Hokkaido Nature Tour: Adventure from Sapporo to Furano

Touching down at New Chitose Airport, a private transfer for an hour will take you to your hotel in Sapporo. Settle in and unwind the rest of the day.

• Sapporo

Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, draws travelers across the world for its beer, ramen, and the annual Snow Festival held in February. Spend a full day catching its charm as much as possible.

Explore the charming Odori Park in the heart of the city and spot a lovely view of the Sapporo TV Tower. Susukino is an entertainment area brimming with shops, bars, restaurants, and karaoke establishments where you may experience local life. Numerous ramen eateries offer Sapporo's renowned ramen inside the Ramen Yokocho. These two locations will host the Snow Festival, which features numerous ice sculptures, every February. Learn about the history of beer in Japan and the beer-making process by visiting the Sapporo Beer Museum. If you'd want, beer tastings are available at a small fee.

• B
• Sapporo

Depart for the scenic Sounkyo Gorge bordered by 100-meter-high forested cliffs. It normally takes about three hours on the road. Check in and enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing. Slip into public hot spring baths surrounded by the breathtaking ravine or spend some leisure time in the hotel.

• B
• Sounkyo

You will easily travel through the breathtaking scenery of the Daisetsuzan National Park by taking the ropeway running from the Sounkyo Visitor Center to an upper station halfway to the peak of the adjacent Mount Kurodake. As the gondola rises in just seven minutes, you will be overwhelmed by the majestic gorge below. A few hundred meters of trekking will take you to another vantage point near the station's base. You can challenge yourself from here to ride the open chair lift, followed by a 1.5-hour climb to the summit for views into the interior of the Daisetsuzan mountains.

Return to the hotel, then travel by car for four hours to Utoro. Located at the entrance to the Shiretoko National Park, it's a suitable starting point for exploring the unspoiled Shiretoko Peninsula.

• B
• Utoro

Shiretoko National Park on an unspoiled peninsula is a paradise for nature lovers. There are a variety of options, including wintertime drift ice walking, natural strolling around the Five Lakes, and scenic cruises along the peninsula's western shore.

Plan the day as follows from late April to late October:

Sail along the peninsula's western coast in the morning to take in the stunning scenery and the possibility of spotting wildlife like brown bears, foxes, or deer along the shore. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Five Lakes in the afternoon by strolling along its elevated wooden boardwalk or a network of natural trails that circle all the lakes. As the night falls, get in a vehicle and start searching for wildlife in the night-time forest.

When Shiretoko is covered in powder snow in the winter, take part in these unusual activities:

Wear winter dry suits in the morning and enter the icy world where the ice floating in the blue sea. What a fascinating experience to walk on drift ice and dive into the world under the ice! Return to the hotel for refreshments and then go on an excursion to see eagles and other wildlife.

• B
• Utoro

Leave the morning at leisure. You can join in a half-day tour to explore Shiretoko further.

After checking out of the hotel, take a long road trip (approximately 5.5 hours) to Furano for the night.

• B
• Furano

Furano in the center of Hokkaido is renowned for its attractive countryside vistas. The region is covered in a variety of gorgeous flowers in the summer and turns into a popular skiing resort throughout the winter. Regardless in the summer or the winter, it is worthwhile to stay here for a full day to explore everything the town has to offer.

• B
• Furano

Your Hokkaido vacation comes to an end today. At the appointed time, be escorted to New Chitose Airport for your departure flight. Alternatively, you can stay for a few more days and find your way back to the airport.

• B