Lake Shikotsu, Caldera lake in Chitose, Japan.
Shikotsu is a caldera body of water in Shikotsu-Toya National Park on Hokkaido, spreading between forested mountains. The shores alternate between dense green, sandy beach and small villages, while the silhouettes of the volcanoes Tarumae, Eniwa and Fuppushi rise in the background.
It formed roughly 40,000 years ago through volcanic eruptions that collapsed the ground and shaped the caldera. The Ainu inhabited the surrounding areas long before Japanese settlers arrived in the 19th century.
The name comes from the Ainu word shikot, meaning large depression, and recalls the island's first inhabitants. Today the shores show small bathing spots and camping zones where families paddle and sit by the water in summer.
Buses run from Chitose Station and New Chitose Airport to the shore at Shikotsu Kohan, taking less than an hour. Those arriving by car follow National Highway 276 to parking areas near the water.
At 363 meters (1191 feet) deep, the water stays liquid even in winter and never turns to ice. This feature makes it the northernmost ice-free body of water in the country.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
