Celebrating reaching the highpoint of the hike

Japan's Far North
5 Day Hiking Tour

Multi-day Guided Hiking Tour from Wakkanai

from
¥247,000

The breathtaking mountains and wild coastline of Japan’s northern frontier will quench your thirst for adventure on this island hopping multi-day guided hiking tour.

  • Tour Duration

    5 Days

  • Minimum Travellers

    4 People

  • Accommodation

    4 Nights

  • Tour Starts

    Wakkanai

  • Included Meals

    4 Breakfasts
    3 Lunches
    4 Dinners

  • Tour Finishes

    Wakkanai
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Tour Highlights

  • Island hopping in Japan’s northernmost National Park.
  • Hiking on the “floating flower garden” – Rebun Island.
  • Hiking on Mt Rishiri-fuji, a stratovolcano towering 1,721m (5,646ft) above the ocean.
  • Savour the Northern Islands’ seafood oriented gastronomy.

About Japan’s Far North

Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park sits at the very top of Hokkaido and is the northernmost of all the 34 national parks in Japan. The southern tip of Sakhalin Island (Russia) is only 40kms/25miles away from our most northern point, this is as far north in Japan as you can get! The gateway city to the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park is Wakkanai, which has both an airport (WKJ) and a railway station.

There is no other place in Japan where you can explore the striking Siberia-like landscapes in such close proximity to the ocean, fishing villages and rural settlements. This tour is perfect for adventurers who dream of deep exploration into remote corners of Japan where most travellers will never have the opportunity to visit.

Leave the sticky summer heat behind and enjoy the refreshing summer hiking in this subarctic region!

Who is this tour for?

  • Active travellers who enjoy walking & hiking for more than 5 hours a day.
  • Curious travellers who enjoy a mixture of activities & sightseeing and learning about the regions they visit.
  • Adventurous travellers who enjoy rural hospitality staying in Japanese style accommodations with natural hot springs on site.

Japan’s Far North Hiking Tour
Itinerary at a Glance

*B: Breakfast   L: Lunch   D: Dinner
Day 1 (D)
Group meets in Wakkanai & Ferry to Rebun Island
Day 2 (B, L, D)
Hiking on Rebun Island – 9km/5.6miles
Day 3 (B, L, D)
Hiking on Rebun Island & Ferry to Rishiri Island – 5.7km/3.5miles
Day 4 (B, L, D)
Hiking on Rishiri Island – 12km/7.5miles
Day 5 (B)
Ferry to Wakkanai & Farewells


Tour Inclusions

Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
  • 4 nights accommodation on a twin share basis
  • 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 4 dinners
  • Ferry to/from Rebun & Rishiri Islands
  • Guided hiking on Rebun & Rishiri Islands
  • 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
  • Any optional activities (i.e. sea kayaking)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Drinks with included meals

Meet your guide

Adventure Hokkaido Guide Richard
Richard
Adventure Hokkaido Guide Ayaka
Ayaka
Adventure Hokkaido Guide Tobaji
Tobaji
  1. Day 1 Ferry to Rebun Island

    This tour kicks off in Wakkanai, the northernmost city in Hokkaido and Japan. Your group will meet between 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm in Central Wakkanai. You can fly directly from Tokyo Haneda to Wakkanai Airport with ANA, or alternatively take a JR (Japan Railway) train, which takes just over 5 hours from Sapporo JR Station.

    Once everyone is together, we will hold a short meeting to introduce ourselves and brief everyone on the upcoming adventure. We then catch the ferry to Rebun Island at around 2:00 pm and in just under 2 hours we will arrive on Rebun, nicknamed the ”floating flower garden”.

    Japanese flower lovers flock to this island each June to admire the rare alpine flowers that can be sighted in lower altitudes. Later in the season, we are still able to enjoy our island adventure without the crowds but the remnants of summer can still be felt in the warm water and long twilight.

    After getting off the ferry, we’ll set off to our accommodation on the coast, where we’ll settle in for the next two nights.

    Included meals
    – Dinner
    Accommodation
    – Minshuku* on Rebun Island
    No Hiking

    *Minshuku is a Japanese style inn similar to a bed & breakfast.

  2. Day 2 Hiking on Rebun Island

    Today we will explore the northern part of Rebun Island starting from Cape Sukoton. The cape is the northernmost end of Rebun Island, which overlooks small rocky islands dotted in the blue ocean extending to the north. On a clear day, you will be able to catch sight of Sakhalin Island, part of Russia, over La Pérouse Strait. This is as far north as you can get!

    We’ll enjoy walking on the scenic coastal trail exploring Cape Gorota and Cape Sky. The blue sea that hugs rocky coves and the fishing villages here and there provide a unique island hiking experience.

    Once we complete the walk, we will travel by van to hopefully see more of Rebun’s flora and fauna. Cape Kaneda-no-misaki is our favourite location to spot wild seals, which are often seen sunbathing on rocks on a fine day.

