Nature Lover's Hokkaido (5 days)

This five day tour is created to experience the abundant wildlife of Eastern Hokkaido for nature lovers.  By rent-a-car, you will explore several national parks such as Kushiro, Shiretoko and Mashu.  The area boasts the Japan’s dairy products and seafood.

Kushiro Wetland is under the Ramsar Treaty to protects the wetland and wild animals, especially birds.  Drive to the viewpoints and paddle your canoe in the river instructed by a naturalist guide, you might encounter red-crowned cranes,  Japan’s national bird.  Visit Lake Mashu called “Lake of God” by local Ainu people, a mysterious lake covered with fog most of the year.  Also take a hike around a tranquil green lake in the mountains and after that, soak yourself in the hot spring in the lake.  Shiretoko, recently designated area as an UNESCO World Heritage site, means “end of the earth” in Ainu language.  Your naturalist guide will help you seek out the abundant wildlife that thrives in this protected peninsula by hiking.  However, you'll have to watch out because the area is the home of Japan’s largest bear population.  Also you might see deer, fox, whales, seals, white-tailed sea eagles, woodpeckers, sea birds and more.  After a hike, dip in the wildest hot spring in Japan.
On the way to the airport, you will drive along the coast of Okhotsk Sea, leaving Shiretoko Peninsula.

Sample Itierary Overview 

Day1: Arrive at Kushiro – Hokkaido

Arrive at Kushiro Airport.  Drive to Kushiro Shitsugen, the largest marshland in Japan.  Visit several lookouts by walk.  Stay at a hotel in the marshland and enjoy a French style dinner with locally grown products.

Day2: Kushiro & Lake Mashu

Take a canoe tour in Kushiro Marshland designated wetland under the Ramsar Treaty in the morning.  Drive to Lake Mashu, “Lake of God” called by the local Ainu people.  Stay overnight at a small country inn in the Mashu area.

Day3: Secluded lakes & Shiretoko

Stroll around one of the three secluded lakes in Hokkaido in the morning.  Drive along Lake Kussharo and take a hot spring in the lake.  Drive to Shiretoko.  Stay at a small country inn / hotel.

Day4: Shiretoko

Take a guided hiking tour around Shiretoko Five Lakes and waterfalls to explore the wilderness registered as the World Heritage site. Bring your bathing suits to dip in the wildest hot spring in Japan.  Stay a country inn / hotel in Shiretoko area.

Day5: Shiretoko and return to Tokyo

Drive to Memanbetsu Airport along the coast of Okhotsk Sea.  Fly back to Tokyo.

The tour price will differ according to many factors such as the rank of accommodation (e.g. 5-star hotel, 3-star ryokan), way of transportation (e.g. train, private car), number of days with a private guide, duration of your tour, or season.  Please contact us.  One of our tour consultants will come up with an ideal plan and cost for you.
 

Contact Us

For more information, or to start customizing your own itinerary, please contact us.

Michi Travel Japan

Tel: 81-3-5213-5040

E-mail: commentsmtj@michitravel.com