[Teshikaga Town] The mystical Lake Mashu

About 80km north of Kushiro City, Lake Mashu, in the town of Teshikaga at the eastern tip of Akan-Mashu National Park, has a mysterious reputation. Why? It could be the lake's beauty, charming viewers at first sight. Or it could be the puzzle of why the water level never changes. Or is it the fog that can cover the lake in an instant? Come search for the true face of Lake Mashu!

Lake Mashu has no inlets or outlets, so the water level never changes, and since no rivers bring vegetable plankton or sediment in, there's very little contamination in the water, making it one of the clearest lakes in the world. Its current clarity level is second only to Lake Baikal's.

When looking from Lake Mashu's Viewing platforms 1 or 3, you don't look out over the lake, but deep into it. Those who do often say "The beauty almost pulled me in!" The crater wall around the lake has a circumference of 20km and is 300-400m tall, with a steep grade of 45 degrees. Surrounded by these high walls and precipitous Mashu peak, the blue waters are all the more entrancing. This sacred, unapproachable beauty is breathtakingly enchanting. "

Not just sky-blue! Fog. Starry skies. Winter frost…All enhance the charm of Lake Mashu.

Go every day, you'll still never see the same view." Local guides say, as Lake Mashu's face changes with every season, or even hour. Summer fog. Stars twinkling in the jet black sky. The shadow of Mashu Peak and Kamuishu Island in the moonlight. Sparkling frost of winter. Sunset. Miraculous dawn, when the lake becomes a mirror. Lake Mashu has countless faces.

Lake Mashu's trademark is fog, appearing most often from June to September. At times, sea fog from Kushiro rolls over Lake Mashu, Pacific mists moving 500km inland, and you can see them pouring into Lake Mashu like a waterfall. At other times, the influence of radiant cooling causes fluffy mist to rise from the lake's surface, and the cool air over Lake Mashu chills the interior of Mashu Caldera itself, so even the fog has different flavors... Yet another of Lake Mashu's mysteries.

Among the many Lake Mashu tours local tourism companies run, their most popular are year-round Starry Sky viewing tours, Summer Sea of Cloud tours, or Winter Hoarfrost and Snow Trekking tours. Having come all the way to Kushiro, why not come meet Lake Mashu as well?


◆How to get from Kushiro to Lake Mashu
Train and Taxi: Take JR Senmohonsen toward Abashiri from Kushiro Station to Mashu Station (about 1 hour 15 min. ride). Then it's about 15 minutes by taxi. Most years, from the end of January to end of February, you can take a bus called Winter Eco Passport running a circuit of Mashu Station - Lake Mashu - Lake Kussharo - Kawayu Onsen.
Rental Car: From Kushiro take National Highway 391 to Route 52 leading to Teshikaga. Or, take Route 53 from Kushiro to Route 52 leading into Teshikaga. Each path is bout 80km.

◆For information about Lake Mashu Sightseeing or Activities
Lake Mashu Tourist Association　Tel: +81-15-482-2200　http://www.masyuko.or.jp/pc/english/index.html
Tourism Teshikaga　Tel: +81-15-483-2101　 http://tourism-teshikaga.co.jp/english/

To feel the waters of Lake Mashu, head to Uramashu Observation Platform and Kaminoko Pond

There is one more observation platform, in the north of Lake Mashu. It's called Uramashu Observation Platform. Located in Shari district's Kiyosato Town, this is the lowest of the 3 observation platforms, so even in Summer you can see the lake surface relatively free of fog.

And in the Uramashu area, you'll find the key to unlocking one of Lake Mashu's mysteries. If you go about 4km north of Kiyosato Pass, near Uramashu Observation Platform, you'll find Kaminoko pond. It's small, 220m around and 5m deep, but the water is incredibly clear and you can see straight to the bottom. It’s a little known spot where 12,000 tons of water gush forth every day. Fallen trees lie stretched out as if petrified, and the sight of dolly varden trout swimming over them is magical. And it is said this water seeps underground from Lake Mashu.

The mystery of how the water level never changes, despite there being no rivers running out of Lake Mashu... In fact, there are several spring fed ponds and rivers around Lake Mashu, and it appears as if they are all the result of water seeping through the hard bedrock under the lake. Why not extend your journey from Kushiro out to Uramashu Observation Platform and be blessed by the waters of Lake Mashu?


◆How to get from Kushiro to Uramashu Observation Platform (roads closed in winter) and Kaminoko pond
Train and Taxi: Take JR Senmohonsen toward Abashiri from Kushiro Station to Midori Station (about 2 hours ride). Then it's about 20 minutes by taxi to the pond, or another 15 minutes to Uramashu Observation Platform.
Rental Car: From Kushiro take National Highway 391 to Shibecha. From there take Route 13 and Route 150, then from Kiyosato Pass take Route 1115 for about 10 minutes and look for the signs. It's about 70km.

◆For information about Uramashu Sightseeing
Kiyosato Tourist Association　Tel: +81-152-25-4111

Beautiful scenery within 10km of Lake Mashu. You mustn't miss Lake Kussharo and Mt. Iyo!

"Japan's largest caldera lake, Lake Kussharo, is near Lake Mashu. With a circumference of 57km, the heart of the lake holds Nakajima Island, about 12km around. The western shore of Lake Kussharo is dotted with outdoor Onsen baths and hot spring water bubbling up from holes in the sand, making Sand Baths. And since Lake Kussharo is the source for the Kushiro River, it's a great canoeing location. If conditions are right, you can see the Sea of Clouds over both Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo, making this a deeply fascinating area.

And if you set out to the Bihoro Pass on National Highway 243, you can get a gorgeous panorama view of Lake Kussharo.

In the heart of the Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo area lies the 508m active volcano Mt. Iyo. This popular attraction constantly belches smoke and sulphur smelling gas. Around the foot of Mt. Iyo you can find a 100 hectare field of Ezoisu Tstutsuji flowers which reach full bloom at the end of June. These flowers are a gift of the high mountain, but Mt. Iyo has another: Kawayu Onsen, at the foot of the mountain. The strongly acidic sulphur springs come from the volcano heating the waters of Lake Mashu. Lake Mashu and Mt. Iyo together bring this blessing. Why not set out from Kushiro to Teshikaga to see this magical union of natural wonders?


◆How to get from Kushiro to Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, Mt. Iyo and Kawayu Onsen.
Train and Taxi: Take JR Senmohonsen toward Abashiri from Kushiro Station to Kawayu Station (about 1 hour 30 min. ride). Then it's about 5 minutes by taxi. Most years, from the end of January to end of February, you can take a bus called Winter Eco Passport running a circuit of Mashu Station - Lake Mashu - Lake Kussharo - Kawayu Onsen.
Rental Car: From Kushiro take National Highway 391 to Route 52 leading to Teshikaga. Or, take Route 53 from Kushiro to Route 52 leading into Teshikaga. It's about 100km to Bihoro Pass by any route.

◆For information about Lake Mashu Sightseeing or Activities
Lake Mashu Tourist Association　Tel: +81-15-482-2200　http://www.masyuko.or.jp/pc/english/index.html
Tourism Teshikaga　Tel: +81-15-483-2101　 http://tourism-teshikaga.co.jp/english/