The Shikaribetsu Volcanic Group

Lake Shikaribetsu in eastern Hokkaido was formed when lava domes erupting along the southern lake edge blocked a river, trapping water in the valley. The surrounding Shikaribetsu Volcanic Group spans formations from 300,000 to 10,000 years old, mixing older stratovolcanoes in the north, including the conical Kita-Petoutoru and Minami-Petoutoru, with younger lava domes to the south. The smaller hills across the northern plain are debris from past dome collapses. The Shikaribetsu Volcanic Group Observatory offers clear views of Nishi-Nupukaushinupuri and Higashi-Nupukaushinupuri, while the summit of Minami-Petoutoru gives a panoramic view of the lake and the Tokachi Plain.