HOKKAIDO, Japan Volcano Hiking Tour in Akan-Mashu National Park. | Hokkaido Treasure

Program Details

Key information: ・4 nights comfortable hotels
・Group normally 4 to 8 plus leader.
・Visited Places: Kushiro city, Ashoro town, Teshikaga town

What's included: ・Meals( 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners)
・4 nights accommodation on single occupancy basis
・All the activities（Cycling・Cultural Experiences・Kayaking・Nature walk）
・All transport as described in the itinerary
・Snacks and refreshments
・English speaking Japanese guides

Items to Bring: • Water Bottle
• Sunscreen
• Portable toilet
• Personal medications
• Travel insurance
• Sunglasses

Itinerary

Gathering at 1:00 pm at Memanbetsu Airport in Eastern Hokkaido. We will spend some time getting to know everyone in the group and going through the program for our upcoming 5-day adventure. Next, we will get on a van and head off to Kawayu onsen hot spring town. After about an hour-long ride we will arrive at Kawayu Eco Museum Center to learn about Akan Mashu National Park.

We will depart for the volcano hike from the Kawayu Eco Museum Center with a local nature guide. We will go for a short walk (2.5 kilometers / 1.5 miles) and see how the scenery is changing depending on the plantation zone we are hiking in. After some relaxing hiking, we will unwind at the Mt. Iou Rest House, where we will enjoy a catered lunch prepared by Lakeside inn Pension Kussharera.

Next, we set out on Mt. Iou volcano trail. Hikers are allowed here only if accompanied by certified guides.
After returning from the volcano trail, we will head to Akan town by van. On arriving, we will get a short introduction to the area at Akan Eco Museum Center.

Today we will set our foot on the summit of the volcano Mt. Meakandake. We start the volcano trail of Mt. Meakandake from the Lake Akan trailhead near Akan Onsen. It is an easy hiking course with a gentle slope. Mt. Meakandake is a compound volcano—still active today—with ten mountains forming a complex mountain body.

Descending to the Lake Onneto trailhead, we will try to dip into the hidden local onsen called Nonaka Onsen.

Today you will have a chance to enjoy a 4 hour-long walking course around Lake Onneto, known for its blue water caused by the flow of minerals from the volcano into the lake.

Next, we will drive for about an hour to Ashoro town where we will lodge in a unique wooden hotel. Today’s dinner is an excellent opportunity to interact with the locals and enjoy local produce.

We will wrap up the tour with a cultural experience at Arigatou (’Thank you’) Farm and Shiawase (‘Happiness’) Cheese Factory, where we can meet a local cheese craftsperson, who continues to test new flavors rooted in the land of Ashoro town. We will get to taste the local cheese made of fresh local milk during our last meal, a BBQ lunch at Shiawase Cheese Factory.

After the meal, we will take our van to JR Obihiro Station and start our 3.5-hour train ride to Sapporo. We will say our goodbyes around 6:00 pm at JR Sapporo station.

Start Planning

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

Hokkaido Treasure Island Travel is a locally operated travel company based in Sapporo, Japan. We work together with the locals of Hokkaido to create sustainable, authentic, and local travel experiences.

ENVIRONMENT

We do our best to minimize negative impact on the local environment. We educate our staff and partners about the importance of environmentally friendly choices.
LOCAL CULTURE

We respect and take pride in introducing the local culture and lifestyle of Hokkaido in all its diversity. We offer also “off the beaten path” destinations and exclusive activities with the locals.
LOCAL INDUSTRY

We support local businesses and encourage our customers to choose locally made products and services. We want to make sure our tours create employment and income for the local people.