A modern visitor center that introduces you to the volcanic Wakoto Peninsula

Visit Wakoto Field House to learn about Lake Kussharo's nature and wildlife before hiking a short loop trail around the Wakoto Peninsula. Inside the field house are photography exhibits, map displays with explanatory text, plant samples and taxidermy birdlife.

Plant life on the Wakoto Peninsula includes katsura trees, white birch, and cool-climate flowers like Oxalis and Lilium medeoloides. You can spot birds and animals on the peninsula, such as whooper swans, black woodpeckers, Eurasian red squirrels and Siberian flying squirrels.

Volcanic activity on the peninsula creates a warm microclimate where certain kinds of wildlife remain active year-round. You can hear the chirping of band-legged ground crickets here, even during the freezing winter. The peninsula is also the northernmost habitat of the min-min cicada.

Staff at the Wakoto Field House can provide up-to-date information on trail conditions and seasonal events. At the welcome desk you will find maps and leaflets, which you can peruse in the seating area or take with you.

The Wakoto Campsite, a viewpoint overlooking the lake, and a dock from which canoeing and kayaking trips depart are located next to Wakoto Field House. A 3.2-kilometer loop trail around Wakoto Peninsula begins at the field house, circling around the base of Mount Wakoto (216 m). Along the trail, you can stop at Kussharo-jinja Shrine, admire a giant katsura tree, and observe the boiling water and steam vents at Oyakotsu Jigoku (Oyakotsu Hell).