We call the sightseeing area in Eastern Hokkaido that includes the Kushiro Wetland, Lake Akan, and Lake Mashu the Kamui of Water Tourism Area.
“Kamui” is the Ainu word for the spiritual beings that dwell in nature and animals, and in particular “the kamui of water” represents the spiritual presence in water, symbolizing the region’s abundant water blessings and its relationship with people.

The Kamui of Water Tourism Area lets you experience a land shaped by a water deity, where wetlands, lakes, volcanoes, and Ainu culture weave together the story of the earth.
At the Kushiro Wetland, Japan’s largest wetland, you can enjoy vast scenery that is home to the specially designated natural monument, the red-crowned crane, and observe seasonal nature along boardwalks and trails.
Lake Akan is known as the only place in the world with large spherical colonies of marimo, and through facilities that teach marimo ecology, Lake Akan Onsen, and Lake Akan Ainu Kotan you can encounter Ainu culture that has been passed down alongside the water.
At Lake Mashu, visitors are greeted by the mysteriously deep blue water called “Mashu Blue” and a caldera lake that boasts some of the world’s highest water clarity.
Nearby at Lake Kussharo and Mt. Io, you can also see the dynamic natural expressions created by volcano and water, such as lakeside hot springs and steam vents.

We warmly present the stories of water, land, and culture that you can only encounter in the Kamui of Water Tourism Area.