Smelt fishing is a very popular winter leisure activity in Hokkaido! The best part of smelt fishing is drilling a hole in the ice of a frozen lake, casting your fishing line in a vast snowy field as far as the eye can see, and eating the fish you catch on the spot. This time, we will introduce 13 recommended spots to experience smelt fishing in Hokkaido!
1
Lake Kanayama (Minamifurano Town)
Lake Kanayama is an artificial lake created by the Kanayama Dam, located at the uppermost part of the Sorachi River. Camping and canoeing can be enjoyed around the lake, and in winter, the lake surface freezes over, making it a popular spot for ice fishing for smelt. The lake is also famous for being home to many fish, including the phantom fish, the huchen, making it a popular spot for anglers all year round.
2
Lake Shinotsu (Shinshinotsu Village)
Lake Shinotsu is equipped with a covered fishing hut, so you can easily enjoy smelt fishing even on snowy days. After enjoying fishing, you can warm up your cold body by taking a bath at the adjacent “Roadside Station Tappu no Yu”. The restaurant in the building also offers a service where they will cook tempura made from the smelt you have caught.
■Dates and times: Saturday, January 4, 2025 – early March (scheduled) Weekdays: 9:00-15:30 / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 8:00-16:00
■Price: Includes a ticket to Tappunoyu! Cabin fishing experience course
Weekdays: Junior high school students and above 3,000 yen / Elementary school students 1,000 yen / Preschoolers 500 yen
Weekends and holidays: Junior high school students and above 3,000 yen / Elementary school students 1,500 yen / Preschoolers 800 yen
■Venue: Tappu Fishing Spot (2-chome, Kita, 45th Line, Shinshinotsu Village, Ishikari District) / Kita Fishing Spot (Near the parking lot, 1-chome, Kita, 44th Line, Shinshinotsu Village, Ishikari District)
Click here for details and map information on “Lake Shinotsu Wakasagi Fishing”
3
Onuma Quasi-National Park (Nanae Town)
Onuma Quasi-National Park, one of the oldest natural parks in Japan, is not only a great place to enjoy nature such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, but in winter it is also a popular spot for smelt fishing. Before the lake freezes over in December, you can enjoy the surrounding scenery from the pier, and from early January to mid-March you can fish on the ice. Fishing equipment is also available for rental, so you can enjoy the activity without having to bring anything with you.
4
Lake Abashiri (Ozora Town)
Lake Abashiri, a brackish lake connected to the Sea of Okhotsk through the Abashiri River, is the largest smelt catcher in Hokkaido. There are plans that include fishing equipment, so you can experience smelt fishing without having to bring anything with you. The smelt that descend into the sea swim upstream, making this one of the best spots in Hokkaido to catch large smelt over 10 cm in size.
■Dates and times: January 5th (Sun) 2025 – mid-March 8:30-16:00
■Fee: Fishing fee: Junior high school students and above 900 yen / elementary school students 450 yen
*There are plans that include equipment as a set, as well as rental and sales options.
■ Venue: Special venue on Lake Abashiri, Yobito, Abashiri City
Click here for details and map information on “Lake Abashiri Smelt Fishing”
5
Lake Akan (Kushiro City)
There is a fishing spot that is completely frozen right in front of the hotels in the hot spring town, so you can easily try it out as a tourist. For first-timers, the staff will carefully guide you through how to fish, so you can feel at ease. After enjoying the experience, you can enjoy the freshly caught wakasagi as delicious tempura. Another attraction is the wide range of winter activities that can be enjoyed on the ice, such as banana boats and snowmobiles.
6
Lake Toro (Shibecha Town)
Lake Toro is a naturally rich sea lake surrounded by marshes and fields. From early January, you can enjoy ice fishing by drilling holes in the thick ice of the lake. The smelt you catch can be cooked on-site, so you can eat them fried while they’re still fresh. If you’re lucky, you might even see a red-crowned crane or a deer. It’s also a popular spot for viewing the mysterious natural phenomenon of “Omiwatari,” which occurs when the frozen lake surface cracks and the ice rises.
7
Lake Shumarinai (Horikanai Town)
Located in one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Hokkaido, Lake Shumarinai is a popular spot for smelt fishing, one of the most representative spots in northern Hokkaido. You may encounter breathtakingly beautiful scenery, such as the sun pillars that appear as pillars of sunlight in the snowy landscape, and diamond dust that glitters on the lake surface.
8
Lake Oketo (Oketo Town)
You can experience smelt fishing, a style of fishing in which you drill holes in the frozen lake. The smelt that grow in the clean water of the pond and lake are small but well-known for their taste, and are delicious when fried in tempura. This is also a popular spot for bird watching.
9
Sunagawa Oasis Park (Sunagawa City)
Oasis Park offers a variety of recreational activities throughout the year, and from January to February, you can try smelt fishing, attracting many visitors from inside and outside Hokkaido. It is free to use, so it is great for families and beginners to get started easily. In spring, you can see swans, which are loved as “messengers of spring to the northern regions.”
10
Bekanbeushi River (Akkeshi Town)
You can enjoy smelt fishing in the Bekambeushi River in winter as a tour that includes equipment and cleaning up. There is a guide who will teach you how to fish, so even beginners can feel at ease. Another attractive point is that the smelt you catch can be made into tempura on the spot and eaten with original oyster soy sauce and oyster salt.
11
Lake Poroto (Shiraoi Town)
Smelt fishing is a seasonal winter activity at Lake Poroto. You can bring your own tent so you can enjoy fishing at your leisure, and if you bring cooking equipment, you can enjoy fresh smelt dishes on the spot after catching them. Rental equipment such as hole-drilling tools, fishing rods, and chairs are also available, so even those who don’t have any equipment can enjoy themselves.
12
Horokayanto (Taiju Town)
Every winter, many anglers visit Horokayanto, where smelt eggs are released by the Taiki Fisheries Cooperative Association, to fish for smelt. The sight of anglers drilling a hole in the ice, lowering their fishing line, and waiting for a bite is one of the seasonal sights of winter in Hokkaido. We recommend eating the whole smelt you catch as tempura or fried food.
13
Nishiki Onuma Park (Tomakomai City)
Nishiki Onuma Park is a popular and well-used place for the citizens of Tomakomai to relax. In winter, you can go smelt fishing in part of Nishiki Onuma. Smelt fishing while enjoying the view of Mt. Tarumae is so special that it makes you forget the cold of winter.
*All information posted is current as of the time of article publication in February 2025.
*All published information may be subject to change, so please check the official website for details.
AloJapan.com