Hokkaidō
is Japan's wild north
Welcome to Hokkaidō
Hokkaidō (北海道) is the Japan of wide-open spaces, with 20% of the country's land area but only 5% of its population. There are large swathes of wilderness here, with primeval forests, tropical-blue caldera lakes, fields of alpine wildflowers and bubbling, in-the-rough hot springs. In the summer, all this (plus the cooler, drier weather) draws hikers, cyclists and strollers.
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Hokkaidō activities
Japan 7-Day Rail Pass Including Shipping Fee
How to enjoy 7-days of unlimited JR rides in Japan:You must purchase this ticket prior to your trip to Japan. Select and purchase your shipping area and seating type from the tour options. At the checkout, you must provide your your full name and title exactly as they appear on your passport, gender (Mr or Ms), a mailing address (no P.O. Box addresses) and phone number. After the purchase is made, the local operator will send you a JR Pass Exchange Voucher and detailed instructions by FedEx within 4 business days to the provided address.Please take your exchange voucher and your passport to any JR Pass exchange office for the eligibility verification process upon arrival in Japan. Once eligibility is verified, you will be asked for the desired starting date, and you will receive your Japan Rail Pass. Exchange offices are located in main areas within Japan including Narita airport and Kansai airport.To use your pass, simply show your JR Pass to a train staff when entering the ticket gate. You cannot go through the automated ticket gate and must use the "manned" ticket gate. The beauty of the pass is that you can use the Japan Rail Pass on most railways and buses that are operated by the Japan Railway (JR) Group. What is a "Green Car” in comparison to a "Standard Car"?The Green Class Car is equipped with upscale comfortable seats that are wider and more spacious than those in the Standard cars. The car is also carpeted with extra room for luggage, and the attendant will provide you with a hot towel upon boarding. Depending on the season, the Standard Class Car can become very crowded, with little space to place luggage.Can I use the Japan Rail Pass to board any train, bus, or ferry in Japan?You can use the Japan Rail Pass on most railways including Hokkaido, Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen. Tokyo Monorail and buses that are operated by the Japan Railway Group are also eligible for use. REQUIRED INFO: At time of booking, you MUST include the following details in the "Special Requirements" box: Your full name and title as they appear on your passport Passport country Gender (Mr or Ms) Mailing address (no P.O. Box addresses) Phone number
Mountain Bike Tour from Sapporo: Jozankei, Onsen, Lunch
In the morning, assemble with your small group and guide at the starting point, approximately one hour after you’re picked up by air-conditioned minivan from Sapporo. Once you’re fitted with a mountain bike, helmet and gloves, you’ll hear safety precautions and get basic instructions for riding.Then follow your guide on an easy, 1.5-hour ride along a mostly paved road, starting from the upper Toyohira River, whose waters swell from mountain snowmelt into the Jozankei valley. Enjoy views above the river canyon and cross a suspension bridge, departing for Jozankei. It’s a steep, downhill ride to this traditional onsen town, which dates back to 1866 when an ascetic monk opened the spa upon discovering its healing waters.Amid forested banks along the bountiful Toyohira River, watch steam rise up from every angle. Stop to enjoy snacks like onsen manju, a bun stuffed with azuki-bean paste, before departing via a steep uphill route. After a ride down to the Shirai River, bike across the Toyohira River, dipping your feet in the cold water if time allows before heading back toward the Hoheikyo Onsen. Your 6-mile (10-km) route ends at this natural hot spring, which was ranked as one of the best hot spring day trips by TripAdvisor in 2013. Settle into mineral baths indoors or choose from three large outdoor pools, where you’ll have panoramic views of the mountains as you relax against the stones during a 1-hour soak. Hoheikyo is one of Japan's only onsen facilities to use 100-percent pure waters; the pools are fed by continuously flowing hot springs poured directly into the baths from the ground.Afterward, sate your appetite with a lunch of authentic naan bread and Indian curry — Jozankei’s most popular food — at the onsite restaurant.Complete your half-day tour with the return 1-hour drive to Sapporo.
Sapporo to Lake Shikotsu Full-Day Mountain Bike Tour
After morning pickup by air-conditioned minivan, you’re driven to the Chitose trailhead, located approximately 1.5 hours away from Sapporo. Once you’re fitted with a mountain bike, helmet and gloves, you’ll hear safety precautions and biking tips for moderately skilled cyclists. Then follow your guide along the pristine waters of the lower Chitose River toward Lake Shikotsu, immersing yourself in the natural splendor of Hokkaido. Soon the dirt and pebble path veers off into beautiful woods of white birch, taking you uphill for approximately 1.5 hours — a distance of 9 miles (15 km). Arriving at a clifftop, stop at a hydroelectric plant to enjoy views of the upper Chitose before continuing another 3 miles (5 km) to Lake Shikotsu.With a 24-mile (40-km) circumference and a maximum depth of about 1,180 feet (360 meters), the volcanic Lake Shikotsu is the second-deepest lake in Japan and boasts some of the country’s best-quality water. Enjoy the tranquil surroundings and views of neighboring volcanoes — Mt Eniwa, Mt Tarumae and Mt Fuppushi — from the shore, and pose for a group photo.Take an hour of free time to purchase lunch (own expense) at one of the lakeside restaurants. Choose from many options, including ones serving freshwater salmon (sushi or sashimi), hamburgers made with Hokkaido beef, or traditional Japanese plates like ramen and curry.Afterward, you can choose your return route, based on your skill level and energy. Select the mountain path for a moderate, off-road downhill course with more challenges and occasional uphill climbs, or ride through the woods on an entirely downhill slope; both options travel 15 miles (25 km) along a pebble road for approximately two hours past streams and across bridges. Note: If at any time the pace is too fast, you can ask your guide to slow down, take a break or even shorten the course. Enjoy panoramic mountain views and possible animal sightings — including Ezo deer, Hokkaido native foxes and raccoon dogs — before your small group returns to the Chitose area. Then hop off your mountain bike and relax during the comfortable drive back to Sapporo or New Chitose Airport.
