On 2 Sept 2024, my wife and I drove up here. We weren’t sure if we were here before. Anyhow, we stayed long and bought some souvenirs. I had a loss and find - I dropped a pudding near a seat!
Recommend observation deck 3.
Somehow google recommends deck 1 as the best but for me deck 3 was def better. Video 1 is of deck 3 and you get a beautiful angle of the lake. Didn’t bother taking videos for deck 1 except for the fox that was roaming around 🤣
Recommend trying the Blue ice cream (ramune flavoured) as well as the Yubari melon (1 for 600 yen)
This is a very beautiful lake and makes for incredible hiking. We visited recently and added a day hike around this lake to the short hike past Mt Io. Getting to the lake is a little tricky if you are staying in Kawayu Onsen. There is a bus which operates on a limited schedule from Mashu town but leaves late and returns early leaving very little time for anything more than visiting the observation deck. Definitely not for a long day hike. We didn’t have a car so ended up hitch hiking to and from the lake. Fortunately Japanese people are extremely nice and we easily got rides to and from Kawayu Onsen.
We did the hike around the south portion of the lake to the Mt Kamui lookout point. An amazing hike with zero visibility on the way out but the clouds lifted for the return and we finally got to see how beautiful the lake is. Afterwards, we got to go back to our ryokan and relax away our pain. If you want any specific info on this hike, feel free to reach out to us. You can find our exact route by searching for Career Break Adventures and Lake Mashu, Japanese Hike or something similar. Good luck and enjoy!
My favourite of the Akan national park lakes. The scenary was stunning, there were not many people around and it was just beautiful scenery. There is a hike there, but i reached too late and was too tired to try.
Lake Mashu was formed approximately 7,000 years ago following volcanic activity that led to the collapse of a large area, creating a caldera that was subsequently filled with rainwater and groundwater.
No, swimming in Lake Mashu is not allowed. The lake is protected to preserve its natural beauty and water quality.
Lake Mashu is accessible by car or bus. The nearest town with a train station is Kushiro, from where you can take a bus or drive to the lake. There are two observation decks, with the first being more easily accessible and offering panoramic views.
Yes, there are hiking trails around Lake Mashu, including paths that lead to the observation decks. More adventurous hikers can find trails that offer closer views of the lake, though these can be more challenging.
The best time to visit Lake Mashu is during the summer months, from June to August when the weather is warmer and the chances of seeing the lake without fog are higher. However, the lake has a unique beauty in every season.
