Hokkaido Walking & Hiking Tour: Summer

Day 1

Meet in Kushiro

Welcome to Kushiro!
Meet your guide and your group at your hotel. We will then enjoy a welcome dinner at a local robatayaki restaurant. Robatayaki, said to have originated in Kushiro, is a style of cooking on an open hearth called an "irori". For centuries, fishermen in Northern Japan used this style of cooking on their boats, where they would encase hot coals in a box to cook their fish. Enjoy dinner and savor delicious grilled seafood of the highest quality.

Welcome Dinner

ANA Crowne Plaza Kushiro or similar class (Western Hotel)

Day 2

Explore Kushiro Marshland and travel to Akan Onsen

This morning, we will travel by private vehicle to Kushiro Marshland, known as Japan's largest wetland area. Kushiro features a diverse ecosystem and Japan’s first Ramsar Site, a wetland site designated to be of international importance. Known as a national treasure and loved by birdwatchers, the area is home to the red-crowned crane and other abundant wildlife. Take a walk through the forest towards the observatory, which overlooks the vast marshland. You will then continue on the trail through the marsh, exploring the plants and animals that thrive in this region. Afterwards, we will head onward in our vehicle to Lake Akan, a crater lake in the Lake Akan National Park. Enjoy the scenery of the surrounding mountains and the marimo algae which forms itself into a ball shape. This area is also home to the largest community of the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido. Enjoy a two night stay in a stunning Onsen hot spring hotel with the lakeside setting.

Walking distance: 6.8 km / 4.2 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: 3 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Akankoso or similar class (Onsen Hotel)

Day 3

Hike Mt Meakan

Today we will climb Mount Meakandake, an active volcano which has formed the landscape around Lake Akan. We will hike through the astonishing scenery, as the trail offers dramatic views and lovely alpine flowers unique to Hokkaido. Enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Onneto and Mount Oakandake. According to Ainu legend, Mount Meakandake and Mount Oakandake were a married couple, however, Oakandake was unfaithful to his wife. The volcanic activity that continues to this day is said to symbolize the conflict between them.

Walking distance: 6.6 km / 4.1 miles
Elevation gain: 788 m / 2585 feet ascent; 788 m / 2585 feet descent
Time required: 4.5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Hotel Akankoso or similar class (Onsen Hotel)

Day 4

Visit Ainu Kotan Village in the morning and afternoon walk to Mt. Iou

We will start our day at the Akanko Ainu Kotan Village where we will have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Hokkaido’s indigenous inhabitants. There we will watch a traditional dance performance that has been officially recognized as an important feature of Japan’s cultural heritage. After the performance, travel to Kawayu Onsen aboard private vehicle and enjoy a lovely walk to Mount Iou, also known as Atosa Nupuri or ‘Naked Mountain’ in the Ainu language. Mount Iou, an active volcano, allows guests to walk by the steaming, sulfurous vents where you can find people selling eggs cooked by the natural heat of the mountain. Tonight we will stay at a charming Ryokan inn in Kawayu Onsen, a town known for having some of the highest-quality thermal waters in all of Hokkaido. In the Ainu language, the town is called ‘Seseki-petsu’, which translates to ‘hot river flowing through the village’.

Walking distance: 5.2 km / 3.2 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: 2.5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Kussharo Prince Hotel or similar (Onsen Hotel)

Day 5

Walk along Lake Mashu and traverse the Mashu Caldera

In the morning, we take a short journey by private vehicle to the Lake Mashu, known as one of the clearest lakes in the world. Also known as one of the most beautiful in all of Japan, it is often shrouded in mist during the summer months, providing a mystical look to the sacred lake. Take a short hike up to the peak of Nishibetsudake, where you can see beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. We will descend to the other side of the mountain, where we will enjoy marvelous views of the vast grass farmland special to Hokkaido. After the hike, continue on by private vehicle to Abashiri, a modern town which relies on its fishing industry. Locals to the area will tell you that the freshest seafood comes from the Okhotsk Sea. Enjoy your night stay in another beautiful Onsen Ryokan.

Walking distance: 11.4km / 7.1 miles
Elevation gain: 553 m / 1814 feet ascent; 763 m / 2503 feet descent
Time required: 5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Ryokan Kagariya or similar class (Onsen Ryokan)

Day 6

Wakka Nature Centre

Today we will have the option to go cycling or walking through one of the largest wildflower nature reserves in Japan. This reserve is near Japan’s third-largest lake, Lake Saroma. We will make our way to the Wakka Nature Centre, where we can spot hundreds of different types of flowering plants, especially during the summer months. Afterwards, we will visit the Museum of Northern People and learn more about the Ainu. The Ainu have a history going back over 2,000 years to the time of their arrival in Hokkaido from Siberia. The area also has mysterious traces of an even earlier culture called the Moyoro. Learn about the Ainu's way of life, with several museum exhibits showcasing the clothing, food, and even transport that the indiginous Ainu used, as well as how Ainu life compares to those of other Northern cultures. From there we will make our way to , a lovely hot-spring town and gateway to the vast Shiretoko Wilderness. We will enjoy our next three nights at a local hotel, taking advantage of the refreshing Onsen baths and regional delicacies.

Optional
Cycling/Walking distance: up to 20 km / 12.5 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: 2 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort or similar class (Onsen Hotel)

Day 7

Sea of Okhotsk boat ride and Shiretoko Five Lake trails

If the weather is in our favor today, we will go and enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Okhotsk. This sea is known as one of the most biologically productive, allowing various kinds of fish, crabs, and other marine life to thrive. You will also be able to see spectacular views of the Shiretoko Peninsula’s coastline and possibly even catch glimpses of Hokkaido brown bears and their cubs, as well as deer, foxes, and marine life including dolphins and whales. If the weather is not appropriate enough for a boat ride out at sea, we will stay on land and hike a trail leading to a stunning waterfall instead. In the afternoon, we will take a local bus to the famous Shiretoko Five Lakes, which were formed by a volcanic eruption long ago. Enjoy walking on the beautiful nature trails, taking in views of the stunning lakes and tranquil surroundings.

Walking distance: 3.4 km / 2.1 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: 1.5 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort or similar class (Onsen Hotel)

Day 8

Rausu

Start your day with a journey by local bus to a trail that leads to a UNSESCO World Heritage Site and the largest lake on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Lake Rausu. This is a wonderfully remote area whose beauty is not widely known, making it a wonderful spot to escape crowds of tourists. Here you can experience spectacular views of Mount Rausu, the highest peak of the peninsula. You will be provided with boots for your convenience, as the land surrounding the lake consists of several mud trails. Later in the evening, we will return back to our lodges in Utoro Onsen, where you can enjoy your last night on the tour with a warm hot spring bath.

Walking distance: 6.3 km / 3.9 miles
Elevation gain: 187 m / 613 feet ascent; 187 m / 613 feet descent
Time required: 3 hours

Breakfast / Dinner

Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort or similar class (Onsen Hotel)

Day 9

Tour ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Your tour guide will arrange for your transfer to Memanbetsu airport for your return flight to Tokyo or Osaka airport.

Breakfast