Lake Kussharo

Lake Kussharo is located in Hokkaido's Akan National Park and is the largest of the three lakes within it. It is a great destination for hiking, cycling and kayaking and has an abundance of free-to-use hot spring baths. Around the lake are naturally heated sandy beaches. There have been reported sightings of a mysterious creature in the lake leading it to be dubbed Japan's Loch Ness!

Even if you don't get to see Kusshii, as it is known, you can spend time exploring the area around the lake, have a barbeque or visit the two other lakes in the National Park, Mashu and Akan. The latter of these has the largest Ainu Village left in Japan.