Breathtaking scenery! Three carefully selected locations in Hokkaido where you can enjoy the highly-anticipated sea of clouds! Hokkaido Lab ~A Hokkaido travel guide to enjoy gourmet food, nature, and culture~

Breathtaking scenery! Three carefully selected locations in Hokkaido where you can enjoy the highly-anticipated sea of clouds.

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: Last updated: September 11, 2018

Table of contents

1. Hoshino Resorts Tomamu - Sea of Clouds Terrace

　• Seasons and times when viewing is possible

2. Tsubetsu Pass (Accommodation: Lamp no Yado Mori Tsubetsu)

　• Sea of Clouds Tour at Tsubetsu Pass

　• Seasons and times when viewing is possible

3. Tokachidake Onsen (Kamihoro-so)

　• Seasons and times when viewing is possible

Have you ever seen photos or articles about "sea of clouds" on TV shows or in magazines? The sea of clouds is a breathtaking sight that allows you to feel the grandeur of nature. And in Hokkaido, a treasure trove of nature, there are many spots where you can witness such a sea of clouds!

But where are the best spots to see a sea of clouds? When is the best time to go? Many people are probably wondering about these things. This time, we will introduce the best spots to see a sea of clouds in Hokkaido, the best season to go, and information on what you need to know and the facilities to see it.

1. Hoshino Resorts Tomamu - Sea of Clouds Terrace

tomamuB-418

Nestled amidst the magnificent natural beauty of the Hidaka Mountains in central Hokkaido, Hoshino Resorts is a popular destination. One of its facilities is the "Sea of Clouds Terrace."

No sea of clouds

This is what it looks like when there's no sea of clouds...

When the sea of clouds appears...!!!

Opened in 2005, this terrace, located 1,088 meters above ground, is designed for viewing the sea of clouds.

From here, a magnificent mountain landscape unfolds, and at dawn, up to 2000 spectators gather. The sea of clouds, one of the largest in Hokkaido, is truly breathtaking. In addition to viewing the sea of clouds, you can also enjoy a coffee break at the cafe, try yoga, or go hiking, making for a wonderful morning.

This year, 2018, the Unkai Terrace will be open from May 12th to October 15th. The probability of seeing a sea of clouds is only about 40%. Therefore, if you absolutely want to see it, we recommend staying for multiple nights (though even then, you might not see it...).

·directions
To reach the Sea of Clouds Terrace, you will need to take a gondola.
The ride lasts approximately 13 minutes, during which you'll leisurely make your way to the mountaintop while enjoying the magnificent natural scenery of Tomamu.

gondola

You can enjoy spectacular scenery while you're on board.

[Gondola operating period in 2018]
March 5-May 12 5:31-5:00
September 1st - September 31th, 5:00 - 8:00
September 1st - September 24th, 4:30 - 8:00
December 25rd to March 15st, 5:00 AM to 4:00 PM

[Price]
Adult: 1,900 yen (tax included)
Elementary school students: 1,200 yen (tax included)
Dogs: 500 yen (tax included)

Incidentally, there's a blue mailbox on the terrace where you can get a free commemorative postcard and mail it to your home.

Blue Post

• Seasons and times when viewing is possible

The season for sea of clouds formation is from spring to autumn. In Tomamu, the best time to view them is from May to mid-October. The most likely time to see them is at dawn, so you'll need to get up early, but the sea of clouds seen at sunrise is breathtaking. Tomamu is arguably the most well-equipped facility for this purpose.

↓↓Click here for the sea of clouds tour↓↓

2. Tsubetsu Pass (Accommodation: Lamp no Yado Mori Tsubetsu)

"Lamp Inn Mori Tsubetsu" is a secluded inn deep in the mountains, even further from Tsubetsu Town in the inland Okhotsk region. It is located in a place surrounded by deep nature, home to "Nonno Forest," the only forest therapy base certified in Hokkaido.

• Sea of Clouds Tour at Tsubetsu Pass

At Lamp no Yado Mori Tsubetsu, the "Tsubetsu Pass Sea of Clouds Tour" is held from June to October. Departure is at 6:00 AM (4:30 AM depending on the season), and the tour takes about 20 minutes to reach the Tsubetsu Pass observation deck.

special seat

This is the observation deck at Tsubetsu Pass. Normally, it's closed at this time of day and you can't enter the observation deck, but only those participating in this tour are allowed to climb up.

Coffee break

You can enjoy free hot coffee at the observation deck. Even in summer, the early mornings on the mountain passes of Hokkaido are quite cool. In September, the early morning temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius! Be sure to dress warmly.

The sea of clouds tour can be booked at Lamp no Yado Mori Tsubetsu, and travel agencies also offer tours that include hotel accommodation.

[Price]
Adults (junior high school students and older): 3000 yen (tax included)
Children (ages 3-12): 1800 yen (tax included)
Children (under 3 years old): 700 yen (tax included)

[Implementation period and time]
April 2017 ~ October 6, 1
Lamp Inn Moritsubetsu departure times: 06:00 / 04:30 (some dates)　
http://mtbt.biz/

• Seasons and times when viewing is possible

The chances of encountering a sea of clouds in 2015 were: June: 65.8%, July: 60.5%, August: 38.8%, September: 40.0%, October: 25.0% (according to data from Kussharo Prince Hotel). The best time to see them is from around 4 AM to 7 AM. If there are no clouds overhead, you can see a spectacular sunrise like the one in the photo.

By the way, the following video shows a sea of clouds taken from Tsubetsu Pass around 4:15 AM in June.

The prefectural road from Lake Kussharo to Tsubetsu Pass had been closed for a long time due to a landslide caused by heavy rains in 2016, but it was finally restored and reopened in June 2018.

3. Tokachidake Onsen (Kamihoro-so)

unkai11

Located almost in the center of Hokkaido, this hot spring inn is nestled quietly on the slopes of the Tokachi Mountain Range, overlooking Furano. Surrounded by a primeval forest of Yezo spruce, it offers the earliest autumn foliage in Japan. On some days during the season, you can even see a sea of clouds, allowing you to fully enjoy the magnificent natural surroundings.

roten2

They say that when the sea of clouds is visible, you can even enjoy it from the inn's proud open-air bath. It's such a luxury to be able to admire such a magnificent view while soaking in the hot springs.

• Seasons and times when viewing is possible

The peak season for sea of clouds formation is in spring and autumn, specifically June and September. While the probability of occurrence is lower compared to the two areas mentioned earlier, you can enjoy unspoiled nature up close and sometimes even spot red foxes and Hokkaido deer from the open-air baths.

So, what did you think? The sea of clouds is a natural phenomenon, so it's difficult to see unless you're lucky, but some people will chase after it for days until they get a satisfactory view, so it's a spectacular Hokkaido sight that you absolutely must see at least once! Why not take a trip to Hokkaido this year to see the sea of clouds?

[Updated December 2018, 6]

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