Kaiyodai, Observation deck in Nakashibetsu, Japan.
Kaiyodai is an observation deck near Nakashibetsu in eastern Hokkaido, set at around 271 meters (889 feet) above sea level with a roughly 330-degree view over open grasslands and mountains. The site has an enclosed viewing hall alongside the open deck, and a small cafe serving local dairy products.
The site was created by the third mayor of Nakashibetsu alongside the installation of an NHK television relay station in the area. What began as an infrastructure project was opened up to give the public a place to look out over the surrounding land.
Inside the viewing hall, photographs by local artists line the walls alongside panels about the wildlife and seasonal changes of the region. These displays give visitors a sense of how closely life in Nakashibetsu is tied to the land around it.
The enclosed viewing hall is open from late April through the end of October, while the open deck can be visited year-round. At this elevation, the weather can shift quickly, so bringing an extra layer is a good idea regardless of the season.
On very clear days, an optical effect caused by temperature differences between the air and the sea can make the sun appear to take on a square shape near the horizon. This phenomenon lasts only a few moments and is not something most visitors expect to see.
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