Sculpted by the forces of nature, Hokkaido is Japan at its wildest, with pristine wilderness and abundant wildlife. This group tour explores Eastern Hokkaido during summer, when the island is at its best.
The enchanting isle of Hokkaido is the most northerly of Japan’s main islands, and the wildest. Whilst the island makes up just over 20% of the country’s total landmass, it’s home to only 5% of the population. Even then, the majority live in Sapporo – the island’s capital and largest city – and much of Hokkaido remains largely untouched, allowing its flora and fauna to flourish.
Hokkaido’s wildlife is a year-round spectacle, but it's during the summer months when the island's wildlife becomes particularly prominent.
Our itinerary begins with a 4-night stay in the far north-eastern corner of the Hokkaido mainland, where we focus our attention on Shiretoko National Park. This is the island’s premier wildlife destination, located on a peninsula that juts into the North Pacific Ocean, pointing towards the Kuril Islands.
Shiretoko is home to the largest population of brown bears in Japan. These apex predators are best observed on dedicated boat trips along the national park’s shoreline, where they can often be seen venturing out from the dense vegetation to scour the stony beaches for morsels of food.
It’s not just the bears we're on the lookout for; these waters are also home to an abundance of marine life. We enjoy cetacean-watching boat trips in the hope of encountering a variety of whale species – including orca, sperm, minke and humpback – in addition to Pacific white-sided dolphins and a host of pelagic birds.
Later in the itinerary, we continue down the east coast of Hokkaido to experience more of its pristine wilderness and wildlife. There are opportunities to view sea otters, Ezo deer, Japanese cranes, spotted and ringed seals, and a plethora of avian species – including Blakiston’s fish owl – showcasing the diversity found on Japan’s wildest island.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK & fly to Japan
This morning, we depart the UK on overnight flights to Japan.
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Day 2:
Arrive in Hokkaido & transfer to Utoro
Today we connect with our onward domestic flight from Tokyo to Hokkaido.
We land at Memanbetsu in the afternoon, where we're met on arrival and transferred to the town of Utoro on the western side of the Shiretoko Peninsula.
Accommodation: Kiki Shiretoko Natural Resort, 4-nights
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Day 3:
Shiretoko boat cruise & Furepe Waterfall
This morning, after breakfast, we make our way on foot to the pier at Utoro for our first boat cruise of the itinerary. The plan for this cruise is to navigate the western coastline of the Shiretoko Peninsula until we reach the cape at its tip. Along the way, we scan the shore for wildlife, in particular brown bears. During the summer months, the brown bears of Shiretoko are best encountered when they scour the peninsula's stony beaches in search of food.
After our time on the water, we return to Utoro and disembark. We then have some time to explore the town and find somewhere for lunch.
In the afternoon, we take a short drive to the beginning of this afternoon's walk. This walk is gentle, though there might be uneven sections along the way, but we take it at a slow pace to maximise our chances of spotting wildlife.
Starting in forest and changing to grassland, we follow the trail until we reach the cliff where the Furepe Waterfall descends almost 100 metres into the Sea of Okhotsk.
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Day 4:
Cetacean-watching boat trip & forests of Shiretoko
Like yesterday, after breakfast, we head to the pier in Utoro and board a boat. However, this time we venture out to sea on the lookout for the array of cetaceans that frequent the Sea of Okhotsk.
Orca, minke whale, Dall's porpoise and sperm whale are all attracted to the waters off the Shiretoko Peninsula by the abundance of prey. Wildlife is never guaranteed and the movements of cetaceans can prove to be particularly fickle, but in the capable hands of our captain we hope to enjoy views of some of these marine mammals.
In the afternoon, we enjoy another guided walk, this time focusing on the verdant forest of Shiretoko. Accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide, we learn more about the flora and fauna of this unique destination. We could also encounter wildlife whilst exploring the forest, including red fox, Ezo sika deer, red squirrel and a variety of birds.
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Day 5:
Brown bear boat cruise & Shiretoko Goko Lakes
This morning, we're transferred across the peninsula to the town of Rausu, where we board our second brown bear watching boat cruise of the itinerary. On this cruise, we sail along the eastern shore of Shiretoko and enjoy the ever-changing coastline. Of course, this cruise provides further chances to observe brown bears as they wander the beaches, rocky coves and forest fringes in search of food.
As we make our way back to Utoro, we stop to have a guided visit of Shiretoko Goko Lakes, one of the peninsula's most scenic locations. It's a series of five small lakes formed centuries ago by an eruption from the nearby Mount Io and fed by springs deep underground. The Shiretoko Goko Lakes simultaneously highlights the volcanic history of this region and showcases the stunning scenery of the peninsula. If the weather is in our favour, we can enjoy some wonderful mountain vistas reflecting in the still water of the lakes.
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Day 6:
Cetacean watching from Rausu & transfer to Nakashibetsu
It’s a more relaxed start to the day today, as we have the morning free to explore Utoro before transferring back to Rausu.
From Rausu, we board our next boat cruise, and again we're on the lookout for cetaceans. During our time on the water, we hope to catch sight of a number of marine species, including minke whale, orca, Dall's porpoise, short-tailed shearwater, fur seal and even Baird's beaked whale if we're lucky.
Returning to land, we continue to Nakashibetsu and our next hotel, where we overnight.
This evening, there's also a chance that we may observe Blakiston's fish owl, which is known to visit the grounds of our traditional Japanese accommodation. The hotel has a dedicated viewing lobby in the event that an owl does make an appearance, and we can enjoy viewing the world's largest owl species in comfort.
Accommodation: Yuyado Daiichi, 1-night
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Day 7:
Notsuke Peninsula & Kiritappu
To start the day, we transfer further down the east coast of Hokkaido to the pier at Bekkai-cho Odaito. From here, we board our vessel for a boat trip to the Notsuke Peninsula.
During the boat trip, we navigate the coastline of the peninsula and the sheltered bay which it protects. Approximately, 70% of the bay is covered by a forest of the aquatic plant eelgrass, and is a haven for crustaceans, which in turn attracts pinnipeds and sea otter to these calm waters.
Back on land, we transfer to Kiritappu, a cape on Hokkaido's eastern seaboard; we explore this picturesque location. In addition to the scenic views, we should also enjoy views of sea otters, seals and seabirds as we walk along the trails on this headland.
From Kiritappu, we transfer to Kushiro, which takes approximately an hour and a half, meaning we arrive in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: ANA Crowne Plaza Kushiro, 2-nights
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Day 8:
Explore Kushiro & surrounding area
For our last full day in Hokkaido, we make our first stop at the Kushiro Tancho Nature Park. We spend much of the morning here as we aim to observe the red-crowned crane, which are synonymous with this part of Japan.
This is followed by a guided walk in the Kushiro Marsh. Along the boardwalk, we should have plenty of opportunities for birdwatching and, if we're lucky, sightings of Ezo sika deer and Ezo red fox.
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Day 9:
Departure
Today's free to spend as we wish before it's time to depart and transfer to the airport for our flights home, or any other onward travel arrangements.
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Day 10:
Arrive in UK
Please note: The itinerary may change at short notice due to weather and recent wildlife reports.
You may wish to extend your time in Japan and experience more of the country’s fascinating history, culture and stunning landscapes. If you do, please contact your travel consultant to discuss what options would suit your requirements.
