Mt. Meakan Trekking Trails
Mt. Meakan (1,499 m) is the tallest and most iconic volcano in Akan-Mashu National Park. There are three trekking trails to the summit, and each is divided into 10 stages with waypoints called “stations.” All three routes pass through forests, fields of alpine plants, and moonlike volcanic landscapes. The summit offers panoramic views of Lake Akan and the surrounding mountains when the weather is clear. From the summit, there is a trail to neighboring Mt. Akanfuji that takes 2.5 hours round-trip.
The Meakan Onsen Trail is the steepest but shortest of the three Mt. Meakan trails. The trailhead is near the Meakan Onsen parking lot. The path ascends through a Sakhalin spruce forest, then steepens after the Second Station. Lake Onneto is visible from the Fifth Station and, if the weather is clear, the Daisetsuzan mountain range can also be seen. After the Eighth Station, the trail winds steeply upward over rugged volcanic terrain, then levels out along the crater rim.
The Onneto Trail is slightly longer than the Meakan Onsen Trail. It begins at the Onneto Campground parking lot and gradually ascends through a mossy forest. Around the Eighth Station, the path forks. You can continue to Mt. Meakan or take a side trip to the peak of Mt. Akanfuji (1.5 hours round-trip). The final stretch of the trail to Mt. Meakan offers views of the Pon-machineshiri Crater, but it is steep and slippery, so caution is advised.
The Akankohan Trail is the longest but gentlest route. It begins at the Furebetsu Forest Road and takes three to four hours to the summit. This route offers excellent views of the Naka-machineshiri Crater, Lake Akan, and Mt. Oakan. Above the tree line, you will pass the Naka-machineshiri Crater rim before the trail merges with the Meakan Onsen and Onneto trails.