Lake Kussharo Lake

Address: Lake Kussharo, Teshikaga / Kawayu area, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

Website: https://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/parks/akan.html

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free

Lake Kussharo is a volcanic caldera lake in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, located within Akan Mashu National Park. It is one of Hokkaido’s largest caldera lakes and contains a wooded island near its centre.

A prominent feature is the central island Nakanoshima, which is visible from many shoreline viewpoints; boat operators run short cruises to the island in warmer months. Lakeshore roads and viewpoints on surrounding ridges provide wide views of the water and surrounding volcanic landscape.

The lake occupies a volcanic caldera formed by past eruptions; the present basin and island are products of those volcanic events. The area has been used and visited for recreation and hot-spring tourism associated with nearby towns for more than a century.

Lake Kussharo sits in eastern Hokkaido near the town of Teshikaga and other lakes within Akan Mashu National Park. The lake lies inland from the Pacific coast amid forested highlands of the island of Hokkaido.

• Geology: A caldera lake formed by volcanic activity and located inside Akan Mashu National Park, offering clear views across the volcanic basin.
• Viewpoint: A popular vantage is the slopes of Mount Mokoto which overlook the lake and the central island.

What to See#

• Nakanoshima: A forested island occupying the lake’s centre that is accessible by boat and visible from several lakeshore viewpoints.

By car: From Kushiro city, it is about a 1.5-2 hour drive west on National Route 240/243 to the Teshikaga/Kawayu area; follow signs for Akan-Mashu National Park. By public transit: take an express train or bus to Kushiro or Abashiri and transfer to local Akan Bus lines toward Teshikaga; from Teshikaga stations the lakeshore is a short taxi ride or 20-40 minutes by local buses.

• Arrive before sunrise to watch the steam rising from the geothermal shores at Sunayu (the sandy hot-springs) - the light makes the mist look luminous.
• Drive the Lakeshore Road (Route 243) and stop at multiple viewpoints; the view toward Mount Mokoto from the south shore is the most expansive.
• Bring a towel and coin: at Sunayu visitors can dig their own makeshift hot pool in the sand when the tide is low - local custom, not a formal facility.