Akan-Mashu Welcome to Akan-Mashu National Park National Park Trail Guide Akan-Mashu National Park covers around 914 square kilo- meters of volcanic terrain. The landscape is the result of major eruptions some hundreds of thousands of years ago, and features active volcanoes, diverse fauna and flora, and Japan’s largest caldera lake. Explore the park on one of the many walking and hiking trails introduced in this booklet. The trails vary in length and difficulty, from short nature walks suitable for families, to challenging mountain climbs for experienced hikers, where climbers are afforded prime views of the vast caldera lakes. The first stop for any visitor to the park should be one of the visitor centers. Staff at the Kawayu Eco-museum Center, the Akankohan Eco-museum Center, and the Wakoto Field House can recommend the best hike for you and provide any necessary information you might need, including the latest news on bear sightings. For safety rea- sons, anyone planning to go on a hike must write their name and intended route in the ledger at the trailhead. We hope you enjoy your time in Hokkaido's great outdoors. Published by: Akan-Mashu National Park Administrative Office Ministry of the Environment This English-language text was created by the Japan Tourism Agency. Source: Adapted from the Fundamental Geographic Data Digital Elevation Model (Geospatial Information Authority of Japan) The Ainu design on this guide is certified by the General Corporate judicial Person Akan Aynu Konsarun（Oct. 2020） ® Learn more about Akan-Mashu National Park https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/parks/akan-mashu/ 01 Oct. 2020 Akan-Mashu National Park 391 This historical National Park retains ancient, Contents untouched natural scenery. 243 Mashu Area Mt. Mokoto▲ Before you go ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 03 This park stands out for its stunning natural scenery, creat- 102 ed by the interplay between forest and lakes, in particular the Mt.Mokoto Hiking Trails 11 Course Grading:・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 04 three Chishima Volcanic Belt-formed caldera lakes of Akan, 11-1 Skyline Trail What to bring for walking or hiking Kussharo and Mashu. It is divided into two areas, one centered 11-2 Mountaineering Trail 11-3 Mt. Mokoto Loop Trail ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ around Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo, and one around Lake Legend: 04 Akan. You can explore the natural landscape while hiking, Michi-no-Eki 1 Bokke Walking Trail ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 05 fishing, and canoeing as well as taking a bath in the hot Gurutto Panorama Tsutsujigahara Nature Trail Kawayu 2 Mt. Hakuto Nature Trail ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 07 springs of Akanko Onsen and Kawayu Onsen. Bihoro Pass 8 (Roadside Station) Sakhalin Spruce Nature Trail 9 Eco-museum Center Did you know? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 09 Mt. Meakan and Mt. Oakan: an old married couple 240 ● ▲ Kawayu Onsen Sta. Did you know? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 10 Lake Kussharo 52 Mt. Io (Atosa-nupuri) Vital visitor centers 3 Mt. Oakan Hiking Trail ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 11 10 Wakoto Nature Trail ● Lake Mashu 150 4 Mt. Meakan Hiking Trails ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 15 ▲Mt. Mashu (Kamui-nupuri) 4-1 Akankohan Trail 4-2 Meakan Onsen Trail Wakoto Field House 6 ▲ Mt. Nishibetsu 4-3 Onneto Trail Mt. Mashu Hiking Trail 7 Mt. Nishibetsu Hiking Trail 5 Lake Onneto Walking Trails ・・・・・・・・・・・ 19 Akan Area Akan-Mashu National Park 5-1 Meakan Onsen Trail 5-2 East Bank Trail 52 5-3 Lookout Trail 5-4 Yunotaki Falls Trail Did you know? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 23 The Calderas of Akan-Mashu National Park Michi-no-Eki Mashu Sta. ・・ Mashu Onsen 6 7 Mt. Mashu and Mt. Nishibetsu Hiking Trails 25 (Roadside Station) ・・・・・・・・・・・・ 241 8 Tsutsujigahara Nature Trail 29 13 Did you know? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 31 Lake Akan● Mt. Oakan ▲ Towering Katsura trees Mt. Oakan Hiking Trail 3 Did you know? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 32 Bokke Walking Trail JR Senmo Line Healing hot springs 1 Akankohan 243 Eco-museum Center 9 Sakhalin Spruce Nature Trail ・・・・・・・・・・ 33 13 10 Wakoto Nature Trail ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 35 Mt. Hakuto Nature Trail 949 Mt. Hakuto▲ 2 11 Mt. Mokoto Hiking Trails ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 37 Lake Onneto ▲Mt. Meakan 11-1 Skyline Trail Lake Onneto ● Walking Trails 5 11-2 Mountaineering Trail 5-1 Meakan Onsen Trail ▲Mt. Akanfuji 1093 11-3 Mt. Mokoto Loop Trail 5-2 East Bank Trail 4 Mt. Meakan Hiking Trails 5-3 Lookout Trail ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 4-1 Akankohan Trail National Park Visitor Center 41 5-4 Yunotaki Falls Trail 4-2 Meakan Onsen Trail Camping in the park・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ 43 664 4-3 Onneto Trail 240 391 274 02 Before You Go Course Grading: Your safety and the decisions you make while hiking Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 