Nakajima, Lake island in Sobetsu and Toyako, Japan.
Nakajima is an island group with four islands in Lake Toya, with Oshima being the largest and most accessible. It offers forest paths for walking and good opportunities to watch wildlife in their natural setting.
The island holds a spruce forest that is about 350 years old and speaks to the long history of nature protection in Hokkaido. This shows how long this forest has been under care and why it matters to the region.
The island museum tells the story of the local forest and explains which animals live here and why they matter to the region. Visitors learn about Hokkaido's natural environment and how it is cared for.
Visitors can reach the island by boat from Toyako Onsen resort in less than 30 minutes. The trip is offered regularly by Lake Toya Yuransen Boatline and is straightforward to arrange.
Free-roaming Ezo sika deer live on the island and visitors often encounter them up close, making the experience memorable. These wild deer are usually shy animals, but in this protected setting they are calmer.
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