Todowara, Coastal field in Notsuke Peninsula, Japan
Todowara is a coastal field on Notsuke Peninsula in Hokkaido where thousands of bleached fir tree trunks protrude from salt water. The trees stand in rows along the curved shoreline, creating an unusual landscape of weathered wood against the sea.
This forest area sank gradually into the sea and became submerged by salt water roughly 300 years ago. The process of natural subsidence transformed the living forest into the dead remnants visible today.
The site shows how coastal ecosystems change over time, with geological shifts reshaping the landscape in ways visitors can see firsthand. The dead trees tell the story of nature's slow transformation of the land.
You can reach the site via a wooden boardwalk from the Nature Center or take a tour boat from Odaito Port during the warmer months. The best experience depends on tidal conditions and weather, so checking conditions ahead of time helps with planning.
The dead trees form patterns in the water that change with different water levels and light conditions. This constantly shifting visual display becomes particularly striking at sunrise and sunset when the light falls at different angles.
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