Mt. Akan (阿寒岳)

Mt. Akan (阿寒岳) is the collective name of the Akan volcanic group straddling Kushiro City and Ashoro Town in eastern Hokkaido, comprising Mt. Meakan (雌阿寒岳, 1,499 m, active volcano), Mt. Oakan (雄阿寒岳, 1,370 m) and Akan-Fuji (阿寒富士, 1,476 m). It lies within Akan-Mashu National Park and is counted among the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan (Kyūya Fukada’s selection).

The principal peak Mt. Meakan is an active volcano with summit fumaroles; highlights include the endemic Meakan-kinbai flower, the mysterious five-colour Lake Onneto, and the Aka-numa and Ao-numa crater lakes. Mt. Oakan is a shapely independent cone overlooking Lake Akan, with views of Taro-ko and Jiro-ko ponds.

*Timetable last checked: May 21, 2026

How to access the trailheads

1. [Outbound] Kushiro Station / Kushiro Airport → Akanko Onsen (Akan Bus, Akan Line)
2. [Round trip] Akanko Onsen ⇔ Takiguchi (Mt. Oakan trailhead, on foot / taxi)
3. Mt. Meakan and Onneto (currently restricted, reference information)

Standard times (Mt. Oakan from Takiguchi, out-and-back, intermediate, ~6 hours)

Takiguchi trailhead (420 m) → (0:30) → Taro-ko / Jiro-ko ponds → (1:30) → 5th Station → (1:00) → Mt. Oakan summit (1,370 m) → (1:00) → 5th Station → (2:00) → Takiguchi trailhead

Standard times (Mt. Meakan, Meakan Onsen course — currently closed above 7th station)

Meakan Onsen (700 m) → (0:30) → 3rd Station → (1:00) → 5th Station → (0:45) → 7th Station (current restriction line) → ※ 9th Station and summit awaiting reopening

1. [Outbound] Kushiro Station / Kushiro Airport → Akanko Onsen (Akan Bus, Akan Line)

The base for Mt. Akan is Akanko Onsen, reached by Akan Bus Akan Line (Kushiro Station → Kushiro Airport → Tsuru-koen → Akanko Onsen Bus Centre): about 2 hours from Kushiro Station and about 1 h 10 min from Kushiro Airport. Both Kushiro Airport and Station are connected to major Honshu cities by direct flights / express trains.

JR and airport access guide :
Tokyo / Osaka → Kushiro Airport : direct flights (JAL/ANA/AirDo) about 1 h 40 min – 2 h
Sapporo Station → Kushiro Station : JR Limited Express Ozora about 4 hours, ¥9,990
Kushiro Airport → Akanko Onsen : Akan Bus about 1 h 10 min, ¥2,750
Kushiro Station → Akanko Onsen : Akan Bus about 2 hours, ¥2,750

Kushiro Station → Akanko Onsen Bus Centre (Akan Bus Akan Line, revised 2026/4/1, all runs daily)

Akanko Onsen Bus Centre → Kushiro Station (Akan Bus, return, all runs daily)

Note : Limited runs. A separate seasonal “Akan Airport Liner” also connects Kushiro Airport ↔ Akanko Onsen; check Akan Bus official. Schedules align with Honshu flight arrivals at Kushiro Airport.

Reference : Akan Bus routes ｜ Akan Bus airport line
Inquiries : Akan Bus ☎0154-37-2221 / Akan Tourism Association ☎0154-67-3200

2. [Round trip] Akanko Onsen ⇔ Takiguchi (Mt. Oakan trailhead, on foot / taxi)

With Mt. Meakan currently restricted, the climbable peak is Mt. Oakan (1,370 m). Its trailhead at Takiguchi is about 30 min on foot east of Akanko Onsen Bus Centre along Route 240 (~2.2 km, gentle uphill), or about 5 min by taxi. The “Takiguchi” Akan Bus stop is also nearby but has limited service. The trailhead has parking (~10 spaces) and a toilet.

