Eastern Hokkaido Private Summer Tour: Wildlife and Mysterious Landscapes

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Chitose Airport - Tokachigawa

Welcome to Hokkaido! We hope you had a nice flight. Your journey starts now, as we make our way to one of the rarest hot springs in the world. Tokachigawa Onsen is a “Moor” (plant derived) hot spring giving it a higher content of natural moisturizing ingredients compared with ordinary hot springs. Take your time letting the heat and minerals relax your body to the core and be amazed of the healing power it will have on your skin! You’ll also be surprised by how rejuvenated you’ll feel tomorrow morning, which is perfect timing as we begin our adventure towards Eastern Hokkaido, land of the rising sun!

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Tokachigawa - Akan

After an inspiring drive through the beautiful countryside on open roads, you’ll arrive at a breathtaking Rapeseed field for a unique learning experience with a local guide followed by a picturesque picnic! You’ll be led through a real production field and learn how the local food makes its way from the farm to the table. This isn't a sightseeing field and is normally off-limits to guests! Enjoy a picnic in the middle of the vast field with fresh ingredients harvested directly from the local farm. This is as fresh as it gets!
Before arriving at your hotel in Akan, we’ll stop by the majestic Ikeda Wine Castle built on a hill, and a local gelato shop too! Check-in to your hotel and have fun exploring the Ainu village at night.

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Akan - Shiretoko

Today you’ll trek to places not many have been before. Among numerous lakes in Hokkaido, Lake Mashu is especially beautiful and the most mysterious with some of the clearest waters in the world. Up to 211 meters deep, it has a visibility of 41.6 meters! This mysterious lake never changes water levels despite not having any rivers flowing in or out. Visit Lake Kussharo located in Akan National Park! Enjoy the beautiful caldera lake with various outdoor activities available, such as kayaking, canoeing, cycling, fishing and trekking. You’ll also have a chance to stop by Mt lo, an active volcano that spews clouds of sulphur into the air, providing a unique photo opportunity! After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll make our way to Shiretoko National Park.

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Shiretoko - Shiretoko

Our first stop is Rausu, which is located on the northeast coast of Hokkaido. Hop on a Nature Cruise to see some ocean wildlife. Dolphin and killer whale sightings are not a rare occasion here!
Seafood is the specialty in this region. Enjoy learning how to shuck sea urchin and make your own fresh seafood bowl for lunch. Your next stop is Shiretoko. It is one of the most beautiful places in Japan, registered as a World Heritage Site, thanks to the well-preserved nature and abundance of wildlife. Have you heard about the brown bears in Hokkaido? They’re massive! Shiretoko is known to have one the largest concentration of brown bears in the world.

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Shiretoko - Tsubetsu

Start your day with a scenic trek around the five Shiretoko Goko Lakes. There’s a beautiful elevated handcrafted wooden path for easy walking, as well as ground pathways carefully designed to give you the best views and lookout points of the local area. Feel the serene power of mother nature and be prepared to take lots of photos if you like capturing wildlife! After lunch, get ready for a bear watching cruise around the Shiretoko Peninsula, a preserved area with one of the largest concentration of brown bears in the world. Finish your day in the small country town of Tsubetsu as you wind down in a relaxing onsen and dinner at the hotel.

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Tsubetsu - Sounkyo

Today is an early start with one of the most spectacular sights of your trip! We’ll make our way to Tsubetsu Pass Observatory, which offers a widely-stretching panoramic view from above the clouds. In the early morning, the sun rises beyond the sea of clouds which spreads over Lake Kussharo and dyes them with the morning sunlight creating an absolutely breathtaking experience. Grab a coffee and feel the inspiration as you watch the sun rise! Sounds life-changing, doesn’t it? Head back to the hotel for breakfast and then off to Kitami, an area famous for Yakiniku (Japanese style BBQ). Enjoy meeting with the rural people and have Yakiniku the way the locals do, in small huts, houses and car garages!

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Sounkyo - Sapporo

Check-out of the hotel and take a ride to the top of Mt. Kurodake on the ropeway. The observatory offers an amazing view of a mountainous landscape as far as the eye can see. Next, you’ll visit Bibai, a small town with a nostalgic atmosphere that once thrived during the coal mining days. Here you’ll have a fun local experience making Udon and Soba noodles from scratch! Take this time to enjoy meeting with the local farmers and making friends with the Japanese helpers guiding you through the noodle making process. As we make our way back to your hotel in Sapporo, we’ll take you on a quick car tour of the city before dropping you off to explore the shopping areas and have dinner as you like.

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Sapporo - Sapporo

Have a fun and relaxed day in the beautiful city of Sapporo. Apart from the abundance of shopping facilities in Sapporo Station, Tanukikoji and the underground walkways, you can also visit some local sightseeing spots all within walking distance. You’re free to choose restaurants of your choice for lunch and dinner. We recommend Sapporo Ramen, Soup Curry or Genghis Khan at one of the many establishments in the heart of downtown. Enjoy some city night exploration too!

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Sapporo - Chitose Airport

There’s so much to do up until the moment you board the plane bound for home. It’s the perfect time to do some last-minute shopping in downtown Sapporo and Chitose airport. You’ll find that the airport has a spectacular selection of Hokkaido delicacies, which make wonderful souvenirs for friends and family back home. We hope you had a wonderful time on this beautiful island full of inspiring life-changing experiences. See you again soon!