Kotan no Yu: A free open-air hot spring by Lake Kussharo/Untouched Hokkaido/コタンの湯
This natural open-air hot spring bath will make you feel like you’re bathing in Lake Kussharo itself This hot spring bath surrounded by stones is just 5m from Lake Kussharo, creating the illusion that you are bathing in Lake Kussharo itself. In winter, the warm water runs into the lake, attracting swans that you can see right before your eyes. As you look out over the lake, you'll feel as if the swans are bathing in the hot spring with you. This vast natural paradise is stunningly beautiful no matter what time of day you visit, with incredible sunsets over the mountains beyond the lake and stars as far as the eye can see at night. Admission is free and free parking is available. Basic men's and women's changing facilities are available. The bath is surrounded by stones. While there is a large stone in the center dividing the bath in two, each side is visible from the other side, so bathing is basically mixed. Swimwear is OK.
Untouched Hokkaido Eastern Hokkaido has a history and geography all of its own. Despite its location in Japan, it is actually on the North American tectonic plate, and as a result it is full of extremely rare plant life. Eastern Hokkaido locals have coexisted for generations with the area's rare wildlife and the nature in the national parks that those animals call home, and as a result there are many natural areas that are untouched by human hands.