Hamatonbetsu Town
Northern Hokkaido
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Nature town of swan lakes, drift ice, and gold panning
Population：3,200
Hamatonbetsu, located in northern Hokkaido's Soya region facing the Sea of Okhotsk, is a town of about 3,300. Named from the Ainu word for "river from a lake," it has cool summers and harsh winters with drift ice. The town thrives on dairy farming and fishing, producing superb scallops and milk. A major highlight is Lake Kutcharo, a Ramsar site famous for thousands of migrating swans. Visitors can also enjoy gold panning at the local park, making it a wonderful town of nature and history.
