■Highlights of Akan-Mashū National Park
Located in eastern Hokkaido, Akan-Mashū National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Hokkaido. Most of the park is covered by natural forests, primarily subarctic mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests, and is said to retain a more pristine appearance than many other national parks.
The foundation of Akan-Mashū National Park is the three caldera formations—Akan, Kussharo, and Mashū—formed by the activity of the Kuril Volcanic Belt. This landscape, featuring numerous pairs of volcanoes and lakes clustered closely together within a small area, is a rare and valuable feature even on a national scale.
The park is large and can be broadly divided into two areas: the Akan region and the Mashū region. In the Akan region, the highlights include the majestic Mount Me-Akan and Mount O-Akan, as well as the beautiful scenery of lakes and marshes such as Lake Akan and Lake Onneto that spread out around them. In the Mashū region, the highlights include Lake Mashū, which boasts some of the world's highest water clarity, and Lake Kussharo, which can be viewed in its entirety from the surrounding mountain passes and peaks, along with the ever-changing forest scenery that varies with the seasons.

■Hokkaido East Trail—A 400-km Hike Through Three National Parks—
On October 5, 2024, the Hokkaido East Trail officially opened.
The Hokkaido East Trail connects three of Japan's most iconic national parks—Shiretoko, Akan-Mashū, and Kushiro Marsh—with the three rich bodies of water: the Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Nemuro Strait. Running through the center is a volcanic belt where you can feel the Earth's pulse, along with some of the country's most notable caldera lakes, vast marshes, diverse landscapes such as dairy farming and arable farming areas. By walking through these distinct regions over the course of several days, this approximately 410-kilometer-long, captivating "long-distance hiking trail" allows you to encounter the lifestyles, history, and culture of the people—from the Jomon period through to the settlement of Hokkaido—as well as the daily lives of the animals and people who inhabit the area.
It was established by the Ministry of the Environment as part of the "Akan-Mashū National Park Enjoyment Project," which aims to brand Japan's national parks as world-class "national parks." It serves as the cornerstone of the "Akan-Mashū National Park Trail Network Concept," which aims to enhance the trail so that visitors can fully enjoy the national park's natural beauty during extended stays and experience the joy of walking across a wide area. As a "long-distance hiking trail connecting three national parks and local communities," it aims to become a walking route where more people can deeply experience the charms of nature and the region.

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