If you ever want to learn something about the spherical algae, the creature you never notice before and also want to get to know the life of Ainu people, you should come here.

Marimo Algae
The first thing that a visitor come here is to visit the Marimo Algae. Those creatures grow in fresh water. And with the accumulation a large number, it will form a green spherical. And the green spherical body grows quite slow, usually it would cost one hundred years to grow to 10cm. however the Marimo Algae here are the largest in the world, with a diameter of 30cm, which made them became the Special Natural Monuments.

The Marimo Festival
Like the Sapporo Snow Festival, the Marimo Festival gets its popularity in Eastern Hokkaido. And in the year 1950, the festival got started. And who start this festival? The answer is the indigenous Ainu, the original people lived in Hokkaido.
There are many events happened during the festival. On the first day, people will give a lecture about the growth of the this plant, and people will take a field trip in their living places. On the second day, according to the traditions of the ancient Ainu, there will be Ceremony to protect the Marimo and people will also held a Marimo Dance Parade. And when the Ceremony of Returning Marimo to the Lake; the festival will have to stop. The main purpose of the festival is to giving blessing to nature for the good harvest. And all the night through visitors can witness the procession of the pine torch and the firework play. During the festival, all the tourists can enjoy all kinds of interesting things by the lake shore, like bazaar and some game competitions.

Event Information
All the events will take place in the Akanko Onsen from October 1st to October 3rd (any change will be put on the notice board, please check it before you come here). And the festival holds in the city of Akan-cho, Kushiro, Hokkaido Prefecture.