Japan Expedition: Hokkaido Winter Adventure

10 days
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Small Group Tour
Say Hokk-hi-do to Japan’s northernmost main island on a 10-day winter exploration of its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and fabulous festivities. Beginning in Sapporo, discover the crisp notes of whisky at a distillery in Yoichi, have the chance to participate in an age-old tradition of dog-sledding in Shikaoi, see the renowned Japanese crane in Lake ...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • If your timing is right, you’ll marvel in the lights and wonder of the Snow Light Path festival in Otaru – one of the region’s oldest festivals to celebrate the winter wonderland that Hokkaido is.
    • Escape the icy conditions by relaxing with a soak in a steaming onsen – a traditional Japanese hot spring.
    • Discover the Ainu people at a village visit in Lake Akan. This indigenous community of Hokkaido have a rich culture and long-withstanding traditions which you will be able to learn about on your visit.
    • Go in search for a quintessential image of Japan – the symbolic red-crested crane. These elegant birds inhabit the Kushiro region, and with a knowledgeable guide on hand, you’ll see them in all their glory.
    • Dodge the winter crowds with an unforgettable journey to World Heritage-listed Shiretoko National Park, with a guided tour through the forest in search of Hokkaido’s endangered species.

What's this trip about?

    Say Hokk-hi-do to Japan’s northernmost main island on a 10-day winter exploration of its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and fabulous festivities. Beginning in Sapporo, discover the crisp notes of whisky at a distillery in Yoichi, have the chance to participate in an age-old tradition of dog-sledding in Shikaoi, see the renowned Japanese crane in Lake Akan, explore the depths of the Shiretoko National Park and possibly float through drift ice in Abashiri. With ryokans to stay in, local Ainu people to meet, traditional onsen to soak in and Hokkaido local drinks to warm you up to check out, you’ll be seeing Japan in a whole new light on this winter adventure.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays
  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Japan

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Sapporo

Welcome to Sapporo! Nestled in a wide basin beneath snow-capped mountains, Sapporo is the lovely capital of Hokkaido – Japan’s northernmost main island. You are welcome to arrive at any time today; however, please keep in mind that check in time is 3 pm at your accomm...

Day 2 Yoichi - Otaru

This morning, leave Sapporo and take Japan’s renowned JR (train) network to Yoichi, where you’ll visit Nikka Whisky – one of Japan’s oldest and best distilleries. Built in 1934, its cold climate, crisp clean air, fresh water and proximity to the sea provided an ideal ...

Day 3 Shikaoi - Lake Shikaribetsu

Rise and shine early this morning with a 3-hour journey to Shikaoi. You’ll be travelling by a combination of public bus and train, depending on transport schedules. Once arrived in Shikaoi, have the chance to partake in a unique and traditional experience of this regi...

Day 4 Kushiro

This morning, make tracks for the port city of Kushiro (approximately 6 hours total). Today is mainly a transport day, so have a good book or a couple of podcasts ready to keep you occupied on your journey. Kushiro is the most populous city in the east of Hokkaido, an...

Day 5 Lake Akan

Today, take a bus from Kushiro to the Tsurui Itoh Tachi Bird Sanctuary (approximately 1 hour). Here, you’ll have a great chance to observe the red-crowned crane, also known as the Japanese crane. Overhunting and loss of habitat in the 19th-20th century meant that, at ...

Day 6 Shiretoko National Park

Take a public bus from Lake Akan to Abashiri, then transfer on to Utoro (travel time approximately 6 hours). Utoro is the north-western gateway to the World Heritage-listed Shiretoko National Park – touted as one of the last remaining sections of Japan’s true wilderne...

Day 7 Shiretoko National Park

Today, embark on an included wildlife tour with your group through the Shiretoko National Park. As you’ll be visiting in winter, Shiretoko will look quite different to the photos, and may be inhabited by different endangered wildlife than what you may expect to see in...

Day 8 Abashiri

Leave Utoro in your dust and travel to Abashiri. Depending on the month, drift ice is a feature of this area during winter. As its name suggests, drift ice is sheets of sea ice that travel on the Sea of Okhotsk to Abashiri and stay formed for only a couple of months i...

Day 9 Sapporo

This morning, transfer by bus to Sapporo (approximately 6 hours). After a big day of travelling, why not head out for a celebratory dinner and drink with your travel crew this evening. You’ll definitely have had a spectacular time exploring the best of Hokkaido’s wint...

Day 10 Sapporo

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. Check out time is at 11 am; however, if you would like to spend some more time exploring Hokkaido’s capital, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

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Dates & Availability

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Last Updated: 11/18/2020

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

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Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

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They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights),Guesthouse (2 nights),

Transportation & Flights

Train,Public Bus,Private vehicle,Boat,

Transportation & flights

Train,Public Bus,Private vehicle,Boat
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. Due to the rapid increase in tourism in Japan and in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics it has been necessary to go outside our traditional sources for employing tour leaders. As a result, our passionate, professional and trained tour leaders may either be Japanese or long term foreign residents in Japan.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. Travellers who reside within the European Union or Switzerland receive basic international health insurance, so travel insurance is not mandatory under European Union Law. However, as this does not cover situations such as emergency rescues, private health care, or repatriation to their home country, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. European Union or Swiss travellers who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You will need a valid passport to travel internationally. As a general rule, most countries require that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure the name on your passport matches the name on your booking and airline tickets exactly and contact us immediately if there are any errors. We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leave copies at home with family or friends. VISAS Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time. It is important that you check your government's foreign travel advisories along with the consular website of the country or countries you are travelling to for the most up to date information specific to your nationality and circumstances. Please be aware that not all visa information found online from other sources may be valid while COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Visas can take several weeks to process, so make sure you research the requirements as soon as you have booked your trip to allow for obtaining any necessary documents as well as the application and processing time. Your booking consultant can advise on a visa processing service or you can apply yourself directly through a consulate. Below you will find general visa advice about the destinations on your trip. Due to constantly evolving COVID-19 requirements and restrictions, please refer to your government's foreign travel advice for most up to date information. As a general rule most countries expect that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Please ensure the name on your passport matches the name on your booking and airline tickets. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Your consultant will contact you when this is required. Take a copy of the main passport pages and other important documents with you, and leave another copy at home with family or friends. JAPAN VISA Most nationalities, including Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada, EU countries and United States, are able to get visitor visas on arrival. The length of the visa will vary depending on your nationality, but most will be for stays of 90 days or more - check with your local consulate for exact details.
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines JAPAN Crime levels are low. It is generally safe to walk around at night and to travel on public transport, but you should maintain the same level of vigilance as you would at home and take sensible precautions. Reports of inappropriate touching or ‘chikan’ of female passengers on commuter trains are fairly common. The police advise that you shout at the perpetrator to attract attention and ask a fellow passenger to call the train staff. The Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo is considered a higher risk area for crime.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Finish point Sapporo Grand Hotel 札幌グランドホテル 4 Chome Kita 1 Jonishi 〒060-0001 北海道札幌市中央区北1条西4丁目 Chuo Ward Sapporo 060-0001 JAPAN
Trip ID
intrepid-CJSL

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