The Lake Notoro coral grass colonies are divided into four areas: Ubaranai, Notoro, Misaki, and Heiwa. Among them, the Ubaranai colony is the largest and most recommended. It is easily accessible as it is located right next to the national highway, and there are wooden walkways within the site, allowing you to enjoy the autumn foliage while strolling. “Since there are no high mountains or buildings around, the sky is wide, and you can take vivid photos of the blue lake and the red coral grass,” says Mr. Kishimoto.
Coral grass is an annual plant called Akkeshi grass. It is a rare plant designated as a natural monument by Hokkaido. It is a leafless plant that is usually green, but in autumn, its stems turn red, giving it this bright red color. It is called coral grass because it resembles coral and grows to a height of 15 to 30 cm. You can take close-up photos of the coral grass from the walkways.
Lake Notoro is connected to the sea, and by October, when the autumn foliage season is ending, the coral grass becomes less visible as it gets submerged by the high tide. Therefore, the best season is around September 20th. The appearance of the coral grass changes depending on the time of day, with Mr. Kishimoto recommending daytime for clear photos and early morning or dusk for more atmospheric shots. Since it is a wetland area, there are many mosquitoes, so it is advisable to bring insect repellent while enjoying your walk.
“At one point, the coral grass faced poor growth due to soil improvement efforts, but thanks to the local community and academic institutions’ restoration projects, it has now made a remarkable recovery. I believe the scale of the autumn foliage is increasing year by year. I hope everyone can enjoy the ever-increasing beauty of the coral grass,” says Mr. Kishimoto. To continue enjoying the beautiful sight of the red carpet-like coral grass every year, it is important for viewers and photographers to follow the rules.
AloJapan.com