Lake Akan area

Lake Akan sits inside the Akan caldera with Mt. Oakan and Mt. Meakan rising on its south rim, the latter still venting steam from active fumaroles. The lake is the only habitat for marimo, the spherical green algae protected as a Special Natural Monument. Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, the largest Ainu village in Hokkaido, runs daily kamuy noomi ceremonies and sells ita woodcarving from the Ainu Theater Ikor. Sightseeing cruises stop at Churui Island for the marimo exhibit. Lake Onneto, 17km south, is a smaller mirror caldera lake known for changing color through the day.