Pop Japan

Hailed as the clearest lake in the world, Lake Mashu is a crater lake in the mountain of the same name. Together with Mount Manshu, it is part of the Akan National Park in Hokkaido Prefecture.

The lake was said to be originally called by the Ainu people as Lake of the Devil or Mashinko. Eventually, the Japanese just referred to the lake using the name of the nearby mountain, Mashu.

During summer, the lake creates a thick layer of fog within the surroundings. A native legend has it that all the people who are bale to see through the fog will get bad luck.

Photo by Tsu. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)

Tags: clearest lake in the world, lake mashu, mount mashu, akan national park, hokkaido prefecture, ainu people, lake of the devil or mashinko, summer, thick fog, bad luck