The heart of Eastern Hokkaido’s tourist attractions — hiking, sea of clouds, and canoeing.
Enjoy Slow
TESHIKAGA TOWN
＜Overview of Teshikaga-cho＞
■From Memanbetsu Airport, take the ‘Abashiri Bus’ Airport Line to Abashiri Station, then take the JR train to Mashu Station (approx. 2.5 hours).
■From Kushiro Airport, take the Kushiro Airport Shuttle Bus to Kushiro Station, then take the JR train to Mashu Station (approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes).Lake Kussharo / Kawayu Onsen / Mt. Iou / Lake Mashu / Shiretoko / Kushiro Marsh / Mt. Shari / Mt. Rausu / Lake Akan / Drift Ice / Kaminoko Pond / Red-crowned cranes
Golden Triangle
TESHIKAGA TOWN
Lake Kussharo, Lake Mashu, and downtown Teshikaga, located within Akan-Mashu National Park, are home to many of eastern Hokkaido’s top tourist spots.
With three airports—Kushiro Airport, Memanbetsu Airport, and Nakashibetsu Airport—within a one-hour drive, access from Tokyo and Sapporo is exceptionally convenient.
As a central part of the Hokkaido East Trail (total length: 410 km), the area offers a vast scale of unique outdoor experiences unmatched elsewhere—such as long-distance canoeing from the headwaters of the Kushiro River and viewing some of Japan’s largest sea of clouds from four scenic mountain passes.
Plan your own personal Hokkaido journey in “Teshikaga Town – Take It Slow and Enjoy.”
We look forward to welcoming you.
Nature and Experiences
Experience hot springs and nature like no other.
In addition to Kawayu Onsen, one of Japan’s top sulfuric (acidic) hot springs (pH 1.6–1.9), visitors can enjoy viewing the fumaroles erupting from Mt. Iou (Atosanupuri), hiking, canoeing down the Kushiro River from Lake Kussharo, trekking the Mashu–Kussharo Trail (50 km) or the Hokkaido East Trail (410 km), cycling routes, and seeing diamond dust in winter. A wide variety of nature experiences await.
Culture and history
Teshikaga Town is recorded in the accounts of explorer Takeshirou Matsuura, who mentions that the Ainu people, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, settled along the shores of Lake Kussharo (around the current Kotan Ainu Folk Museum). Part of Lake Kussharo remains unfrozen due to geothermal activity, and several settlements (called “chashi”) have been confirmed along the Kushiro River. For more details, consider visiting the Ainu Folk Museum at Kotan Onsen.
Urban Area
The population is approximately 6,600 (as of 2025). The town, known for agriculture, dairy farming, and tourism, serves as a hub at the five-way intersection leading to Lake Akan, Kushiro City, Bihoro Town, the Okhotsk region including Abashiri and Shiretoko, and Bekkai Town. It is also conveniently located near three airports, JR Mashu Station, inns, supermarkets, banks, hospitals, elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and the popular Michi no Eki Mashu Onsen.
Michi-no-Eki Mashu Onsen
A hub for information on driving tours. In addition to brochures about the surrounding area and souvenirs from Teshikaga Town, light meals such as hamburgers, Mashu soba, and ice cream are available for takeout.
900 Grassland
This is the scenery of Hokkaido! At a town-run ranch in Teshikaga, 1,300 dairy cows graze on a vast green carpet as far as the eye can see.
Watanabe experience Farm
Our ranch is a nationally certified dairy farming education farm. Visitors can learn about the warmth of life, the importance of food, and the coexistence of humans and nature while interacting with the cows. We offer a variety of enjoyable nature-based learning programs.
Suigo Park
A spacious park characterized by the opportunity to interact with nature. It is also close to the city center and just a short walk from the Mashu Onsen Road Station.
Kawayu / Kussharo Area
The highly acidic Kawayu Onsen area, one of Japan’s representative hot spring destinations, serves as the central hub for nature experience information, with the Ministry of the Environment’s Visitor Center located here. Lake Kussharo, a vast caldera lake, is a mystical area where the “Omiwatari phenomenon” occurs in winter, when ice collides and forms ridges. This area was once home to the indigenous Ainu people.
Kawayu Visitor Center
You can learn about the nature, wildlife, and plants of the Mashu region within the Akan-Mashu National Park. Additionally, information about tourist attractions in this area is available.
Taiho sumo memorial hall
The 48th Yokozuna, Taiho. This was built in commemoration of his childhood spent in Kawayu. The museum is filled with materials showcasing his great achievements.
