Stayed for 2 nights as we wanted to visit the area. This is also a wildlife photographer backyard with a lake facing some cabins (unit 6,7,8,9,10).
Manage to see the Japanese red crown crane in summer with a young one. In winter, this is the place to photograph the sea eagle.
Overall, no English spoken but somehow with google translate n hand gesture you can survive in this remote region.
This is a very basic cabin set in a rustic feel. These cabins are not handicap friendly as there are steps. That’s should be your expectations.
Quick check in, and had a cabin (#6), with parking lot beside it. The cabin had a attached bath and toilet (with basic toiletries n towels). The cabin was spacious for the 2 of us with 2 single beds, heater n aircon. There was a small kitchen with a cooking stove, microwave oven n decent size fridge. But there are no cooking utensils or kitchen utensils. Only a kettle.
Tip: If you planning to stay here for long, visit the supermarket (Marche de Kitchen near Nemuro Station), you can stock up on everything and cook or BBQ (there are BBQ pits for free usage). Supemarket food prices seem more reasonable here than in Sapporo.
Alternatively the lodge provides drinks and meals you can purchase. Prices are reasonable for a meal between 1000y- 1500y. Just bear in mind, the restaurant last order is 6.30pm (closes very early) and breakfast is 7am.
The cabin is a bed, breakfast n dinner plan. See photo for sample dinner.
Tip: The lodge is about 13km from town center (Nemuro station). If you planning to take the train. It takes about 2hrs from Kushiro to Nemuro and there is only one departure per day (if I understand the train master correctly).
Tip: Nemuro is a quite a decent size town with petrol kiosks, restaurants, convenience shops etc. Seems larger than Shari or Rausu.
Tip: the sunset is very beautiful with the lake background but when we were here it was cloudy. No photo opps.
Overall will plan to return in winter for the birds n sunset.
We stayed here for a night as part of the photography tour with Michele Michiko.
It is a truly fantastic place to catch the sunrise and photograph the Eagles and all types of birds.
The single storey chalet rooms are generally constructed of timber which can sleep 3. The beds are comfortable and room well equipped with a good heater and blankets. The breakfast is traditional Japanese.
The most amazing part is that you wake up with a great view of the frozen lake and right in front where the feeding starts at 8.30am. The owners will bring a sledge load of fish and the Eagles birds and crows will swoop in to pick it up. Many photographers come here to photograph this spectacle.
