ITINERARIES A Symphony of Nature in Eastern Hokkaido From rolling farmlands to wild nature and quaint towns

Experience the famous drift ice of Okhotsk

This museum features a room set to the chilling temperature of -15˚C to simulate drift ice which the region is known for; take a wet towel into the room and see it freeze immediately! There’s also a display of drift ice wildlife like cliones (aka ‘sea angels’).

Spot livestock grazing against the ocean

Cape Notoro protrudes toward the Sea of Okhotsk near Abashiri city, with a picturesque lighthouse as its landmark. From May to October, the cape turns into a farm of sorts, where hundreds of cows and horses can be seen grazing in the area, with the ocean as a backdrop.

Reach the sky on the long road to heaven

Shari town is home to what is known as the “Road to Heaven”, so named because it is a straight road that stretches for 28 km, looking like it stretches into the sky. Its scenic beauty is evident at all times during the day as the sky changes colour.

Take a dip in the hot springs of Utoro

Utoro is the largest town along the Shiretoko peninsula, with gorgeous views of the surrounding coastline where you can enjoy a dip in natural hot springs. Accommodations range from small homestays to large hot spring inns, located either at the fishing port or in the nearby hills.

Five small lakes that offer beautiful views

Fed by underground springs, the beautiful five small lakes that make up Shiretoko Five Lakes were formed after nearby Mt. Io erupted. An 800-metre long elevated boardwalk provides visitors with a wonderful view of the lakes and surrounding nature, including the Sea of Okhotsk.

Spot whales and dolphins on the Rausu Nature Cruise

From May to October, this 2.5 hours cruise explores the coast of Rausu, where you can spot cetaceans like whales and dolphins, as well as sea birds. Minke whales and killer whales appear earlier in the season, while sperm whales tend to show up from July.

Flavourful shochu developed from fresh potatoes

Take a tour of where this shochu is made and matured at the town-run Kiyosato Shochu Distillery. Potato and barley grown in Kiyosato-cho are used to make this signature shochu, characterised by its soft flavour not normally found in the more common sweet potato shochu.

Enjoy seafood and hot springs in this town

The town of Rausu is the eastern gateway to Shiretoko, characterised by its fishing ports that makes this town famous for its seafood caught from the Sea of Okhotsk. You can enjoy the natural hot springs at various open-air baths here, or partake in whale-watching activities.

Go canoeing down the Kushiro River

The Kushiro Marshland is the biggest wetland region of Japan, dotted with small lakes and observatories for wildlife-watching. Canoe down the Kushiro River for about 9km with a guide, where you can surround yourself with beautiful nature, and spot the famous Japanese cranes that live in this park.

Learn about the interesting history of the Ainu

Hokkaido’s largest Ainu village is located on the shores of Lake Akan, home to reproduced folk houses and some 130 Ainu folk. Experience the culture of Hokkaido’s indigenous population by watching traditional dance performances, eating at restaurants serving Ainu cuisine, or visiting craft shops selling Ainu wooden artworks.

A lake famous for its pure water and marimo balls

Lake Akan is famous for fluffy marimo (moss balls) that can only grow in cool, pure water. It’s also got a popular lakeside hot spring town, where you can take a sightseeing boat to visit the islands on the lake, including one housing the Marimo Exhibition Center.

Immerse in Tokachigawa’s moisturising springs

Tokachigawa Onsen, situated in the middle of the Tokachi Plains, is known for its rare moor (plant-derived) hot spring water that has a high content of natural moisturising ingredients, earning it the nickname “Beauty Hot Springs”. On summer nights, the area is famous for its abundant fireflies.

Kofuku Station is filled with luck and happiness

This former train station in Kofuku-cho in the south of Obihiro is associated with luck because of its name (“fuku” means luck in Japanese). Though closed in 1987, the retro wooden building is well-preserved, and is decorated with hundreds of train tickets both inside and outside the station.

Observe a range of beautiful flowers at Rokka Forest

Rokka Forest is run by Rokkatei Confectionery, and it’s a soothing natural space that’s home to quaint wooden cottages housing galleries and museums. The main attraction is the garden that is home to a range of beautiful local flowers like beach rose, dogtooth violet and other Tokachi flowers.

Award-winning forest for carbon offsetting

This forest houses a range of gardens, from local flowers to designer plots. Based on the idea of carbon offset, its environment allows visitors to connect with nature through gardens, farming, and art installations dotted around the area. There are also restaurants where you can sample local farm-produced food.

Feast on yummy Sanpouroku here

Those with a sweet tooth can visit Ryugetsu Sweetpia Garden and take a tour of the factory and purchase souvenir confectioneries like Sanpouroku, a baumkuchen cake that resembles a kueh lapis log. You can also sample a variety of other sweets, the most popular of which is the Garden Cafe-exclusive ice cream!

Relax in the romantic city of Obihiro

Obihiro is known as the romantic city because of its surrounding natural beauty and picturesque streets. Explore the area’s equestrian history by watching draft horse racing, or visit its archaeological museum. At night, head to Kita no Yatai for the bustling local izakaya pubs that line this alley.