Hokkaido

Michi-no-Eki Mashu Onsen (Mashu Onsen Roadside Station)

道の駅摩周温泉

Before heading up to Lake Mashu, stop here to ask what the lake looks like today.

Updated 2026-09-28Michi-no-Eki Journal Read in Japanese

Location

Teshikaga Town

Road

National Route 241

Hours

09:00–18:00

May–October. November–April: 9:00–17:00.

Parking

Cars: 66 / Large vehicles: 9

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How to enjoy

Choose how to enjoy your visit

Eat, shop, play, take in the view or rest. Choose from the station’s strengths to suit your day.

Ask first

Information desk in contact with the Lake Mashu observation decks

Ask where to view the lake based on today’s weather and your schedule.

Shop

Leafy greens grown in greenhouses heated by hot springs, and products from eastern Hokkaido

Komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and spinach grown in greenhouses heated by hot springs are sold throughout the year.

Rest

Footbath with continuously flowing spring water

The footbath is on the grounds and visitors can use it for a casual break. This is the only hot-spring facility here; there is no information about a large bath or day-use bathing. The dog run is on the same grounds.

The order of a lake-bound day

How to stop before heading up to the lake

Lake Mashu has no rivers flowing in or out, yet its water level stays steady. Fog is so common that it is called “Foggy Lake Mashu.” That is why, at this station, visiting the information desk before shopping makes the most sense. Simply changing the order can change what you see in the same day.

Ask the information desk about Lake Mashu today

Staff contact the Lake Mashu observation decks. On clear days they can direct you to a place where the lake sparkles; in thick fog they can suggest a place with an atmospheric, misty view. You can arrive without having chosen a destination.

Stretch your legs at the footbath

According to the official nearby-area guide, Lake Mashu is about 11 km from Teshikaga Town. The observation decks are a further drive from here. The footbath, fed directly by the hot spring, is on the grounds, so you can take off your shoes and relax after sitting behind the wheel.

Plan your shopping around the return trip

The shop closes at 18:00 from May through October and at 17:00 from November through April. If you cannot predict when you will return from the lake, buying what you need first is the safer choice.

Highlights

Lake Mashu, known for some of the clearest water in the world, looks like an entirely different place on clear and foggy days. Staff at the information desk communicate with the lake’s observation decks in real time and help you choose where to see it based on the day’s weather and the time you have left. With National Routes 241, 243 and 391 meeting nearby, you can gather information before going up to the lake, shop for eastern Hokkaido products and take a break at the footbath fed directly by the hot spring, all in one stop.

#Footbath
#Local produce sales
#Tourist information center
#Dog run
#Lake Mashu
#Eastern Hokkaido drive

Practical information

Registration number: 北海道-011
Prefecture: Hokkaido
Municipality: Teshikaga Town
Road: National Route 241
Telephone: 015-482-2500
Closed days: Year-end and New Year holidays (December 30–January 3)
Station stamp: Available

Address

3-5-5 Yunoshima, Teshikaga Town, Kawakami District, Hokkaido (川上郡弟子屈町湯の島3丁目5番5号)

Facilities

24-hour toilets (with bidet seats)
Accessible toilet and ostomate facilities
Nursing room and diaper-changing station
Tourist information center
Local produce sales and shop
Takeout (café drinks and light meals)
Footbath with continuously flowing spring water
Dog run
Covered parking
EV charger
Wi-Fi
Credit cards and cashless payments

External links

Visit the official website (Japanese)www.town.teshikaga.hokkaido.jp (Japanese guide)

Why I like it

Reasons to stop here

An information desk in direct contact with the observation decks

This station is a gateway to Lake Mashu and the Mashu Onsen area. Its information staff communicate with the observation decks in real time. Built around the concept of “a welcoming place where people gather and discover Teshikaga’s charms,” it also serves as a place for local residents to relax. Because recommendations differ between clear and foggy days, this is effectively the starting point in an area where weather can alter your plans.

