band-legged crickets are active even in winter. A free open-air onsen bath sits on the peninsula's edge, and two campgrounds near the base are open from late spring through mid-autumn.