All you need to know about the unusual flora and fauna of the Mashu and Kussharo area

Get the most out of your visit to the Mashu and Kussharo region of Akan-Mashu National Park with a trip to the Kawayu Eco-museum Center. Learn about the 30,000-year history of the Kussharo Caldera, one of the largest in the world. Come here to discover more about the plants and animals that make this area so special, and learn about regional flowers that thrive here because of higher temperatures caused by geothermal activity.

Join the English-speaking staff on a guided tour of the nearby Sakhalin spruce forest. In colder weather, warm up next to the center’s fireplace and then make the most of the outdoors with affordable snowshoe and winter wear rentals. The center also hosts seasonal special events, so be sure to check the website for details.

The center has much to offer younger visitors. After collecting pine cones, nuts and sticks from the forest, kids can use the craft area's glue guns and other tools to make their own original creation. In the dedicated children's space, younger children can play with wooden toys or take a nap on the baby beds.