Lake Akan
阿寒湖
A volcanic lake beneath Mount Oakan, famous for Marimo, a spherical green algae designated a Special Natural Monument. You can take a boat out to Churui Island to see the exhibits.
Lake Akan is the heart of the Akan-Mashu National Park. The spherical green algae that grows in the lake, called Marimo, has been designated a Special Natural Monument, and some specimens reach 30 cm in diameter. A boat trip around the lake takes about 85 minutes. It stops at Churui Island, which has a Marimo Exhibition Observation Centre, and along the way you can see Takiguchi and Mount Oakan. Boats run from late April to November. In winter, the lake freezes over, and visitors can try ice fishing for smelt, snowmobiling and more. In February, the “Ice Festival” features fireworks over the frozen lake. Lakeside Akan Onsen is the base for accommodation. From Kushiro Airport, a bus takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Opening hours
Cruises approx. late April–November; ice activities approx. January–March
Nearby sights
- Bokke Mud Volcano
- Akanko Ainu Kotan
- Sokodai Observatory
- Mount Meakan
- Lake Onneto
- Bihoro Pass
- Wakoto Peninsula
- Akan International Crane Center "Grus"