Authorities have decided not to reopen the once-popular destination known as "koke no domon," or mossy corridor, at Lake Shikotsu in Chitose, Hokkaido.
The kilometer-long corridor has about 80 types of moss growing on its walls and was formed through erosion caused by pyroclastic flow from the eruption of Mt. Tarumae. It was a tourist destination in central Hokkaido, but was closed to the public after heavy rain broke the observation deck in 2014. There were also rock slides due to a 2018 Hokkaido earthquake.
The latest decision was made by a management council composed of officials from the city and prefecture, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, and the Shikotsuko Onsen Ryokan Association. After long deliberations, the council concluded it would be too dangerous to utilize the corridor as a tourist destination.
The forestry ministry owns land near the corridor, and it is currently leased by the city. However, the city plans to end its lease agreement with the ministry, as a nature center and parking lot on the land were recently demolished by the prefecture.
"Once the land is under the management of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, [Mt. Tarumae] will be regulated like any other mountain. Those who wish to climb it will have to be responsible for themselves. We hope this will be viewed as a forward-looking decision," the tourism section of the management council said.
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