Mt Meakan

Mt Meakan (Japanese: 雌阿寒岳) is a hyakumeizan* that rises above the forests and lakes of eastern Hokkaido as one of the most vivid volcanic mountains in the Akan–Mashu region, a peak featuring steam, sulphur and stark alpine terrain. It is an active stratovolcano whose summit is shaped by multiple craters, deep, jagged basins formed by repeated eruptions over thousands of years. The topography is raw and dramatic with gravel slopes, fumaroles venting white steam and crater walls stained in ochre and grey, all set above the calm blue of Lake Akan and other smaller lakes.

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Meakan is one of the most active mountains among the hyakumeizan, monitored continuously due to periodic phreatic eruptions, including events in 1998, 2006, and 2008. It stands on the southwest rim of the Akan caldera, paired with Mt Oakan across Lake Akan. These are female and male mountains in the Ainu tradition. The mountain’s craters, including the large outer rim formed by the eruption of the central Matineshiri cone, are among the most striking volcanic features in Japan. The views from the summit are sweeping and elemental. From the crater rim, hikers look directly into the steaming basin below, while beyond it the ridges of the highlands stretch toward the horizon. On clear days, the panorama is a full 360‑degree sweep of volcanic terrain, forest and distant lakes.

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Although it was largely cloudy when I visited, the hiking is steep, atmospheric, and shaped by the mountain’s activity. Three main routes climb through dense forest before emerging onto barren volcanic slopes where sulphur hangs in the air and vegetation thins. The popular Meakan Onsen route offers the most direct approach, although I did a longer loop hike. Trails climb loose gravel and rocky ridges, eventually reaching the crater rim. For me, this was an unforgettable vantage point that looked down into the heart of the volcano. Because Meakan is closely monitored, access can change. During periods of elevated activity, a no‑entry zone around the summit is enforced, and trails may close.

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* 100 famous mountains of Japan

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(All information here is based on personal observations and experiences. Check official sources before planning or starting any hikes.)