A shop with leafy greens in every season

This specialty shop focuses on locally made souvenirs and products from eastern Hokkaido. Komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and spinach grown in greenhouses heated by hot springs are available regardless of season, bringing fresh greens even to an eastern Hokkaido winter. Locally produced milk gelato and Ezo deer burgers are sold at the takeout counter.

A spring-fed footbath and dog run

The grounds have a footbath and a dog run, both readily available to visitors. People and dogs can get out of the car and stretch, making this a good break on the long drive between the Lake Akan and Lake Mashu areas.

Route idea

Ways to plan your stop

Spend your time at the station or add somewhere nearby. These ideas help you plan around your companions and the weather.

Foggy days

Stop to decide where to go when the weather is uncertain

Lake Mashu is famous for fog. Asking about current conditions here before driving up to an observation deck helps you make more of the same amount of time. If it is clear, staff can suggest a place to see the lake sparkle; if foggy, a place to enjoy the mist.

Ask about lake conditions at the roadside station’s information desk → choose an observation deck and check the route

Once you have chosen which Lake Mashu observation deck to visit, check the travel time on a map.

A driving circuit of eastern Hokkaido

Use this stop to choose your next view

On the way toward the Lake Akan or Lake Mashu areas, stop here to choose your next destination. The official nearby-area guide gives approximate distances of 11 km from Teshikaga Town to Lake Mashu, 18 km from the roadside station to Mount Io and 12 km north from the station to Lake Kussharo. Lake Mashu is a caldera lake renowned for exceptionally clear water; Mount Io emits vigorous plumes of steam and sulfurous fumes; and Lake Kussharo is Japan’s largest caldera lake, with hot springs along its shore. Ask the information desk whether a lake or mountain landscape suits your day, then check the route before leaving.

The listed distances are approximations from the official guide, not travel times. Only the Lake Mashu figure is measured from Teshikaga Town rather than from the roadside station. In early summer, white Isotsutsuji azaleas bloom at the foot of Mount Io; Lake Kussharo’s shore has rustic open-air baths and campgrounds.

Days with a long stretch of driving

Rest between drives without packing in sightseeing

There is a footbath, dog run, 24-hour toilets and covered parking. It is worth stopping simply to refresh yourself, even if you see no attractions. An EV charger and Wi-Fi also make this a place to plan the next leg.

The official facility guide does not give hours for the footbath. If you plan to stop before or after the building’s opening hours, call 015-482-2500 to check.

Hours

Opening hours

Roadside station and shop (May–October)

9:00〜18:00

Roadside station and shop (November–April)

9:00〜17:00

Toilets

24 hours

Toilets are available 24 hours a day.

Station stamp

Same as building opening hours

The commemorative roadside-station stamp cannot be used on closed days.

Family

Visiting with children

Ages 0–1

There is a nursing room and diaper-changing station inside, plus 24-hour toilets with bidet seats. Together, these cover the basics for a stop timed around feeding and diaper changes.

The footbath is fed directly by a hot spring. If bringing an infant into the water, an adult should check its temperature first.

Ages 2–3

Inside, the focus is retail and takeout; no indoor play area is listed. This works as a stop to get out of the car and stretch, rather than a place for extended play.

Gelato comes in about 14 flavors. Choosing one can itself be a welcome change of pace for a child.

Ages 4–6

The footbath on the grounds only requires removing shoes and socks, so it can be a welcome break for children old enough to manage that themselves. Families with dogs can also use the dog run on the same grounds.

Bring a towel to dry your feet afterward.

Elementary-school children

At the information desk, you can choose among Lake Mashu, Mount Io and Lake Kussharo based on the day’s weather. Deciding on the destination together can itself become part of the trip for a child.

The Ezo deer burger has a patty made from Hokkaido Ezo deer. If your child may dislike unfamiliar meat, tell them in advance to avoid a last-minute surprise at the counter.

