Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Lake Mashu Observatory No.1
There are three observatories on Lake Mashu, but this one is the most popular and famous. Located at the top of Lake Mashu’s outer rim at an elevation of about 520 meters, the observatory offers a panoramic view of the deep blue waters of Lake Mashu, Mt. Oakandake, the Kushiro plains, the Pacific Ocean and […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Lake Mashu
Lake Mashu is a caldera lake formed by the accumulation of water in a depression created by a huge eruption about 7,000 years ago. The lake is the second clearest in the world (the first is Lake Baikal in Russia). The reason for the high transparency is that there are no rivers flowing in or […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Tsubetsu Pass Observation Facility
Tsubetsu Pass is the highest of the four passes around Lake Kussharo, at 947 meters above sea level. It offers a 360-degree panorama with an unobstructed view of Lake Kussharo below, the Sea of Okhotsk, the Shiretoko Mountain Range, and Daisetsuzan. If your timing is right, be sure to see the sea of clouds and […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Mount Io
Mount Io is a 512-meter-high active volcano located between Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. Its other name is Atosanupuri, meaning “naked mountain” in Ainu. In the past, it was used as a mine to extract sulfur. With the blue sky in the background, the plumes of smoke and the sound of gurgling are quite impressive. […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Bihoro Pass
Bihoro Pass is a 525m high mountain pass located on the outer rim of the Kussharo Caldera. The view from here is an unbelievably brilliant panorama, and is one of the most spectacular views in Hokkaido. Not only do you have a panoramic view of the 57km-long Lake Kussharo, but you can also see Mt. […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Akan Sightseeing Cruise
The Akan Sightseeing Cruise circumnavigates Lake Akan and operates 4 to 11 times a day between May and November. The boat departs from the pier on the south side of the lake and cruises for about 85 minutes, taking in the view of Mt. Oakan and Mt. Meakan, with stops at Churui Island (where the […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Lake Akan Ainu Kotan
In a corner of the Lake Akan hot spring resort, there is the Ainu Village, the largest Ainu village in Japan, where about 30 houses and 120 people live. The Ainu Theater Ikoro (where Ainu dances are performed), two museums introducing the culture, souvenir stores selling wood carving goods, and restaurants that serve Ainu local […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Lake Kussharo
Lake Kussharo, with a circumference of 57 km and an area of 79.3 km2, is the largest caldera lake in Japan. It was formed about 30,000 years ago inside the Kussharo Caldera, which is the largest caldera in Japan, measuring about 26 km east to west and 20 km north to south. Incidentally, the word […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
Lake Akan
Lake Akanko is a freshwater lake located in eastern Hokkaido with a circumference of 30 km and an area of 13㎢. The entire area is included in the Akan-Mashu National Park, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hokkaido. The blue surface of the lake, the beautiful silhouette of Mt. Oakandake, Mt. […]
Lake Akan Hot Springs
Due to the volcanic land, the area around Lake Akan gush with high quality hot springs; one hot spring town on the lake’s south shore has around 20 lodging facilities. Among them, roughly 10 of the lodges (like the 2 below) allow you to enjoy their hot spring for about ¥1500 without having to stay […]
- Area
- Hokkaido and Lake Akan / Mashu / Kussharo
716 Kamisato, Tsubetsu-cho, Abashiri-gun, Hokkaido
- Activities
- 峠 / 展望台