The Mashu Kussharo is a stunning nature walk through Japanese forests and with lookouts across ancient caldera and lakes.
Stay in Comfort
Stay, rest and recover in comfort in traditional Japanese Ryokan with Onsen, plus a waterside city hotel on your first night.
Volcanic Landscapes
The Mashu Kussharo Trail crosses striking volcanic terrain shaped by steam vents, sulfur fields, and vast caldera rims.
Hot Spring Onsens
The Mashu Kussharo Trail rewards hikers with hot springs and foot baths along the trail for relaxing and soaking throughout the day.
Cultural Heritage
The Mashu Kussharo Trail highlights the deep cultural heritage of the Ainu people along with the region’s history of sulfur mining.
Delicious Local Food
Enjoy included traditional local seasonal meals meticulously prepared by your hosts, plus lovely local food available along the way.
Overview
The Mashu Kussharo Trail offers a striking self-guided hiking experience through one of Hokkaido’s most dramatic volcanic landscapes, combining panoramic caldera views, steaming geothermal zones, and tranquil lakeshores. Hikers walk along the rim of deep-blue Lake Mashu, descend through quiet forests alive with wildlife, and pass the sulphur-vented slopes of Mount Io before reaching the expansive shores of Lake Kussharo. Along the way, the region’s rich Ainu history adds cultural depth, with remnants of traditional settlements and stories tied to the land. The journey ends with the comfort of natural onsen - steaming hot springs and footbaths, offering a soothing, quintessentially Japanese finish to a day on the trail. This package includes walking sections one and two of the Mashu Kussharo Trail, plus city exploration and countryside walking, and an absolute highlight of the walk is the multiple hot springs to be enjoyed.
Day by Day Itinerary
Fly Haneda Airport (Tokyo) to Kushiro Airport (not included in package). Public transport or taxi from Kushiro Airport to accommodation near Kushiro Station.
Walking; 10km self-guided 'city walk' exploring Kushiro City
Meals; Dinner not included on day 1, recommendations will be available
Stay; Japanese hotel near Kushiro Station (included)
Start the day with a Katte don (DIY seafood bowl) for breakfast in Kushiro (closed Sundays) before catching a JR train from Kushiro Station to Toya Station (tickets included). Then walk 12.1km from Toya Station to Hosooka Observatory then to Kushiro Shitsugen Station. From here it's a short 17 minute train ride (again with tickets included) to Kawayu Onsen Station, from where it's a 4km walk to Kawayu Onsen town area and your accommodation. Finish the day soaking in an Onsen in Kawayu Onsen Town.
Walking; 12.1km followed by another 4km, self-guided
Meals; Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch you will purchase from a Japanese convenience store.
Stay; Japanese Ryokan in Kawayu Onsen town
Start the day with breakfast at your accommodation before setting out on the second leg of the Mashu Kussharo Trail. This walk will be 25km from Kawayu Onsen to Nifusji Peninsula to Sunda, then through to the Kussharo Prince Hotel from where you'll get a pre-booked private taxi (included) back to your Ryokan in Kawayu Onsen town for a second night. Along the way you'll be able to purchase lunch from a local restaurant. Finish the day by again soaking in an Onsen in Kawayu Onsen Town.
Walking; 25km second section of the Mashu Kussharo Trail, self-guided
Meals; Breakfast and dinner included.
Stay; Japanese Ryokan in Kawayu Onsen town
Start the day with breakfast at your accommodation before a short local bus ride (10 minutes) to Kawayu Onsen Station followed by local JR train ride (tickets included) to Satsura Station. From here you'll walk from Satsura Station to Kiyosato-cho Station. Lunch can be purchased from a local convenience store. The walking on this day will be through Hokkaido countryside following country roads and soaking in rural Japanese life. On this, your final night you'll be staying in a comfortable Onsen Ryokan ready to soak, relax and recover after your long walk, and arrange your own dinner from a selection of local suggested restaurants.
Walking; 18.6km, walking from Satsura Station to Kiyosato-cho Station self-guided
Meals; Breakfast included.
Stay; Onsen Ryokan in Kiyosato-Town
Start the day with breakfast at your accommodation before catching a local bus or taxi (not included) to JR Kiyosato Station. From here it's a one-hour train ride to Abashiri Station then a 20 minute local bus to Memambetsu Airport, from where you'll be able to catch a 1.40pm flight which you've pre-booked back to Haneda Airport (Tokyo).
Walking; N/A
Meals; Breakfast included.
Stay; N/A
What's Included
Included
4 Nights Local Accommodation
4 x Japanese Breakfasts
2 x Japanese Dinners
Baggage Transfer Daily
Taxi Transfer on Day 3
JR Train Tickets (See Itinerary)
Local Support and Pre-Walk Briefing
Taxes (10% Consumption Tax)
Not Included
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
International Flights
Local Bus Fares
Drinks other than water with meals
Mashu Kussharo Trail Video
Mashu Kussharo Trail Accommodation
The accommodation that we select along the Mashu Kussharo Trail offers hikers an authentic and welcoming experience, blending cultural heritage with comfort. Hikers typically stay in a comfortable waterfront hotel on the first night in Kushiro City before staying two nights in a lovely Ryokan in Kawayu Onsen for the middle two nights, before a final night in an an Onsen Ryokan in Kiyosato-Town. One of the most cherished aspects of these stays is the warm hospitality of the hosts, who greet guests with genuine kindness and care. These accommodations provide not just rest, but a meaningful connection to the people and culture of the region.
