The insider’s look into Hokkaido
Our first Around Daisetsuzan 7 Day Cycling Tour of the year kicked off with cyclists from all over the world coming together to enjoy an amazing adventure. Despite an unusually wet July, the group remained smiling and enjoyed some amazing two-wheeled adventures, cycling across vast mountain passes and idyllic agricultural landscapes.
Get a taste of Eastern Hokkaido - home to the Kushiro-shitsugen, Akan–Mashu and Shiretoko National Parks - throughout the year. Every season has it's own unique flavour in Japan's wild frontier.
In early June 2023 we hosted a mixed group of travellers on our Japan's Far East 9 Day Wildlife & Adventure Tour. Over an action packed 9 days we got up close to the Kushiro Wetlands, canoed from Lake Kussharo into the Kushiro river, spotted Brown Bears and Orca along the Shiretoko peninsula and much more. Enjoy my favourite photos from the tour.
This is our guide to visiting Japan as a tourist now that Covid-19 border closures have been lifted. We will endeavour to keep this page up to date but we recommend that you double check official sources before you travel.
In February 2023 Richard and myself hosted a mixed group of travellers on our Japan's Far East 7 Day Wild Winter Tour. Our action packed week included snowshoeing through native forest, navigating drift ice, seeing Stellar's Sea Eagles and much more.
In December 2022 we hosted the Li family, from the USA, on a customised version of our Japan's Far East Wild Winter Tour. The family of 4 are all keen photographers, so we tweaked the itinerary to add more wildlife photography opportunities and also match the early season conditions. Stanley was kind enough to share his photos. Get a taste of what you can photograph in eastern Hokkaido.
Have questions about getting around by car in Hokkaido? In this article, Kazu gives tips for driving in Hokkaido. A handy guide for anyone planning on renting a car and exploring Hokkaido by road.
Dipping in an Onsen, or hot spring, is a post hike ritual for Ayaka! She'll explain all about onsen etiquette, from how to enter the bath to the best way to unwind afterwards so you can dip your toes into this part of our culture!
Ayaka and I hosted a family from Israel, now living in Tokyo & the Netherlands, on our Around Daisetsuzan 6 Day Hiking Tour in August 2022. Our guests were blown away by the variety of landscapes on the tour and challenged by some difficult weather. Climbing above the clouds on the final day, under aozora, blue sky, was a rewarding way to finish the tour.
Every year the Adventure Hokkaido guides gather together for a guide training trip, where we catch up, share ideas and knowledge and brush up on our "guiding English". In June 2022, we headed to Rebun and Rishiri in Hokkaido's north and were lucky to be joined by Dr Mark Brazil and Mayumi Brazil of Japan Nature Guides. Enjoy my favourite photos from the trip.
