Hokkaido Adventure Travel Blog

The insider’s look into Hokkaido

Guide Story

Apr 11, 2025 by Ayaka

Interview with Yuto Hirasawa, Hokkaido Photographer & Photography Guide

We are delighted to partner with Hokkaido-based photographer and photography guide Yuto Hirasawa on our own Hokkaido wildlife photography tour! We sat down with him to talk about his thoughts on photography in Hokkaido and he shared some valuable insider tips and tricks for when you’re behind the camera...

A flock of Red-crowned Cranes take flight suddenly. The photo is in black and white. (Photo by Yuto Hirasawa)

  • Culture

    Feb 15, 2024 by Ayaka

    On the Ainu Journey with Adventure Travel

    Ayaka shares her experiences on getting closer to Hokkaido's indigenous people, the Ainu, through her work in adventure travel. Her insightful article will help you to learn more about the Ainu and perhaps inspire you to connect with indigenous cultures in your country, too.

    An Ainu guide wears traditional winter clothing while standing next to frozen Lake Akan
  • Guide Story

    Jan 26, 2022 by Ayaka

    Meet Our Guides at Adventure Hokkaido

    Meet our guides at Adventure Hokkaido. In these videos we introduce our hiking, cycling and nature guides who are passionate about what they do – guiding in Hokkaido’s great outdoors.

    Guides ready for the walk
  • Guide Story

    Nov 22, 2021 by Ayaka

    Hokkaido Guide Stories – Japan’s Far East with Ayaka

    In this article, Adventure Hokkaido owner & co-founder Ayaka shares her adventures exploring a trio of National Parks in Eastern Hokkaido on our Japan’s Far East 8 Day Wildlife & Adventure Tour.

    Sightseers walk along Shiretoko's Five Lakes boardwalk.
  • Guide Story

    Sep 2, 2021 by Ayaka

    Meet Ayaka from Adventure Hokkaido

    Meet Ayaka Yoshikawa, owner and co-founder of Adventure Hokkaido. Ayaka tells us a little bit about herself and why she started running adventure tours here in Hokkaido.

    Adventure Hokkaido owner and co-founder Ayaka enjoying summer cycling.
  • Culture

    Apr 23, 2020 by Ayaka

    Ainu Indigenous Cultural Tourism

    In this article, we will discuss where the Ainu originate from, how many Ainu still reside in Hokkaido and discuss how the Ainu perceive the past, present and future of Ainu indigenous cultural tourism.

    Ainu wood carving statue displayed at the museum (Photo courtesy of Aaron Jamieson Photography)
  • Culture

    Jan 24, 2020 by Ayaka

    Travel deeper into the world of onsen

    Discover the cultural significance of onsen to Japanese and why Hokkaido's onsen are so very special in the context of adventure travel.

    A wooden bath tub filled with water at Asahidake Onsen