Mount Meakan Loop Hike

Volcanic scenery and panoramic views of the Akan Caldera

This loop trail takes you from Meakan Onsen to the summit of Mount Meakan, then down to Lake Onneto for a fantastic view of the volcanoes and forests from the lakeshore. From the trailhead, the path goes through a Sakhalin spruce forest. From the Fifth Station of the trail on the Meakan Onsen route, you can see views of the azure Lake Onneto and the Daisetsuzan mountain range in the distance.

From the summit of Mount Meakan, an active volcano, you can see more active peaks to the north and south. The descent towards Mount Akan-Fuji takes you through a meadow carpeted with alpine flora in summer. Continue to Onneto Campground, then take the woodland trail along the lakeshore and through the forest to return to Meakan Onsen.

Highlights

Mount Meakan's crater

Dramatic views and active volcanoes

Mount Meakan, to the southwest of Lake Akan, is the main mountain in the Akan range. It is a composite volcano consisting of 10 peaks that together form its complex shape. From the summit of Mount Meakan, you can see Mount Ponmachineshiri, the highest of the 10 peaks (1,499 m), with the Ponmachineshiri Crater to the south. Next to Mount Meakan to the south, you can see Mount Akan-Fuji (1,476 m) and, beyond the crater and rising clouds, a panoramic view of Lake Akan and Mount Oakan to the north.

Meakan kinbai (Potentilla miyabei Makino)

Delicate alpine flora

After the snow melts on Mount Meakan around June, you can see a variety of alpine plants, creating a patchwork of color on the rocky ground. There are two species here that are named after Mount Meakan—meakan kinbai (Sibbaldia miyabei) and meakan fusuma (Arenaria merckioides). You can also find tarumaiso (Pennellianthus frutescens), komakusa (Dicentra peregrina), mountain harebell (Campanula lasiocarpa Cham.), and the alpine azalea. The meadow that spreads between Mount Meakan and Mount Akan-Fuji is wide and relatively flat, making it a good spot to take a break.

Lake Onneto's blue hues

The many colors of Lake Onneto

Lake Onneto, on the west side of Mount Meakan, was formed when an ancient volcanic eruption dammed a river. The name Onneto derives from the Ainu language, meaning old or big lake. The surface of the lake appears to change color depending on the weather, season and time of day, earning it the nickname, "the five-colored marsh."

Trail Map

Mount Meakan Loop Hike

Click to Expand Map