Ikemeguri Nature Trail: Niko Panorama Observation Deck
The Ikemeguri Nature Trail is a two-hour ramble around the three crater lakes nearest to the Eco-Museum Center. The Niko Panorama Observation Deck offers views of the first two lakes together: Lake Byakushiike, and the larger, bluer Lake Rokkannon-miike.
Byakushiike is a shallow crater lake about 250 meters across. It used to freeze over in winter, and was even used as an ice-skating rink, but with rising temperatures due to climate change, it no longer freezes over at all.
Beyond Rokkannon-miike rises the flat-topped Mt. Koshikidake. Southeast of Koshikidake, what appeared to be two separate peaks when viewed earlier on the trail is revealed as the partly collapsed crater of Mt. Karakunidake.
The forest of pines in this area has a uniform, almost artificial look. However, the trees sprouted together naturally in the 1920s, when fumes from nearby volcanic activity died down enough for them to grow.