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Local Cuisine
Handpicked Hotels
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9 days 8 nights
fromUSD $4045.00 (Limit to 13 guests)
Single Supplement: USD $1035.00
Single Room
Single room types are rooms for
single room occupants.
One person will be occupying the
hotel room throughout the tour.
Twin Room
Twin room types are rooms set for two people who will occupy one room, but will have two separate beds.
Double Room
A double room is a room that has one bed for two people to share.
Triple Room
A triple room is one room where three people may share the same room. It has three separate beds.
Japanese Style Room
A Japanese-style room traditionally does not have a western-style bed, it is a tatami floor room with futon bedding. However, if you prefer a western-style bed, you may request one though we cannot guarantee it.
Please note: If you would like to request neighboring rooms next to your traveling companions, you and your traveling companions must have the same room types in order to be next to each other. For example, if you have requested a double room, but your traveling companions have requested a twin, or triple room, then neighboring rooms cannot be accommodated. However, if both you and your traveling companions match in room type, then neighboring rooms will likely be arranged for your convenience.
Hokkaido was once considered as a remote
wilderness by other natives of Japan and was known
as "Ezo" during the feudal times. The land was
originally inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people.
Today, Hokkaido is the second largest island in Japan
and attracts all nature lovers as an immaculate
paradise of mountain ranges, lush forests, and
breathtakingly beautiful crater lakes. Hokkaido is the
prefecture with the mildest climate in summer, making
it a great time to visit. Day time in Hokkaido during the
summer months are warm instead of hot and humid,
and evenings cool down nicely making each night all
the more enjoyable. Summer also offers beautiful
flower fields which are best explored during the
summertime. Let All Japan Tours guide you on a
magnificent journey from Kushiro on Hokkaido’s
Eastern Pacific Coast, all the way through to the
Shiretoko Peninsula, which stretches out into the Sea
of Okhotsk.
Our tour begins in Kushiro, a fishing port famous for
some of the best seafood in Japan. You will enjoy a
welcome dinner at a Robatayaki restaurant, where
fresh fish is grilled on an open grill. We will then visit
Hokkaido’s largest marshland area to see the red-
crowned crane and continue on towards Lake Akan,
where the uniquely spherical Marimo Algae can be
seen. Visit the home to the largest remaining Ainu
community in Hokkaido, Ainu Kotan Village, where we
will be treated to a traditional dance performance. Our
journey on this tour will also bring us to Lake Mashu,
known as one of the clearest lakes in the world and
considered Japan's most beautiful lake. From there,
we will move onwards to the Onsen town of Utoro on
the Sea of Okhotsk, where we will have the chance to
relax in our inn's hot spring baths. If the weather
allows, we will also enjoy a boat ride from the
Shiretoko Peninsula with an opportunity to catch a
glimpse of waterfalls visible only from the sea and the
native Hokkaido brown bears. As Shiretoko is the very
end of Japan, it remains as a completely remote area
of beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife.
Experience marvelous landscapes formed by
volcanoes, see untouched nature, and visit UNESCO
wetland nature reserves. You will have the opportunity
to see bountiful wildlife as we walk through the trails.
Try to spot foxes, deer, and numerous species of birds
unique to Hokkaido. After each day’s walk, we will
relax in onsen hot springs where some baths are
located outdoors in order to fully experience the
serene natural surroundings. While Hokkaido is a
large area to cover and nearly impossible to explore it
entirely in one short trip, All Japan Tours includes the
highlights and best locations on the island for one epic
Hokkaido journey.
Note: this is an intense rated hiking trip with
some steady steep ascents and hikes over 4
hours.
Activity Level: Intense
Our Intense tours generally have dedicated days of
trail walking, with some days of over four hours and
with some ascent and/or descent.
Who is an Intense tour designed for?
- We recommend our Intense tours for anyone who
does regular walking or hiking, and is comfortable
walking a full day with some climbing and descending.
- If you do not exercise regularly, please practice
walking for three to four hours, about three to six
months prior to the tour in order to get the most out of
your trip.
Accommodations
This itinerary contains overnight stays at Western Hotels
and Ryokans. Ryokans are more traditional
accommodations, with a more casual hospitality than
you will find at a hotel. At a Ryokan, you will stay in a
simply furnished room and sleep on a futon, which is
laid on a tatami mat.
