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Northern Japan: Secrets of Hokkaido

  • Duration
    13 days
  • Tour Type
    Group Tour
  • Tour Style
    Go Beyond
  • Price From
    £6,190pp
Perfect for those who have already explored the highlights of Honshu, or for travellers seeking something a little more off the beaten track, this expertly crafted escorted tour reveals the very best of Hokkaido – Japan's captivating northern island.

Here, a striking harmony of culture, nature and wide-open landscapes awaits. Discover the traditions of the indigenous Ainu people, gaze out across dramatic lakes, and unwind in soothing hot spring baths.

From vibrant flower fields to untamed national parks and pristine coastlines, this journey through Hokkaido's vast, elemental beauty offers a refreshing glimpse of Japan at its most expansive and serene.
  • Included Meals
    Breakfasts: 11 , Lunches: 7 , Dinners: 10
  • Accommodation
    11 nights in 3+/4 star accommodation
  • Group Tour
    Max Group Size: 18
  • Physical Rating 1Learn More
    X A reasonable level of fitness is required and you should expect to be on your feet for much of the day. You’ll be getting on and off coaches, trains or boats and walking around the sights, often including steps, plus occasional longer walks. Download the detailed tour dossier for details of your chosen tour. Learn More
    Walking, some steps and time on your feet

Tour Highlights

Our Northern Japan: Secrets of Hokkaido tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.

Tour Itinerary

  • Days 1-2
    Arrive in Sapporo
    Days 1-2: Arrive in Sapporo

    Fly overnight to the laidback city of Sapporo, the gateway to Hokkaido. Transfer to the hotel. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local atmosphere before tonight's welcome dinner.

    • Dinner
  • Day 3
    Sapporo History, Beer & Ramen
    Day 3: Sapporo: History, Beer & Ramen

    Begin your full-day tour of Sapporo, exploring how this vibrant city became the foremost city of Hokkaido. Step back into Hokkaido's early days at the Historical Village, brimming with preserved 19th-century buildings. After lunch, visit the iconic Sapporo Clock Tower and enjoy a stroll through Odori Park. This afternoon, visit the Sapporo Beer Museum and enjoy a tasting before heading to Sapporo's famous Ramen Alley, famous for its tiny shops serving miso-rich ramen.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
  • Day 4
    Olympic Museum & Otaru at Leisure
    Day 4: Olympic Museum & Otaru at Leisure

    Discover the event that put Sapporo on the international map: the Winter Olympics of 1972. Visit the fascinating Olympic Museum with its surprisingly interactive displays, then ride the Okura Ski Jump to enjoy panoramic views of Sapporo. Later, head to Otaru and enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace. Return to Sapporo ahead of dinner this evening.

    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  • Day 5
    Furano Flower Fields, Winery and Blue Pond
    Day 5: Furano Flower Fields, Winery and Blue Pond

    Take a scenic morning drive to Furano, known for its rural beauty. Visit Shikisai-no-Oka Flower Garden to see colourful seasonal blooms and try lavender ice cream. Continue to a local winery for a tasting and lunch, then stop at the vivid Blue Pond before heading to your hotel to relax or enjoy the onsen before dinner.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Day 6
    Mount Asahidake & Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum
    Day 6: Mount Asahidake & Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum

    Drive approximately one hour into Daisetsuzan National Park to reach Mount Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak. Ascend by cable car to Sugatami, the 5th Station (elevation 1,600 metres). Here, enjoy a relaxed walk of around one hour, taking in alpine scenery, volcanic terrain and seasonal flowers, before your return ropeway journey. Later, enjoy a sake tasting at the Otokoyama Sake Brewery Museum before returning to your hotel in Furano, where you can relax or enjoy the onsen before dinner at the hotel.

    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  • Day 7
    Kushiro Wetlands - Lake Akan & Ainu Show
    Day 7: Kushiro Wetlands - Lake Akan & Ainu Show

    Travel through Hokkaido's rural landscapes to Kushiro Marsh, Japan's largest wetland. Enjoy a gentle, beginner-friendly canoeing experience on the Kushiro river, with opportunities to spot local birdlife, including the rare red-crowned crane. After free time for lunch, continue north to Lake Akan and relax at your hotel or onsen. In the evening, experience a traditional Ainu dance performance, a UNESCO-recognised art form telling stories of harmony between people and nature.