Mt. Iou
You can climb it near to the sulfuric opening that makes a rumbling sound. From mid-June to early July, you can stroll through the clusters of Ezo Iso Tsutsuji (Japanese Azalea). The walking trail connects to the Kawayu Onsen town and is available for use from the snowmelt in May until the snowfall season in November.
Kussharo Kotan Ainu Museum
The exhibits are equipped with QR codes, allowing you to read explanations in Chinese, Korean, and French. Additionally, you can experience trying on Ainu traditional clothing and making bookmarks or coasters (free of charge).
Source of the Kushiro River
Matsuura Takeshirou's Monument to His Song
Lake Mashu Area
Misty and mysterious, Lake Mashu has long been known as a mystical lake. Its waters, which appear blue, are referred to as “Mashu Blue,” one of the clearest in the world.
The lake has no rivers flowing into it, and its water depth of 137.5 meters is maintained by abundant underground springs. There is a trekking route that connects the first observation deck, passes through Mount Mashu, and leads to the Uramashu Observation Deck.
Lake Mashu
World leading transparent lake, the color is called Mashu blue.
It a mysterious lake where the water level does not change despite no rivers flowing in or out.
Lake Mashu First Observatory
Transparency in which the word Mashu-Blue is born Lake Mashu of Japan No.1. Call it Kamui’s water. Front right is Mt.Mashū-dake. Lake Mashu has the highest transparency in the world and recorded 41.6 m in the past. Lake Mashu is a lake with no river entrance.
Kamui Terrace
Mashu Lake offers various scenic views depending on the season and time. It features a spacious observation terrace where you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of each season, an indoor lounge where you can relax while enjoying a panoramic view through large windows, and a well-stocked souvenir section, making it a well-equipped facility.
The summit of Mount Mashu
At an elevation of 857 meters, the trailhead is located next to the Lake Mashu First Observatory. A forest entry permit is required. The hiking path follows the ridge of the Mashu outer rim.
Sightseeing in the Area
Access
Recommended route: From Memambetsu Airport
From Memanbetsu Airport, take the bus to the Abashiri Bus Terminal and get off at JR Abashiri Station (about 30 minutes). From JR Abashiri Station, take the train to JR Mashu Station on the "Kushiro-bound" line (about 2 hours).
Recommended route: From Kushiro Airport
From Kushiro Airport, take the bus to the Kushiro Station Front Bus Terminal and get off at JR Kushiro Station (about 45 minutes). From JR Kushiro Station, take the train to Mashu Station on the "Kawayu Onsen" or "Abashiri" line (about 1 hour 30 minutes).
Recommended : Teshikaga Eco-Passport
The "Teshikaga Eco Passport" is a pass that allows unlimited rides on the year-round operating Mashu Lake buses (Kawayu Line, City Line, and Kussharo Lake Line) as well as the seasonally operating Kussharo Lake bus.
- Memambetsu Airport⇔Abashiri BT about 30 min.
- Kushiro Airport⇔JR Kushiro Station about 45 min.
- From Memambetsu Airport About 70 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes
- From Kushiro Airport About 70 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes
- From Sapporo About 350 km, about 5 hours
- JR Abashiri Sta. – JR Mashu Sta. about 2 hours
- JR Kushiro Sta. – JR Mashu Sta. : about 1 hour 30 minutes
- JR Sapporo Sta. – JR Mashu Sta. (limited express): about 6 hours 20 minutes
- Tokyo – Memambetsu 1 hour 45 minutes
- Tokyo – Kushiro: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Osaka – Memambetsu 2 hours 30 minutes
- Osaka – Kushiro 2 hours
Climate in Teshikaga
| Average temperature | Precipitation | |
| Jan. | -7.5℃ | 55.8 |
| Feb. | -7.4℃ | 39.8 |
| Mar. | -3.4℃ | 66.2 |
| Apr. | 2.7℃ | 85.2 |
| Average temperature | Precipitation | |
| May | 8.1℃ | 93.4 |
| Jun. | 12.1℃ | 73.4 |
| Jul. | 15.8℃ | 109.9 |
| Aug. | 17.9℃ | 146.6 |
| Average temperature | Precipitation | |
| Sep. | 14.5℃ | 155.4 |
| Oct. | 8.6℃ | 105.3 |
| Nov. | 1.8℃ | 76 |
| Dec. | -4.3℃ | 61.5 |
| The average annual temperature is | 4.9℃ |
| The annual precipitation is | 1068.4 mm. |
Teshikaga-cho sightseeing business and industry section
3-1, Chuo 2-chome, Teshikaga-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
TEL：+81-15-482-2940
Lake Mashu Tourism Association
3-1, Mashu 3-chome, Teshikaga-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
TEL：+81-15-482-2200
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