Red Glasswort: Sign of Autumn in Abashiri
Visit Abashiri for this fantastic view of the blue sky and red lakeside!
Lake Notoro is a coastal lagoon in Abashiri connected to the Okhotsk Sea. In the beginning of autumn, which comes earlier to Hokkaido than the rest of Japan, its lakeside turns beautiful deep red with glasswort, one kind of salt-tolerant plants.
There are wooden paths over the marshy area so that people can walk around and enjoy the view. “No.1 glasswort colony in Japan," the sign in the picture below says!
When I was researching on glasswort to write this post, it was surprising to find out that glasswort was listed as one of endangered species in Japan, while it was sold as a vegetable in Europe. Wondering how this weird looking plant tastes like…
Red glasswort in Lake Notoro
When to visit: Mid August to Late September
Admission Fee: Free
Access: 20 min from Memambetsu Airport and Abashiri, 40 min from Kitami by car.