DOA-10

Trekking Otaru
Historic Herring Trail

Otaru’s modern history began when the Meiji Government (1868-1912) renovated its
port to service Sapporo, the new capital of Hokkaido. Otaru prospered from trade andherring ﬁshing, growing into a powerful ﬁnancial center. Today, Otaru oﬀers tourist
locations ranging from its many historical buildings to natural landscapes including
sun-drenched cliﬀs towering over the Sea of Japan.
This tour highlights the history of the herring industry, which was central to Otaru’sgrowth and prosperity.
Otaru’s glass making industry, now a cultural and economic powerhouse, began with theproduction of ﬁshing ﬂoats. In Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park, guests
visit Mt. Shimoakaiwa, a sacred mountain. Locals have long prayed for ﬁshermen’s safety
following various traditions.
Come explore the spectacular natural landscapes and their deep connections to Otaru’s
history and traditions. Learn about local folklore while trekking on Mt. Shimoakaiwa, takein the panoramic ocean views, and dive into the rich culture of Hokkaido.

Ezosika Travel Co., Ltd.

+81 11 600 2468

support@ezosika.co.jp

www.ezosika.co.jp

Highlights:•••••

Spectacular views of Ishikari Bay on the Otaru Beach Nature Trail
Visit Mt. Shimoakaiwa’s ancient shrine and learn the legend of the white dragon.
Enjoy fresh, locally-sourced in a traditional Japanese lunch.
A special chance to taste Otate scallops produced in Otaru’s Shukutsu district
Workshop on glass ﬁshing ﬂoats showcasing Otaru’s history of glassmaking

Location:
Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park in Otaru City, Hokkaido

Main Activity:

Trekking along the Otaru Beach Nature Trailand going on the White Dragon TrekDiﬃculty:

3Tour Dates:

11 September 2023

Pax:

Minimum 4

Maximum 15

Route map
Our Destination
Otaru Station

Outward trip by JR train

Return trip by chartered bus

Tour starts from / ends inSapporo station,
Hokkaido

Trekking starts from /ends in Shukutsu, Otaru

Trekking Routes

Glass Workshop

The Herring
MansionDOA-10Day-by-day Itinerary

September 11 - Day 1 - Trekking on the Otaru Beach Nature Trail and the White DragonTrek

We will meet at Sapporo Station at 7:30 am and take a train to Otaru. After a 30-minute
walk in the center of Otaru, we will take a bus to the starting point of the trek. Upon arrivalat the destination, we will start the trek at 9:30.
The White Dragon Trek is called Hakuryu Tainai Meguri in Japanese. The word tainai
means “womb” and meguri means “to walk around or visit.” Tainai-meguri is an ancient
practice in which ascetic practitioners and itinerant Buddhist monks practiced rituals ofdeath and rebirth in mountains and sacred places across the country.
Located in the Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park, Mt. Shimoakaiwa is thehome of the Akaiwa Hakuryuu Shrine. Legend has it that in that spot, a monk saw a whitedragon ascending to heaven in the early Meiji period, and the mountain itself has been
revered within various belief systems as a sacred place. The White Dragon Trek is achallenging course that cuts across precipitous cliﬀs and oﬀers spectacular views of thecoast.

LunchBBQ
Enjoy a barbecue meal featuring seafood from Otaru, including herring, which is low in fat
and has a sweet ﬂavor. Try sailﬁn poacher, which is said to be the reincarnation of thewhite dragon in local legends. The centerpiece of the meal is a pairing of local wine and“Otate” scallops – a delicacy produced in Otaru.

The Herring Mansion, A Hokkaido Tangible Cultural Property
Herring ﬁshing, which reached its peak in the Meiji period, became the foundation ofOtaru's prosperity.
At that time, Otaru attracted migrant ﬁshermen and immigrants from across the country.
The Herring Mansion was built in 1897 in Tomari, a village in the Shakotan Peninsula. It
was moved to its current location and restored in 1958. A guide familiar with Otaru's
history will introduce exhibits from the period and provide a tour of the mansion.
Workshop on the History of Glassmaking in Otaru– an Integral Part of the Herring
Industry
The glass ﬁshing ﬂoats used to mark nets in the water were once indispensable to theherring industry in Otaru. However, modernization and a declining ﬁshing industry causeddemand for them to evaporate. Now, the only factory in Japan that still produces them islocated in Otaru. This workshop is a chance to interact with local ﬁshermen andglassmakers while learning about the culture and history of glassmaking in Otaru.
The tour will depart from the site at 15:30 and will be disbanded at Sapporo Station at
16:30.

