Koshimizu Onsen Hokkaido

Koshimizu Onsen Hokkaido is a coastal hot spring in Koshimizu Town on the Sea of Okhotsk coast of northeastern Hokkaido, situated near the remarkable Lake Saroma, Japan's largest brackish lagoon, whose enormous shallow water body separated from the Sea of Okhotsk by a narrow sand spit supports both marine aquaculture of scallops and oysters on the sea side and freshwater fishing and bird watching in the lagoon itself, creating one of the most productive and ecologically diverse coastal wetland environments in the Japanese archipelago. The Koshimizu Gensei Flower Garden on the coastal sand spit between Lake Saroma and the Sea of Okhotsk preserves a rare natural wildflower habitat of coastal meadow species including hamanasu (Japanese beach rose), fuuro (cranesbill geranium), and dozens of other wildflower species that bloom in succession from spring through autumn in one of Hokkaido's most delicate and naturally beautiful coastal ecosystems. The chloride thermal spring waters of Koshimizu provide community bathing in a town whose Lake Saroma scallop aquaculture, wildflower coastline, and Sea of Okhotsk drift ice winter views create one of northeastern Hokkaido's most scenically varied and ecologically rich community hot spring destinations.