Beyond the popular cities of Sapporo and Otaru, Hokkaido has much to offer. We venture to the East end to uncover these sights
Photos & text by Pamela Chow
Shiretoko National Park was named after this view, as “shiretoko” means “the end of Earth”.
Other than the oft-visited cities of Sapporo and Otaru, where else does the beauty of Hokkaido linger? With the island opening new bus routes and sprucing up its domestic airports, the far reaches of Hokkaido’s lesser-known regions are emerging into view.
We discover the delicious sights and tastes that East Hokkaido has been hiding.
LAKE AKAN
A centrepiece of Kushiro, Lake Akan is a stunning crater lake in the Akan National Park. From the pier, one can charter a boat ride around the lake or join a day cruise aboard a ship. We hopped onto a private boat that sped us to one of the walking spots on the lake; here, we learned about the curious marimo.
The marimo is a rare algae that is formed into fuzzy green balls, thanks to the currents that roll the algae across the banks of the lake. Over centuries, Lake Akan’s marimo can reach the size of soccer balls. A mini-museum here features the adorable formation and ‘collection’ of marimo.
Hotels surrounding Lake Akan boast hot springs with arresting views. Nearby, the Ainu Kotan is a must-visit village that showcases the work and traditions of Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people.
Nearest airport: Kushiro Airport, Memanbetsu Airport
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