Activities in Dō Hoku (Northern Hokkaidō)
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Hiking
Most people come here to hike, whether it's the eight-hour version or some of the tamer three-hour counterparts. (Some people may even wish to hire a scooter or motorcycle) Rebun-tō is a naturalist's dream: fields of over 300 species of wildflower explode from May through to August; the terrain is varied and each walking track is unique; and the beaches harbour all sorts of cool finds, from interesting (and edible!) marine animals to semiprecious stones.
When hiking it's a good idea to take a bus to the northern tip of the island, Cape Sukoton, and hike your way back past breathtaking cliffside vistas, fields of flowers and dwarf bamboo, thick forests and tiny fishing vi…
reviewed
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Hiking on Rishiri-zan
A near-perfect cinder cone rising like a miniature Mt Fuji from the surrounding sea, Rishiri-zan (1721m) provides numerous hiking opportunities and stunning scenery. If you're feeling energetic and have good footwear you can hike to the summit in a day. The two most reliable hiking tracks to the summit start at Oshidomari and Kutsugata (about 3km from town). A road encircles the island and a limited bus service links the small fishing villages on the way.
This service runs to the start of each track; otherwise walk (about an hour), hitch, take a taxi or ask your lodgings if they can drop you off. Prepare properly for a mountain hike and pay particular attention to the sea…
reviewed
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Takasago Meiji Jyōzō
If you want to turn the afternoon into a sake crawl, Takasago Meiji has a 30-minute free tour of its own. From January to March it also has an aisudōmu, a sake-filled ice dome where you can warm up with a drink. Take bus 1, 3 or 17 from bus stop 17 in front of the station to 1-jō 18-chōme (¥150, 10 minutes). It's a large whitewashed building with a cedar ball hanging outside the door. Even if you don't speak Japanese, English pamphlets and friendly staff help make both tours worthwhile.
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Sōunkyō Ropeway
This combination ropeway-chairlift provides fast and easy access to Kuro-dake. One-way/return tickets on the ropeway cost ¥100/1850 and on the chairlift ¥400/600.
Once at the top, you have three options: you can explore Kurodake for a few hours before returning to Sōunkyō Onsen, head to Asahidake on an all-day, no-return excursion, or spend the next three days heading south on the grand traverse.
From July to the end of September, one bus a day goes to Ginsen-dai (銀泉台), where the trailhead Aka-dake (赤岳; 2078m) is located. Set a bit back from the grand traverse, Aka-dake sees far fewer hikers and is a nice escape for anyone seeking near isolation while on the trail…
reviewed
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Otokoyama Jyōzō
If you want a free tipple, take the 30-minute tour of this legendary brewery, which appears in old ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and historic literature. Take bus 67, 68, 70, 71, 667 or 669 from bus stop 18 in front of the station, and get off at Nagayama 2-jō 6-chōme (¥200, 20 minutes); from there it's a two-minute walk (look for the large white cube that rests on the roof of the building).
reviewed
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Harp Seals
There is some wonderful wildlife-watching in Bakkai, where a few hundred harp seals arrive each year and stay from November to the end of March. A basic viewing hut provides shelter, a toilet and some information about the seals. Frequent futsū run on the JR Sōya line between Wakkanai and Bakkai (¥260, 15 minutes). Dress warmly as the hut is a 30-minute walk from JR Bakkai Station, and temperatures can be well below freezing.
reviewed
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Furano Wine Kojō
If you're not going skiing or getting behind the wheel, the Furano Wine Factory (ふらのワイン工場), about 4km northwest of the station, gives tours explaining the wine-making process, and obliges visitors with a complimentary tipple.
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Furano Skī-Jō
Lying between two Prince hotels, this world-class winter-sports resort has hosted 10 FIS World Ski Cup events and two FIS World Snowboarding Cup events. Yet to the benefit of savvy foreign travellers, Furano remains relatively undiscovered, especially in comparison to its spotlight-hogging rival, Niseko. To make a fair comparison, Furano does not allow for off-piste skiing, but there is plenty here to catch your fancy.
The 23 slopes are predominantly beginner and intermediate. The handful of advanced runs are very steep, a bit short and are typically ungroomed with some seriously deep snow drifts. The more novice-friendly courses, all with perfect powder, can run up to 3km…
reviewed
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Furano Budō-kajū Kojō
If you're going skiing or getting behind the wheel, Furano Budō-kajū Kojō, about 1.5km away, gives tours explaining the grape juice–making process, and obliges visitors with a complimentary non-alcoholic tipple.
reviewed
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Asahidake Ropeway
This ropeway runs to within easy hiking distance of Asahi-dake (旭岳; 2290m), Hokkaidō's tallest peak.
Before embarking on the final climb, don't miss Sugatami-ike (姿見池), a picture-postcard pond that reflects the contrasting images of snow in the foreground and steaming Asahi-dake in the background.
The climb up the south ridge and over the west flank is a constant incline, but it should only take you about two hours if you're in good shape. Once atop the peak, you'll have a 360-degree view of Daisetsuzan National Park to revel in.
You can follow the 1.7km loop track that leads for about 50 minutes around the area before returning to the ropeway's upper terminal, or…
reviewed
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