Go see Marimo｜See Japanese cranes｜Board the ferry｜Stroll along the Bokke promenade｜Walk in the forest ｜Hakutosan Observatory walk｜Autumn colours of Lake Akan｜Onneto｜Lake Taro/Lake Jiro｜Souko Observatory｜Souko Observatory｜Onneto Hot Waterfall｜Witness a fantastic fire ceremony｜Lost Kamuy｜Experience Kamuy Lumina｜Canoe on the lake｜Lake fishing｜Hiking in the forest of light｜River (mountain stream) fishing｜Riverwalk｜Hike Mt. Oakan｜Bathe at Akanko Onsen｜Eat Hokkaido cuisine｜Enjoy some personal time
Nature/Animals
Hokkaido's secret hot spring, Akan's pristine forest is an ancient mystery.
Around Lake Akan is the one of the best wilderness areas in the world with four national parks including the World Natural Heritage Site Shiretoko: Akan Mashu National Park, Kushiroshitsugen National Park, Shiretoko National Park, and Daisetsuzan National Park. In Hokkaido, the winters can dip below 20 degrees Celsius and the summers can exceed 30 degrees Celsius. In areas where annual temperature differences can range over 50 degrees Celsius, people have built infrastructure to provide the necessities for life such as water, electricity, gas, roads, and radio waves. The people here live in harmony with the Ezo deer, brown bears, Ezo squirrels, and Japanese cranes that inhabit areas just a short distance away.
Go see Marimo
The natural habitat of the spherical Marimo is not open to the public. There are two options for viewing them: (1) Visit the "Marimo Exhibition and Observation Center" on Chului Island by ferry or (2) visit the "Akan Lakeside Eco Museum Center" by ferry.
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See Japanese cranes
There is no place like the Tanchozuru Nature Park in Kushiro City to see Japanese cranes (a Special Natural Monument) year-round.
This was the first place in the world to succeed in the artificial hatching of the cranes. Only a 10-minute drive from Kushiro Airport. Admission for adults is 480 yen.
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Board the ferry
This is a commemorative, pleasure boat sightseeing tour of Mt. Oakan and Mt. Meakan (85-minute round trip).
The Autumn leaves are magnificent. A "Marimo viewing" is also possible. Operates between mid April to the late November.
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Stroll along the Bokke promenade
The total distance is 1.5km and takes about 45 minutes to walk. Escaping hot air makes the mud around the promenade bubble as if it were boiling. This is called Bokke in the Ainu language.
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Walk in the forest
The Akan Lake area is surrounded by a pristine forest.
The Bokke walk is very close to the hot spring town. The wooden Takiguchi path is only a short distance away from the hot spring town and is also immersed in nature.
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Hakutosan Observatory walk
The roughly 2.5-hour stroll from the parking lot at the Lake Akan Observation Deck (ski area) to the Hakutosan Observation Deck consists of a 2km walk, one way, with an altitude gain of 300m.
Autumn colours of Lake Akan
The best site is around Lake Akan at the foot of Mt. Oakan.
The autumn leaves and maple at the waterfall near the headwaters of the Akan River are beautiful.
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Onneto
One of the Three Great Lakes in Hokkaido, Onneto is also called Goshikinuma (other two great lakes: Okotanpe Lake in Chitose, Shinonome Lake in Kamishihoro). This is mysterious swamp that changes colors depending on when and where you look.
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Lake Taro/Lake Jiro
Lake Taro is about 10 minutes on foot from the parking lot at Mt. Oakan and another 10 minutes takes you to Lake Jiro.
This lake was created when the dirt and sand from the eruption of Mt. Meakan 10,000 years ago formed a dam at Lake Koakan.
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Souko Observatory
Observation deck (by car) from where you can see the ristricted access Penketo (the foremost lake) and Panketo (the farther lake; the growth of trees has made this lake difficult to see).
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Souko Observatory
Observation deck where you can see Mt. Oakan (1370m) towering in the foreground and Mt. Meakan (1499m) and Akanfuji (1476m) in the back and to the left.
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Onneto Hot Waterfall
This site has been designated as a Special Natural Monument.
This is the only place in the world to form manganese. Hot water flows over black rocks. It is about a 20-minute walk from the parking lot.
Ainu-Kotan (Ainu village)
Witness a fantastic fire ceremony
An Ainu village is called a "Kotan." The Ainu believe that gods reside in every life form of the natural world. A certain ritual involves a fire festival in which the soul is sent to the gods with fire. This ceremony can be seen at the Ikoro Theatre.
Iomante
The Iomante is a ritual fire ceremony that sends the soul of the Iomante Brown Bear (Kimmunkuy) to the god of the sky, and we pray that the hunter-gatherer Ainu villages (Kotan) will always be present. You can witness the ceremony at the Ikoro Theatre.
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Lost Kamuy
The Ezo wolves (Horokeum Kamuy), who hunted alongside people, are extinct. At the Ikoro Theater, the extinct Horokeum Kamuy are recreated using CG. They can be seen at the Ikoro Theatre.
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Akan Forest nightwalk "Kamuy Lumina"
The activities at Akan are exciting. The experience of canoeing on the lake is more a spiritual experience than it is a sport. About 1.2 km from the lakeside inn, the Bokke Forest at night offers a mysterious experience in the “world of god."
Experience Kamuy Lumina
The Bokke promenade becomes an adventure park at night during the summer.
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Canoe on the lake
Canoeing on Lake Akan is quiet and slow. It's almost like taking a stroll.
Fishing at Lake Akan
The fishing ban on Lake Akan is lifted on May 1st. Large trout can be caught starting around June. Enjoy some catch-and-release fishing.
Hiking in the forest of light
The Maeda Ippo Foundation owns and manages the Lake Akan area. Take a stroll through the forest of light alongside a guide from the Foundation.
Mountain stream fishing at Kushiro River
Kushiro River is popular for rainbow trout fishing
Riverwalk
Mountain streams originating from Kushiro River, the only river that flows out of Lake Akan
Hike Mt. Oakan
Mt. Oakan (1370m) is also called Pinnesiri (Otokoyama). From the trailhead of the waterfall, the hike will take about 3.5 hours to the summit.
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Bathe at Akanko Onsen
Enjoy the sensation of becoming one with Lake Akan at this onsen and relax your soul
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Souvenir shop (Ainu-kotan, Main road)
An exemplary souvenir from Akan is an Ainu wood carving.
The figurines of owls, brown bears, and Japanese crane, plaques, and pendants are all handmade and available for purchase from various artists. Shops are concentrated around the Ainu-Kotan and the nearby hot spring town.
Eat Hokkaido cuisine
Various venison dishes are offered. The venison rice bowl (Rokuniku-don) is a healthy food that is low in fat and rich in iron.
Enjoy some personal time
Take a thorough walk through the shops of Ainu-Kotan all constructed by hand. The shops offer artisanal goods such as woodwork with a unique style that reflects the time each artisan spent with their art and Ainu embroidery. These items are truly one of a kind in the world.
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Akan Sightseeing Association Town-Made Promotion Organization 6-20, Akan-ko Onsen 2chome, Akancho, Kushiro, Hokkaido TEL：+81-154-67-3200
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