Untouched Japan
Visit the homelands of rare wildlife

Eastern Hokkaido
Wildlife Tour6 Days with English-speaking Guides

Tour Overview

Hokkaido, the northern most of Japan ishomeland to many rare wildlife species. Many ofthem which are endemic to the area. If youʻre aquite wildlife lover, this is your plan.
Travelers can observe a variety of wildlife
throughout the year. We combine wildlife
observation with activities such as cruises andcanoeing with the background of Hokkaidoʼs
dynamic nature, such as Shiretoko Natural
World Heritage Site, where you may have achance to spot a huge Brown Bear or an
imposing Stellerʼs Sea Eagle. Youʼll have an
extraordinary experiences.
Tours available: June ~ OctoberTrip Wows
High possibility to spot very rare creatures,
most of which are endemic to Hokkaido,
such as Brown Bear, Blakistonʼs Fish Owl
Nature Walking with the dynamic
background of Shiretoko World Natural
Heritage Site

Watching very rare species of birds

Savoring the finest quality Hokkaido
seafood, vegetables, and local sakeRare wildlife
Wildlife that you might encounterGreen Season: Brown bear, Northern sea lion, Porpoises, Dolphins,
Lathamʼs snipe, Long-tailed rosefinch, Japanese bush warbler,
Reed bunting, Siberian rubythroat, Grey-headed woodpecker,
Long-tailed tit
Winter Season: Stellerʼs sea eagles, Whooper swans,
All Season: Japanese deer, Siberian chipmunk, red fox,
Black woodpecker, Great spotted wood pecker,
White-backed woodpecker, Japanese pygmy woodpecker,
Red-crowned cranes, White-tailed eagle, Hazel grouse, Marsh tit,
Long-tailed tit, Tree creeper, coal tit, Blakistonʼs fish owl, Sea otter,harbor seal,Ainuʼs living with wildlife
The Ainu is the indigenous people who mainly live in Hokkaido. Ainu means “human” in the Ainu
language.
They made their living by hunting, fishing, and gathering. Also believe in the spirits of ”Kamuy”,
which stands for the god live in everything in the nature such as mountains, rivers, animals,
even the tools they use in daily life.
Brown bear is the supreme god of kamuy. They believe brown bears are temporary appearanceof gods of mountains. Bears visit the land of Ainu with meat and skins as souvenirs. Ainu inreturn send back the spirits of kamuy to the heaven with offerings.
Besides, Blakistonʼs fish owls are the guardian god of the community. Youʼll see the woodcarved statues of the owl are displayed at the entrances of their villages.

Unique ecosystem
Shiretoko Peninsula
Shiretoko is a 70 km long, narrow peninsula jutting out into the Sea of Okhotsk, a range of
1,200 to 1,600 meters mountains form the backbone of the peninsula, 200 high treacherous
cliffs are aligned along the coastline, which makes it inaccessible from the land.
The place is a habitat for 36 land mammals, 22 marine mammals, and 285 species of birds
confirmed. Among them are world widely recognized rare species, such as northern sea lion
and Blakistonʼs fish owl and black woodpecker. Shiretoko also well-known as one of thehighest brown bear population densities in the world.
As such, the fact that many wild animals can live within such a small area is largely due toShiretokoʼs unique connection of the sea, rivers, forests and draft ice.

Kushiro Marshland
Kushiro Marshland is a vast wetland (with around 22,000 ha. 36 km from north to southand 25 km from east to west) that has countless number of meandering rivers runcrisscross like capillaries and has eventually become an important breeding spots for over
200 birds, 39 mammals, 5 reptiles, 4 amphibians, and 38 fish. Almost all are native to thisarea, such as Red-crowned crane, Grayʼs grasshopper warbler, white-tailed eagle,
Japanese huchen. Japanese huchen is the largest species of fresh water fish.
The area enjoys the very cool climate all year round which allows Ezo salamander which isbelieved to be an Ice Age survivor to live in.

Route Map
Day 1

Day 2

Memanbetsu Airport to Utoro
Day 1

Day 2

Utoro to Rausu

Day 3Rausu to Ochiishi

Day 4Ochiishi to Lake Toro

Day 3
Day 5

Day 5

Lake Toro to Akanko Onsen

Day 6

Kawayu Onsen to Kushiro Airport

Day 6Day 4

Durations: 6 days 5 nights
Activity: Wildlife watching/Canoeing
Intensity: Easy

Accommodations
Five nights of accommodation at handpicked hotels

Stay at various types of accommodations –Japanese traditional Hot spring inn, Luxury hotel resort, etc.

Enjoy the local Hokkaido ingredients throughJapanese traditional course meal

Take a break and enjoy the scenic view during
hot springs and saunas

Detail requests available

Guides and staffs
Experienced English speaking guides withabundant local knowledge
Interpretation, camaraderie and other supports
from our guides
Experts and local hospitality staffs provided

Well relationships with the local connections
Quick response against unexpected events(One-stop tour operator)

Day 1Day 2

Day to Day - 01
Day 1 - Meet our guests at Memanbetsu Airport
Our guide will pick you up at Memanbetsu Airport, move to Utoro by chartered car.
If it is in summer, you might have a chance to see a vast field of sun flowers
blooming right in front of the airport.
Utoro is a famous fishing port town facing the Sea of Okhotsk, It is well-known for
its freshly caught seafood such as salmon, Atka mackerel, etc. After dinner, we will
have an orientation meeting.
Highlights – Utoro local seafood dinner

