Daisetsuzan to Akan–Mashu 9 Day Hiking Tour Tour Information

The blue crater pond on Mt Meakan in the Akan–Mashu National Park. Volcanic steam rises in the background.

What Is Included?#

Included in the Tour

  • 8 nights accommodation on a twin share basis

  • 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 8 dinners

  • Ainu cultural experience

  • Cable car one way trips on the Asahidake Ropeway (Day 1 & 2)

  • Cable car one way trip on the Kurodake Ropeway

  • All transport as described in the itinerary

  • English speaking local guide(s)

Not Included in the Tour

  • Airfare

  • 4 lunches

  • Travel insurance

  • Personal expenses

  • Drinks with included meals

Gear#

Packing list#

Essentials

You need to be ready for anything here in Hokkaido, so these items should be brought in all seasons - please be sure to pack them in your suitcase. However, you don’t need to carry it all in your day pack! Depending on the weather and season, some items can stay in your suitcase while you hike, freeing you up to take only what is necessary for the day.

  • Light-coloured long-sleeved tops (or lightweight hoodie) and long hiking pants

    • We highly recommend long clothes, even in summer. Insects, including ticks, are common in Hokkaido’s mountains. Long sleeves and pants will protect you from them and the rays of the sun, too. 

  • Waterproof jacket & overtrouser

    • These are essential not just on rainy days, but to protect you from wind chill on the exposed alpine sections of the trails.

  • Mid- to high-cut hiking boots

  • Fleece or synthetic insulated jacket

    • This is a day pack essential, even in midsummer. Think of it as an emergency item. You may be exposed to wet and windy conditions with no shelter at altitude. In these conditions, in the unlikely event that you were to be immobilised due to injury, hypothermia could set in quickly. This warm layer could save your life in an emergency, which is why it is a day pack essential!

  • Thermal layers top & bottom (for June & September tours only)

  • Base layers top & bottom

  • Spare pairs of socks

  • Gloves, beanie, and other items to keep you warm (on cold or wet days)

  • Sun hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses

  • Water bottle or hydration system of more than 2L

  • Head torch

  • Toiletries

  • Personal medications

  • Rain cover for backpack

  • Backpack between 25 and 35 litres

  • Eco-friendly shopping bag and any other item to reduce single-use plastic waste

  • Travel insurance

  • Passport

    • It is a requirement for accommodation providers to take a photocopy of the passport of international visitors.

  • Cash in Japanese yen

    • Small restaurants and shops in rural parts of Japan do not accept credit cards. Lunch in general costs ¥1,000-1,500 and dinner ¥2,000-3,000. You can withdraw cash from an ATM at a post office and 7-eleven convenience stores.

Recommended

  • Quick-dry hand towel

  • Walking poles

  • A pair of gaiters

  • Cellphone power bank

  • Travel SIM

  • Familiar snacks to eat during activities

  • Camera

What We Provide

  • First aid kit

  • Safety equipment 

  • Insect repellent (though you may wish to bring your own)

What kind of hiking boots do I need for this tour?#

You will need to make sure that you have comfortable, sturdy hiking boots that fit your feet correctly and that can cope with a variety of trails (such as loose scree, wooden steps that can be slippery when wet and rock steps both natural and manmade– not to mention tricksy tree roots that can trap your feet!) Lightweight walking shoes or trainers will not be sufficient. While some of the trails we walk are maintained, others are dirt trails through undergrowth or rocky mountain paths that will require tough footwear with a good grip. Please also make sure that your shoes are waterproof– sometimes we may have to splash through small streams along trails and after rainy weather or on misty days, trails can become very wet and muddy.

Two pairs of slightly muddy hiking boots sit on a carpet in a van.

We also do not recommend bringing new shoes to break in on the trip, as this is a shortcut to getting painful blisters! Please make sure the shoes you bring are ones that you have already worn several times and that you are quite sure fit your feet properly and are comfortable. If you usually need to rely on insoles, please do not forget them when packing. Your choice of socks is also important– please do not wear everyday cotton socks or woollen socks, wear socks that are specifically designed for sports or hiking.

