Lake Shikaribetsu is the place here in Hokkaido that I have visited the most frequent. Actually, I have already lost counting how many times have I been there. I have seen the beauty of the lake may it be summer, spring, winter or autumn. But the most wonderful time to visit the lake is when it is frozen during winter. The temperature is very low that can even reach -30° C. I still remember my first trip, it was not so good because of the blizzard.

Located in Daisetsu National Park in the town of Shikaoi, Tokachi, the Lake Shikaribetsu is a lake in Hokkaido with the highest altitude measuring about 810 meters above sea level. It is also known as the “Lake of the Sky” since it is a great place to do stargazing at night. The whole lake is frozen in wintertime which allowed the construction of a kotan (Ainu word for village) of Eskimo-styled igloos called the Ice Village.

These annual winter activity began in 1980 when local residents and hotel employees started building structures on the top of the frozen lake for their own entertainment. They continued doing this every year and became famous that many people from across Hokkaido started visiting the Ice Village. Construction of the village starts in January and after three weeks, the village will be open to the public.

Since there are hot spring resorts (onsen) in Shikaribetsu, a platform containing open-air public bath filled with hot spring water from Shikaribetsu Onsen is also set on the frozen lake for everyone to enjoy.

Another popular attraction in the ice village is the ice bar. The Ice Bar is an amazing display of ice architecture. This might be the place where Elsa and Jack Frost enjoy hanging out with their friends. Kidding aside, one can enjoy a ¥500 cold cocktail, beer, wine or softdrink to make this experience a truly “chilling” one. And if that’ll not be enough, they can serve the drinks to you in an ice galss for an additional ¥500.  There are also hot drinks like hot chocolate to warm guests.

Aside from the bar, there are also ice hall, ice movie theater and ice factory to complete this great ice experience. The Shikaribetsu Ice Village is a must-see for tourists during winter in Hokkaido.