Special features
Take a gondola ride up Mt Hakodate Explore the Mt Showa Shinzan volcanic area Visit the Upopoy National Ainu Museum Drink Sapporo Beer in one of the city's beer gardens Explore the Daisetsuzan National Park Visit the remote Shiretoko Peninsula Take a bear watching cruise on the Sea of Okhotsk |
Day-walks
- Onuma Park Wetlands (3-4km) - Mt Usu, Showa Shinzan (2-3km) - Mt Kurodake (2-5km), optional peak climb for keen walkers - Cape Puyuni (2km), optional further walk - Shiretoko five lakes (3-4km) |
Inclusions
Domestic airfares Tokyo to Hakodate and Memanbetsu to Tokyo Transport and entry to all places described Accommodation and meals described The services of Riki Inamura, the tour escort Airport-hotel transfers in Japan |
Accommodation
Tokyo: MyStays Hamamatsucho Hakodate: Hakodate Kokusai Lake Toya:Lakeside Terrace Hotel Sapporo: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Sapporo Daisetsuzan NP: Hotel Taisetsu Shiretoko: Kita Kobushi |
2 Sep: Arrive Tokyo
Arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda airport by own arrangement with transfers provided to your hotel in Hamamatsucho. 3 Sep: Tokyo to Hakodate BD We will fly domestic together to Hakodate on the southern tip of Hokkaido in the morning. Enjoy sightseeing of the port area and Goryokaku Fort. Regroup at night for our welcome dinner. 4 Sep: Hakodate B Today, we will take a Ltd Exp train to Onuma Koen, where we can enjoy strolling along well-formed paths around the beautiful wetlands. In the evening, we will take a gondola up to Mt Hakodate. 5 Sep: Hakodate to Lake Toya BD On this day, we will take a Ltd Exp train to Toya, from where we will begin our exploration of the Showa Ginzan volcanic area. We will climb the active volcano of Mt Usu. In the evening, enjoy the views from your room of Lake Toya and take a onsen bath in this beautiful hotel. 6 Sep: Lake Toya to Sapporo via the Upopoy National Ainu Museum B Today, we will take two Ltd Exp trains to Sapporo, stopping by the contemporary Upopoy National Ainu Museum in Shiraoi. 7 Sep: Sapporo B For this day, you are free to explore Sapporo as you wish. You could visit the lovely Botanical Gardens or may want to visit Otaru town for its scenic canals and delicious sushi. 8 Sep: Sapporo to Daisetsuzan National Park (Sounkyo) BD We will take a Ltd Exp train and bus to Sounkyo in the Daisetsuzan National Park, which is the biggest national park in Japan. In the afternoon, we'll take a short stroll along Momijidani and with luck the beautiful autumn colours will be beginning to show here on the Japanese maple trees. |
9 Sep: Daisetsuzan National Park (Sounkyo) BD
Today, we will scale Mt Kurodake at 1984m. Fortunately, the lower reaches are accessed by gondola and chair lift. From there, you have two options. You can take an easy stroll along the Kamui Walk to a beautiful outlook. Stronger walkers may want to join Riki for the relatively steep climb to the peak. 10 Sep: Daisetsuzan National Park (Sounkyo) to Utoro, Shiretoko World Heritage area BD' We will take a charter coach four hours to the far north eastern tip of Hokkaido, the Shiretoko Peninsula. You will feel like you are at the end of the world and just a stone's throw away from Russia. 11 Sep: Utoro, Shiretoko World Heritage area BD On this day, we will take a locally guided walk of the Shiretoko Five Lakes. With luck, you may be able to spot a brown bear. 12 Sep: Utoro, Shiretoko World Heritage area BD Today, we will take a cruise boat on the Sea of Okhotsk to see the Shiretoko shoreline, which is mostly inaccessible on land. There is a high chance of seeing a brown bear on this tour. 13 Sep: Utoro, Shiretoko World Heritage area to Tokyo B By charter coach, we will make way for Memanbetsu Airport, which is surrounded by delightful farmlands. From there, we will take a domestic flight back to Tokyo. 14 Sep: Tokyo to home B Enjoy your day in Tokyo as you wish. Transfers will be provided to meet your international flight back home. If you would like to extend your stay in Japan, please talk with us about your ideas. |