Do I need to bring everything on the gear list for even in summer?#

Yes - the weather in Hokkaido’s mountains is unsettled and the temperature can dip below 10°C in Hokkaido’s mountains at any time of the year so a warm layer is essential. At the other end of the spectrum, it can commonly be above 30°C and there is little shade on some hikes, so sun protection and ample water is also essential. Being well prepared for whatever mother-nature throws at you will help you enjoy your adventure. However, you don’t need to carry everything - your guides will let you know what you need and what you can leave in the van for each day.

How much luggage is too much?#

We estimate that a medium-sized suitcase should be sufficient to hold everything on the packing list and still leave you with some space for souvenirs!

Large or oversized suitcases are not recommended on our tours. There are many reasons for this - first, we often change accommodation every night and It can be tricky to pack and unpack large suitcases everyday. Large luggage can also have trouble fitting into tour vehicles and you may struggle to get them on board Japan’s compact public transport. Additionally, some accommodations that we use do not have elevators.

If you are looking for ways to reduce your luggage load, we would suggest sticking to the packing list we provide and leaving anything not listed at home. Many of the accommodations we stay at have laundry facilities, so you can wash and re-use the same clothes on tour. If a large amount of luggage is unavoidable for whatever reason, let us know at the time of booking. We can advise you on luggage-holding services or how to use Japan’s luggage-forwarding system.

Booking & Payment#

Can you organise a custom departure for this tour?#

Custom departures based on one of our pre-arranged scheduled tours is something that we can arrange, provided that we have guides available for your travel dates. The earlier it's planned the higher chance we can secure guides and our favourite accommodations for you. Requests made at least 10-12 months prior have a good chance of being accepted successfully, while 6 months prior is too late for peak seasons like August or February.

How do I book this tour?#

We will send you a link to our online sign up form, where we ask for the travel information of all the members travelling with you. 

Once we receive this, we will send you an invoice for your tour deposit, which is JPY 50,000 per person. We will confirm your booking upon receipt of your deposit payment.

The deposit is treated as a part of the tour price. Payment of the balance will be reminded by email, which is generally 5 weeks prior to the tour departure date.

We can accept payment via wire-transfer from local banks in a number of countries including but not limited to the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore. Payment will be made in your own currency via Wise (Wise’s transaction fees will apply).

For credit card payment, we use Flywire, which will incur an additional transaction fee of 1.5%.

By paying for a deposit or full amount, you confirm that you have read, understand and agree to these Terms and Conditions .

What Is Your Cancellation Policy?#

Our general cancellation policy is shown as below.

  • Cancelled more than 21 days prior to departure: Zero fees

  • Cancelled between 20 days and 8 days prior to departure: 20% of the Tour Price

  • Cancelled between 7 days and 2 days prior to departure: 30% of the Tour Price

  • Cancelled 1 day prior to departure: 40% of the Tour Price

  • Cancelled on the day of departure: 50% of the Tour Price

  • No refunds will be given after the tour has commenced

In addition, refunds will be given if travel becomes impossible due to government-imposed restriction of movement.

For further details, we recommend you read our refund and cancellation policy in more detail on our  Terms and Conditions page . Feel free to contact us at  info@adventure-hokkaido.com  if you have any additional questions.

How far ahead should I book this tour?#

Japan remains a popular travel destination and it is not unusual for accommodation in peak seasons to be booked out up to a year in advance. So, the sooner the better! Generally speaking, we ask for you to book 10 - 12 months in advance if you are looking at a custom departure. For scheduled departures, we make our dates available from up to a year in advance. If we feel that your date is too close for us to realistically put a trip together to the standard we pride ourselves on, we will let you know at the time of enquiry and will do our best to suggest alternative travel dates.

What is the minimum group size for this tour?#

This is a mixed group tour and we accept bookings from one person up . However, our scheduled group tours require a minimum number of bookings for us to guarantee the departure of the tour, and to offer the tour at the price quoted. The minimum number of booked guests to guarantee the tour is four people .

If you book with less than four people, we will hold your place on the tour and wait for another group to join the tour. If the number of guests has not reached the minimum number by 30 days prior to departure, we will give you the option to cancel or to upgrade to a private departure. 

If you choose to cancel, we will refund the amount you have paid us. You’re welcome to check with us at any time about the status of bookings. 