Some Ryokans may have
private bathrooms attached to your room, but others
only have public bathrooms used by all the guests –
meaning either a smaller bathroom used one guest at a
time, or larger bathrooms separated by gender (male &
female), and designed to be used by multiple guests at
once.
2025
Start Date | End Date | Twin/Triple | Start City | End City | Style | Save | Status |
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Please Note:
All prices are per person, based on twin (double on
request) or triple occupancy.
International flights are
not included on our tours - this allows you the flexibility to
choose your own departure and get the best value for your
money!
We can arrange international flights for
US customers if needed, please ask for details.
A 20% deposit is required to hold the space at time of booking and final payment is due 2 months prior to departure. At least 4 passengers minimum are required to guarantee the tour’s departure. Booked passengers will be informed 3 months before the starting date if the tour is not guaranteed, and they will have the option to either cancel and refund the amount already paid, or transfer the payment to another tour.
Travel by private coach between destinations.
For arrivals at Kushiro Airport (KUH), this tour starts in Kushiro and ends in Memanbetsu, with departures at Memanbetsu Airport (MMB).
Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged.
Airport meet and greet and arrival airport transfer are NOT included, but we will provide with full instructions in advance.
Click here for detailed itinerary
Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice
Welcome to Kushiro!
Meet your guide and your group at your hotel. We will
then enjoy a welcome dinner at a local robatayaki
restaurant. Robatayaki, said to have originated in
Kushiro, is a style of cooking on an open hearth called
an "irori". For centuries, fishermen in Northern Japan
used this style of cooking on their boats, where they
would encase hot coals in a box to cook their fish.
Enjoy dinner and savor delicious grilled seafood of the
highest quality.
ANA Crowne Plaza Kushiro or similar class (Western Hotel)
This morning, we will travel by private vehicle to
Kushiro Marshland, known as Japan's largest wetland
area. Kushiro features a diverse ecosystem and
Japan’s first Ramsar Site, a wetland site designated to
be of international importance. Known as a national
treasure and loved by birdwatchers, the area is home
to the red-crowned crane and other abundant wildlife.
Take a walk through the forest towards the
observatory, which overlooks the vast marshland. You
will then continue on the trail through the marsh,
exploring the plants and animals that thrive in this
region. Afterwards, we will head onward in our vehicle
to Lake Akan, a crater lake in the Lake Akan National
Park. Enjoy the scenery of the surrounding mountains
and the marimo algae which forms itself into a ball
shape. This area is also home to the largest
community of the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido.
Enjoy a two night stay in a stunning Onsen hot spring
hotel with the lakeside setting.
Walking distance: 6.8 km / 4.2
miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent
and descent
Time required: 3 hours
Hotel Akankoso or similar class (Onsen Hotel)
Today we will climb Mount Meakandake, an active
volcano which has formed the landscape around Lake
Akan. We will hike through the astonishing scenery, as
the trail offers dramatic views and lovely alpine flowers
unique to Hokkaido. Enjoy the panoramic view of Lake
Onneto and Mount Oakandake. According to Ainu
legend, Mount Meakandake and Mount Oakandake
were a married couple, however, Oakandake was
unfaithful to his wife. The volcanic activity that
continues to this day is said to symbolize the conflict
between them.
Walking distance: 6.6 km / 4.1
miles
Elevation gain: 788 m / 2585 feet
ascent; 788 m / 2585 feet descent
Time required: 4.5 hours
Hotel Akankoso or similar class (Onsen Hotel)
We will start our day at the Akanko Ainu Kotan Village
where we will have the opportunity to learn about the
history and culture of Hokkaido’s indigenous
inhabitants. There we will watch a traditional dance
performance that has been officially recognized as an
important feature of Japan’s cultural heritage. After the
performance, travel to Kawayu Onsen aboard private
vehicle and enjoy a lovely walk to Mount Iou, also
known as Atosa Nupuri or ‘Naked Mountain’ in the
Ainu language. Mount Iou, an active volcano, allows
guests to walk by the steaming, sulfurous vents where
you can find people selling eggs cooked by the natural
heat of the mountain. Tonight we will stay at a
charming Ryokan inn in Kawayu Onsen, a town known
for having some of the highest-quality thermal waters
in all of Hokkaido. In the Ainu language, the town is
called ‘Seseki-petsu’, which translates to ‘hot river
flowing through the village’.
