Lake Notoro, located in Abashiri City and connected to the Sea of Okhotsk, turns bright red from mid-September to October. The true identity of the red color is coral grass. It was named "Akkeshisou" after it was discovered in Atsukeshi, Hokkaido in 1891, and later came to be called "coral grass" because of its red color like coral. Coral grass is vulnerable to changes in the natural environment, and if left unattended, it will be eroded by other plants. As a result, it was at one point in a state of destruction, so in 1978, Ubara, Abashiri City, began to make a serious effort to protect and cultivate it. The restoration of the colony, which was undertaken with the involvement of the Ubaranai Neighborhood Association, the Tourism Association, and citizen volunteers, bore fruit, and in 1991 the Ubaranai Neighborhood Association went so far as to declare to the nation that this was "the largest coral grass colony in Japan." The lakeside colony now covers an area of 38,000 square meters. To see Japan's largest coral grass colony, autumn is the best time to visit. As mentioned above, it turns a dazzling red color from mid-September to October. Although it varies depending on the weather of the year, the peak viewing time is usually around the fourth week of September. Coral grass has been confirmed to grow in parts of Eastern Hokkaido and parts of Shikoku, but the most impressive colony is the Ubaranai Garden in Abashiri Quasi-National Park, which is said to be the largest in Japan. The deep red color that fills the lake is indescribably beautiful. Walking along the boardwalk, you will be surrounded by coral grass on all sides, and feel as if you are standing alone in another world. If you are traveling in eastern Hokkaido in autumn, this is a place you should definitely stop by. You will surely feel a special sense of emotion when you see the coral grass, which is actually a fragile plant, blooming magnificently in front of you. <Interview cooperation and thumbnail image provision> Coral grass village Notorinosou Kagariya Address: 60-3 Ubaranai, Abashiri City, Hokkaido Phone: 0152-47-2301 Official site: http://www.kagariya.cc