    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
  • Day 8
    Lake Akan - Lake Kussharo
    Day 8: Lake Akan - Lake Kussharo

    Take a cruise on the fascinating Lake Akan, in the heart of Akan Mashu National Park. Stop on a small island in the lake, famous for its charming marimo moss balls. Head back to shore and take a stroll in the Ainu Village before lunch. This afternoon, continue to your hotel on Lake Kussharo, stopping en route to see the geothermal vents at Mount Io.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Day 9
    Sea of Clouds - Hokkaido Dairy Farm - Shiretoko
    Day 9: Sea of Clouds - Hokkaido Dairy Farm - Shiretoko

    Rise early to witness the 'Sea of Clouds', sipping a coffee as you admire the mists rolling over Lake Kussharo in the early morning light. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later, visit a local farm to learn about Hokkaido's renowned dairy, beloved in Japan for its rich, almost vanilla-like taste. You will have time to visit the farm shop and browse its selection of milk treats, from yoghurt drinks to 'milk jam', a popular local spread. Continue to Utoro, the gateway to Shiretoko National Park and home for the next two nights.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Day 10
    Shiretoko National Park by Land & Sea
    Day 10: Shiretoko National Park by Land & Sea

    Head to the Shiretoko Nature Centre, and enjoy a relaxed stroll to Furupe Waterfall, which empties into the Okhotsk Sea. Later, drive to Shiretoko Goko Lakes and follow an elevated boardwalk through the fields to admire the scenery. If you are lucky, you may see Ezo deer, foxes, or intriguing local birds. After free time for lunch, take a two-hour bear spotting cruise from Utoro to Rusha Bay, in search of the Ussuri brown bears, who hunt and fish along this wild, untouched stretch of coastline in summer. Binoculars are recommended - some can be rented on the boat.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Day 11
    Abashiri - Kitami - Sounkyo
    Day 11: Abashiri - Kitami - Sounkyo

    Depart Shiretoko for Abashiri. Visit the open-air Abashiri Prison Museum, which brings to life the harsh realities of Meiji-era convict labour. by the Museum of Northern Peoples, offering insight into the cultures of the Ainu and other northern communities. Later, visit Kitami, once responsible for 70% of the world's mint oil. Stop by a heritage mint museum and distillery, and sample mint ice cream before continuing to Sounkyo for your overnight stay.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Day 12
    Sounkyo - Kita Craft Village - Sapporo
    Day 12: Sounkyo - Kita Craft Village - Sapporo

    Begin the day in Sounkyo, on the north side of Daisetsuzan National Park. Ascend Mount Kurodake by ropeway for sweeping mountain views, followed by a gentle forest walk. Later, journey back towards Sapporo, stopping en route at Kita-no-Arashiyama, a charming craft village known for its small artisan studios. Browse pottery, woodcrafts and glassware - a perfect final shopping opportunity - before returning to Sapporo for a farewell dinner.

    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
  • Day 13
    Depart from Sapporo
    Day 13: Depart from Sapporo

    Fly home, arriving the same or following day.

    • Breakfast

Our tours feature hand-picked properties selected for their comfort, modern amenities and convenient location for sightseeing. We occasionally include a stay in a guesthouse or lodge where we feel the character of the property will enhance your tour, or to allow access to a more unique and memorable location. Here is a taster of the type of hotels you will be staying in on your tour.

  • Nights 4
    Mercure Sapporo
    Located in the heart of Sapporo’s Susukino district, this modern hotel offers well-appointed rooms, an on-site restaurant and bar, and easy access to the city’s main sights, shopping and dining.
  • Nights 2
    Shin Furano Prince Hotel
    Set within a forested resort area, this large hotel offers comfortable rooms, multiple dining options and onsen facilities, with easy access to Furano's seasonal landscapes.
  • Night 1
    Tsuruga Akan Yuko no Sato
    Overlooking Lake Akan, this traditional hotel features Japanese-inspired rooms and a variety of indoor and outdoor onsen baths, all within walking distance of the Ainu village.
    • Bar

The best time to visit Hokkaido, in Japan's far north, is during summer (June - mid-September) when the alpine flowers are in full bloom and bears can be spotted along the shoreline. Many travellers love early autumn (late September to mid-October) when the scenery is ablaze with colour - the earliest autumn leaves in all Japan.

City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • -4°c
  • 114mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • -3°c
  • 94mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 1°c
  • 78mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 7°c
  • 57mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 13°c
  • 53mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 17°c
  • 47mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 21°c
  • 81mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 23°c
  • 124mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 18°c
  • 135mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 12°c
  • 109mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • 5°c
  • 104mm
City Average Temperate Monthly Rainfall
  • Sapporo
  • -1°c
  • 112mm
+ -
Northern Japan: Secrets of Hokkaido map

Places Visited: Sapporo (3N) - Furano (2N) - Lake Akan (1N) - Lake Kussharo (1N) - Shiretoko (2N) - Sounkyo (1N) - Sapporo (1N)

Extensions and Stopovers

Extend your holiday or break up your journey with one of our extensions and stopovers. Choose from city breaks or some beach time, or spend more time in your chosen destination.

Tour Dates & Prices

If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book. Read our Price Match Promise

Your Tour Includes

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Depart UK
Return Date
Price
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Booking Options

Dedicated Solo departures are available on selected dates for this tour.
These solos-only departures feature smaller group sizes of up to 18, along with free airport lounge access.

Depart UK
Return Date
Price
Offer
Booking Options

There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.

The same great Wendy Wu tour - just with an extra level of comfort. Enjoy relaxed 5-star city hotels, unique properties, and overnight cruises, each selected to deliver an elevated experience. See Upgraded Tour Hotels above for more details.

Depart UK
Return Date
Price
Offer
Booking Options

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