Walking distance: 5.2 km / 3.2
miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent
and descent
Time required: 2.5 hours
Kussharo Prince Hotel or similar (Onsen Hotel)
In the morning, we take a short journey by private
vehicle to the Lake Mashu, known as one of the
clearest lakes in the world. Also known as one of the
most beautiful in all of Japan, it is often shrouded in
mist during the summer months, providing a mystical
look to the sacred lake. Take a short hike up to the
peak of Nishibetsudake, where you can see beautiful
views of the surrounding countryside. We will descend
to the other side of the mountain, where we will enjoy
marvelous views of the vast grass farmland special to
Hokkaido. After the hike, continue on by private
vehicle to Abashiri, a modern town which relies on its
fishing industry. Locals to the area will tell you that the
freshest seafood comes from the Okhotsk Sea. Enjoy
your night stay in another beautiful Onsen Ryokan.
Walking distance: 11.4km / 7.1
miles
Elevation gain: 553 m / 1814 feet
ascent; 763 m / 2503 feet descent
Time required: 5 hours
Ryokan Kagariya or similar class (Onsen Ryokan)
Today we will have the option to go cycling or walking
through one of the largest wildflower nature reserves
in Japan. This reserve is near Japan’s third-largest
lake, Lake Saroma. We will make our way to the
Wakka Nature Centre, where we can spot hundreds of
different types of flowering plants, especially during
the summer months. Afterwards, we will visit the
Museum of Northern People and learn more about the
Ainu. The Ainu have a history going back over 2,000
years to the time of their arrival in Hokkaido from
Siberia. The area also has mysterious traces of an
even earlier culture called the Moyoro. Learn about
the Ainu's way of life, with several museum exhibits
showcasing the clothing, food, and even transport that
the indiginous Ainu used, as well as how Ainu life
compares to those of other Northern cultures. From
there we will make our way to , a lovely hot-spring
town and gateway to the vast Shiretoko Wilderness.
We will enjoy our next three nights at a local hotel,
taking advantage of the refreshing Onsen baths and
regional delicacies.
Optional
Cycling/Walking distance: up to
20 km / 12.5 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent
and descent
Time required: 2 hours
Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort or similar class (Onsen Hotel)
If the weather is in our favor today, we will go and
enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Okhotsk. This sea is
known as one of the most biologically productive,
allowing various kinds of fish, crabs, and other marine
life to thrive. You will also be able to see spectacular
views of the Shiretoko Peninsula’s coastline and
possibly even catch glimpses of Hokkaido brown
bears and their cubs, as well as deer, foxes, and
marine life including dolphins and whales. If the
weather is not appropriate enough for a boat ride out
at sea, we will stay on land and hike a trail leading to a
stunning waterfall instead. In the afternoon, we will
take a local bus to the famous Shiretoko Five Lakes,
which were formed by a volcanic eruption long ago.
Enjoy walking on the beautiful nature trails, taking in
views of the stunning lakes and tranquil surroundings.
Walking distance: 3.4 km / 2.1
miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent
and descent
Time required: 1.5 hours
Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort or similar class (Onsen Hotel)
Start your day with a journey by local bus to a trail that
leads to a UNSESCO World Heritage Site and the
largest lake on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Lake Rausu.
This is a wonderfully remote area whose beauty is not
widely known, making it a wonderful spot to escape
crowds of tourists. Here you can experience
spectacular views of Mount Rausu, the highest peak
of the peninsula. You will be provided with boots for
your convenience, as the land surrounding the lake
consists of several mud trails. Later in the evening, we
will return back to our lodges in Utoro Onsen, where
you can enjoy your last night on the tour with a warm
hot spring bath.
Walking distance: 6.3 km / 3.9
miles
Elevation gain: 187 m / 613 feet
ascent; 187 m / 613 feet descent
Time required: 3 hours
Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort or similar class (Onsen Hotel)
After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Your tour guide will arrange for your transfer to Memanbetsu airport for your return flight to Tokyo or Osaka airport.
