Planning a Trip

Getting There

By JR Train & Bus -- Because there's no train station at Akanko Onsen itself, transportation to the resort town is by train to Kushiro or Kitami and then by bus to Akanko. Kushiro is about 4 hours from Sapporo by JR train; Kitami is 4 1/2 hours away. From JR Kushiro Station, buses depart four or five times a day for Akanko; the 2-hour trip costs ¥2,650 ($22/£11) one-way. From Kitami, buses depart twice a day (at last check at 9:30am and 3pm), and the 70-minute trip costs ¥1,800 ($15/£7.50). You must make a reservation for this bus by calling tel. 0157/23-2181 in Kitami or tel. 0154/67-2205 in Akanko.

If you're coming from Sounkyo Onsen, two buses a day connect Sounkyo Onsen with Akanko Onsen, with the one-way fare costing ¥3,260 ($27/£14) for the 3 1/2-hour trip. (Reservations required; call tel. 01658/5-3321 in Sounkyo, or 0154/67-2205 in Akan, or drop by the bus terminal in either town.)

All bus fares are half-price for children.

In addition to regular buses, there are also sightseeing buses that take in the most important sights in both Akan and Kushiro Marshland national parks along the way. This is the best way to see the national park if you don't have your own car.

By Plane -- Because Akan National Park lies at the eastern extremity of Hokkaido, you may wish to fly at least one-way between here and Tokyo. The closest airport to Akanko Onsen is Kushiro Airport, with the flight from Tokyo taking about 1 1/2 hours. A one-way ticket costs ¥35,700 ($298/£149). From Kushiro Airport, buses travel to Akanko in about 1 hour and 20 minutes for ¥2,090 ($17/£8.50).

Visitor Information

Akanko Onsen's Tourist Association (tel. 0154/67-2254; daily 9am-6pm) is located just a minute's walk from the Akanko Onsen bus terminal in the direction of the lake. (Turn right out of the bus terminal and take the first left; it will soon be on your right, just past the police box.) Occasionally there's an English-speaker here, and in any case you can pick up an English-language pamphlet about Akan National Park with a map of the town and two foldouts on hiking. The staff will also make reservations for hotels and ryokan. Note: In 2009 the tourist office will move to the main street, next to the post office and across from the New Akan Hotel Shangri-La. More information is available at www.lake-akan.com.

For information on the park and its natural wonders, drop by the Akankohan Eco Museum Center (tel. 0154/67-2785; Wed-Mon 9am-5pm), located beside the lake about a 7-minute walk from the bus terminal. Displays, in Japanese only, show off native flora and fauna, including the Hokkaido brown bear and sika deer (both stuffed), marimo (duckweed), and live freshwater fish such as white-spotted char and kokanee salmon. Admission is free.

Orientation & Getting Around

Akanko Onsen is small, and walking is the best way to get around. It consists primarily of one main street that snakes along the lake, with ryokan and souvenir shops lining both sides.