Nursing room and diaper-changing station

Along with the nursing room and diaper-changing station, there is an accessible toilet and ostomate facilities. The 24-hour designation applies to the toilets; it does not state the nursing room’s hours.

If using the footbath

The footbath has continuously flowing spring water, so bring a towel to dry your feet. The dog run is on the same grounds.

Rest

Ideas for a restful stop

1
Park on the covered side
The First and Second parking areas together have spaces for 66 cars, 9 large vehicles and 3 vehicles using accessible spaces. Covered parking makes getting in and out easier in rain or snow.
2
Consult the information desk first
Staff are in contact with the Lake Mashu observation decks. Choosing a destination within a comfortable range before setting off is less tiring than deciding after arrival.
3
Warm your feet at the footbath
The footbath fed directly by the hot spring is on the grounds. You need only remove shoes and socks, making it an easier break than a full bath that requires changing clothes.
4
No need to watch the clock for the toilets
The toilets are available 24 hours a day and have bidet seats, an accessible toilet and ostomate facilities. You can rely on them when passing through before or after building hours.

Before your visit

Things to check before setting out

Opening and closure days, individual businesses and facilities for children or dogs can affect your plans.

The station closes from December 30 through January 3. From November through April it closes at 17:00. If you go up to the lake, plan to return before closing so you do not miss the shop.
The only hot spring here is the footbath on the grounds. The official facility guide does not list a large bath or day-use bathing. If you want a full soak, check facilities in the Mashu Onsen area separately. The official nearby-area guide also notes rustic open-air baths along Lake Kussharo.
The official guide calls this a combined facility with a community area, retail area and 24-hour toilets. It describes the retail area and takeout counter; if you need a place to sit for lunch, call 015-482-2500 to check what is available that day.
There are two parking areas, First and Second, with spaces for 66 cars, 9 large vehicles and 3 vehicles using accessible spaces.
For car navigation, use map code 462 849 696 (listed in the official facility guide).
Opening hours and products may change. Check the official facility guide for temporary notices.

Food mood

What would you like to eat?

A meal, a sweet treat, market shopping or something to take away: choose a focus for the day instead of trying everything at once.

Eat here

Ezo deer burger / gelato

The official guide highlights these two takeout choices. The burger has a Hokkaido Ezo deer patty with house-made demi-glace sauce. The gelato uses fresh milk and local ingredients, with about 14 flavors to choose from.

Alongside milk and sakura-mochi (a cherry-blossom rice sweet) flavors are seasonal options, so the selection changes. The official guide describes a takeout counter but does not list a dining room or seating.

Buy to take home

Mashu 80% buckwheat soba / Mashu Ruby fresh caramel / Taiho senbei

The dried soba noodles use stone-milled Mashu-grown buckwheat flour and contain 80% buckwheat. The fresh caramel uses Teshikaga-grown Mashu Ruby strawberries. Taiho senbei are crisp Japanese wheat crackers bearing the design of the ceremonial apron of Taiho, a grand sumo champion from Teshikaga. They are a long-selling product of a well-established local confectioner.

Also stocked are soba manju (sweet buns from a long-established town confectioner, with at least 50% Mashu buckwheat flour in the wrapper) and Koguma monaka (filled wafer sweets from a confectioner in the Kawayu Onsen area).

Stock up on vegetables

Leafy vegetables from greenhouses heated by hot springs

The focus is fresh local produce. Komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and spinach grown in greenhouses heated by hot springs are sold throughout the year. They are useful if you will cook at your accommodation or have a long drive home.

These are fresh products, so the quantity and varieties on sale depend on the day.

Choose milk products

Ushi no Oppai series

Made with fresh milk from the local “Experience Farm,” this range includes drinkable yogurt, milk, coffee milk, cheese tarts, milk sablé biscuits and jam. Known for its natural sweetness and rich taste, this shelf offers a particularly direct taste of eastern Hokkaido to take home.

For drinks and perishables, consider the length of your trip home and how you will keep them cool.

Access