Akan National Park in December?

I was looking for a way to go up Akan National Park in early December (about 4 Dec to 11 Dec period) however it seems as though there isn't much transport options around aside from JR Trains... Any one know if Akan Bus actually operates during this period? We're interested in going around the mountains... If the Akan Bus doensn't operate, does anyone know of any good day tour operator?Thanks so much!

it seems as though there isn't much transport options around aside from JR Trains...

This is actually the case around the year. Akan National Park has an utterly inadequate public transportation network. Summer is already bad. Einter is even worse.

Any one know if Akan Bus actually operates during this period?

Yes. The best served route is Kushiro to Lake Akan with about four round trips per day. Between Lake Akan and Lake Masshu/Kussharo there is virtually no bus service around the year.

Two sightseeing bus route might be of interest. The data is from last year:
http://www.akanbus.co.jp/sightse/w001.html
http://www.akanbus.co.jp/sightse/w003.html

We are also planning to make a day trip to Akan Lake in Febrauary '09. We will base in Kushiro for the bus going to the Lake.
We wonder whether there are shops, restaurants near the lake/bus terminal opened during the winter months. We would like to shop a little and have lunch nearby the lake before returning to Kushiro on the same day.
Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

Yes, the shops and hotels at Lake Akan are open around the year.

It is nice to know there are still some activities around Lake Akan in the winter months, thank you once again!

Thanks Uji for your help!