Four Itchy Feet

September 14, 2025. Akan, Japan.

Today, we drove from Shiretoko to Akan. We’re now in the center of Akan National Park, staying at the wonderful and accommodating Forest Akan Hotel on the shores of Lake Akan and at the foot of Mount Meakan.

Along the way, we made several stops. Near Shiretoko, we stopped at Oshinkoshin Falls, a beautiful “wedding veil” waterfall. This waterfall is one of Japan’s “100 Best Waterfalls.” It flows directly into the Sea of Okhotsk, which is a fairly rare feature for a waterfall of its size.

Our next stop was Sakuranotaki Falls. These falls are well inland, but in late summer and early fall, over 3,000 masu salmon (also known as pink salmon) make their way here to spawn. This remarkable sight also attracts bears, so we were certainly on the lookout!

Next, we visited Kaminoko-Ike (Child of the Gods) pond. This small pond is fed by underground water from the nearby Lake Mashu. Over 220,000 gallons of water move through the pond daily, making the water incredibly clear and giving it a stunning blue hue. The pond’s constant water flow keeps the temperature stable year-round, which prevents the vegetation from decaying and contributes to its otherworldly clarity.

We then stopped at Lake Mashu, a large lake renowned for its pristine water. It’s considered one of the clearest lakes in the world, with recorded visibility of over 60 feet since the year 2000. Because it supports very little plankton, the water has a stunning, translucent blue color often referred to as “Mashu Blue.” The lake is also a caldera lake, formed from the collapse of a volcano, and it has no rivers flowing into or out of it.

Our drive to Akan took us through beautiful mountains and lakes. We’re looking forward to our adventures in Akan National Park!