Kushiro & Akan

Japan's largest wetland and its red-crowned cranes, Ainu culture and marimo at Lake Akan, the mysterious blue of Lake Mashu, and the sand baths of Lake Kussharo.

Kushiro & Akan lies in eastern Hokkaido. It covers the Pacific port city of Kushiro, Kushiro Shitsugen, Japan's largest wetland, to its north, and, farther north, Akan-Mashu National Park with its three great volcanic lakes: Lake Akan, Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. Kushiro Shitsugen covers about 22,000 hectares; it was Japan's first Ramsar Convention wetland and is the main habitat of the red-crowned crane, a Special Natural Monument. Lake Akan is famous for its spherical green algae, marimo, and for Hokkaido's largest Ainu village. Lake Mashu is known for its exceptional clarity and the misty "Mashu Blue," and Lake Kussharo, Japan's largest caldera lake, has shores where you can dig in the sand to find hot springs.

Best time to visit: January–February is the peak for watching red-crowned cranes perform their courtship dance and for ice activities on Lake Akan; temperatures drop to -20°C, but the days are often clear. June–August is cool, ideal for canoeing in the wetland and driving along the lakes. In early to mid-October, the foliage is at its best at Lake Akan and Bihoro Pass.

Areas to visit: ① Kushiro city (katte-don at Washo Market, sunset at Nusamai Bridge, robatayaki at Fisherman's Wharf); ② Kushiro Shitsugen (Hosooka Observatory, Onnenai Boardwalk, canoeing on Lake Toro, the wetland sightseeing train); ③ crane viewing sites in Tsurui Village and Akan town; ④ Akan-ko Onsen; ⑤ Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, Mt. Iozan and Kawayu Onsen in the town of Teshikaga.

Getting there: Kushiro Airport has flights from Tokyo and Sapporo; from Sapporo it is about 4 hours on the JR limited express Ozora. Sights are spread out, so renting a car is strongly recommended: Kushiro to Lake Akan takes about 1.5 hours, and Lake Akan to Lake Mashu about 1 hour. Allow 3–4 days; the area connects with Shiretoko and Abashiri to form a loop around eastern Hokkaido. Note: roads ice over in winter, so drive carefully in snow; Lake Mashu is often covered in fog, so seeing the view takes some luck.

