Japan's Far East
8 Day Wildlife & Adventure Tour

After breakfast at hotel, we will head for Lake Akan in the Akan–Mashu National Park. Lake Akan is a hot spot for hiking, fishing, bathing in hot springs, as the lake is located between the majestic Mt Oakan and Mt Meakan volcanic peaks. It is also a cultural hub for Ainu, the indigenous people of Northern Japan, where you find a variety of handcraft shops and galleries on the main street of the village.

Here we will be joined by a local Ainu guide who will take us for a leisurely walk destined for a ”bokke”, the site where we see the bubbling mud on the shore of Lake Akan. While we walk we hear folklore stories and learn about the culture and customs of Ainu who worship the wildlife and have lived in harmony with the nature.

After lunch in the Akan village, we travel onto Kawayu Onsen. In Japanese kawa means river & yu means hot water and as true to its name, there is a hot water river running through the village centre of Kawayu. We will hike to the source of the thermal springs that feed the river, Mt Iōzan, on an easy 2.5 km/1.6 miles trail from Kawayu village.

A young active volcano, Mt Iōzan has steam constantly discharging from its fumaroles, which provide spectacular views. Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people named this mountain ”Atosanupuri”, which means ”naked mountain” due to no vegetation growing on its slopes.
We will return on the same trail back to our vehicle in Kawayu Onsen, and drive 10 mins to our accommodation at Lake Kussharo. We will enjoy our meal and bathing in hot springs at our accommodation tonight.

Included meals
– Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
– Lodge at Lake Kussharo
Activity
– Walking
Walking distance
– 7.5km / 4.2miles (3 hours)

Bidding farewell to our host, we will head for the start location of our canoeing adventure on the Kushiro River, which feeds into the Kushiro Wetland. We will jump on our Canadian canoes on the shore of Lake Kussharo, and start floating down leisurely on the pristine water until we reach the Biruwa Bridge. The area is a habitat for wild birds, including Grey Heron and Crested Kingfisher, which are occasionally seen while paddling down the river.

In the afternoon, we will transfer to Utoro Shiretoko (1.5 hours drive) and have lunch on the way. Shiretoko, in the Ainu language means ”the land’s end”, situated at the far east region of Hokkaido, is often described as one of the last vestiges of true wilderness. Enroute, we call in to the Shiretoko World Heritage Centre to learn about what makes Shiretoko’s ecosystem unique, before settling into our accommodation.

Included meals
– Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
– Hotel in Utoro Shiretoko
Activity
– Canoeing (2.5 hours)

Surrounded by the Sea of Okhotsk, most of the Shiretoko Peninsula has been preserved as a National Park since 1964 and was also designated as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

Approximately 7,000 people live on this Peninsula, but their homes are concentrated in two towns: Utoro on the western side, and Rausu on the eastern side. The rest of the peninsula remains untouched and is a habitat for wildlife, such as Brown Bears, Japanese Deer, Red Fox, Eurasian Red Squirrels. Needless to say, the marine and bird life are also rich in diversity.

This morning, we explore Shiretoko on land, walking amongst the Shiretoko Five Lakes. The area is home to a rich population of Brown Bears. We aim to complete the entire walkway to visit all five of the lakes, unless the walkway is closed due to a bear on the trail.

In the afternoon, we cross over Shiretoko Pass to Rausu, a thriving fishing village. We’ll board on a local fisherman’s boat for 2.5 hours to explore the southern coast of the peninsula from the sea. If we are lucky we may spot a Brown ear or two wandering in search of food, often salmon in the autumn months. We make Rausu our home for the next two nights.

Included meals
– Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity
– Walking
Walking istance
– 3km / 1.9miles (1.5 hours)

The Rausu coast also features a deep ocean trench, making it a favourite home for marine mammals such as Sperm Whales and Dall’s Porpoises. This morning we board on a larger boat than yesterday to journey further offshore to try and spot these sea mammals and sea birds.

The afternoon is free for everyone to enjoy some free time: relaxing in your room or exploring Rausu town on foot. If you are an onsen lover, we can head out together to either Aidomari Onsen or Kuma-No-Yu, which are free outdoor onsens looked after by the local communities. We regroup in the evening and dine out in town.

After dinner we have an option to drive 5 minutes to Washi-no-yado (Admission ¥3,000), where we can try our luck at seeing a Blakiston’s Fish Owl. This is a great way end to the day for keen birders.

Included meals
– Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
– Lodge in Rausu Shiretoko
Activity
– Boat cruise (2.5 hours)

This morning we travel 1 hour down the coast from the Shiretoko Peninsula, heading for Notsuke Peninsula. Notsuke is Japan’s largest sand spit, extending over 26km to the Sea of Okhotsk. Registered under the Ramsar Convention, the peninsula is of ecological significance to the migrating birds and wildlife of Hokkaido. The area is one of few places where Red-crowned Cranes and White-tailed Eagles breed over summer.

We will explore the area on foot hopefully to see some Hokkaido’s iconic land mammals such as Japanese Deer and Rex Fox. The shallow bay of Notsuke is also home to Harbour Seals, so be sure to take binoculars with you.

After the walk, we head back to the Notsuke Peninsula Nature Centre for lunch, and then check into our accommodation near the Odaito Port. The area is known for its fresh scallop and shrimp, so we will enjoy seafood oriented local cuisine tonight.

Included meals
– Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
– Ryokan in Odaito Onsen
Activity
– Hiking
Hiking distance
– 4 km / 2.5 miles (3 hours)

Today we have an easy morning as we travel south in the van for 1.5 hours to Hamanaka Town, a prosperous fishing and dairy farming town located on the southern coast of Hokkaido. We call into scenic Cape Kiritappu, where we can spot wild sea otters if we are lucky. After lunch in the township of Kiritappu, we’ll head towards Biwase River for canoeing on Kiritappu Wetland.

Although the scale of the wetlands in Kiritappu is not as significant as those in Kushiro, its narrow river channels are fantastic for canoeing. We will float peacefully through the wetland and experience the ecosystem up close.

Included meals
– Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
– Ryokan in Kiritappu
Activity
– Canoeing (2 hours)

We say goodbye to our host and then drive 1.5 hours to Kushiro City to complete the tour. We can drop you off at either Kushiro JR Station at around 11:00 am or Kushiro Airport at 11:30 am.

Included meals
– Breakfast
No Activity