Mt. Oakan Trekking Trail
Mt. Oakan (1,371 m), an active volcano in Akan-Mashu National Park, is popular with hikers for its sweeping views of the Akan Caldera, Lake Akan, Lakes Panketo and Penketo, and the wider Akan area.
The single trail to the summit of Mt. Oakan is challenging but rewarding. The trailhead is at Takiguchi Dam, at the eastern end of Lake Akan, just off National Route 240. The initial section of the trail is gentle, starting with a scenic path around the eastern shore of Lake Akan, and then passes by Lake Taro and Lake Jiro. This section takes 40 minutes and is a pleasant walk. The trail then climbs steeply through a mixed deciduous and coniferous forest before leveling out around the Fifth Station, where alpine plants and flowers grow in abundance. There are ruins of a Japanese army weather station around the Eighth Station, and from there it is another 20 minutes to the summit.