Meals

Dinner: Kaiseki course meal (Hotel)

Hotel

Shiretoko Village (Japanese style room, hot spring)Day to Day - 02
Day 2 – Shiretoko pristine forest walkHave a 3-hours walk to the deep forest following to the animal trails. Our experienced
nature guides will introduce wildlife observation spots for you. As the people rarely
enter the place, you might encounter very rare animals such as Siberian chipmunk
and Black woodpecker.
The trail includes the impressive waterfalls, treacherous cliffs with the background of
Shiretoko Mountain Range. After lunch, enjoy a natural outdoor hot spring on the way
to Rausu. Have a Blakistonʼs fish owl observation at a special facility after dinner.
Highlights – Shiretoko forest walk, Kumano-yu outdoor hot spring,Blackistonʼs fish owl obsertvation

Act.

① Shiretoko forest walk (3hrs)
Intensity: Easy (★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ）② Blakistonʼs fish owl watchingMeals

Breakfast: Hotel Lunch: Local seafood restaurant
Dinner: Western course meal (Hotel)

HotelShiretoko Sarai (Western style room)

Day 3Day 4

Day to Day - 03
Day 3 – Brown Bear watching cruise
A 3-hours cruise from the port of Rausu to the Cape Shiretoko gives you a highpossibility to spot Brown bear. You might have a chance to see rare animals which
include red fox, white-tailed eagle, seals, northern sea lions and killer whale.
After lunch, move to Notsuke Peninsula which is an unique sandbar. Lots of rarebirds such as Lethamʼs snipe, Long-tailed rosefinch, and Siberian stonechat canbe
observed. Stay in Ochishi.
Highlights – Brown Bear watching cruise, Notsuke Peninsula sandbar walkAct.

① Brown Bear watching cruise (3 hrs)

② Notsuke Peninsula walk (90 mins)
Intensity: Easy (★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ）Meals

Breakfast Hotel Lunch: Seafood Ramen (Local restaurant)
Dinner: Japanese-style seafood (Hotel)

Hotel

Kajika-no-yado (Japanese style room)

Day to Day - 04
Day 4– Sea birds watching cruise
A special boat cruise give you a chance to witness a wide collection of sea birds,
most of them which are native to the area. The birds you might see include
Spectacled guillmot, Japanese cormorant, Rinoceros auklet, and Tufted puffin.
If youʼre lucky, you might see Minke whale, white-sided dolphin, and harbor seal.
Grilled seafood lunch at Akkeshi which is a famed oyster producer.
Highlights – Sea bird cruise, Akkeshi oyster lunchAct.

Sea bird cruise (2hr 30mins)

Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Lunch: Grilled oyster (Local restaurant)
Dinner: Creative cuisines featuring local ingredients (Hotel)

Hotel

Kushiro Marshland Hostel The geek (Western style room)

Day 5Day 6

Day to Day - 05
Day 5 – Marshland canoe tour
Enjoy a chilled canoe tour down the river through Kushiro Marshland. This tour
allows you to have closer look at animals resting in their nests. Part of the area inthe marshland is inaccessible except canoe. Take pleasure in that premium moment.
The wildlife you might see includes Japanese deer, Eurasian red squirrel, Whitetailed eagle, and Red-crowned crane.
Move to Akanko Onsen after lunch and have a good rest with hot springs and sauna.
Highlights – Marshland canoe, Lake Akan

Act.

Marshland canoe tour (2 hrs)
Intensity: Easy (★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ）Meals

Breakfast: Hotel Lunch : Western-style (Restaurant)
Dinner: Japanese-Western buffet-style (Hotel)

HotelAkan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga(hot springs, rooftop hot baths, sauna)Day to Day - 06
Day 6 – Experience the indigenous Ainu culture
On the last day, we will take you to the special place around Lake Akanʻs forests that
only authorized Indigenous Ainu guides are allowed to enter. Youʼll learn their wayof thinking about the world and the deep association between the natural world andpersonal philosophy, culture that is something you can only experience here in
Akanko Onsen.
After lunch, enjoy the Ainu traditional dance performance at the Ainu Theater before
leaving Akanko Onsen to the Kushiro Airport, which will take about 1 hour.
Highlights – Ainu culture, UNESCO intangible cultural heritage traditional dance,Act.

Mystic forest walking tour (Indigenous Ainu guides)
Intensity: Easy (★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ）Meals

Breakfast : (Hotel)
Lunch: Traditional Ainu cuisine (Restaurant)

Tour Overview
Locations : East Hokkaido, Shiretoko Natural World Heritage Site, Notsuke Peninsula,Nemuro, Akkeshi, Kushiro Marshland, Akan Mashu National Park
Main Activity : Wildlife observation
Difficulty : 1/5 (Very easy)
Pax : Minimum 6 Max 10

Tour dates recommended:
June to OctoberPrice : For each person
JPY ¥ 271,900 〜Organization Profile

Organization name: Akan Adventure Tourism Co., Ltd.
Head Office: 2-6-20 Akanko Onsen, Akan-cho,
Kushiro-shi, Hokkaido, JAPAN
Establishment: April 2, 2018
Repressentative Director: Masayuki Onishi
Capital: ¥ 400 million
Our works: Organization of accommodations, meals, sightseeing, activities and transportations
Entertainments development and promotion
Development and management of adventure tourism based tours and programs
For any inquiry, please feel free to ask via tour@akanat.co.jp