Todowara Frozen Horizon

Walk across frozen seas

Hokkaido’s Notsuke Peninsula is the largest sand peninsula in Japan and contains Todowara, a decayed fir tree forest. During the coldest months of January to March, Notsuke Bay freezes over to create a vast, flat plane of ice. With no mountains nearby, visitors get a completely unobstructed view of the horizon and skies. Locals call this unusual landscape “the frozen horizon” and some even say it looks like the edge of the world.

This unending white terrain is a great spot for photography enthusiasts, as you can play with perspective and capture breathtaking sunsets. If you're lucky, you might even see a wild deer.

If you are planning to walk across the icy plains, wear warm, layered clothing and consider joining a guided tour from the Notsuke Peninsula Nature Center.

How to get there