East Hokkaido Private May Tour: The Season of Brilliant Pink Moss Phlox

DAY

Chitose Airport - Sounkyo

Welcome to Hokkaido! The weather and climate is breathtaking around this time of year. Our first stop is Sounkyo, a small onsen town with powerful volcanic hot springs and excellent customer service. Feel the power of nature as you relax in the onsen while overlooking a lush forest listening to the soothing sound of the nearby river. Settle into your hotel room and get ready for a spectacular dinner experience.

DAY

Sounkyo - Abashiri

Today’s adventure is full of vibrant colors and unique landscapes. You’ll visit two waterfalls before heading over to Takinoue Pink Moss Park! From early May to early June, the whole park is covered with a bright pink carpet of moss phlox flowers currently filling a 100,000m2 area! The pink hilly landscape radiates with vivid color and a sweet scent, drawing you into a dreamlike world. Have fun taking pictures! After lunch at a local restaurant you’ll visit Kami Yubetsu Tulip Park, a spring wonderland filled with over a million colorful tulips including around 200 varieties.
Make your way to Abashiri for a relaxing onsen and dinner at the hotel.

DAY

Abashiri - Abashiri

Our first stop today is Lake Saroma, the largest lake in Hokkaido known for its beautiful sunsets and mysterious ecosystem mixed with fresh water and sea water. You’ll also visit Cape Notoro, a scenic area with open roads and a stylish lighthouse that’s actually been featured in a few films. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and feel free to visit the Abashiri drift ice and prison museums! Before heading to the hotel for a relaxing evening, you’ll stop by the Higashimokoto Pink Moss Field. Experience the amazingly gorgeous flower park full of pink moss and other various flowers carefully placed to create a landscape masterpiece.

DAY

Abashiri - Akan

Let’s viisit 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! Get ready for a fun rural experience in the afternoon at a certified national dairy farming educational farm. You can learn about the symbiotic relationship between people and nature, the importance of food and the warmth of life while being in direct contact with cows! You’ll even get to try cow milking and making your own ice cream at the local farm! Check-in to your hotel and have fun exploring the Ainu village at night.

DAY

Akan - Tokachigawa

Start your day on a refreshing walking tour with a local guide around Lake Akan. You can enjoy the silence and harmony of sounds in the moist air of the red Ezo spruce forest. A cruise to a small island in Lake Akan can also be arranged. On the way to Tokachigawa Onsen, make your own seafood bowl for lunch at the Washo Market in Kushiro. This is quite a unique experience! First, order a bowl of rice, then make your way around the market and buy toppings of your choice from as many shops as you like: crab, shrimp, scallop, salmon and so much more! Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Next, visit a famous local dessert shop for some freshly hand-crafted pastries. Make yourself comfortable at your hotel near the Tokachi River. Please take your time to enjoy the special hot springs of this region, “Moor Onsen.” It’s one of the rarest types of onsen in the world full of minerals and great for your skin!

DAY

Tokachigawa - Sapporo

Today you’ll venture into a beautiful Rapeseed field for a unique learning experience and a picturesque picnic! You will 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 made from the fresh ingredients harvested directly from the local farm. This is as fresh as it gets! Be ready to make new friends and ask lots of questions to the local experts. Your experience today will surely to teach you the true meaning of the Japanese word, "itadakimasu".

DAY

Sapporo - Sapporo

Have fun exploring Sapporo for a day at your leisure. Take your time and enjoy this open-schedule day to shop, visit some local sights, a few restaurants of your choice or take a stroll around Odori Park to mingle with the city people. A Lilac Festival takes place yearly in May at Odori Park. If the blooming period matches your travel, we highly recommend it!

DAY

Sapporo - Chitose Airport

Even your last day can be enjoyed to the fullest! Go shopping in downtown Sapporo, or stop by one of the popular outlet malls on the way to the airport. Lots of seafood and Hokkaido specialties are available at the recently revamped Chitose Airport, which is actually an impressive destination on its own. Have fun exploring and doing some last-minute shopping! We hope you had a wonderful experience here on Treasure Island and look forward to adventuring with you again soon!