Mt. Meakan and Mt. Akanfuji
Mt. Meakan is a composite volcano with 10 peaks that were created by various volcanic eruptions, starting approximately 50,000 years ago. Its two most prominent peaks, Pon-machineshiri (1,499 m) and the cone-shaped Mt. Akanfuji (1,476 m), are the tallest in Akan-Mashu National Park. This spot on the western shore of Lake Onneto is one of the best places in the park to view the two mountains side by side.
There are three hiking trails to the summit of Mt. Meakan: the Meakan Onsen Trail, the Onneto Trail, and the Akankohan Trail. All three routes pass through forests, fields of alpine plants, and rugged volcanic landscapes. Vantage points on the Meakan Onsen and Onneto Trails offer panoramas of Lake Onneto.
From June to July, myriad alpine plants bloom above Mt. Meakan’s tree line (around 1,000 meters). Two types of flowers were discovered on Mt. Meakan and are named after the mountain. The small, yellow Meakan-kinbai (Potentilla miyabei Makino) grows low to the ground and bears petals shaped like plum blossoms. Meakan-fusuma (Arenaria merckioides Maxim.) grows in clusters around rocks and has tiny white flowers with almond-shaped petals.
When the weather is clear, the peaks of Mt. Meakan, including Mt. Akanfuji, offer sweeping views of Lake Akan and the surrounding mountains. The route to the top of Mt. Akanfuji starts from the Eighth Station of the Onneto Trail and takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes round-trip.