Please be advised that we will not be liable to compensate for any inconvenience or incidental expenses that might have incurred to you, including airline tickets.

Can I book a single room?#

Our tours are priced on a twin share basis. Those travelling by themselves will need to pay an additional supplement for use of a single room. If you enter the number of guests in your group and rooms you need, the dates and prices form will calculate the price for your group.

I am a solo traveler, can I share a room with someone else?#

Our tours are priced on a twin share basis and those travelling by themselves will need to pay an additional supplement for use of a single room. If you are happy to share a room with another guest - of the same gender - then let us know at the time of booking. If we match you with another solo traveller then we can discount the single supplement for both of you.

Tour Area & Access#

How do I get to the start of the tour?#

We will meet in Asahikawa between 9:00 am and 9:30 am on the first day. We recommend that you arrive in Asahikawa the day before departure. In this case, we are happy to assist you with booking your pre-tour accommodation.

If you are flying into Asahikawa Airport (AKJ) from Tokyo Haneda on the first day, please make sure you reserve an early morning flight that arrives at Asahikawa between 8:30am and 9:30am, which allows us to pick you up from the airport on the day.

An alternative to flight is a train (Japan Railway, abbr. JR), which travels every 30-60 mins between Sapporo and Asahikawa. Upon booking, please let us know your travel plans to Asahikawa, and we will confirm in detail where and what time we will meet on the first day.

You can search train timetable in English on  Japan Transit Planner website .

On Tour#

Do I need to carry my luggage while hiking?#

This hiking tour is a series of day hikes; either return, loop or traverse routes. We always come back to our van at the end of the day, so you can leave any overnight luggage in the van where it will travel with you to our next accommodation! This means that even on multi-day hiking tours, all you need to carry is a daypack between 20 and 30 litres.

What happens if the weather is bad during the tour?#

While we try to organise everything, mother nature is out of our control. If the weather is too bad to safely hike, such as a typhoon or sudden storm, we will travel to the next inn in our support vehicle. Along the way we will still stop at local restaurants and visit indoor facilities, so you can still experience the charm of the area while travelling safely and comfortably.

Can you cater to vegetarians / vegans on this tour?#

While vegetarianism and veganism are catching on in larger urban areas, across much of Japan it is still unheard of. Outside of main cities, there are very few pure vegetarian or vegan restaurants available and many Japanese do not have a clear understanding of what exactly qualifies a food as being truly vegan or vegetarian.

If you are travelling to Hokkaido as a vegan or vegetarian, you will have to accept that you may not be able to experience the full scope of Japanese food as your other travellers might. With advance notice and clear direction, some restaurants and accommodations are happy to cater to your requirements so please let us know your needs at the time of booking, but some facilities may choose to simply remove dishes from your meal instead of making a substitute. The main challenge is “dashi”, a meat or fish-based broth that is very commonly added to Japanese dishes. This can be hard to remove from Japanese cooking (it’s a bit like asking a European chef not to add salt and pepper!) as it is integral to a number of dishes.

See our Vegan & Vegetarian in Hokkaido blog to learn more.

Travel & Safety#

Do I need travel insurance?#

Absolutely! This is a must for all travellers joining our tours. Please make sure you have valid travel insurance, covering the kind of activities you are undertaking during our tour, cancellations, loss of personal belongings, and any unforeseen circumstances while travelling. We will require the details of your travel insurance provider such as the name, policy number and phone number prior to the commencement of the tour.

If you're a Japanese citizen and on Japan's national health insurance scheme, we can mitigate our insurance requirement, although we still strongly recommend that you have flight cancellations and related expenses covered by some kind of insurance. Often your credit card provider can offer this coverage.

Language & Culture#

Is tipping expected in on this tour?#

Tipping is not a part of Japanese culture and is not expected. Most jobs pay a high enough wage that workers can make a living without tips and service charges are often included as standard at restaurants, bars and so on (but this being Japan, you of course don’t pay a service charge and get nothing in return– you might get a little extra side dish called “otōshi” or some free bar snacks!) However, if you do wish to tip, feel free to do so. Nobody is going to mind the extra cash (even if you may have to reassure them several times that it’s okay to keep the money)!