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Our guide
Lake Kussharo, in Akan National Park in eastern Hokkaido, is the largest caldera lake in Japan by surface area and the sixth-largest lake in the country; it is also the largest lake in Japan to freeze over completely in winter. Like many place names in Hokkaido, its name comes from Ainu. Its central island, Nakajima, is itself a stratovolcano. Volcanic gases make the water acidic, so few fish live in it except where streams flow in and dilute it; rainbow trout, which tolerate fairly acidic water, have been introduced.
We have not checked a public-transport route, so plan the journey on the map and look for local information before you go.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Lake Kussharoko Bihoro pass — 切干大根 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖～日の出 - Kussharo-ko ...sunrise - panoramio — shinohal · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖～日の出の瞬間 - Kussharo-ko ...sunrise - panoramio — shinohal · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖～津別峠 - Lake Kussharo-ko from Tsubetsu-toge - panoramio — shinohal · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Kussharo Lake 屈斜路湖 - panoramio — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖 Kussharo Lake - panoramio — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- Kussharo Lake 屈斜路湖 - panoramio (1) — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖 Kussharo Lake - panoramio (1) — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖 Kussharo Lake - panoramio (2) — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 屈斜路湖 Kussharo Lake - panoramio (3) — lienyuan lee · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Lake Kussharo (屈斜路湖, Kussharo-ko) is a caldera lake in Akan National Park, eastern Hokkaidō, Japan. As with many geographic names in Hokkaidō, the name derives from the Ainu language. It is the largest caldera lake in Japan in terms of surface area, and the sixth largest lake in Japan. It is also the largest lake in Japan to freeze over completely in winter. The name Lake Kutcharo is also sometimes used. The lake's central island, Nakajima (not to be confused with another island of the same name in Lake Tōya), is a stratovolcano. It is also Japan's largest recursive island. Volcanic gases render the lake water acidic, and it supports few fish, except in areas where inflowing streams dilute the water. Rainbow trout, which are resistant to fairly acidic water, have been artificially introduced.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Lakes & falls
Getting there
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