Akan-Mashu National Park / Akanko Onsen
Akan-Mashu is another of Hokkaido’s fantastic national parks – best-known for its three impressive lakes. Lake Akan, Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo are known for the clarity of their water. Lake Mashu is the most renowned for the three, with some people claiming it to be the clearest large lake in the world. Hiking trails allow visitors to walk between observation points and the summit of Mount Mashudake however to not provide access to the shore of the lake. Nearby Lake Kussharo is the largest of the three, a popular destination for fishing, hiking and kayaking while the more distant Lake Akan is famous for its ‘marimo’ algae balls, that grow to the size of footballs.
Accommodation is dotted around Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo however the greatest concentration of hotels and guesthouses is found in the hot spring town of Akanko Onsen, on the southern shore of Lake Akan. There are multiple large hotels in the area of which Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinonza is a stand-out while Lake Akan Tsuruga Wings and Akan Yuku no Sato Tsururga are also excellent options.
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