Eastern Wilderness 7 Day Self-Guided Tour

Irankarapte! Your Eastern Hokkaido adventure begins in Kushiro before taking a bus to Lake Akan - a trip that takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once at Lake Akan, your accommodation is just a short 5-10 minute walk from the bus stop. After checking in, you can relax in the hot springs at your hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner that evening. This is a perfect way to unwind after your journey and prepare for the adventures ahead.

You'll join a fascinating guided walk with a local Ainu guide through the forest near Lake Akan. The 3km walk takes about 1.5 hours, where you learn about Ainu culture and traditional ways of life. After the tour, explore Akan Ainu Kotan, where local families run souvenir shops and restaurants serving traditional Ainu food.

In the afternoon, take an optional walk to see bubbling mud pools at Bokke - a 1.5km loop trail. Keep your eyes peeled for squirrels and woodpeckers along the way! In the evening, you can enjoy performances at the Ainu Theatre Ikor - either a traditional dance (30 mins, ¥1500) or a modern cultural fusion show (30 mins, ¥2200).

Your day starts with a taxi journey through Akan-Mashu National Park to Lake Mashu, one of the clearest lakes in the world.

You'll enjoy views of this beautiful caldera lake from two different observation points before visiting Mt. Io, an active volcano with bright yellow sulphur deposits. From here, you take an easy walk on a well-maintained path to the Kawayu Visitor Centre (2.6km).

Your reward for the day's walking is a visit to Sunayu Onsen on Lake Kussharo's shore, where you can dig your own footbath in the sand!

After dinner at your accommodation, you can relax in the hot springs - just remember to remove any jewellery first, as the sulphuric waters will turn them black.

You start your day with a guided canoe trip down the Kushiro River. Your guide does all the paddling in a Canadian canoe, letting you fully relax and enjoy spotting wildlife like Grey Herons, Crested Kingfishers and even deer grazing by the riverbank.

After returning to your accommodation in Kawayu Onsen, spend the afternoon as you wish: rent bicycles from the visitor centre for some active exploration, or simply unwind in the soothing hot springs. Your day ends with dinner at your accommodation.

You’ll take a 3-hour scenic taxi journey from Kawayu Onsen to the Shiretoko Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your taxi departs from your hotel, stopping at highlights like the Oshinkoshin Waterfall before arriving at Utoro's Roadside Station around noon.

The Shiretoko Peninsula, bordered by the Sea of Okhotsk and mountains, is home to diverse wildlife from Brown Bears to Sperm Whales. Enjoy lunch at the Roadside Station before your afternoon activities.

A local guide will meet you at the Roadside Station to take you to the Shiretoko Five Lakes. This gentle nature walk passes five lakes while your guide explains the unique ecosystem. Note that some trail sections may be closed if bears are active nearby - your guide will adjust the route accordingly.

Clear days offer panoramic views of the Shiretoko Mountain range. Your guide will store your luggage during the walk and drive you to your accommodation afterward.

You start your morning with an exciting coastal boat cruise, looking out for Brown Bears - Japan's largest land mammal and sacred to the Ainu people as kim'un kamuy (God of the mountains). These magnificent creatures often roam the shoreline searching for food, sometimes with cubs!

After the cruise, you take a scenic drive over Shiretoko Pass to Rausu. The drive takes about an hour. Rausu is a charming fishing village famous for its seafood, especially Atka mackerel and kelp. You'll have free time to explore before enjoying a delicious seafood dinner at your accommodation.

On your final day, you'll embark on a morning whale-watching cruise along the Shiretoko Peninsula. The deep ocean trench here attracts Sperm Whales and Dall's Porpoises, plus unique marine birds. After returning to land, enjoy a delicious local lunch in Rausu - try the salmon roe rice bowl if it's salmon season!

Then take a bus to Kushiro (about 4-hour journey). If you have extra time in Kushiro, you can visit the Kushiro City Museum or Kushiro Marsh Wildlife Conservation Centre, or take a peaceful walk along the Kushiro River.