Your starting point on any visit to Kawayu-Onsen and the surrounding natural attractions needs to begin at the Kawayu Eco-Center Museum. I was fortunate in that my local contact, Shinobu Katase, works as a guide at the center was able to get me started on the right foot on my first day in the area.
The center is located in the heart of Kawayu-Onsen and I was able to walk from my accommodation, the Kinkiyu Hotel, to the center in less than five minutes. The center serves as an educational and information center for the Akan National Park as well as those areas that fall outside the National Park Service but also serve as points of interest. It also provides a comprehensive display of the variety of wildlife you are bound to come across should you venture into the woods. In addition to visitor information, the center is also involved in local engagement and participation. On the second floor, local photographers are able to participate and provide personal photography of the natural wonders throughout the region.
The facilities not only include information to school groups, visitors and locals but also provide guided walking tours, star tours at Lake Mashu and picnic tables for those wanting to enjoy an outdoor lunch after an outdoor adventure. Information is available in English and a number of the services provided, including some tours, are also available in English. The star tour is in the early stages of development and still in the process of offering programs in languages other than Japanese.
As Kawayu-Onsen sits in between Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu in the Akan National Park, you can choose from numerous trails near the center and throughout the bucolic setting that surrounds the town. One of the benefits of being situated near Mt. Iwo and the sulfur hot springs is the opportunity to enjoy a natural and free outdoor onsen. The center offers hikes around the Wakoto Peninsula at Lake Kussharo where you can stop and enjoy a warm, naturally heated onsen in the midst of a national park. The area is substantial in size, so it is highly advisable that you participate in a tour or rent a vehicle in order to truly take advantage of all the area has to offer.
The center is open every day with the exception of Wednesdays (and December 29th – January 3rd) with no admission fee to enter and enjoy the displays and receive information. It should also be noted that while the summer season is spectacular, the center is adamant that the best and most rewarding time to visit the area is in the winter. While very cold and at times very snowy, the locals are convinced that the true beauty of Akan National Park is to be enjoyed during the cold season.
