Wildlife & hot springs of Hokkaido
15 days from £5,495pp
Tour highlights
Hiking in the Daisetsuzan National Park.
Skiing in Furano or Niseko on world class powder.
Seeing the Snow Festival in Sapporo in February.
Watching the Red-Crested Crane mating rituals in Kushiro.
Keeping an eye out for bears in Shiretoko.
Price includes
Itinerary idea in detail
Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Tokyo.
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After passing through customs and luggage collection, you're met by an airport guide who will give you your trip documents and direct you to the shared shuttle service which takes you to your hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of the day at leisure, resting and relaxing after your flight. If you do feel like starting exploring, you may wish to walk around the Imperial Gardens.
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Have a day to acclimatise and sightsee in Tokyo before your rural adventure begins. You might like to visit the Imperial Palace gardens in the heart of the capital, or explore the Edo-period area of Asakusa to see the impressive Sensoji temple.
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Tokyo , Kushiro , Akan-ko National Park
This morning transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Kushiro where a rental car will be waiting for you. From Kushiro drive through the wetlands, stopping in at the Crane Centre, to the Akan National Park.
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Explore the lake today - take a boat trip or simply stroll around the shore. You have the use of your hire car to explore further afield too.
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Head to the far eastern Shiretoko Peninsula today, stopping in at Lakes Kussharo and Mashuko as you go. If you are short on time Mashuko is the more accessible and beautiful of the two.
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Shiretoko National Park , Utoro
Explore Shiretoko's rugged, wild coastline today by boat - looking out for bears and other wildlife along the way. There are plenty of walking possibilities around the town centre.
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Drive back into the heart of Hokkaido, via Abashiri - there is an interesting indigenous peoples' or Ainu museum here - to Sounkyo.
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Explore the gorge in the morning and then drive to Asahidake, another mountainous and scenic town.
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Explore the mountain today, there are several short walks or some longer hikes in the area.
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Drive south to Biei, a pretty town with rolling hills and abundant flowers in the spring and summer. Return to your hotel in the evening.
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Drive to the capital city of Hokkaido today, Sapporo. The city is very cosmopolitan and has some interesting architecture and a lovely atmosphere.
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Explore the city today. We recommend a visit to the Historical Village of Hokkaido, which features replicas and original buildings dating back to the 1800s.
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Drive to the airport for your flight back to Tokyo and your final afternoon at leisure in Japan. Enjoy your final day last-minute sightseeing or shopping.
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Tokyo , International return flight
Take the airport shuttle bus directly from the hotel to the airport for your flight home. Your return flight will arrive the same day.
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- Tokyo
- Kushiro
- Akan-ko National Park
- Utoro
- Shiretoko National Park
- Utoro
- Sounkyo
- Asahidake
- Sapporo
- Tokyo
Contact a specialist
The specialist who designs your trip to Japan will have explored the country many times and, in some cases, lived there. Their first-hand knowledge gives us the belief that no other travel company can match our expertise in helping you plan your trip. Your dedicated specialist will take the time to understand your preferences and build them into an itinerary to match, working to your budget. He or she will keep perfecting it until you’re completely happy and ready to book.
When to go
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Daily max temperature | Monthly rainfall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | ||||
| Kushiro | ||||
| Akan-ko National Park | ||||
| Utoro | ||||
| Shiretoko National Park | ||||
| Sounkyo | ||||
| Asahidake | ||||
| Sapporo | ||||
