As winter arrives, the beautiful Akan Lake in Hokkaido, Japan, is covered in snowflowers, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
Akan Lake is a lake surrounded by stunning volcanoes in Akan Mashu National Park in Japan. The lake is famous for being home to marimo, a rare type of algae that forms into beautiful green balls. Akan Lake is located about 75 km north of Kushiro city center. Buses operate 3 to 4 times a day between Kushiro and the lake, with stops at Kushiro Airport and the Akan International Crane Center along the way.
In winter, Akan Lake in Kushiro is blanketed in ice and adorned with blooming snowflowers on its surface. These ice crystals resemble flowers and can only be seen from December to March when the lake is frozen. On the frozen surface, visitors can witness a picturesque scene reminiscent of a field of white flowers.
Snowflowers are the flowers of winter that only bloom in calm conditions. They are even more beautiful when kissed by golden sunlight. Snowflowers form when fog crystallizes on the surface of the frozen lake in the early morning.
For snowflowers to bloom, the lake’s surface must be frozen and free of snow, the temperature must be below -15°C, and there must be no wind. This natural phenomenon occurs on quiet mornings, creating a scene that feels like a fairy tale.
Because Akan Lake is situated in a large volcanic crater, it is an ideal place for “cooling down”. The surrounding mountains and rare winds make the lake the perfect spot for snowflowers. These flowers can reach the size of a rose or even a hand.
Snowflowers are incredibly delicate; if they bloom at midnight, they will scatter like dust with a gentle breeze in the morning. They have a short lifespan, melting away in an instant. If the flowers “bloom” in the morning, they can grow to the size of a palm. The sight of flowers “blooming” in the early morning resembles a frozen crystal carpet.
There are many unfrozen holes in Akan Lake from which snowflowers emerge. While viewing the snowflowers, visitors may accidentally fall into these holes. Therefore, it is safer to join a guided tour with a local guide. The chances of seeing snowflowers are slim, so if possible, you should stay in this area for more than two nights. The scenery of Akan Lake in winter is incredibly picturesque.