PLEASE NOTE: These are the hotels All Japan Tours generally uses on the touring styles and regions shown. There is no guarantee that you will stay in the lodgings listed on the website. We encourage you to check your travel documentation for confirmation of the exact accommodation you will be staying in.
Destinations
Kushiro / Lake Akan / Mt Meakan / Mt Iou / Kawayu Onsen / Lake Mashu / Mt Nishibetsu / Abashiri / Shiretoko / Rausu / Memanbetsu
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Group Tour Style | Budget | Deluxe | Deluxe-Plus | Signature | Active |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
< View Tours | < View Tours | < View Tours | < View Tours | < View Tours | |
Feature | Our Budget Tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget. Explore the must-see sights and enjoy a hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price. | Sample all Japan has to offer, from unique locales to must see tourist attractions. Our Deluxe Tours are fully guided, and use our luxury coaches for your convenience and comfort. | Experience Japanese culture at a slower pace, and with a smaller group size than our deluxe tours. Stay in each city longer so you can soak in the culture and fully appreciate the destinations. | Enjoy upgraded hotels, a slower pace, and a smaller group size for a more intimate experience. Access to a wide range of unique activities that immerse you in authentic Japanese culture. | Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape. |
Advantage | Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a set of quick stops to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or if you plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys, these are the tours for you. | Our most popular tours for everyone. Fully-escorted - the most hassle-free way to visit Japan for the best value. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, the duration of our Deluxe Tours range from 5 to 27 days. Whether you want to see the best of Japan in a shorter time, or take your time in each city, you will find a tour package that suits your preferences. | Smaller group sizes enable our guests to access more of Japanese culture and traditions. Our Deluxe-Plus Tours are carefully balanced for you to discover the unique Japanese culture, history, arts, food and spectacular scenery Japan has. If you love Japan and want to appreciate the best of everything Japan can offer, these are the tours for you. | Dive into the cultural aspects of Japan at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy more than just sightseeing. All of our Signature Small Group Tours feature a wide range of cultural experiences through interaction with the people and places that represent all that is authentic about the destination. Get an alternative, more in-depth understanding of Japanese culture and art. | Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best cultural locations with off-the-beaten-path destinations via Japanese public transportation. Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes. |
Group Size | 20 to 45 people | 10 to 35 people | 6 to 24 people | 4 to 16 people | 4 to 13 people |
Fully-escorted | Comprehensively escorted by AJT's professional English speaking tour guide | Your guides are local experts and residents of the city you are visiting, they do not always escort the group when traveling between cities | |||
Pace | Fast pace to see as much as possible while in Japan | Perfect pace to see as much as possible while in Japan | More leisurely pace to soak in and fully appreciate the destinations, plus free time to explore on your own | ||
Airport Transfers | Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified | Airport transfers are included* (If no options are taken: hotels are not requested to be changed and passengers use the correct airports) | Airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour | Private airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour | Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified |
Transfer between cities | Transfer between cities via private coach and Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary | Transfer between cities via private coach and first class Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary | Transfer between cities via Shinkansen (bullet train) or express train. Private minivans are also used occasionally where public transport is not available or practical | ||
Sightseeing | Sightseeing by private coach with an escorted guide | Sightseeing by private coach and public transportation with an escorted guide | Sightseeing via public transportation (local train, subway & local bus) with local guides | ||
Admission fees and activities | All entry fees to sites and activities listed in the itinerary are included | ||||
Luggage Transfers | Luggage transfers by private coach from hotel to hotel, plus separate luggage transfers are included on select tours | Separate luggage transfers are included | |||
Meals | Breakfast every morning, plus meals as indicated (vegetarian or special meals can be arranged) | ||||
Accommodation | Carefully-selected budget hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected superior/deluxe hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected deluxe/boutique hotels and ryokans | Carefully-selected deluxe/luxury hotels and ryokans | Accommodations range from local Japanese inns (minshuku) to budget hotels, to superior/deluxe hotels depending on the tour and destination |
Ages | 4 years old and above | 6 years old and above | |||
Health & Activity | In order to enjoy our tour, you should be able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing activities can only be accomplished on foot. Wheelchairs can be arranged upon request. However, we regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it. | These tours are tailored to the energetic traveler; guests should feel comfortable walking from 4 to 10 miles a day depending on the tour and destination. |