Japan's Far East
7 Day Wild Winter Tour
Multi-day Guided Snowshoeing & Wildlife Tour in Eastern Hokkaidofrom
A winter odyssey in Japan’s eastern frontier, touring through three national parks in eastern Hokkaido. Be mesmerised by the extraordinary landscapes, the unique ice and snow experiences, and the warmth of the hot springs on this winter tour in Japan.
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Tour Duration
7 Days -
Minimum Travellers
4 People -
Accommodation
6 Nights -
Tour Starts
Abashiri, Hokkaido -
Included Meals
6 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
6 Dinners -
Tour Finishes
Kushiro, Hokkaido
Tour Highlights
- Walk on the ice that has drifted all the way from Russia’s Amur River to Utoro, Shiretoko.
- Take a nature cruise, with a chance to sight Steller’s sea eagles and White-tailed eagles off the Rausu coast.
- Dive into the world of the Ainu; Walk in native forest with an Ainu guide, experience their food, music & dance at the Lake Akan Ainu settlement.
- Venture into Japan’s eastern frontier, home to a trio of national parks: Shiretoko, Lakes Akan & Mashu, and Kushiro Shitsugen Wetland.
About Japan’s Far East
Hokkaido’s far east region is often described as the last unexplored frontier of Japan. This region is popular for wildlife & outdoor lovers in the summer. It is also renowned internationally in winter as a bird-watching destination.
On this tour, we visit some of Hokkaido’s beautiful national parks. We take in unique winter outdoor activities including, walking on the drift ice, watching the dancing cranes, as well as snowshoeing on the outer rim of a crater with marvellous lake views.
You don’t have to be an experienced skier or snowboard to enjoy Hokkaido’s untouched deep snow. We use snowshoes to hike through the snowy landscape, allowing anyone to enjoy Hokkaido’s winter scenery. Out on, dry suits keep you dry and warm despite the freezing temperatures. Let us guide your once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Who is this tour for?
- Active travellers who enjoy walking for 3 to 5 hours a day.
- Curious travellers who enjoy a mixture of activities & sightseeing and learning about the regions they visit.
- Winter hikers & snow lovers interested in hiking in snow with the help of snowshoes (No prior experience required).
- Adventurous travellers who enjoy rural hospitality staying in Japanese style accommodations with natural hot springs on site.
Japan’s Far East Wild Winter Tour
Itinerary at a Glance
*B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner
Day 1 (D)
Meet your group in Abashiri City
Day 2 (B, L, D)
Guided snowshoeing tour at Lake Kussharo
Day 3 (B, L, D)
Guided drift ice walking tour in Utoro Shiretoko
Day 4 (B, L, D)
Marine wildlife watching cruise in Rausu Shiretoko
Day 5 (B, L, D)
Guided snowshoeing tour at Lake Mashu
Day 6 (B, L, D)
Forest walk with Akan Ainu & crane watching in Tsurui
Day 7 (B)
Transfer to Kushiro & farewells
Tour Inclusions
Items that are included in the cost of tour price.- 6 nights accommodation on a twin share basis
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners
- Guided snowshoeing tour on the shore of Lake Kussharo
- Guided drift ice walking tour in Utoro Shiretoko
- Guided marine wildlife watching cruise in Rausu Shiretoko
- Guided snowshoeing tour on the outer rim of Mashu crater
- Evening Ainu cultural show at Lake Akan Ainu settlement
- Guided forest walk with Akan Ainu
- Guided visit to Tancho crane sanctuary
- All transport as described in the itinerary
- English speaking local guide(s)
Not included
Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Drinks with included meals
- Day 1 Meet your group in Abashiri City
- Day 2 Snowshoeing at Lake Kussharo & see Whooper Swans
- Day 3 Walking on the drift ice at Utoro Shiretoko
- Day 4 Bird watching cruise in Rausu
- Day 5 Snowshoeing at Lake Mashu & an Ainu concert at Lake Akan
- Day 6 Akan Forest Walk & Red-crowned Crane Sanctuary
- Day 7 Transfer to Kushiro & farewells
Travel to the Meeting Point
We will meet at 5:00 pm at our hotel in Central Abashiri. The closest airport is Abashiri Memanbetsu (MMB), where you can fly directly from Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT), Sapporo New Chitose (CTS) and Sapporo Okadama (OKD).
From the Abashiri Memanbetsu Airport, Airport shuttles depart for Central Abashiri with the arrival of every domestic flight. The shuttle takes 26 mins from the Airport to the Abashiri JR Station, and costs ¥920 per person.
Our hotel is within walking distance from the Station. Alternatively, you can take a JR train from Sapporo to Abashiri if you prefer. It takes 5.5 hours and costs just over ¥10,000 for a non-reserved seat.
You can search train timetable in English on Japan Transit Planner website.
Japan’s Far East Wild Winter Tour Accommodation
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DAY 1 | Hotel in Abashiri | Ensuite | None |
DAY 2 | Lodge in Utoro Shiretoko | Ensuite | Onsen spa |
DAY 3 | Lodge in Rausu Shiretoko | Ensuite | None |
DAY 4 | Ryokan in Yoroushi Onsen | Ensuite | Onsen spa |
DAY 5 | Hotel in Lake Akan Onsen | Ensuite | Onsen spa |
DAY 6 | Hotel in Tsurui | Ensuite | Onsen spa |
What to Bring on your Japan’s Far East Wild Winter Tour
Essentials
- Hard shell jacket and pants
- Winter/snow boots & thick socks
- Thick fleece or down jacket
- Warm base layers top & bottom
- Ski gloves, beanie, and items to keep you warm
- Sunscreen & sunglasses
- Insulated drink bottle
- Backpack with enough capacity to carry all of the above
- Toiletries
- Personal medications
- Travel insurance
- Passport
- Cash in Japanese yen. Small restaurants and shops in rural parts of Japan do not accept credit cards. Lunch in general costs 1,000-1,500 yen and dinner 2,000-3,000 yen. You can withdraw cash from an ATM at post offices and 7-eleven convenience stores.
Recommended
- Binoculars
- Dry bag
- Motion sickness pills for the boat ride (available to purchase locally)
- Cellphone power bank
- Extra snacks which you’re used to eating during the activities
- Camera
We supply
- Snowshoes & poles
- First aid kit
- Safety equipment
Please note that you will be asked to show your passport when checking in accommodation in Japan. Accommodation providers are required to take a photocopy of the passport of non-Japanese guests.
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Group snowshoeing at Lake Kussharo
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A Eurasian Red Squirrel
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Snowshoeing on the shore of Lake Kussharo
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Whooer Swans in action
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Lake Kussharo, Whooper Swans' winter home
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A Whooper Swan at Lake Kussharo
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Walk across drift ice; a truly unique experience
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Explore the other-worldly drift ice flows on foot
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Drysuit fashion show on the drift ice
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The duo of Steller's Sea Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle
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Observing a Blakiston's fish owl from the inn's restaurant window
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Steller's Sea Eagles on the drift ice at Rausu
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Taking in the view of Lake Mashu and Mount Mashu
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At the Lake Mashu viewpoint
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Snowshoeing on the outer rim of the Lake Mashu crater
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View of Mt Oakan rising above a frozen Lake Akan
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Explore Lake Akan with an Ainu Guide
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Bokke, Lake Akan
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See Red-crowned Cranes at Tsurui
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Beautifully frosted trees along the Akan river
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Japanese Deer snuggled up on a geothermal warm spot along the Akan River
Unfortunately we have no departures scheduled for this tour. Check back in the future to see if we have added next years departures.