Access guide :
Akanko Onsen Bus Centre → Takiguchi trailhead : ~30 min on foot (~2.2 km) / ~5 min by taxi (~¥1,000)
Round trip : Mt. Oakan summit ~6 hours (ascent 3:30 / descent 2:30)
Elevation gain : Takiguchi (420 m) → Mt. Oakan summit (1,370 m), ~950 m
Water : Taro-ko / Jiro-ko ponds (boil before drinking); no resupply on the trail

Note : No shop at Takiguchi — buy water and food at Akanko Onsen. Mt. Oakan is intermediate, with rocky and narrow sections and strong winds above the 5th station. Bear sightings common: carry bells and pepper spray. If descent is delayed, walking back to Akanko Onsen is possible, but aim to be down before dark.

Reference : Mt. Oakan trail map (Kawayu Eco Museum) ｜ Akan-kohan Eco Museum Centre
Inquiries : Akan-kohan Eco Museum Centre ☎0154-67-4100 / Akan Tourism Association ☎0154-67-3200

3. Mt. Meakan and Onneto (currently restricted, reference information)

Mt. Meakan (1,499 m, the principal peak of Mt. Akan) is at volcanic alert Level 2 and the summit is not climbable (as of May 2026). For reference when restrictions lift, the three routes:

• Meakan Onsen course (Ashoro side, most popular): Meakan Onsen trailhead → 7th Station (current restriction line) → ※ 9th Station / summit / crater rim (Aka-numa, Ao-numa). When open: ~4:30 round trip, ~6:00 loop descending to Onneto. Access from Akanko Onsen by taxi (~30 min)
• Onneto course (Ashoro side): Onneto Campsite → 7th Station (restriction line) → ※ Akan-Fuji / Mt. Meakan. The Lake Onneto lakeside path remains open
• Akan-kohan course (Kushiro side): Akanko Onsen → 6th Station (restriction line) → ※ Mt. Meakan

Meakan Onsen (Nonaka Onsen) : bath ¥500 (adult, 10:00–18:00), at the trailhead. Inquiries ☎0156-29-7321
Lake Onneto lakeside walk : about 30 min by taxi from Akanko Onsen. The lakeside path and observatory (~1 hour) are outside the restriction zone, with the five-colour lake surface and a distant view of Mt. Meakan.

Reference : MoE Mt. Meakan climbing courses ｜ JMA Mt. Meakan volcanic info

Mt. Akan overview, suggested plans, emergency contacts

About Mt. Akan
The collective name for the Akan volcanic group in Akan-Mashu National Park in eastern Hokkaido. Fukada’s “100 Famous Mountains” lists it as a single peak, with Mt. Oakan as the principal. The highest peak is Mt. Meakan (1,499 m, active volcano with summit fumaroles), with Mt. Oakan (1,370 m, a shapely cone by Lake Akan) and Akan-Fuji (1,476 m). The area also includes the mysterious five-colour Lake Onneto, Lake Akan with its marimo algae, and the excellent Akanko and Meakan (Nonaka) hot springs.

Climbing season / endemic flora: late June to early October. Mt. Meakan and Akan-Fuji host the endemic Meakan-kinbai, Meakan-fusuma, and bilberry. Brown bears and Ezo deer inhabit the area.

Cautions
– Mt. Meakan volcanic alert Level 2 continues (since 2025/9/15), summit closed. Latest at JMA
– No water resupply on either Mt. Oakan or Mt. Meakan trails — carry at least 2 L
– Bear sightings common: carry bells and pepper spray
– Volcanic gas (hydrogen sulphide): keep stays near craters short, even after reopening

Emergency contacts and inquiries

• Kushiro City Akan Town Administrative Centre: ☎0154-66-2121
• Ashoro Town Hall (Meakan Onsen, Onneto side): ☎0156-25-2141
• Kushiro Police Station (climbing plan, mountain rescue): ☎0154-23-0110
• Akan-kohan Eco Museum Centre: ☎0154-67-4100 / Akan Bus: ☎0154-37-2221

Suggested plans

• 1-night, Akanko Onsen + Mt. Oakan (recommended): Day 1 Kushiro → Akanko Onsen overnight. Day 2 early start 6:00 → Mt. Oakan out-and-back → Akanko Onsen 14:00 → Lake Onneto lakeside walk → second night in Akanko Onsen or return to Kushiro
• After Mt. Meakan reopens: Meakan Onsen → summit → descend to Onneto (~6-hour loop, Meakan Onsen bath) — confirm via JMA / Kushiro City / Ashoro Town for reopening

Reference : MoE Akan-Mashu National Park ｜ Akan-kohan Eco Museum Centre

Photo by 663highland