Japan's Far East 8 Day Wildlife & Adventure Tour

We will be exploring in our canoes all day today, on Lake Kussharo in the morning and onto the Kushiro River in the afternoon. We will get started at the foot of Wakoto Hanto, a small peninsula that was once an island floating in the lake.

It is easy to imagine the Wakoto Peninsula being formed by volcanic activity, as we explore the peninsula in our canoes we will witness steam vents and hot springs surging from the ground on the shore. Our lunch will be set up once we land near ”Oyakotsu Jigoku”, where we will enjoy vegetables and eggs cooked in geothermal steam!

After we enjoy lunch and a foot spa, we will head for the start of the Kushiro River, the water source which feeds Kushiro Shitsugen Wetland. We will enjoy a leisurely canoe downstream on the pristine water until we reach the Biruwa Bridge, where we bid farewell to the canoes and transfer by van to Kawayu Onsen. (B, L, D)

Activity – Canoeing
Estimated duration – 5 hours

This morning, we’ll start off exploring the village of Kawayu on foot from our accommodation. As its name indicates (in Japanese kawa means river & yu means hot water), there is a hot water river that runs through the village centre. We’ll hike to Mt Iouzan volcano, the source of these thermal springs, for a leisurely walk on an easy trail which extends 2.5 km/1.6 miles from Kawayu village.

Hokkaido’s indigenous Ainu people named this mountain, ”Atosanupuri” meaning the naked mountain due to no vegetation growing on it. It is a young active volcano with steam constantly discharging from its fumaroles, which provide spectacular views.

We’ll return on the same trail back to our vehicle in Kawayu Onsen, and drive northeast for 1.5 hours to Shiretoko, which in the Ainu language means ”the land’s end”. We call into the Shiretoko World Heritage Centre in Utoro before settling into our accommodation. (B, L, D)

Activity – Walking
Distance – 4.5km/2.8miles
Estimated duration – 2 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 northern side, and Rausu on the southern side. The rest of the peninsula remains untouched as a habitat for wildlife, such as brown bears, sika deers, red foxes, squirrels, and needless to say, marine and bird life are also rich in diversity.

This morning, we explore Shiretoko on land, hiking to Shiretoko Five Lakes. We will receive a mini lecture before heading into the territory of Ezo brown bears. We aim to complete the entire walkway to visit all the Five Lakes, unless the walkway is closed due to the presence of a bear on the trail.

In the afternoon, we cross over the 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. We’ll try our luck in spotting a brown bear or two wandering in search of food, often salmon in the autumn months. We make Rausu our home for the two nights. (B, L, D)

Activity – Walking
Distance – 3km/1.9miles
Estimated duration – 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 spotting those 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. (B, D)

Activity – Boat cruise
Estimated duration – 2.5 hours

This morning we travel by van for 1.5 hours down the southern coast of the Shiretoko Peninsula, heading for Yoroushi Onsen. Yoroushi is a peaceful hot spring village nestled in the forest, here you can enjoy soaking in the outdoor onsen listening to the sounds of the river and surrounding nature.

We hike to a small hill called Mt Moanyama (356m/1,168ft) near Yoroushi Onsen, providing a scenic view towards Mt Mashudake & Mt Nishibetsudake. We enjoy a picnic lunch on the trail and later check into our accommodation for the night.

Tonight’s accommodation will be popular with bird lovers, as Blakiston’s fish owls capriciously turn up to feed along the river running by our accommodation. (B, D)

Activity – Hiking
Distance – 4.5 km/2.8 miles
Estimated duration – 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 and its lighthouse briefly before we meet up with local fishing families to share a hands-on lunch with them.

We will try our hands at making ”dashi”, kelp stock which is used for making miso soup as well as at preparing sea urchin. We will enjoy this seafood lunch together with these local families, fuelling up for our afternoon canoeing on the Kiritappu Wetland.

Though the scale of this wetland is not as significant as in Kushiro, Kiritappu offers an attractive setting for canoeing in narrow river channels, allowing us to float peacefully and feel closeness with the wetland ecosystem.

We dine at our accommodation tonight where we’ll learn about our host’s contributions towards the conservation of Kiritappu Wetland while celebrating over our final dinner together. (B, L, D)

Activity – Canoeing
Estimated duration – 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. (B)

No Activity