Kushiro: Art Museums and Harutori Park

Kushiro offers art at two distinct museums and nature around Lake Harutori. If you are looking for a vacation rental or holiday home in Kushiro, you can plan your stay around art visits and nature by the lake. Compare the location of your chosen accommodation with the destinations you plan to visit in the city.

City Art Museum on the Hill

The Kushiro City Art Museum is located on the third floor of the Manabotto Nusamai lifelong learning center. Its location in Nusamaicho is on a hill overlooking the city. The museum collects and researches art with regional connections. Its exhibition program includes presentations by artists from Kushiro.

If you are planning an art-focused stay, it is worth checking the current exhibition program in advance. Special exhibitions and collection displays cover different themes; check opening hours and the subject of each exhibition before setting a date for your visit.

Hokkaido Kushiro Art Museum on the Waterfront

Another museum is the Hokkaido Kushiro Art Museum in the central waterfront area. In addition to exhibition spaces, its facilities include an art hall for concerts and lectures, an art space open for public use, and a design room. Its cultural focus also encompasses the Kushiro and Nemuro areas.

The two art museums should therefore be distinguished when planning your visit: the city museum is in the learning center on the hill, while the prefectural art museum is in the waterfront area. The presence of an event space does not mean that a concert takes place every day; choose based on the current program.

Harutori Park: Lakeside Path, Birds, and History

You can observe plants and wild birds in Harutori Park throughout the year. A circular path around Lake Harutori is used for walking and jogging. The park is in the eastern part of the city and combines nature observation with historic sites: the Harutori Plateau pit dwellings and the Harutorucharan-ke Chashi site are nationally designated historic sites.

The park also includes a nature center, a birdwatching hut, and a viewpoint. The city lists the nature center’s season as mid-April to the end of October; confirm its current operating schedule before visiting. Families should note that the city’s park description does not mention any play equipment. Plan your outing accordingly as a walk or a nature-watching visit.

Discover more destinations: Ashibetsu, Tsurui, Muroran, Asahikawa, Sōunkyō, Urakawa, Rebun District, Sorachi District.

For the overview of the wider region: Hokkaido.