The Poroto Guide Lodge is a small, secluded lodge located on the shore of the Poroto Pond in Hamanaka Town, Eastern Hokkaido. The lodge can accommodate just one group of up to 4 people per day, and guests staying here can enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding nature with its rich flora and fauna. The lodge’s owner, Mr. Tetsuji Hidaka is a former staff of the Wild Bird Society of Japan, and is an expert on wild birds. In addition to the accommodations at the lodge, he also leads various guided tours that let you experience up close the nature and wildlife of the Kiritappu Wetlands across the seasons.
One of the tours offered at Poroto Guide Lodge during the spring from April to June is the Kiritappu Wetland and Forest Walking Tour. In this tour, you put on long rubber boots and take a walk into the depths of the Kiritappu Wetland and the nearby forests to experience the fresh verdure and the flurry of wildlife activity. Some of the wild birds you can see during this season include stonechats, reed buntings, and reed warblers.
Poroto Guide Lodge
Address: Poroto 126, Hamanaka Town, Akkeshi-gun, Hokkaido
Website: http://poroto.la.coocan.jp/NewEnglish.html
Phone: 0153-64-2528
Season: All year round
Fees: Lodging (1 night 2 meals): 14,000 yen per person / Short tours: 5,000 – 6,000 yen per person / Half-day tours: 12,000 – 14,000 yen per person
Note: Lodging limited to 1 group (2 to 4 persons) per day
Information about transport passes:
JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/railpass/index.html
Travelling within Hokkaido
https://japanbyjapan.com/blog/travelling-within-hokkaido
*Information is correct as of January 2019.
