An autumn festival where you can walk among the crimson coral grass coloring the lakeshore
Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony and Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival
The 2026 edition of Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony and Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/09/12 〜 2026/09/13Ended
- Season / frequency
- Mid-September
- Location
- Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony
- Area
- Hokkaido・Abashiri City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Participation fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 2026/11/12
The coral grass colony along Lake Notoro turns a vivid red in autumn. A distinctive feature of this natural landscape is how close you can get to views of the contrast with the lake and sky from the wooden boardwalk. The Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival is held in mid-September, when the coral grass turns its reddest.
About Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony and Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival
The Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival is an autumn event centered on the coral grass colonies growing along the shore of Lake Notoro in Abashiri City.
Coral grass, known as Akkeshisō, is a salt-tolerant plant that changes from green in spring and summer to red in autumn.
The colony spreads out like a red carpet across approximately 3.8 hectares, and you can view the lakeside scenery from the well-maintained wooden boardwalk.
Festival highlights
The highlight is the colony of coral grass that turns red with the arrival of autumn.
It is at its reddest around mid-September, when the approximately 3.8-hectare wetland becomes a crimson landscape.
As you walk along the wooden boardwalk, you can take in the vivid contrast with the blue sky and still lake, the scent of the sea, and the little coral grass plants swaying in the breeze, all up close.
An autumn festival where you can walk among the crimson coral grass coloring the lakeshore
What to expect
At the venue, view the coral grass growing across the wetlands along Lake Notoro from the wooden boardwalk.
A distinctive feature is the way plants that are green from spring through summer turn red with the arrival of autumn.
During the festival, you can enjoy walking among the colonies and appreciate the nature of this seasonal landscape alongside the lakeside air and still water.
How to take part
Admission is free.
Location and access
- Venue and address
60-23 Uranai, Abashiri City
- Train and bus
About 20 minutes from JR Abashiri Station
- Parking
100 spaces, free
Event venue 北海道網走市 能取湖サンゴ草群落地
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 event period is listed as September 12 to September 13.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Hokkaido / Abashiri City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The coral grass changes color as autumn arrives, reaching its reddest around mid-September.
You can view the wetland colonies from the wooden boardwalk and enjoy them alongside the natural lakeside scenery.
Nearby attractions
Nearby attractions listed include Okhotsk Chipmunk Park, Omagari Lakeside Park, Lake Abashiri, Abashiri Prison Museum, and the Okhotsk Ryuhyo Museum and Tento-zan Observatory.
Nearby roadside stations introduced include Roadside Station Märchen no Oka Memanbetsu and Roadside Station Ryuhyo-kaido Abashiri.
北海道立北方民族博物館
北海道網走市にある博物館
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
網走市立美術館
北海道網走市にある美術館
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·
網走市立郷土博物館
北海道網走市にある郷土博物館
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Official information
関連情報：網走市観光協会
Lake Notoro Coral Grass Colony and Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival at a Glance
The Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival is an Abashiri City event celebrating the coral grass colonies that turn red in autumn.
From the wooden boardwalk, you can take in the crimson landscape, which covers approximately 3.8 hectares, along with its contrast against the lake and sky.
The festival is held in mid-September, when the coral grass is at its reddest, and free parking is available at the venue.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/12
