Located near the Sea of Okhotsk, Lake Tofutsu is said to be the "lake of the swans," because swans fly to it from early October to the end of April. Many wild birds also flock to the lake at the beginning of winter, and in 2005, it was certified and registered in the Ramsar Convention as an internationally important wetlands habitat for waterbirds. Around it is the Koshimizu Flower Gardens, famous for being a natural flower garden; behind it is a foremost scenic spot in Hokkaido, where visitors can gaze upon a landscape overlooking Mt. Shari and Mt. Shiretoko.