Akan National Park

Akan National Park is a national park located on the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. Along with Daisetsuzan National Park, these are the two oldest national parks in Hokkaidō. The park is famous for its crystal clear lakes, its hot springs, and its large marimo. It is the only place where marimo of appreciable size form naturally in Japan.

The park's attractions are its three sparkling clear mountain lakes, the eponymous Lake Akan to the west, Lake Mashū to the east and Lake Kussharo between them. The largest settlement nearby is Teshikaga, to the south of Lakes Kussharo and Mashu.

The nearest airports are in Kushiro, an hour and a half to the south, Nakashibetsu, an hour to the east, and Memanbetsu, an hour and a half to the north. The JR Senmō Line runs north-south across the park on its way from Abashiri to Kushiro, stopping at Kawayu and Teshikaga (Mashu station). There are around 4 trains daily to Abashiri (2 hours, ¥1600) and 6-7 to Kushiro (1:40, ¥1790).

Lake Akan is the best-known of the trio, largely thanks to mysterious fuzzy green algae balls known as marimo , which you can view at the free visitor's center. There is also a small Ainu museum and lacklustre dance performances in the village of Ainu Kotan.