Tracing the source: A canoe experience in clear streams and forests.

As I quietly paddle out at the river's beginning, the forest and sky reflect on the water's surface, and time flows slowly by. Together with the clear water of the source, it feels as though my heart is being purified as well.

The Kushiro River, known as a sacred place by canoeists in Hokkaido, marks the beginning of this journey from Lake Kussharo. Surrounded by the outer rim mountains, the caldera lake, cloaked in ancient forests along its shores, serves as a stage set by nature itself. As we paddle across the lake, the majestic peaks of Mount Akankō and Mount Meakandake come into view, and a vibrant aquatic world teeming with marimo moss balls and fish unfolds beneath our feet.

Eventually, we make our way to the source of the Kushiro River, which flows out from the lake. The crystal-clear surface reflects the sky and trees, allowing us to see the stones and shadows of fish on the riverbed. Here, one can feel the caldera's power, like the heartbeat of the Earth, in the midst of tranquility.

With each season, sunlight filters through the trees to illuminate the water's surface, autumn brings a splash of color with the changing leaves, and winter showers us with diamond dust. The canoe gently carries us through the interplay of movement and stillness in the caldera's time.

This tour, beginning at Lake Akan and traversing the Akan Caldera, Lake Kussharo, the Mashu Caldera, and over ten lakes and mountains, weaves together the stories of Hokkaido, where people and nature have coexisted in harmony. The time spent on the canoe truly becomes an original retreat space crafted by the wonders of the great outdoors.