Mt. Meakan
Mt. Meakan (1,499 m) is the highest mountain in the Akan mountain range, standing to the southwest of Lake Akan. It is a composite volcano consisting of 10 peaks created by various volcanic eruptions, starting approximately 50,000 years ago.
The smell of sulfur that lingers in the air from near the foot of the mountain to its summit is a reminder of the extensive volcanic activity in the area. Because of this activity, the mountain’s soil is low in nutrients, and only hardy plants can grow here. From June to July, alpine flowers thrive on Mt. Meakan. Many of these are endemic species: Meakan-fusuma (Arenaria merckioides Maxim.), a perennial herb with white flowers, and Meakan-kinbai (Potentilla miyabei Makino), a perennial herb with yellow flowers, were both first discovered on Mt. Meakan. The flower meadow that spreads between Mt. Meakan and Mt. Akanfuji is considered one of the area’s most beautiful spots.
Mt. Meakan can be climbed in three to four hours on the various hiking trails in the area. Upon reaching the summit, visitors have a 360-degree panorama of the Pon-machineshiri and Naka-machineshiri Craters and rugged volcanic terrain, along with views of Lake Akan, Mt. Oakan, and Mt. Mashu in the distance.
The summit of Mt. Akanfuji, a cone-shaped volcano south of Pon-machineshiri Crater, can be reached via a zigzag path that branches off from the Onneto Trail. The climb takes approximately one and a half hours round-trip.