English Version
Lake Shikotsu is known today as one of Hokkaido’s scenic lakes, easy to reach from Sapporo and popular with travelers looking for clear water, mountain views, and a quiet escape into nature.
But according to local rumor, the lake has a much darker name behind it: “Dead Bones Lake.”
The story says that the bottom of Lake Shikotsu is thick with aquatic plants. If someone drowns there, their legs may become tangled in the growth, making it difficult for the body to rise back to the surface. Because of this, the legend claims that those who die in the lake may never be recovered, leaving only bones piled up beneath the water.
Like many haunted place stories in Japan, this is best treated as a local legend rather than a confirmed fact. Still, Lake Shikotsu is a real natural area, and visitors should be careful around the shoreline and water. Follow local signs, avoid restricted or unstable areas, and do not enter the lake unless it is safe and permitted.
Location: Shikannai, Chitose City, Hokkaido, along National Route 276.
Japanese Language
支笏湖として知られている。湖底には藻が多く足が絡まって水死体は上がりにくい。札幌から気軽に行ける名勝地。湖の名前の由来は死骨湖。つまり、身投げしても死体が上がらず骨が湖中に積み上がっていると言われている。北海道千歳市支寒内 国道276号線
