Hokkaido, Japan
Lake MashuMASHU
A lake with no river flowing in, and none flowing out.
43°35'N 144°31'E
01IntroductionIntroduction
A lake with no river flowing in, and none flowing out.
Teshikaga Town, Hokkaido. A lake enclosed by steep caldera walls, with no rivers flowing in or out. Known for its deep blue surface, Kamuishu Island floating in the lake, and frequent fog.
02Key InformationKey information
Key information about Lake Mashu
Only information confirmed in the sources (listed at the bottom of the page) is shown. Please check the latest official information before your visit.
- PrefecturePrefecture
- Hokkaido
- RegionRegion
- Hokkaido
- MunicipalityMunicipality
- Teshikaga Town
- CategoryScenery
- LakesSnowscapesNational parks
- ElevationElevation
- Lake surface elevation 351 m
- Protected areasProtection
- Akan-Mashu National Park
- AreaData
- 19.22 km²
- Maximum depthData
- 211.5 m
- LocationCoordinates
- 43°35'N 144°31'E
Lake Mashu — Hokkaido
Photo: Original uploader (WT-fr) Newton4ever at French Wikivoyage / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
03StoryStory
The Story of
Lake Mashu
Stand at an observation point on the outer rim, and a steep cliff drops from your feet to a deep blue lake below. No river flows into Lake Mashu, and none flows out.
In the centre of the lake floats a small island called Kamuishu. In summer, fog often covers the lake, and whether it clears to reveal the water is a matter of the day's luck.
In winter, when the outer rim is covered in snow, the blue of the lake looks deeper still.
04GalleryGallery
Photographs of Lake Mashu
4 photographs
—FilmTravel through film
Lake Mashu on film
人生で一度は見てほしい絶景。結氷前の摩周湖＜#弟子屈町公式ニュース＞
Source: 弟子屈町公式チャンネル / Watch on YouTube ↗
[4K][声と旅する国立公園] 阿寒摩周 | 日本の国立公園
Source: 環境省 日本の国立公園 / Watch on YouTube ↗
The films shown here are published on YouTube by official channels such as the Ministry of the Environment, local governments and tourism associations, and are presented using YouTube's embed feature. Copyright remains with each publisher. No connection is made to YouTube until you press play.
05SeasonsThrough the seasons
The four seasons of Lake Mashu
SpringSpring
The outer rim with lingering snow, and slopes slowly turning green again.
SummerSummer
The foggy season. The water revealed through a break in the fog is mysterious.
Recommended
AutumnAutumn
Autumn leaves on the outer rim, and a deep blue in the clear air.
Recommended
WinterWinter
The snow-covered outer rim and the blue lake. A vivid contrast found only in winter.
Recommended
06LocationLocation
43°35'N 144°31'E
Hokkaido, Teshikaga Town (Hokkaido)
An interactive map is in preparation. For now, the location is shown among all destinations.
07NearbyNearby scenic spots
Another landscape, close by.
Lake Akan
AKAN
About 37 km (straight-line distance)
Shiretoko
SHIRETOKO
About 75 km (straight-line distance)
Biei
BIEI
About 165 km (straight-line distance)
08RelatedSimilar landscapes
If you love this landscape.
TOWADA
Lake Towada
Aomori / Akita
A deep caldera lake resting on the border of Aomori and Akita.
TATEYAMA
Tateyama & MurodoToyama · Hokuriku
Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture. At Murodo-daira, the heart of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route at 2,450 m, the crater lake Mikurigaike holds blue water. Snow walls of Yuki-no-Otani in spring, alpine flowers in summer, autumn leaves in autumn.
Mountains / Lakes / Snowscapes
HAKUBA
HakubaNagano · Koshinetsu
Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. A mountain resort of farmland and villages set against the three Hakuba peaks, including Mount Shirouma at 2,932 m. A base for skiing in winter, and for climbing and the highlands in summer.
Mountains / Snowscapes / Highlands
10Photo CreditsPhoto credits
| Photo | Title / Photographer | Source | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mashu Lake (52357155626)Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 2.0 |
| Lac mashuOriginal uploader (WT-fr) Newton4ever at French Wikivoyage | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | Public domain |
 | Lake Mashū Japan during wintertime in Akan National Park HokkaidōKpravin2 | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
 | Mashu (6035585600)Makoto Nakashima | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 2.0 |
 | 初冬の摩周湖（Lake Mashu of the winter） - panoramiopakku | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | CC BY 3.0 |
 | Lake Mashu 2009OskNe | Wikimedia Commons ↗ | Public domain |