Main Activity:

Trekking along the Otaru Beach Nature Trailand going on the White Dragon TrekDiﬃculty:

3Activity lasts approx. 3 hours
Distance : 2.0 km trekking
Terrain: Trail and partially paved roads
Gradient: 183 metersWhat’s included••••••Lunch (BBQ)
Guide fees
Glass Fishing Float Workshop fees
English interpreter fees
All transport as described in the itinerary
Travel insurance

We provide••••

Lunch, BBQ with local food
DrinkFirst aid kit
Safety equipment and maps

What to bringSome of the trekking routes include
unmaintained trails and rocky areas where ropes
and ladders are used.
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Waterproof jacket and pants
Mid- to high-cut hiking boots
Base layers top & bottom
Gloves, beanie, and items to keep you warm
Sun hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses
Water bottle or hydration system of morethan 1L
Personal snacks
Personal medicationsBackpack with enough capacity to carry all theabove
Rain cover for the backpack

About usEzosika Travel Co., Ltd.
We are a Sapporo-based company that provides tour operations and tourism
consulting. It was founded in 2020 to play a part in sustainable tourism in
Hokkaido in the midst of the turmoil caused by COVID-19. In the post-COVID era,
the tourism industry must make drastic changes, and it is necessary to ﬂexibly
respond to changing situations at unprecedented speeds. Like the sika deer,
which is endemic to Hokkaido, we meet the expectations of our customers withstrength and broadness of perspective.
Speciﬁcally, we provide clients with unique experiences, primarily in Hokkaido.
We oﬀer various outdoor activities tailored to ﬁt client needs, such as guided
backcountry skiing.
For adventure travel, we provide comprehensive coordination.
In collaboration with local research institutes and artists,
we are also planning tours that convey the deep spiritualityof Ainu culture.

Guides

Masafumi TAKAHASHI（Macy）
He was born in 1978 in Sapporo. After
working as a diving guide in Egypt andas an inbound guide at anaccommodation facility in Otaru, he has
been guiding mainly in Otaru. In winter,
he also works as a ski instructor andsnowshoe guide. He is one of the few
guides who can talk about Otaru’s
culture, mountains, sea, and snowy
nature. Otaru Guide Meister.

Partner Company
TARU TABI

4-5 Minato-cho, Otaru-shi, Otaru,
Hokkaido, Japan

Information and Requirements
Dietary Restrictions• We will do our best to accommodate any special dietary requests from guests who arevegetarians, or who have food allergies, etc.
Emergency Response Plan
• In case of emergency, we will follow our accident response manual.
• The guide of this tour has completed an advanced ﬁrst aid course and always carries aﬁrst aid kit with her.
• In the event of a disaster, we will follow "Initial Disaster Response Manual for Foreign
Tourists" produced by the Hokkaido Tourism Organization.

Disclaimer
There are certain inherent risks in adventure travel. These include, but are not limited
to, risks of cycling, hiking, swimming, walking and -on all trips- danger of animals,
inaccessibility of medical attention and diﬃculty in evacuation in the case of a medicalemergency. Passengers assume all such risks with regard to these possibilities. By
embarking upon his/her trip, the traveller voluntarily assumes all risks involved in suchtravel, whether expected or unexpected.
• In addition and without limitation, Ezosika Travel Co., Ltd. is not responsible for any
injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay or damage to personal property in connection
with the provision of any goods or services, whether resulting from but not limited toacts of God or force majeure, illness, disease, acts of war, civil unrest, insurrection orrevolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind,overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure ofaircraft or other means of transportation or for failure of any transportation
mechanism to arrive or depart on time.
• Furthermore, Ezosika Travel Co., Ltd. cannot be held liable by freelance guides fordamage or injury to the guide, or damage or injury inﬂicted by the guide on thirdparties in any way. By accepting freelance tour assignments, guides automatically waive
Ezosika Travel Co., Ltd. from any liability.
•Tour Operator / Contact
Corporate name : Ezosika Travel Co., Ltd.
Address of Head Oﬃce: Minami 1-jo Nishi 17-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
Licensed by the Japan Tourism Agency
in accordance with the provisions of the Travel Agency Law
Licence Number: No. 3-802
Date of License: 5 June 2020
Term of Validity: from 5 June 2020 to 4 June 2025
Domestic Travel Services Manager: NAKANE Hiroki

Email: support@ezosika.co.jpWEB: https://www.ezosika.co.jp