Tour Duration: 6 days
Price : 475,000yen/person
Departure Location: New Chitose Airport
Enjoy the charm of winter in Hokkaido at Shikotsu-Toya National Park and Niseko Shakotan Otaru Kaigan Semi-National Park. Explore Lake Shikotsu, one of the clearest lakes in Japan, at Shikotsu-Toya National Park, known locally as the “Active Volcano Museum”. Then experience one of the best powder snow in the world (called JAPOW, short). It is located on the summit of the Niseko Mountains and the surrounding mountains at a height of 1,000 m.
This journey immerses you in a serene, silvery-white world that only exists at this time of year as you encounter the beauties of water in all its forms. You’ll learn about the history of human habitation in this cold region as well. You will head to the sacred land of powder snow after enjoying Lake Shikotsu from every viewpoint (SUP, winter hiking, hot springs, and more!) to witness what it’s like to ski, snowboard, and snowshoe on some of the best snow in the entire globe. The interaction with the water cycle is thrilling.
Day 1 – Arrive at New Chitose Airport and travel to Lake Shikotsu
Meet at arrivals gate 4 on the first floor of New Chitose Airport at 12:00 p.m.
The tour guide who will accompany you the entire time will welcome you.
Your tour guide will provide more information about the excursion after everyone has arrived before directing you to your tour bus. As it is customary in Japan to pray for safe journeys, Chitose Shrine will be your first stop. The god of food and water is the one who is worshiped here. Sachii no Mizu (Spring of Good Fortune), a sacred spring that springs from the shrine’s nearby forest, is located next to the stairs in the main building. You can gather some after participating in a Shinto prayer rite and putting it in your water bottle. You’ll see that locals also frequent this location.
After that, Lake Shikotsu is the next stop. This crater lake, which is the most northerly ice-free lake in Japan, was created by Mt. Shikotsu’s eruption 40,000 years ago. The sparkling waters’ unique color, known as “Lake Shikotsu blue,” is a result of the extraordinarily high purity level. Following a satisfying meal at a neighborhood eatery, you’ll go to the Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center, where you’ll see a video on the lake and hear from your guide while viewing dioramas as visual aids. Then you can observe individuals carving ice sculptures for the magnificent Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, which takes place every January. With water from Lake Shikotsu, the magnificent sculptures were created.
The next three nights will be spent at Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu No Uta, where you will be taken after that. Before supper, you can unwind in your accommodation or take in the neighboring lake. A traditional multi-course kaiseki dinner crafted with fresh, in-season ingredients will be served for dinner. Each component is carefully planned to create a meal that is both aesthetically pleasing and appetizing, from the colors to the amount of each serving.
Day 2 – Nanajo Otaki Fat bikeTour / Lake Shikotsu Clear SUP
You’ll leave the hotel after a filling breakfast buffet to embark on the activities you’ve been looking forward to. You may get a close-up look at the crystal-clear waters produced by the exceptional natural circumstances by taking a snowshoe trip and a clear SUP. We first ride to the Nanajo Otaki waterfall, located south of Lake Shikotsu.
On a straight road, we set off and pedal for around 14 kilometers. You may also appreciate the up-and-down gravel road, depending on the amount of snow on the ground. Along the walk, a local guide will provide detailed information about Lake Shikotsu’s ecology. Even wild animals like deer might be seen! To say nothing of the freezing paradise you’ll encounter when you reach the icicle-covered cascade, the deep, brilliant snow and the rows of enormous trees will give you the impression that you’ve entered another universe.
On a clear stand-up paddleboard after lunch, you’ll get a close-up look of the lake’s sparkling “Lake Shikotsu blue” waters. You’ll stay warm since your drysuit will keep your entire body dry. You will learn everything you need to know about getting on the board and paddling from your guide. Then you’ll take a cruise around the lake’s shore, admiring the entrancing sight of the crystal-clear waters and the breathtaking “three mountains of Shikotsu” in the distance (Mt. Eniwa, Mt. Fuppushi and Mt. Tarumae).
Day 3 – Hiking up Mt. Ichankoppe
We’ll leave for Mt. Ichankoppe after filling up at the breakfast buffet. Since salmon and trout appear to have spawned here, the name is Ainu for “hole where salmon and trout spawn” (ichan) and “waves” or “river” (koy pet). Your climb will cover 480m of the mountain’s 829m height. The trail is difficult in the beginning, but once you’ve climbed about 30% of the mountain, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of Lake Shikotsu through the openings in the trees. You can take a leisurely stroll over ridges that provide panoramic views of Lake Shikotsu and the neighboring mountains, including Mt. Tarumae, up to roughly 80 percent of the way up. If you’re lucky, you might witness black woodpeckers or Ezo deer.
We’ll travel a lot of ground, so we’ll take a little break for lunch and some backpacking food. On the first day, we’ll go purchase some, so prepare.
Make sure to grab something that will maintain your energy. There won’t be enough warmth for onigiri (rice balls)! Instead, try some decadent mushi-pan (steamed pastries). After taking in the view from the summit, we’ll return to the starting point by the same route. Please be aware that depending on the weather, we might trek up a different mountain or take a different route.
Day 4 – Snowshoeing through Niseko Forest
Our trip to Niseko will begin after breakfast. You’ll notice that the dense woodland that encircles Lake Shikotsu gives way to pastoral beauty that is centered on a stunning conical peak. This is Mount Yotei, whose natural spring water has provided the area’s land with nourishment and enabled local farmers to prosper. You can engage in long-standing customs like snowshoeing, cooking imo-mochi (sticky potato cakes), and having a barbecue in a snow house here (kamakura).
Lunch at a nearby eatery will be your first stop in Niseko. After that, you’ll use snowshoes for roughly two hours while you stroll through Niseko Forest. Even though Niseko is not far from Lake Shikotsu, you’ll notice that the snow is very different. You’ll keep your snowshoes on after your walk and sift through the snow for potatoes. When you have enough potatoes, you and your guide’s wife will make imo-mochi and consume the finished product with hand-churned butter and sweet soy sauce—the ideal way to replenish your energy after a hectic afternoon.
You will then partake in a BBQ in a dome-shaped snow lodge called a kamakura. You can even sample a unique juice that was created by your guide’s family!
Day 5 – Lift access backcountry skiing and piste (slope) skiing
After a hearty breakfast, it’s time for the tour’s high point: your skiing and snowboarding excursion. You may experience JAPOW (Japan Powder) snow, some of the best powder snow in the world, to the fullest extent at Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort. You will be assisted on your backcountry skiing adventure by a knowledgeable guide. You may ski or snowboard on the slopes with the assistance of our guides. This tour does not include the cost of this guide; it will be paid separately. There will be time to rest and recharge before supper when we return to your lodging.
Day 6 – Return to New Chitose Airport
Relax on your last day before checking out at 11:00 a.m. After a busy few days, recharging in the hot spring is a terrific idea. After check-out, we’ll have a quick meeting in the lobby before making the two-hour trip to the airport, with a stop for a rest. By 15:30, we hope to be at New Chitose Airport.
