To get around Kawayu-Onsen you need to have wheels, whatever form that may take. I stepped out of the Kinkiyu Hotel and a mere 20 meters away I found Ezo Riders. With my International Drivers License and Canadian-issued drivers license, I rented a 50cc scooter for the afternoon. It was a warm sunny day, so I made sure to keep my mouth shut to prevent any springtime bugs from flying down my windpipe. For around $25 U.S. Dollars I was able to thoroughly enjoy my day zipping about the countryside while being treated to spectacular views such as the undisturbed Lake Mashu of Akan National Park.
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Ezo Riders takes me to Lake Mashu
Exploring Akan National Park by scooter

Community writer

Ezo Riders in Kawayu-Onsen


Remember to bring you International Drivers License

Overlooking the valley and towards Lake Kussharo to the west

A long and winding road

The pristine waters of Lake Mashu

Looking north along the peninsula that is Shiretoko National Park

A national natural treasure

Looking south towards Kushiro

The path leading to the Lake Mashu observation platform

My ride
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1st trip up, totally foggy and visibility of 5 meters. So when I awoke to sunny, clear skies, I rented the scooter and raced up to the peak :) The next night I went on a Lake Mashu Star Tour and again, it was totally foggy with almost no visibility
Nicole Bauer
12 years ago
Lucky you, you got to see the lake! I'm jealous. It looks beautiful! When I was there last year it was so covered in clouds, we had to use our imagination how the lake would look like :-)
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