Shikaribetsu Kotan Igloo

Shikaribetsu Kotan is one of Hokkaido’s most magical winter traditions, a real “phantom village” that seems to appear out of nowhere on the frozen surface of Lake Shikaribetsu between late January and mid-March each year. The word kotan comes from the Ainu language meaning “village,” and here it truly feels like you’ve stepped into another world of ice and snow that only exists for a short season.

Set against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks and held together by thousands of hand-made snow blocks and pristine clear lake ice, the village is sculpted entirely from nature’s elements. Walk among igloo-like domes and intricate ice structures that reflect Hokkaido’s midwinter light, each one subtly different because they are built by hand with decades of local craftsmanship behind them.

One of the big draws here is the ice bar, where drinks are served in thick glasses carved right from lake ice. Sip a hot cocoa, an icy cocktail, or a local brew while you marvel at the transparent walls around you and even slide your glass down an ice chute shaped like a bear’s head for fun photos.

There are truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences to be had here. You can lounge in the open-air hot spring bath built on the ice itself, soaking in steaming waters with snowy plains stretched out before you — a surreal contrast that makes you feel alive in the cold air. The ashiyu foot bath offers a gentler way to warm up while taking in the sweeping mountain views.

For the adventurous, activities range from snowmobiling and snow rafting across the frozen lake to guided walks and even spending a night in an ice lodge igloo — a cozy, wind-sheltered structure that lets you sleep right on the ice under the stars.

Because this village only exists when the lake is completely frozen — usually for about 60 days — everything here has a fleeting, dreamlike quality. Once spring comes and the temperatures rise, the ice melts and the Kotan dissolves back into the lake until next winter.