Things to do in Teshikaga

I had known that Lake Mashu is always covered in clouds and mist. Although it was cloudy today, I didn’t expect the visibility to be so good, allowing us to experience the full beauty of Lake Mashu. I was so lucky.

Lake Mashu is located in Teshikaga Town in eastern Hokkaido. It is a crater lake formed by geological movement 7,000 years ago. Its name comes from the Ainu word "mas-un-to", which means "lake with seagulls". Due to its relatively primitive ecological environment, Lake Mashu was once the lake with the highest water transparency in the world. Whenever the weather is sunny, the lake surface presents a unique "Mashu blue". Lake Mashu is shrouded in fog for about 100 days a year, and it often appears in the early morning of summer. There is a saying circulating in the local area: People who see Lake Mashu without clouds are often considered unable to get married in a short time, and if lovers see Lake Mashu on a sunny day together, they will break up. Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan are collectively known as the "Three Lakes of Eastern Hokkaido". Among the three lakes, the scenery is second only to Lake Kussharo (personal opinion), public transportation is the most convenient, and the most tourists are during the lunch hour. . 🚌Transportation 📍Take JR from Abashiri, Shiretoko Shari or Kushiro to Mashu, and then transfer to Teshikaga Bus "Mashu Line" to Lake Mashu First Observation Deck. This bus only runs twice a day (the brown part only runs in summer) 📍Starting from 2023, Akan Bus will operate the "Kushiro Shiretoko" sightseeing bus every late summer, early autumn and late winter. This bus is currently the only public transportation from Kushiro to Lake Mashu 📷Photography location 📍Lake Mashu First Observation Deck ⏰Best shooting time 📍12:00~15:00 (before 12:00, the observation deck is backlit, and after 15:00, the light on the lake is dim), early morning and evening in June and July 📍Lake Mashu First Observation Deck is 120 meters long from north to south and is divided into two parts, the old and new. The new observatory is a two-story building, with a souvenir shop and cafe on the lower floor and a terrace with a rest area on the upper floor. The left view is blocked by trees and the nearby lakeshore cannot be seen. The right view is not blocked by trees but the view is average. The old observatory is a simple arc-shaped terrace with no rest area. The view is slightly blocked by trees but the nearby lakeshore can be seen. It is located in the front, which is convenient for placing the God Island in the lake in the center when taking pictures. 📍There is a short section on the mountain road from Mashu Station to Lake Mashu where you can see Lake Kussharo in the distance. Sitting by the window on the left side of the bus has a better view. . ⚠️Precautions ⭕There are often wild animals around Lake Mashu. If you go there in the early morning or evening, it is recommended to bring a bear alarm

It can only be described as too beautiful. If you go to Akan National Park but don't come to Bihorodaira, it's a waste of time! A scene at the beginning of "If You Are the One I" was filmed here, but most people don't know this place. Standing at the highest point of the Bihorodaira Observation Deck, you can have a panoramic view of Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan. In summer, it is full of green, and in winter it is a snowy world. With the blue sky and white clouds and the deep blue Lake Kussharo, it is beautiful! Suggested visiting time: For photography enthusiasts, you can stay here for a long time, but for ordinary tourists, 15 minutes to half an hour is enough.

Lake Kussharo is the largest crater lake in Japan. The lake is calm, so there are many water activities. In addition to fishing in the lake, canoeing on the lake is the most popular sport! Paddling in pairs on the clear lake, you can see the emerald green tunnel in summer, the red maple leaves along the coast in autumn, and the sparkling transparent lake water in winter. It is dotted with frost flowers, and the trees along the coast are decorated with white mist and ice. It feels like you have come to the dream world of Frozen!

In the quiet and peaceful world of ice and snow, Sulphur Mountain is brisk and joyful. Above the white snow, the crater of Sulphur Volcano is surging with springs, the clouds are steaming, and the ice and snow are boiling and joyful! On one side of the mountain, there is steam rising, and on the other side, there is an endless world of tranquility. All the clutter is dissolved in the snow, and as far as the eye can see, there are only pure white snow shadows and glittering sunlight.

The hot spring is located on the shore of Lake Kussharo in Akan National Park in eastern Hokkaido. Even when the lake is frozen, it is still shrouded in mist. The evening is the most beautiful time of Kotan Onsen. While soaking in the warm natural sand hot spring, watching the sunset and the graceful white birds flying, this may be the romance that only Hokkaido can have.