Mashu Kussharo Trail Meals
One of the highlights of walking the Mashu Kussharo Trail is the opportunity to enjoy local meals. The meals that are included in this package are generally buffet or Kaiseki style. Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese multi-course haute cuisine that emphasises seasonal ingredients, meticulous preparation, and artistic presentation. Due to the set-menu nature of these traditionally made meals, catering to specific dietary requests can be difficult, so self-managing may be necessary for those with strict dietary needs.
Mashu Kussharo Trail Route
Mashu Kussharo Trail Walking Guide
Grading: Intermediate
Hikers on the Mashu–Kussharo Trail will follow a varied route through some of Hokkaido’s most dramatic landscapes. The journey begins on the rim of Lake Mashu with sweeping caldera views, then descends into quiet forests before transitioning onto peaceful countryside roads. The trail then leads across the steaming, sulfur-stained slopes of Mt. Io and finally opens onto the expansive shores of Lake Kussharo, where lakeside walking and natural hot springs offer a relaxing finish. The mix of volcanic terrain, serene woodlands, rural pathways, and wide-open water views creates a diverse and memorable walking experience. This walk also includes walking along rail trail and country roads, adding to the opportunity to soak up rural life in Hokkaido. Additionally, on the day that you arrive into Kushiro City there's an opportunity to explore the city self-guided.
Mashu Kusshara Client Experience
Booking the Mashu–Kussharo Trail through Hiking Trails Pty Ltd will give the traveler an experience that feels both effortless and deeply immersive. With detailed daily notes, maps, and all accommodations arranged in advance, they will be free to focus entirely on the journey—walking along the shimmering rim of Lake Mashu, moving through quiet forests, and tracing the steaming, sulfur-rich slopes of Mt. Io. Each day will end in a welcoming inn or lakeside onsen, where they can unwind and watch the light fade over Lake Kussharo. The blend of dramatic landscapes, Ainu cultural history, wildlife encounters, and hot-spring relaxation will create a self-guided adventure that is both richly personal and smoothly supported.
Some dietary restrictions cannot be fully supported on this hike due to the remote nature of the trail, limited food options in rural areas, and traditional Japanese meal offerings at accommodations. Meals often consist of a spread of delicious small dishes, many of which include local and seasonal ingredients. Because not all components can be adjusted or substituted, travelers with specific dietary needs—such as severe allergies or strict vegetarian or vegan diets—may need to self-manage their meals by bringing suitable snacks or choosing carefully from the dishes provided. For most guests, however, the traditional local meals are a highlight of the experience.
To get to the start of this package you will need to fly into Kushiro Airport from Haneda Airport (Tokyo). The current flight name for this is JAL 543 and the departure time is 12.56pm local time and arriving into Kushiro Airport at 2.45pm local time.
At the conclusion of the package you will be able to fly from Memambetsu Airport to Haneda Airport (Tokyo) for onwards travel. The departure flights are ANA4778 and JAL564. These flights depart at 1.40pm local time and arrive at Haneda Airport at 3.40pm local time.
These flights have not been pre-booked for you and are your responsibility to book and manage.
The flight details above are for reference only and are subject to change by the operator.
This package includes JR Train Tickets and local train travel which will have been pre-booked and paid for for in advance. Prior to your departure we will provide you with a QR code for these ticket bookings. You will need to scan this QR code at the JR Kushiro Station to print your tickets. You will need the QR code to access these train tickets.
Day 2; JR train from Kushiro Station to Toya Station
Day 2; JR train from Kushiro Shitsugen Station to Kawayu Onsen Station
Day 4; JR train from Kawayu Onsen Station to Satsura Station
Day 5; JR train from Kiyosato Station to Abshiri Station
As many Japanese towns and stations share the same names, and as some of these travel legs connect with other transport or walking sections, it is important that you pay close attention to your personalised itinerary.
Local buses are required for some connections within this package. As local buses cannot be booked in advance, whilst we will provide details on the how and where, these have not been pre-booked for you. You will need to carry local currency for these buses.
Bus fares as at 1 December 2025;
Kushiro Airport - Kushiro City / 950JPY per person
Taiho Sumo Museum - Kawayu Onsen / 290JPY per person
Abashiri Station - Memanbetsu Airport / 1050 JPY per person (on the last day)
We can also book a private car for you from Kushiro Airport - Kushiro City for an additional fee.
Whilst the prices displayed are for twin share rooms, we can also provide pricing for single travellers and for travellers who wish to have their own rooms. These prices are higher per person as the operators charge more for single share accommodation.
We're pleased to offer group discounts on many of our self-guided hiking packages.
Group discounts apply to packages where Hiking Trails Pty Ltd is the operator such as the Kumano Kodo and Shin-etsu Trails in Japan, and not where we act as a reseller such as the Great Walks of Australia. Our group discounts apply to twin and triple share rooms only. To access group discounts, the booking must be completed as one booking with a consistent itinerary. Group discounts only apply to new bookings.
4-5 in group - SAVE $100 AUD per person
6-7 in group - SAVE $150 AUD per person
8+ in group - SAVE $200 AUD per person
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