Our organization carries out tourism and community development initiatives in the Mizu no Kamuy Tourism Area, which encompasses Kushiro City (the Kushiro and Akan areas) and Teshikaga Town. Through collaboration with government bodies, businesses and local communities, we work to promote and preserve the region’s unique attractions so that visitors can also experience Untouched Hokkaido’s areas of natural beauty. Mizu no Kamuy is one of thirteen designated tourism areas within Japan, and is home to two national parks - Kushiro Shitsugen and Akan-Mashu. Plans for the parks emphasize a balance between their use and enjoyment by the public, and conservation - developing facilities to welcome visitors whilst also establishing restrictions to protect the ecosystem. A distinctive characteristic of Japan's national parks is the way in which they are protected by local citizens, and we intend to uphold this tradition.

We aim to promote the unique attractions of the region, including Lake Mashu, the only lake in the world which is registered as an international environmental monitoring station; nationally designated special natural monuments such as marimo moss balls and the world famous red-crowned crane, and the indigenous Ainu culture which maintains a philosophy of harmony with nature even to this day. We strive to create tourist destinations that attract visitors from around the world without disrupting their natural surroundings.

The area encompassing Lake Akan and Kushiro Shitsugen Wetland is Japan's largest wetland, protected by the Ramsar Convention as a site of international importance. It is home to unique flora and fauna as well as a winding river, giving rise to dynamic scenery unlike anywhere else on earth. Sadly, in recent years human activity in the surrounding area has caused rapid changes to the wetland’s natural environment. As awareness of the importance of nature grows, a movement has emerged to protect that which remains, and restore as much as possible of that which has disappeared.

Conservation projects include restoration of the wetland and regeneration of the forest. A blueprint for future initiatives was drawn up in 2015, detailing plans to actively regenerate the nature that has been lost. The aims of the project are to rebuild natural habitats to prevent the extinction of native species, and to restore the water and green spaces that are a vital source of life for us all.