Akan National Park: Mystical Lakes with Marimo Balls and Ainu Culture

Akan National Park

In eastern Hokkaido, there exists a place where even the sound of a person's breathing seems to dissolve into the natural world—Akan National Park. What spreads here is not the polished "beautiful nature" of a manicured tourist destination. It is a world where primordial wilderness, unchanged since time immemorial, still pulses with raw life.

Lake Akan (Akan-ko), where the special natural monument marimo (spherical green algae) sleep quietly beneath the surface. Lake Mashu (Mashu-ko), shrouded in deep mist that overwhelms every visitor who encounters it. And Ainu Kotan, a living Ainu community that continues to transmit centuries of history and culture. Those who visit this place once and say "I will definitely return someday" all share reasons that cannot be fully expressed in words.

Best Seasons: The refreshing period from May to June, when fresh greenery and the deep blue of the lake surface blend together, and the September to October autumn foliage season, when larch and Japanese white birch turn to shades of gold, are outstanding. Yet the true appeal of this place is that it reveals a different face with each visit, regardless of season. In deep winter, the silent luminescence of the lake locked in snow and ice delivers an emotion entirely different from summer. No matter what season you come, this land will not disappoint.

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Highlights

• Lake Akan: At the bottom of the lake, marimo grow into rounded spheres that sway gently. Being able to see spherical marimo on this scale is unique to Lake Akan. The weight of life nurtured over an unimaginably long span of time carries quietly through the clear water. The Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center on Churui Island (reached by tourist boat) offers close viewing of these remarkable organisms.

• Lake Mashu: So bound to mist that it is called "Mashu of the fog," this lake and mist share an inseparable connection. One of the world's clearest lakes, it is a closed lake with no inflowing or outflowing rivers, which is said to be one reason its pristine water quality is maintained. The Ainu called it "Kamui-to" (Lake of the God). Its surface changes expression with the weather, and no two visits offer the same view.

Visiting at early morning raises the chance of encountering the spectacular sight of a sea of clouds wrapping the lake. The mystical, mist-cloaked lake is a special scene seen only here. The little-visited Third Observatory is a lesser-known viewpoint, less crowded than the main First Observatory, with an open sense of sweeping views.

• Lake Kussharo (Kussharo-ko): One of Japan's largest caldera lakes, overwhelming by scale alone. In winter, many swans fly in, and the sight of them alighting on the water is breathtaking. The lake also has a spot called "Sunayu," where digging a little into the lakeshore sand brings up hot spring water. Burying your feet in the warm sand for a "sand hot spring" experience is a special treat for travelers—a hot spring prepared by the earth itself. Early winter mornings, when swans gather, are especially worth seeing.

• Ainu Kotan (Ainu Village): Along the shore of Lake Akan lies the Ainu community of Ainu Kotan—not a staged tourist space, but a genuine community where Ainu people live and continue to pass down their language and culture. The woodcarvings of bears and Blakiston's fish owls lining the shopfronts are carved by artisans with care in every stroke. In the evening, traditional Ainu dance performed at the outdoor theater reaches deep into the body through the beat of drums and the voices of singers. The craft shops sell genuine Ainu woodcarvings and accessories made by local artisans.

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Experiences

• Marimo observation on a Lake Akan boat tour: Board the tour boat to Churui Island and meet the well-grown marimo at the Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center. The moment you see them drift languidly in the water up close, wonder and emotion arrive together. The video exhibits are rich, absorbing adults and children alike. Morning departures are recommended, when the light is softer and the water's color shows beautifully. Tours run several times a day, but boarding early in peak periods is reassuring. Operating seasons and frequency vary, so confirm in advance.

• Ainu dance and night show: In the Lake Akan Onsen area, a night show blending projection mapping with traditional Ainu performing arts is staged. Rather than merely watching, you feel drawn into the Ainu world—an immersion likely to become a trip highlight. Performances are mainly in the evening, and since they are popular, reserving in advance is recommended. Content and times may change, so confirm via official information.

• Hot spring bathing on the shore of Lake Akan: To close your trip, relax in the Lake Akan Onsen. Many inns accept day-use bathing, and walking the lakeside in the evening breeze after a bath is exceptional. The hot spring town is lined with Ainu craft shops and local eateries, ideal for a leisurely evening.

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Access and Essentials

• By air and car: Memanbetsu Airport and Tancho Kushiro Airport are the main gateways. From either airport, traveling to Lake Akan Onsen by car or rental car is convenient, and the route linking Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, and Lake Akan can be toured efficiently with a rental car. Travel times vary by route, so check your route before departing.

• By train and bus: Local bus service runs from JR Kushiro Station toward Lake Akan. Frequency is limited, however, so check the timetable in advance and reserve if needed. Staying a night in central Kushiro before heading to Lake Akan is a relaxed option. Central Kushiro also has stops worth visiting, such as Kushiro Shitsugen and Washo Market.

• Getting around the area: Lake Akan, Lake Mashu, and Lake Kussharo are scattered apart from one another. Traveling by public transport alone means very few services, and missing the timing can leave you stranded. For a trip through this area, consider a rental car nearly essential. Freely targeting early-morning viewpoints is another advantage only a rental car offers.

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Practical Travel Notes

• Stay at least one night to catch the early morning: Lake Akan is also a hot spring resort, and staying at a lakeside inn lets you enjoy the different faces the lake shows morning and evening. The mist and stillness that wrap the lake at dawn are something day-trippers miss entirely. Having come all this way, staying at least one night is recommended.

• Dress for cold even in summer: Even in summer, morning and evening temperatures often fall to around 10 degrees Celsius. A light fleece or windproof jacket is essential in any season. Wind off the lake can be strong on the tour boat and at the observatories, so keep something you can quickly throw on in your bag. On early-morning or evening lakeside walks, footing can get wet, so comfortable waterproof shoes are reassuring.

• Watch for icy roads in winter: In winter, roads toward Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo freeze and gather snow. Rental cars require winter (studless) tires, and if you are not used to such driving, plan conservatively. Serious cold-weather gear for sub-zero conditions is also essential.

• Tips for avoiding crowds: Golden Week, the Obon holiday, and the autumn foliage season (early to mid-October) are especially crowded. Ainu Kotan and the tour boat pier are busiest on weekend daytimes, so visiting early morning or after evening lets you enjoy them at ease.

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One Piece of Advice

Souvenirs: The woodcarvings hand-carved one by one by artisans at Ainu Kotan have a genuine quality unlike mass-produced goods. They may be pricey, but as one-of-a-kind souvenirs they preserve the memory of your trip for a long time. Marimo-themed goods also come in many varieties, with items available only here. Savor the pleasure of taking your time to choose at the end of your trip.

The more popular a spot, the more that "just waking a little earlier" transforms the quality of the experience. Walking a mist-wrapped lake or a quiet Ainu Kotan in the soft light of early morning is an unforgettable experience found only in this land.

📚 Sources

The information in this article is organized from the public information on Akan-Mashu National Park provided by the Ministry of the Environment, along with tourism details published by local municipalities and tourism associations such as the city of Kushiro and the town of Teshikaga. The condition of walking paths, pleasure boats, and each highlight can be checked through the operators' official information. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please always confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow half a day to a full day to tour the main lakes and highlights.
• What to bring: Prepare cash for boat fares and food, and comfortable shoes with seasonal cold-weather gear since you walk outdoors.
• Getting around: The park is vast and public transport is limited, so planning around travel by car makes moving easier.
• Suggested route: Start at Lake Akan and link the scattered highlights such as Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo.
• A note on safety: You often walk through nature, so check the weather and move during daylight hours.