Be healed by the cooling landscape and the clean, drinkable spring water
Japan is abundant with water which supports its rich forests, but there are not many places where the water which flows can be drank straight from the river.
Fukidashi park is one such place where the spring water which flows can be drank as it is, which is very rare.
Although the water undergoes maintenance before entering the park,
visitors can have a wild experience where they drink the water naturally as it flows making it an experience like no other.
Summer is the best season!
June to August are the best times to visit, as the greenery is beautiful and you can escape the summer heat.
The highlight of the park is its mini waterfall, 1.5m in height and 3m in width.
The spring water falls from here and flows into the river which passes directly under the observation deck.
The water flows around many stones covered in moss, which are one of the features that add to the beautiful and refreshing scenery.
Moss is an essential part of Japanese gardens as it stays green throughout the year, but growing it to cover the rocks takes a long time.
The Japanese expression 'toki wo heteiru', which means eventually over a period of time,
captures this and understanding the expression can help to understand Japanese garden designs.
Try the soft water, rich in minerals and easy to drink!
At the mouth of the spring there is one pumping station and one pipe to drink from.
Both local residents and tourists fill their bottles and water tanks to take home.
The water is of course free, so travellers can also take an empty bottle to fill up and take home.
For those who simply want to drink the water, then drinking it from the pipe is the best option.
Cups are available.
The water originally came from the melting snow on Ezo Fuji, another name for Mt. Yotei with Ezo being the old name of Hokkaido.
This water has been filtrated under the ground for decades, making it a soft water that is rich in minerals.
Water quality tests are conducted every 6 months to guarantee its safety.
80,000 tons of water flows each day, an unimaginable amount.
The park itself is 5.72 hectares, and Mt. Yotei can be seen especially well on the East side.
Here there is a little-known spot where its beautiful shape can be seen reflected in a lake.
The best time to visit is the morning due to the sun's rays.
Other spring water outlets and road stations selling local specialities are available on the premises
Inside the park there are other spring water outlets which flow from stacked rocks and provide a more natural spring water compared to the main Fukidashi spring area.
Inside the park, a play area is available for children and a store full of specialty goods sells coffee and sweets made from the spring water.
There is also a restaurant which sells Jingisukan for ¥1,390. This is a dish made of thick slices of lamb, Hokkaido's specialty,
and is so delicious it was featured on the television.