    Included meals
    – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation
    – Minshuku on Rebun Island
    Hiking distance
    – 9km / 5.6miles
    Elevation gain
    – 190m / 623ft
    Time
    – 4 hours

  3. Day 3 Hiking on Rebun Island & Ferry to Rishiri Island

    This morning we will explore the southern part of Rebun Island, hiking along the Momoiwa Trail. The trail starts near the ferry terminal and takes us down to the southern tip of the island. This popular trail provides unique scenery combining the ocean, rugged coastline, neighbouring Rishiri Island and colourful flowers along the trail.

    Once we finish the walk, we will have lunch near the ferry terminal before catching an early afternoon departure for Rishiri Island. The forty-minute ferry ride takes us to a completely different landscape; Rishiri is literally an island volcano whose summit is 1,721m / 5,646ft above sea level.

    We will spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the native conifer forest at the foot of Mt Rishiri-fuji and Himenuma, a famous little lake that reflects Mt Rishiri-Fuji on its mirror-like surface.

    Included meals
    – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation
    – Hotel on Rishiri Island
    Hiking distance
    – 6 km / 3.7 miles
    Elevation gain
    – 250m / 820ft
    Time
    – 3 to 4 hours

  4. Day 4 Hiking to Mt Rishiri-fuji

    If the weather permits, we’ll take on the challenge of climbing the 1,721m/5,645ft high Mt Rishiri, also known as Rishiri-fuji. The island climate makes Rishiri-fuji a difficult peak to reach as it can be extremely windy and cold at any time of year. Japanese hikers who are determined to conquer the peak often stay on the island for a week, waiting for the ideal weather conditions to hike the mountain.

    If the weather is not fit for climbing Mt Rishiri-fuji we will aim to summit Mt Chokan, just below 1,200m/3,937ft, before retreating to the onsen hot spring at the foot of the mountain.

    Tonight we dine out at a local izakaya bar-restaurant to celebrate our final night on the island.

    Included meals
    – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    Accommodation
    – Hotel on Rishiri Island
    Hiking distance
    – 13 km / 8.1 miles
    Elevation gain
    – 1,430m / 4,690ft
    Time
    – 9 to 10 hours

  5. Day 5 Ferry to Wakkanai & Farewells

    We have our final meal together at our hotel then board the ferry departing for Wakkanai in the morning. We will say our goodbyes at Wakkanai Ferry Terminal at around 2:00pm.

    If you wish to extend your stay on Rishiri Island, perhaps to enjoy a guided sea kayaking or fishing tour, we can help you arrange your post-tour accommodation and other activities. Please indicate if you would like to extend your stay the time of booking.

    Included meals
    – Breakfast


Please note that the stroke on the map doesn’t indicate the actual hiking routes.

Travel to the Meeting Point

We will meet in Central Wakkanai between 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm on the first day. The closest airport to Wakkanai City is Wakkanai Airport (WKJ). The airport shuttle bus for downtown Wakkanai is scheduled to connect with all the incoming flights from Tokyo and Sapporo. The cost is 700 yen per person. It is recommended that you arrive in Wakkanai the day before the tour starts, in this case, we are more than happy to assist you with booking your pre-tour accommodation.

An alternative to flying is to travel by train (Japan Railway, abbr. JR), which travels 3 times a day between Sapporo and Wakkanai, and takes just over 5 hours. The cost is 11,090 yen for a reserved seat. Upon booking, please let us know your travel plans to Wakkanai, and we will confirm in detail where and what time we will meet on the first day.

You can search train timetables in English on Japan Transit Planner website.

Japan’s Far North Hiking Tour Accommodation

DAY 1 Minshuku on Rebun Island Ensuite Heated spa
DAY 2 Minshuku on Rebun Island Ensuite Heated spa
DAY 3 Hotel on Rishiri Island Ensuite Heated spa
DAY 4 Hotel on Rishiri Island Ensuite Heated spa

What to Bring on your Japan’s Far North Hiking Tour

Essentials

  • Waterproof jacket and pants
  • Mid- to high-cut hiking boots
  • Fleece or down jacket (even in the summer the temperature can drop below 10˚C/50˚F)
  • Thermal layers top & bottom
  • Base layers top & bottom
  • Spare pairs of socks
  • Gloves, beanie, and items to keep you warm
  • Sun hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
  • Water bottle or hydration system (more than 2L)
  • Head torch
  • Toiletries
  • Personal medications
  • Rain cover for backpack
  • Backpack with enough capacity to carry all of the above
  • Enough face masks for the number of travel days (available to purchase locally)
  • Eco-friendly shopping bag and any other item to reduce single-use plastic waste
  • Travel insurance
  • 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 a post office and 7-eleven convenience stores.

Recommended

  • Walking poles
  • Cellphone power bank
  • Travel SIM
  • Familiar snacks to eat during activities
  • Swim suit for brave swimmers
  • Camera

We supply

  • First-aid kit
  • Safety equipment and maps

Please note that you will be asked to show your passport when checking in accommodation in Japan. It is a requirement for accommodation providers to take a photocopy of the passport of international visitors.

What to bring on your Hokkaido Hiking tour graphic

Twin Single

  • June 05, 2023 - June 09, 2023

    Booking Closed

  • July 10, 2023 - July 14, 2023

    Booking Closed

  • September 06, 2023 - September 10, 2023

    Fully booked

  • October 02, 2023 - October 06, 2023

    ¥247,000 pp for twin share

    Available