3-Day Akan Summer Itinerary by a Local

Planning a summer trip in Eastern Hokkaido? As someone who grew up visiting Akan every season, I can tell you Akan is one of the best destinations in the region.

You’ll enjoy soaking in onsen by the lake, exploring Ainu culture, and strolling the small, cozy town surrounded by nature.

This 3-day car-free Akan itinerary will guide you through the best hot springs, scenic walks, and cultural experiences.

Plus, You don’t need a car at all! Akan is easy to reach by bus, and the town is small and walkable.

I’ll share my favorite onsen hotels, local eats, and tips for navigating public transportation, so you can simply enjoy your stay in Akan.

Let’s dive in and start planning your perfect summer trip!

Day 1: Getting to Akan

How to get to Akan

If you drive, Akan is just one hour from Memanbetsu Airport and Kushiro Airport.

You can reach Akan by bus from JR Kushiro Station or Kushiro Airport. The bus runs about five times a day.

It takes about 2 hours from JR Kushiro Station (2,750 yen) and 1 hour 15 minutes from Kushiro Airport (2,190 yen).

Find the official schedule by Akan Bus here.

Where to Stay in Akan

There are a few onsen hotels along the lake. Once you arrive in Akan, check in at your hotel and relax in an onsen! Here are a couple of hotels that I’ve loved staying over the years.

💡My tip: In Akan, book a plan with dinner included. Many restaurants close at night in Akan, so having dinner at your hotel makes your trip much easier.

For onsen lovers: The Forest Akan

My favorite hotel is The Forest Akan. This hotel has been recently renovated and rebranded in 2025, but my family and I have been long-time customers here for many years!

I love that it’s a mid-sized hotel, so it doesn’t get crowded with big tour groups. The hot spring water is the best quality in town in my opinion, and their buffet meals are great too.

But the best perk is that if you stay here, you get to enjoy onsen at 2 hotels!

👀 Read my full review of The Forest Akan

For families: New Akan Hotel

New Akan Hotel is one I love staying at with my family and I keep recommending to family travelers.

My favorite part of this hotel is a mix-gender rooftop onsen with the panorama lake view. Bathing wear is provided for free by the hotel, so you can enjoy the onsen as a family comfortably.

👀 Read my full review of New Akan Hotel

Day 2: Explore the town

Lake Akan Ferry

To start your day, get on an excursion ferry on the lake! From a ferry dock on the lakeside, it will take you on a round trip visiting a small island where you’ll have 15 min to observe a famous local symbol “Marimo” and a beautiful view spot on the way back.

Marimo is ball-shaped green moss that inhabits Lake Akan. Some of them grow up to 20-30 cm, which is bigger than the ones you can find anywhere else in the world.

These unique plants are a popular tourist attraction in Akan – you will find a lot of souvenirs featuring Marimo, ranging from snacks to stationaries.

The ferry ride takes 85 min and costs 2,400 yen per person. It departs multiple times a day, and reservation is not needed.

• Official website

Bokke Nature Walk

Once you finish the ferry ride, continue onto a 1.5 km loop walk from the ferry dock that takes you to “Bokke”.

It is a mud volcano steaming from underground, unique to this area. The name comes from the Ainu language meaning “boiling place”. It takes about 15 minutes walking on the lakeside.

After enjoying observing Bokke, you can take the same path back or another way to reach Akan Eco Museum Center in the town. Find a map here. The whole trip would take about 30 min.

Ainu Kotan

Ainu Kotan (Ainu village) is one of the must stops in Akan, located just one block away from the main street.

Ainu is the indigenous people of Hokkaido, and Ainu Kotan means “Ainu community“ in their language. Akan is home to about 120 Ainu people, which is one of the biggest Ainu communities in Hokkaido.

In Ainu Kotan here, you can find many Ainu traditional craft shops, as well as museum and theater exhibitions to learn about Ainu’s unique culture and history.

Day 3: Summer outdoor activities

Akan is located inside Akan Mashu National Park, home to lakes, forests, and mountains.

There are many ways to enjoy outdoor activities in the area. Here are my recommendations!

1. Hiking

If you are a hiking lover, there are many nice hiking trails for you to try around Akan. You can check available routes with the tourist information center.

I’ve been on this Mount Hakuto Trail, going through a forest and looking over Lake Akan at the end, which made an amazing hike. You can also see many Bokke spots here.

You will find some warning signs to keep your distance from Bokke as it produces a toxic gas. But no worries, you are safe as long as you stay on the trail, not getting closer to them.

This trail is 4 km long out and back, and takes about 2.5 hours to make a round trip. The starting and ending point is Lake Akan Ski Area, which takes about a 20 min walk or a 3 min taxi ride from the town.

2. Forest Walk Tour

Want to explore deeper in the National Park? Join a walking tour to visit natural springs and streams in a protected forest area, managed by Maeda Ippoen Foundation. The foundation is working to preserve the beautiful nature and wildlife there.

Note that you are allowed to enter this forest only accompanied by certified guides. SIRI, a local tour guide company, offers a few programs to explore the forest. You can contact them directly to make a booking for an English guide.

3. Cycling

If you are into cycling, rent an e-bike at the ferry dock. The price starts from 5,500 yen for 4 hours.

I recommend cycling to Lake Onneto, located 20 km away from Akan. This hidden-gem lake is known as “Lake of Five Colors”, as it changes its color on the water depending on the time and weather conditions.

Surrounded by a forest and with two big mountains behind, the lake offers beautiful landscapes and tranquil moments to enjoy nature.

Your next steps

Hope you are ready to plan your summer trip to Akan with this itinerary!

Where to go next after Akan? Head north to Shiretoko or explore the nearby lakes of Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu.

If you are looking for a longer itinerary that includes Akan, my favorites are this 5-day road trip including Shiretoko and this 6-day road trip including a coastal drive from Kushiro (both require driving).

Happy trip planning!