Tokyo to Akan Mashu National Park: How to get to and around Akan Mashu National Park

How to travel between Akan Mashu National Park and Tokyo

By air

JAL, ANA and Air Do operate flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and both Memanbetsu Airport and Kushiro Airport. Peach Aviation, furthermore, connects Memanbetsu Airport to Tokyo's Narita Airport until March 25, 2023 before suspending operation of that route. Flight duration is 1.5 hours. The regular one way fare by JAL and ANA is around 47,000 yen, however, discount tickets are typically available for between 13,000 and 26,000 yen, and air passes for tourists can cost even less. Air Do's rate are typically 20 percent lower, while the fares by Peach start from around 6,000 yen one way.

See the orientation section below for details on how to get from the airports into Akan Mashu National Park.

2164_6800

How to travel between Akan Mashu National Park and Sapporo

By train

The one way trip by limited express train between Sapporo and Kushiro takes around four hours, costs about 9500 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. There are connections every 2-3 hours. From Kushiro, there are buses to Lake Akan (2 hours, 2750 yen 3-4 buses per day) or trains along the JR Senmo Line to Kawayu Onsen (100 minutes, 2100 yen, 5 trains per day).

By air

JAL and ANA operate multiple flights per day from Sapporo (Shin-Chitose and Okadama Airports) to Kushiro and Memanbetsu airports. Flight duration is about 40 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 24,000 yen, however, discount tickets are usually available for around 12,000 to 17,500 yen.

See the orientation section below for details on how to get from the airports into Akan Mashu National Park.

By bus

Kushiro Bus and Akan Bus jointly operate a few daytime and overnight bus round trips between Sapporo and Kushiro. The one way journey takes six hours and costs 5880 yen. From Kushiro, there are buses to Lake Akan (2 hours, 2750 yen 3-4 buses per day) or trains along the JR Senmo Line to Kawayu Onsen (100 minutes, 2100 yen, 5 trains per day).

2163_6800

How to travel between Akan Mashu National Park and Shiretoko

By train

The JR Senmo Line connects Kawayu Onsen Station in Akan Mashu National Park with Shiretoko-Shari Station at the entrance to the Shiretoko Peninsula. The one way journey takes 45 minutes, costs 1130 yen and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. From Shiretoko-Shari Station, there are buses to Utoro (50 minutes, 1650 yen, 4-5 buses per day).

By car

The car journey between Kawayu Onsen in Akan Mashu National Park and Utoro on the Shiretoko Peninsula takes roughly two hours and leads via Shari Town.

6800_6850

How to travel between Akan Mashu National Park and Tokyo

By air

JAL, ANA and Air Do operate flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and both Memanbetsu Airport and Kushiro Airport. Peach Aviation, furthermore, connects Memanbetsu Airport to Tokyo's Narita Airport until March 25, 2023 before suspending operation of that route. Flight duration is 1.5 hours. The regular one way fare by JAL and ANA is around 47,000 yen, however, discount tickets are typically available for between 13,000 and 26,000 yen, and air passes for tourists can cost even less. Air Do's rate are typically 20 percent lower, while the fares by Peach start from around 6,000 yen one way.

See the orientation section below for details on how to get from the airports into Akan Mashu National Park.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

Getting around

Akan Mashu National Park consists of two distinct sections. The western portion contains Lake Akan, while the eastern portion contains Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, Iozan (Sulfur Mountain) and the hot spring resort of Kawayu Onsen.

Because public transportation is infrequent and inconvenient, a rental car is recommended for accessing and exploring Akan Mashu National Park. By car, the park can be reached within 1-2 hours from Kushiro, Abashiri or Bihoro. Car rental outlets are available at the airports, in Kushiro and in Abashiri.

Akan Bus runs a few buses per day between Kushiro and Lake Akan in the park's western portion year round, as well as a few infrequent bus lines around Kawayu, Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. Regular bus service between the park's western and eastern portions is offered only during some weeks in summer and autumn. Akan Bus also operates sightseeing bus tours.

Bus service improves slightly during some weeks in winter (January 28 to March 5, 2023) and summer (no increase of buses in summer 2022) when additional, infrequent bus services for tourists are operated around Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo.

The JR Senmo Line, which connects Kushiro and Abashiri, traverses the eastern portion of Akan Mashu National Park, stopping at Kawayu Onsen Station along the way. It takes around two hours to reach Kawayu from either Kushiro or Abashiri by local train, and there are about five trains per day.

Two airports serve the region: Kushiro Airport is convenient for accessing Lake Akan, while Memanbetsu Airport can be an alternative option for accessing the park's eastern part.

From Kushiro Airport, there are direct buses to Lake Akan (one hour, 2190 yen one way, 4-5 buses per day). In order to reach Akan's eastern portion, take the airport bus to Kushiro Station (50 minutes, 950 yen) and catch the JR Senmo Line to Kawayu Onsen (100 minutes, 2100 yen, 5 trains per day).

From Memanbetsu Airport, take a bus into Abashiri (25 minutes, 920 yen), from where you can take the JR Senmo Line to Kawayu Onsen (2 hours, 1890 yen, 5 trains per day). There are also a few sightseeing bus lines from Abashiri and Bihoro into Akan Mashu National Park.