Mt. Oakan

Mt. Oakan rises 1,370 meters east of Lake Akan, accessible from a trailhead at Takiguchi Waterfall about five kilometers from the lake. The round trip takes around seven to eight hours. On a clear day, the summit offers views of Lake Akan, the twin lakes Penketo and Panketo, Lake Kussharo, and the Daisetsuzan range. In Ainu, the mountain is called Pinneshiri, meaning male mountain, considered the husband of nearby Mt. Meakan. The trail passes through moss and conifer forest, then creeping pine tunnels, with alpine flowers like crowberries and cowberries near the top. Brown bears inhabit the area, so take appropriate precautions.