A stream of people abruptly started walking back towards us against the one-way flow of trail traffic. “Bear!” We looked to our guide, who confirmed we needed to turn around and join the line of ...

Discover spherical algae balls, majestic sea eagles, giant salamanders and more in Akan-Mashu National Park and Daisen-Oki. In winter, red-crowned cranes can be seen performing a bonding dance in and ...

In the winter months, at the bottom of Lake Akan in Hokkaido, Japan, harmless underwater algae balls that can grow to be bigger than basketballs are protected from death by an ice shield on top of the ...

Marimo are a unique growth form of lake algae and used to be found in cold lakes in Japan and Northern Europe. However, the only place where specimens larger than 20 cm in diameter can now be found is ...

Climate change could overexpose rare underwater "marimo" algae balls to sunlight, killing them off, according to a new study at the University of Tokyo. Marimo are living fluffy balls of green algae.

North of Kushiro City, Hokkaido, the deep waters of Lake Akan settle into a steady sheet of white. Once the ice is thick enough, the lake becomes a bustling hub of winter recreation. Visitors can zip ...

Get off the beaten track to experience Japan’s health-focused traditions, nourishing natural resources, and some of the finest ingredients in the country. Hokkaido is known for its expansive natural ...

Visit Hokkaido for winter sports, year-round outdoor adventures, hot springs, cultural experiences with the Ainu, stunning ...

Climate change could overexpose rare underwater "marimo" algae balls to sunlight, killing them off according to a new study at the University of Tokyo. Marimo are living fluffy balls of green algae.

Rising lake water temperatures threaten the survival of marimo, unique algal balls found only in cold lakes. Researchers clarified that the warmer it gets, the more the inward decomposition outpaces ...