in Hokkaido
Eastern Hokkaido is a region of Japan known for its stunning natural beauty and pristine landscapes. This area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It features a diverse range of attractions, from the serene and unique beauty of the Kushiro Wetlands, a haven for diverse wildlife, to the lush wilderness of Akan-Mashu National Park with its crystal-clear lakes and volcanoes. Eastern Hokkaido also offers opportunities for activities like hiking, wildlife viewing, and soaking in natural hot springs. It's a place where visitors can experience the beauty of Japan's northern wilderness while enjoying a slower pace of life and warm hospitality from the locals!
Lake Akan
Lake Akan is located in the Akan-Mashu National Park in Eastern Hokkaido. The lake is popular tourist spot known as a tranquil and captivating destination. It is famous for its crystal-clear waters and is one of the few places you can often see marimo, a rare and iconic green algae formation found in the lake. Lake Akan offers a range of activities, from leisurely boat cruises to hiking along its scenic shores. Visitors can also relax in the local onsen (hot springs) while enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
New Akan Hotel
We stayed at the New Akan Hotel which is located right on Lake Akan. The hotel has a bit of an older vibe and is supposedly one of the cheaper hotels on the lake, but the view is absolutely amazing! The rooms were large and clean and the hotel has an open air onsen as well as a breakfast and dinner buffet. They serve such a variety of food (both Eastern and Western). Apparently the buffet is famous among the locals too!
Eco-museum Center
The Eco-museum center has exhibits featuring the natural sights and wildlife around Akan. They have a small aquarium exhibit where you can see marimo, the green fluffy algae balls formed in Lake Akan, and the local fish, Sakhalin taimen and kokanee (which are only found in Hokkaido and Russia). The museum isn't that big and has a nice lounge area, so it's a great place to relax. It was not crowded at all when we went and admission is free!
Bokke Mud Pools
Right next to the Eco-museum center is a short hiking trail where you can visit the mud pools! We saw a lot of deer along this path! The walk is only about 5 - 10 minutes and the trail leads right to the lake. The mud pits are definitely an interesting site. They were bubbling quite a bit the day we visited! Because of the many natural hot spring areas / areas of volcanic activity in Hokkaido, there are a lot of places that smell of sulfur, including the mud pools!
Lake Akan Cruise & Marimo Exhibit and Observation Center
There is a nice cruise boat that you can ride around the lake. We took the course that takes us to Churui Island, a small island that features a Marimo Exhibition and Observation center where you can see marimo up close! The museum was tiny but it was interesting to learn how the marimo form. The marimo get quite large at Lake Akan, with some growing over 30 centimeters! The route is very scenic and the lake was absolutely beautiful! We did visit during a typhoon, so the weather wasn't that great, but the water was still a very pretty aquamarine color. The leaves were also just starting to change. I imagine the area must be beautiful during the end of October/November when the fall foliage is at its peak!
Ainu Kotan
Akan Ainu Kotan is a small Ainu settlement inhabited by about 100 people. The Ainu are the native people of Hokkaido. The area has various traditional restaurants and shops that specialize in the creation and sale of traditional crafts, such as wood carvings of various animals like bears and owls. There is also an Ainu Museum featuring traditional Ainu artifacts and a Poncise (a traditional Ainu home) featuring Ainu daily items and clothings. Everyone was very warm and welcoming here, and were eager to teach us about Ainu culture! My favorite experience was the traditional dance and song performance we saw at the Ainu Theatre. The songs they sang were so beautiful and expressive!
Kamuy Lumina
Kamuy Lumina is an illuminated night walk along the lake and through the forest. The night walk features the retelling of a traditional Ainu song. We were given a "Rhythm staff" that lights up and narrates the experience through the walk in the forest. There are a few different points where you stop at to enjoy the story telling and the accompanying light show.
Lake Onneto
Lake Onneto is about a 20 minute drive from Lake Akan. Lake Onneto is much smaller, but it was absolutely stunning when we visited. Apparently it's known for its changing color depending on the time of day, the season, and the angle which it's viewed from. We went around sunset and the lake was so pristine and calm. It looked like a mirror! From the observation points you can see Mt. Meakan and Mt. Akanfuji in the background. There is also a campground for people to hike up Mr. Maekan. It becomes a one-way road when driving up the mountain, so it can be a little scary to navigate!
Kushiro
Kushiro, a coastal city in Eastern Hokkaido, known for its serene charm and seafood. Kushiro city is relatively small, but the outskirts of the city are filled with nature, wildlife and farms!
Kushiro Washou Market
The Kushiro Washoku Market is one of the top three markets in Hokkaido located right next to Kushiro station. It's a great place to find fresh seafood! They even have a stall where you can create a "Kattedon", which is a customized seafood donburi composed of sashimi / raw fish and sushi rice. They feature fresh fish caught in Kushiro! You can also just order individual pieces if you don't want to fill up on the rice. The fish was incredibly fresh and the salmon was absolutely delicious!
Kushiro Shitsugen National Park
The Kushiro Shitsugen National Park is a huge marsh/wetlands that is a sanctuary to thousands of flora, fauna, and wildlife, including the tanchou (red-crowned crane) that Kushiro is famous for. We just visited the observatory, but there are walking trails within the park you can venture on and they also offer canoe tours. The weather wasn't too great the day we visited though. I believe there is also a train that runs from Kushiro station through the wetlands as well! The Great Marsh in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl is based off of here!
Teshikaga
Teshikaga, a charming town not far from Akan and Kushiro, is famous for its two lakes, Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu.
Lake Kussharo
Lake Kussharo is the largest caldera lake in Japan. The lake has a small island in the middle named Nakajima. The lake is highly acidic due to the volcanic gases (you can see the sulfur pits on the way into the lake)! The area also has many hot springs and is a popular site for camping and other outdoor activities. We visited the Bihoro Pass Observatory which had a beautiful view of the lake! It wasn't very crowded on the weekend and the weather was so clear when we visited!
Lake Mashu
Lake Mashu is about a half an hour drive from Lake Kussharo. It is considered to be one of Japan's most beautiful and clearest lakes. No one is allowed to go down to the lake but there are observation decks surrounding the lake. Observation deck 1 has many shops and food stall. We tried the soda soft serve which was so yummy! Hokkaido has some of the best dairy products. Observation deck 3 offers a higher view of the lake, which I personally thought was even prettier than the view from Observation deck 1. We went during October, so the lake was beautiful and deep blue, but during the summer months, the lake is usually known for its fog that covers the lake. The lake is important in Ainu culture and was known as the home of the gods. The Sendoff Spring in Pokemon Diamond & Pearl is also based on this lake!
Overall I really enjoyed our short weekend trip to eastern Hokkaido! We visited mid-October, so the weather was nice and cool, but the autumn leaves weren't fully in season yet. I would love to visit again in the fall or winter as I believe the area is even more beautiful during those times. I think 3 - 5 days is a perfect time frame to see the sites around Kushiro, Akan, & Teshikaga. I recommend renting a car as the public transportation is limited especially for the lakes/mountain areas. Eastern Hokkaido definitely offers an unforgettable experience for travelers seeking the authentic and untouched Japan!
Official Sites
New Akan Hotel https://www.newakanhotel.co.jp/en/
Eco-center Museum
Akan Cruise
Kamuy Lumina
Ainu Kotan
Washo Market
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