Japan's Far East 7 Day Wild Winter Tour

We will meet at our hotel at 6:00 pm near JR Abashiri Station in Abashiri, the largest city on Hokkaido’s eastern Sea of Okhotsk coast. Once everyone is gathered, we will set off for dinner in downtown Abashiri. Over dinner, We will get to know each other and introduce the program for our upcoming adventure. For those who aren’t used to walking on icy roads, we will introduce you to the penguin-walking technique!

Our day begins with a scenic journey along the Sea of Okhotsk coast to Lake Tofutsu. This lake and its surrounding wetland are a designated Ramsar site, offering fantastic opportunities to observe majestic sea eagles and various migratory birds in their natural habitat.

After soaking in breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Kussharo from Bihoro Pass, the day’s highlight awaits at Wakoto Peninsula. Here, we'll walk along the peninsula, using snowshoes if there is enough snow, discovering fascinating steam vents that reveal the area's raw volcanic power. We'll also visit Mt. Io, an active volcano known for its impressive sulphur vents and otherworldly landscape.

We’ll spend the night in the renowned hot spring town of Kawayu Onsen, where you'll have the opportunity to relax and experience these healing, therapeutic waters.

Our day begins with a peaceful snowshoe excursion, trekking through a serene, old-growth Sakhalin Spruce forest. Following this, we’ll travel to the Lake Mashu No.1 Observatory to take in breathtaking views of the mystical caldera lake, a place renowned for its extraordinary clarity and deep blue waters.

If time allows, we'll visit Suigo Park, a winter home for majestic Whooper Swans and other waterfowl. Afterwards, another snowshoe adventure awaits as we follow a tranquil stream—which remains unfrozen even in subzero temperatures—to the stunning, spring-fed Kaminoko Pond, keeping an eye out for animal tracks in the pristine snow.

Our day concludes at Yoroushi Onsen, our accommodation for the next two nights. This exceptional ryokan has hot springs overlooking a serene river. A pair of Blakiston's Fish Owls, the world's largest owl, live along this river and often visit to feed outside the hotel.

We travel to Notsuke Peninsula, Japan's largest sand spit, which extends 26km into the Sea of Okhotsk. This Ramsar site is a vital home for wildlife. We’ll search the peninsula for iconic Hokkaido mammals like Japanese deer and red foxes, as well as majestic White-Tailed and wintering Steller’s Sea Eagles.

In the afternoon, we visit Pogawa Historical Forest Park. We'll enjoy a snowshoe excursion through the wildlife-rich forest, exploring its streams and visiting the Karikariusu archaeological site. This site reveals the 10,000-year history of salmon fishing that first brought people to this region and supports the community here to this day.

Our day concludes back at Yoroushi Onsen, where you can relax in the riverside hot springs and have another incredible opportunity to spot the rare Blakiston's Fish Owl.

This morning, we’ll hike up Mt. Moan. From its 357m summit, we’ll enjoy sweeping views of the vast Konsen Plateau and its unique, lattice-pattern windbreak forests, designated as Hokkaido Heritage.

We then continue to Tsurui, a town famous for its incredible conservation story. After dropping to less than 20 birds in the early 1900s, the Red-crowned Crane population has rebounded to nearly 1,900. We’ll visit the Tsurui Ito Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary—which was vital to this recovery—and spend time watching these magnificent birds feed and socialize.

Tsurui offers more than just cranes. We'll also explore the surrounding area, tracking down eagles feeding along the rivers and searching for owls roosting in the forest. Our day concludes by witnessing the magical sight of the cranes flying to their evening roost before we head to our hotel.

For early risers, our day begins with a pre-sunrise excursion to the Setsuri River. From the famed Otowa Bridge, we’ll witness a spectacular sight: majestic Red-crowned Cranes roosting in the river before taking flight in the morning light.

After breakfast, we’ll experience the magic of the Kushiro Wetland with a winter canoe adventure. Paddling in sub-zero temperatures offers a unique perspective of the landscape, as we glide past trees frosted in snow and ice, keeping an eye out for Kingfishers, waterfowl, and eagles.

Following lunch, our final adventure is a hike to the Yumegaoka Observatory. From this viewpoint, we'll be rewarded with a spectacular, sweeping panorama that reveals the true vastness of the Kushiro Wetland—a fitting finale to our outdoor explorations. We conclude our tour by celebrating our journey together with a farewell dinner in downtown Kushiro.

The tour finishes after breakfast today. We will drive you to JR Kushiro Station (between 8:30 am and 9:00 am) or Kushiro Airport (approximately 30 minutes after the station drop-off). Earlier drop-offs can be arranged upon request, depending on everyone's onward travel plans. From Kushiro Airport (KUH), there are direct flights to Sapporo New Chitose (CTS) and Tokyo Haneda (HND).