Akan, Mashu, KussharoAkan-Mashu National Park
- MOE
- National Parks of Japan
- Akan-Mashu National Park
- Akan, Mashu, Kussharo
- Recommended courses
- Kushiro River Canoe Tour Course
Kushiro River Canoe Tour Course
Course Outline
On this course, you will get in a canoe and paddle down the headwaters of the Kushiro River, the only river that flows from the pristine Lake Kussharo. The brilliant green of the new leaves in spring, the glittering days of summer, and the rainbow of colors in fall—as soon as the canoe floats away from shore, the tranquility of the water will awaken your senses and you will see a side of nature that you had never noticed before.
Experienced local guides operate the canoe tours, so even beginners can easily participate. The start of the Kushiro River headwaters course is the Choko ("Lake View") Bridge where you will board the canoe, pass under small bridges, and become one with nature and the flow of the river.
Highlights
A red-crowned crane on the riverbank
In winter, swans congregate at the lakeside near the starting point. If you follow the headwaters as far as Kushiro Marsh, you may see a red-crowned crane on the bank looking for food, Yezo deer, white-tailed eagles, or other animals. Encounters with such rare wildlife are an experience you will surely not soon forget.
Kagaminoma
At Kagaminoma, the water’s surface is as still and clear as a mirror (kagami means "mirror" in Japanese), enabling you to see the spring water welling up from the river bottom. You will also find aquatic plants, such as watercress and Ranunculus nipponicus, growing from the riverbed and painting a scene where the forest seems to meld into the water.
Biruwa Shallows
The only tough spot on this course is located just before Biruwa Bridge. Tranquil up to this point, the water’s surface gives way to rippling waves. When passing over the shallows, which are composed of two steps, the water splashes up making the paddlers cry out in surprise. Once past the shallows, you are nearly to the course terminus, Biruwa Bridge.
Course Map
