Unkai Terrace is a spectacular mountaintop observation area near the summit of Mount Tomamu, at an elevation of approximately 1,088 meters. Located beside the upper station of the gondola operated from Hoshino Resorts Tomamu, the terrace can be reached in about 13 minutes from the resort’s base area.
When conditions are right, visitors arriving in the early morning during summer may encounter an extraordinary sea of clouds. White clouds spread across the landscape like an enormous carpet, while mountain peaks appear to float above them. As the clouds move across the mountain ranges like ocean waves, the view creates an almost dreamlike atmosphere.
The terrace also provides comfortable spaces where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenery. An indoor café and sofas offer a place to sit with a drink while watching the clouds and mountains. Some beverages are specially designed around the theme of clouds, adding a playful touch to the experience.
The sea of clouds seen from Unkai Terrace can form in several different ways, and visitors may encounter three distinct types of unkai depending on weather and atmospheric conditions.
The first type is the Pacific Ocean Sea of Clouds. Sea fog forms offshore in eastern Hokkaido and is carried inland by southeasterly winds. When the fog spreads across the Tokachi Plain and rises over the Hidaka Mountains, it can create a dramatic cloud formation that resembles a huge waterfall flowing across the landscape.
The second type is the Tomamu Sea of Clouds. This occurs when heat escapes from the ground, cooling the air near the surface. Under radiational cooling conditions, the cold air collects in the basin-like terrain around Tomamu, allowing clouds to accumulate and spread across the resort area below.
The third type is the bad-weather sea of clouds. When weather conditions are deteriorating or already poor, layers of rain clouds and fog can form around the mountains. These clouds cling to the slopes and ridges, creating a dramatic and atmospheric mountain landscape.
Cloud Walk is a deck extending from the mountain slope and designed to resemble a cloud. Standing on the structure gives visitors the sensation of taking an aerial stroll above the sea of clouds.
When clouds fill the valley below, the experience can feel as though you are actually walking through the sky, with the mountains and clouds stretching out in every direction.
Cloud Pool is a huge hammock-like structure measuring approximately 10 meters by 10 meters. Its design is inspired by the shape of a cloud, and the highest point is approximately 8 meters above the ground.
Visitors can step onto the net-like surface and enjoy a gentle sense of floating, creating the playful impression of lying on a cloud high above the ground.
At the Cloud Post Office, visitors can purchase postcards at Unkai Terrace and place them in a light-blue mailbox designed to look like a cloud. The postcards can then be sent free of charge anywhere in the world.
Sending a postcard from above the clouds makes for a memorable travel experience and a unique way to share the beauty of Tomamu with family and friends back home.
For those who want to explore beyond Unkai Terrace, a hiking trail leads from the gondola’s upper station to the summit of Mount Tomamu.
The trail covers an elevation gain of approximately 150 meters and a distance of about 600 meters, taking roughly 40 minutes to complete. From the summit, hikers can enjoy a sweeping panorama of the surrounding mountains.
On fortunate mornings, the summit may appear to rise above a vast sea of clouds, surrounding the mountain in a spectacular world of white. The combination of mountain scenery and ever-changing clouds makes the hike a rewarding extension of a visit to Unkai Terrace.
Unkai Terrace offers one of Hokkaido’s most memorable encounters with the atmosphere of the mountains. Because a sea of clouds depends entirely on weather and atmospheric conditions, there is no guarantee that it will appear—but that uncertainty is part of the attraction.
For visitors who are lucky enough to witness clouds rolling across the mountains at sunrise, the sight of peaks floating above a vast white sea is an unforgettable experience. Even when a sea of clouds does not form, the high-altitude scenery, outdoor installations, and peaceful café make Unkai Terrace an appealing place to experience the natural beauty of Tomamu.
Gondola early morning hours
5:00-8:00
Varies depending on the season.
Open period
May-October
Adults 1,900 yen
Elementary school students 1,200 yen
Pet 500 yen
Free for preschool children
You can ride as many times as you like on the same day of purchase.
5 minutes by free shuttle bus according to the JR Tomamu Station timetable.