Top sights

• Kushiro Wetland Hosooka Observatory – The most classic viewpoint on the eastern edge of the Kushiro Wetland. The winding Kushiro River and the boundless wetland are laid out bel…
• Tsurui-Ito Tancho Crane Sanctuary – A crane sanctuary run by the Wild Bird Society of Japan. The winter feeding ground is a classic spot for photographers capturing the courts…
• Lake Akan – A volcanic lake beneath Mount Oakan, famous for Marimo, a spherical green algae designated a Special Natural Monument. You can take a boat…
• Lake Mashu (First Observatory) – A caldera lake once ranked first in the world for clarity. Its deep blue waters are known as “Mashu Blue,” and it is often shrouded in thic…
• Kushiro Marsh Observatory – A viewing facility on the western edge of the marsh, with exhibits on its ecology, a rooftop observation deck, and an approximately 2.5 km…
• Onnenai Boardwalk – A wooden boardwalk into the heart of Kushiro Marsh, offering close views of reed marsh, alder forest and marsh plants. Free to visit.
• Lake Toro & Kushiro River Canoeing – The largest lake on the eastern side of the marsh. Paddle a canoe from Lake Toro and drift downstream on the Kushiro River to see the marsh…
• Kushiro Wetland Sightseeing Trains – Seasonal sightseeing trains on the JR Senmo Main Line: an open-window Slow Train in summer and a steam locomotive in winter, with marshland…
• Kushiro Japanese Crane Reserve – A conservation and breeding facility for red-crowned cranes, opened in 1958. Visitors can see the cranes up close throughout the year.
• Akan International Crane Center "Grus" – A red-crowned crane observation and research centre in Akan Town. At the winter feeding ground, you can see hundreds of cranes dancing and…
• Tsurumidai – A red-crowned crane feeding site beside the road in Tsurui Village. In winter, large flocks of cranes forage and dance on the snowy fields…
• Otowa Bridge – A small bridge over the Yukisato River in Tsurui Village. On clear winter mornings, you can photograph cranes roosting in the misty river w…
• Akanko Ainu Kotan – The largest Ainu settlement in Hokkaido, with about 30 wood carving workshops and restaurants. The Ikor theatre performs traditional Ainu d…
• Bokke Mud Volcano – A mud volcano at the end of a forest trail on the shore of Lake Akan. Grey mud bubbles constantly, showing the active volcanic activity of…
• Sokodai Observatory – A viewing point beside the Akan cross-country road, overlooking the Punke and Pento lakes in primeval forest. The shape of Lake Punke is sa…
• Mount Meakan – An active volcano (1,499 m) and one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. From the summit you can see a smoking crater and blue crater lakes. Th…
• Lake Onneto – A mysterious small lake at the foot of Mount Meakan. Its colour shifts between emerald and deep blue depending on the weather and viewing a…
• Kaminoko Pond – A small cobalt-blue pond said to be fed by groundwater from Lake Mashu, where sunken logs and swimming Dolly Varden can be clearly seen. It…
• Mount Io (Atosanupuri) – An active volcano beside Kawayu Onsen. Dozens of fumaroles on the rock face release white steam and yellow sulfur crystals, and you can wal…
• Sunayu, Lake Kussharo – On the eastern shore of Lake Kussharo, Japan's largest caldera lake, hot water wells up when you dig into the sand of the lakeshore. In win…
• Wakoto Peninsula – A small peninsula jutting into the southern shore of Lake Kussharo. The loop trail around it is about 2.5 km, and there is a free outdoor h…
• Bihoro Pass – A mountain pass viewpoint at 525 m, with a full panorama of Lake Kussharo and its islands. Clouds often blanket the lake at dawn.
• Kawayu Onsen – A hot spring town at the foot of Mount Io, known for its strongly acidic sulfur springs, a hot spring river running through the town and fr…
• 900 Grassland – A grassland on a high plateau in the Teshikaga Town ranch with a 360-degree view toward the Akan mountains and Lake Kussharo. Cattle graze…
• Tawadaira – A high viewpoint at the Shibecha Town rearing ranch, said to offer a 360-degree view of the horizon. Vast grassland and cattle make a sweep…
• Washo Market – A seafood market in front of Kushiro Station. Start by buying a bowl of rice, then pick slices of raw fish from each stall to make your own…
• Nusamai Bridge – A landmark bridge at the mouth of the Kushiro River, with statues of the four seasons, and a viewing point for the Kushiro sunset, one of t…
• Kushiro Fisherman's Wharf MOO – A waterfront commercial complex beside Nusamai Bridge. In summer and autumn evenings, the outdoor wharfside robata grill lets you grill you…

Where to eat

• Robata – A long-running Kushiro institution, said to be the birthplace of robatayaki, where seasonal fish and shellfish are slow…
• Izumiya Sohonten – Birthplace of Spakatsu, Kushiro's signature dish of spaghetti topped with fried pork cutlet and meat sauce, served at a…
• Torimatsu – Widely regarded as the original Zangi shop, with a ten-seat counter, bone-in fried chicken dipped in a signature sauce…
• Chikuroen Azumaya Sohonten – A century-old soba house founded in the Meiji era, serving soba sushi and matcha soba in a garden house.
• Mingei Kissa Poronno – A small shop in the Ainu village at Akan Lake, serving venison rice bowls and traditional fermented potato cakes.
• Teshikaga Ramen Sohonten – A popular ramen head shop between Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo, best known for its gyokai soy sauce and miso ramen.

Itineraries

• Eastern Hokkaido Wilderness & Shiretoko Loop – In via Kushiro and out via Memanbetsu, linking the Kushiro Marsh, the Akan Three Lakes, whale watching in Rausu, and th…
• Drift Ice & Red-Crowned Crane Winter Rail Journey – Traverse Hokkaido by train in winter to see penguin walks, drift ice icebreakers, Shiretoko snowfields, and red-crowned…
• Grand Hokkaido Self-Drive Loop – A complete loop from New Chitose, covering Central Hokkaido's flower fields, Shiretoko, the easternmost point of Nemuro…