the trails are your responsibility. Walking Light hiking Day-long hiking You must understand that there are hazards and risks of accidents Grade when in nature. You should only enter the wilds after thorough preparation, including that of your physical condition, and with the understanding that you take full responsibility for any accidents that may happen. ・For those wanting to ・For those who want ・For those wanting to With bad weather, the risks of landslides or falling rocks, trees, and enjoy an easy walk to enjoy mounta in enjoy a day-long branches increase, so please be ready to change or cancel your plans through nature for h i k ing for a bout a mountain hike about an hour half-day ・For those with moun- when necessary. Intended ・For those with little or ・For those with some tain hiking and no hiking experience mountain hiking long-distance hiking hiker ● Choose an appropriate course for your physical ability, condition, and experience experience outfitting. ● Mountain weather is prone to variability, so make sure to gather as much information as possible in advance. Also, be sure to bring rain Time Around 1 hour Around 3 hours (not including Around 3-6 hours gear. Trail Condition travel time to (60 minutes) or less (180 minutes) or less (180-360 minutes) starting point) ● The mountains of Hokkaido can see sudden temperature drops below even 1,000 meters, so bring cold-weather gear even in summer. ● There are no drinking water supplies on the hiking trails, so you must Distance Around 2 km Around 2-6 km Around 6 to 15 km bring your own drinking water. ● There are no toilets on the hiking trails. Bring a portable toilet. Keep in Elevation Sea level to around Around Around mind that there are no stalls for portable toilets, either. gain 200 m 200-300 m 300-1,000 m ● Be sure to write your information in the Hiker Register located at the trailhead. ・Hat ・Hat ● Do not deviate from the trails. Clothing ・Comfortable clothes ・Hiking clothes ・Athletic shoes ・Hiking boots ● Take your trash home with you. ● Do not approach or feed any wild animals. Backpack・Trash bags・Water bottle・Map・Rain Gear ● When driving on forest roads, it's best to use a high-clearance 4WD. Be aware that forest roads can be closed according to season or road What to ・Provisions ・Provisions conditions. bring ・Cold weather gear ・Cold weather gear ・Headlamp ■ Dangerous Animal Information ・Portable toilet Brown Bears: Carry a bear bell and bear spray. It's important to avoid ・Compass meeting brown bears. Bears tend to avoid humans, so try to announce your presence by making noise in order to ward them off. This trail grading system is used only inside the Akan-Mashu National Park. Ticks/Mites & Biting flies: Wear long sleeves and long pants, and try to avoid baring skin. Also, bring insect repellent. Hornets: Avoid wearing black or very dark clothing. If a swarm Legend: approaches, wrap a white towel around your head and neck, and back up slowly to escape the area. Hut Campground Visitor Center Red Foxes: To avoid echinococcosis (from tapeworms spread by foxes), do not drink any un-boiled water from rivers, etc. Accommodation Car Park Information Picnic Spot / ■ About this guide Bus/Bus Stop Onsen Bench The Ministry of the Environment has created this map to introduce the View Point/ regularly accessible walking trails within Akan-Mashu National Park. Each Toilet Alpine Flowers trail and facility is owned and maintained by different organizations, so they Scenic Spot are not all the property or responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment. Every trail and facility is available for use based on the understanding that Trailhead Distance Marker users accept full responsibility for their actions and understand the risk of accidents, and that no organizations are obligated to accept any responsibility for accidents that may happen when using these trails or facilities. 03 04 Bokke Walking Trail 1 Bokke Walking Trail Lake Akan Bokke （Bubbling Mud Pools） ◀0.6km▶ The Bokke Walking Trail stretches from Marimo-no-Sato Pier on the Bokke Walking Trail ◀0.2km▶ shore of Lake Akan to the Akankohan Eco-museum Center. The wide, (Lakeside Walking Trail) forested path offers an introduction to Akan-Mashu National Park and takes about 45 minutes to walk. Along the trail you can see views of the ◀0.2km▶ lake, diverse plant life, and volcanic pools of bubbling mud. ◀0.6km▶ ◀0.2km▶ Forest Trail The bubbling mud pools, known as bokke, are one of the highlights of ◀0.1km▶ the trail. They are the result of steam and volcanic gases escaping through vents in the earth’s surface. Their name comes from the Ainu ◀0.2km▶ word pofuke, meaning “to bubble up.” The trail offers good views of these steamy pools from the lakeshore. Akankohan Marimo-no-Sato ◀0.2km▶ The Bokke Walking Trail merges with the Forest Trail, which runs Boat Pier Eco-museum Center through a mixed coniferous and deciduous forest and leads to the Akan- Shrine kohan Eco-museum Center and Akankohan Parking lot. Panels along the ◀0.3km▶ trail describe the types of wildlife and trees seen along the way, including Sakhalin Spruce, Sakhalin Fir, Yezo Spruce, and Katsura.