Japan 14-Day Rail Pass Including Shipping Fee
How to enjoy 14-days of unlimited JR rides in Japan:You must purchase this ticket prior to your trip to Japan. Select and purchase your shipping area and seating type from the tour options. At the checkout, you must provide your your full name and title exactly as they appear on your passport, gender (Mr or Ms), a mailing address (no P.O. Box addresses) and phone number. After the purchase is made, the local operator will send you a JR Pass Exchange Voucher and detailed instructions by FedEx within 4 business days to the provided address.Please take your exchange voucher and your passport to any JR Pass exchange office for the eligibility verification process upon arrival in Japan. Once eligibility is verified, you will be asked for the desired starting date, and you will receive your Japan Rail Pass. Exchange offices are located in main areas within Japan including Narita airport and Kansai airport.To use your pass, simply show your JR Pass to a train staff when entering the ticket gate. You cannot go through the automated ticket gate and must use the "manned" ticket gate. The beauty of the pass is that you can use the Japan Rail Pass on most railways and buses that are operated by the Japan Railway (JR) Group. What is a "Green Car” in comparison to a "Standard Car?"The Green Class Car is equipped with upscale comfortable seats that are wider and more spacious than those in the Standard cars. The car is also carpeted with extra room for luggage, and the attendant will provide you with a hot towel upon boarding. Depending on the season, the Standard Class Car can become very crowded, with little space to place luggage.Can I use the Japan Rail Pass to board any train, bus, or ferry in Japan?You can use the Japan Rail Pass on most railways including Hokkaido, Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen. Tokyo Monorail and buses that are operated by the Japan Railway Group are also eligible for use. REQUIRED INFO: At time of booking, you MUST include the following details in the "Special Requirements" box: Your full name and title as they appear on your passport Passport country Gender (Mr or Ms) Mailing address (no P.O. Box addresses) Phone number
Sapporo Small-Group Soba Cooking Class with Transport Included
Your private taxi driver whisks you from your Sapporo hotel or the JR Sapporo station to an eco-tourism farming community just outside of the city of Chitose, located southeast of Sapporo. Arrive at either Chitose Fureai Farm or Iwamoto Farm, and meet your instructor, a local resident and mother with many years of experience preparing traditional noodle dishes. During your 2-hour cooking class, you’ll learn how to make soba from scratch. Soba, usually made from buckwheat flour, refers to any thin noodle, unlike udon, the thick white noodle. Learn about shin-soba, made with newly harvested buckwheat, giving it a sweeter flavor than regular soba. Served either chilled with a dipping sauce or in hot broth as a noodle soup, soba is one of the popular dishes you’ll find all over Japan.Following your instructor’s lead, soak two kinds of buckwheat with water and then knead and roll the dough. Learn the proper techniques for cutting the dough, and enjoy the fragrant scents wafting up as you slice it into thin strips. Then, taste the fruits of your labor with a dipping sauce with flavorful and seasonal ingredients. Delight in slurping up the light and fresh noodles — luckily, you’ll have made enough noodles to take back with you for a snack later on.Pack your noodles, bid your instructor farewell, and then board your private taxi that returns to you to Sapporo.Please note: A minimum of two people per booking is required.
Sapporo Horseback-Riding Tour with Round-Trip Transport
After pickup in Sapporo, sit back and enjoy the scenery as your pre-arranged taxi driver whisks you out of the city to a beautiful mountainous area just 40 minutes away. Your horseback-riding adventure starts in Mustang Town, a place with all the elements of a Hollywood western film, including classic wooden buildings and a riding instructor-guide known as 'the Sheriff.' Go through a safety briefing and introduction to the horses, all gentle animals that are suitable for beginner riders. You'll learn how to mount your horse, hold the reins and give some basic commands for turning and stopping. For more experienced riders, the Sheriff can provide advanced instruction. Once you’re ready, the Sheriff leads you on your ride, or 'patrol,' as they say in the Wild West. From your vantage point atop your horse, admire the lush greenery and interesting formations of the nearby mountain, which has eight peaks. Pass through an orchard where you may be able to taste some fresh fruit, and meander along tree-lined trails, enjoying the fresh air and bucolic photo ops. Your taxi returns you to Sapporo at the end of your ride.