HOKKAIDO — Work began on Friday to start breaking up the ice on the surface of Lake Akan in Kushiro, Hokkaido, to prepare the lake for sightseeing boats ahead of the spring tourist season.

A unique natural phenomenon, known as drift ice, occurs each winter on the Sea of Okhotsk, on Hokkaido’s northern ... or various sea birds, too. A Lake Akan forest deer sighting.

Spring and summer are popular ... The resort town of Lake Akan is one of the onsen towns of Eastern Hokkaido, which means you will really want a hotel with an onsen included with your stay.

Lake Akan About an hour’s drive north of Kushiro lies Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, a sacred, lakeside settlement home to Hokkaido’s Indigenous Ainu peoples. More than 100 live in the area, many of ...

When visitors dig a hole, hot spring water gushes out and folks ... Photograph by Shusaku Nagahama Lake Akan is one of eastern Hokkaido’s best fly-fishing destinations, offering a bounty of ...

Kengo Takiguchi, left, is seen explaining the use of plants to coexist with nature, on the shores of Lake Akan, Hokkaido, on July 13, 2023. (Mainichi/Hiroaki Homma) KUSHIRO, Hokkaido -- A test run ...

There's even an observation center in the middle of Hokkaido's lake Akan that draws over a half-million visitors each year. Scientifically known as Aegagropila linnaei , the balls form from the ...

Marimo are living fluffy balls of green algae and the world’s largest marimo can be found in Lake Akan in Hokkaido, Japan’s northern main island. They are sheltered from too much winter ...

Marimo are living fluffy balls of green algae. The world's largest marimo can be found in Lake Akan in Hokkaido, Japan's northern main island. Here they are sheltered from too much winter sunlight ...

Covering 410 kilometers, the Hokkaido East Trail will link three national parks: Kushiro-Shitsugen (Kushiro Marsh), Akan-Mashu and Shiretoko ... in the direction of Lake Akanko.

Marimo are living fluffy balls of green algae. The world’s largest marimo can be found in Lake Akan in Hokkaido, Japan’s northern main island. Here they are sheltered from too much winter ...