Akan-Mashu National Park’s vast forests, lakes and mountains are the foundation of its ecosystems, and home to a variety of flora and fauna.
The mixed forests at the bases of Mount Meakan and Mount Oakan comprise needle-bearing and broad-leaved trees. These include the Sakhalin fir, Yezo spruce, Erman’s birch, katsura and areas of Sakhalin spruce. Rare marimo algae balls grow in Lake Akan, while Labrador tea plants grow in abundance around sulfuric Mount Io (Atosa-Nupuri).
The park’s animals include Japanese deer, brown bears, red foxes, Japanese sable and a host of avian species. Birds such as goldcrests, coal tits, black woodpeckers and great spotted woodpeckers live in the coniferous forests, while large grey herons and various duck species reside around the lakes and reservoirs. In winter, migratory birds such as whooper swans can be seen on Lake Kussharo, and white-tailed eagles can be spotted around lakes and ponds within the park.