If you ever go to Hokkaido (Japan), one of the places I highly recommend is Lake Akan in the east. In addition to several unique qualities in Japan or even worldwide, it is a beautiful area worth a visit (or even a trip of its own!).
Isn’t Lake Akan just a lake?
If you are scratching your head and asking this question, you are definitely not alone – but the name is not all-encompassing. Located near Kushiro, the eruptions of two nearby volcanoes around 6,000 years ago formed a lava dam and the lake formed shortly after that.
Ok, sounds like a lake, right? Well, it is, but it is a lot more than that. Because those two volcanoes still stand overlooking the lake, there has been a lot of lava activity near the surface in this area. These volcanoes still erupt today, and due to the lava being so near the surface, this area is much warmer than its surroundings. This is especially noticeable in the winter.
Animal Winter Travel Destination
Due to the lake’s constant warmer temperature, it is a popular spot for migratory birds—over 150 species come here for the winter, from smaller kingfishers and woodpeckers to several species of eagle. Brown Bears, Siberian Flying Squirrels, Japanese Sables, Yezo Squirrels, and Ezo Red Foxes are among the mammals that also call this area home and enjoy its warmth in the winter.
In addition to the animals, the warmer climate supports plants that should not be able to survive in this area, including several mosses and ferns that would not survive the winter otherwise.
Perfectly Spherical Moss Balls – and other unique quirks
Lake Akan is most famous for Marimo moss, found in lakes, rivers, bodies of water, and even in people’s aquariums worldwide. So what makes it unique here? The answer is the shape. Marimo moss is commonly found in stands or small, individual tufts. Only Lake Akan in Hokkaido and Mývatn in Iceland form the ball version naturally (now you can find it in others where it is created artificially for aquarium enthusiasts). Still, only Lake Akan forms the large version – up to 30 cm in diameter.
So why do they do this? Lake Akan has the perfect conditions: interesting geography, nutrient-rich and clear water, and strong winds (up to 10 m/s or 3.28 feet/s). The winds cause small waves on the lake, creating currents and pushing the balls to the lake’s northern end, where they gather in two regions. Here, they are constantly turned by the currents and wind, allowing them to grow up to 30 cm. This is the maximum size the balls can grow; above this size, the balls collapse as the centre cannot support the weight.
What can I do at Lake Akan?
Lake Akan has many things you can do. It is part of Akan National Park, and you can explore this 914.13 km² (352.95 sq mi) area through hiking, climbing mountains and volcanoes, and other outdoor nature activities. Note: This is a brown bear area (like the rest of Hokkaido), so make sure you are on alert, avoid bear encounters where possible, and know what to do if you come into contact with one.
Another option is the village of Lake Akan, which sits on the southern edge of the lake and plays host to several onsen resorts, traditional Ainu craft workshops and stores, an interactive Ainu museum, and restaurants that serve traditional Ainu food or foods based on traditional Ainu cuisine.
The village also has a nice set of easy-to-walk nature trails and some mud volcanoes. In these, superheated mud boils to the surface, forming “mud lakes” and hill-like structures where the mud cools and hardens. The videos below show this.
Lake Akan is also the only place you can eat Marimo ice cream, which is made using the moss:
Other things in the area
If you want to combine this site with others in the area, here are some that you might find of interest:
Getting there
If you do not have a car, the only way to get there is by bus from Kushiro Bus Terminal (right next to Kushiro Station). A ticket is needed before you get on the bus, so go into the building with the bus terminal sign and buy a ticket from the counter. While some salespeople speak English, you may find that the one you are dealing with does not. In that case, use “Akan-ko” and “o-fuku” for a round-trip bus ticket. Pay attention to the bus schedule – the last bus leaves the town at 3 p.m. – even in the summer!
If you take the bus, it will take you about 75 minutes to get there, so plan for a full-day trip. The town has many restaurants and even convenience stores, so you do not need to worry about bringing food with you unless you want something specific or are going hiking. If you are going hiking, make sure you follow local guidelines for dealing with wildlife. It is generally recommended to not hike with food as it can attract bears.
Thanks for reading! Want to do some more exploring? Have a look at the travel map:
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