Oku Japan, a leading Kyōto-based tour operator specializing in sustainable and culturally immersive walking and trekking experiences, has just unveiled the newest offering to its self-guided roster: a six-day exploration within Hokkaidō’s Daisetsuzan National Park.
Japan’s second largest and northernmost prefecture, the island of Hokkaidō – formerly known as Ezo – is also the country’s largest wild frontier. Home to sprawling national parks, Hokkaidō’s abundant nature and unique wildlife make it a particularly special region of unparalleled beauty. On this new self-guided trip, Oku Japan invites travellers to discover the island and the beauty of the Daisetsuzan mountain range at their own pace, using detailed maps and walking instructions to travel from place to place each day.
“When it comes to Japan’s wilderness, Hokkaidō is the best, and within Hokkaidō, Daisetsuzan has the richest biodiversity and the most unspoiled wilderness,” says Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Oku Japan’s General Manager. “Much of Hokkaidō has culturally been shaped by the indigenous Ainu people; Daisetsuzan is a sacred place to the Kamikawa Ainu, who have lived in this region for centuries,” adds Tomoko Shiraki, Product Manager for Oku Japan.
Guests on this self-guided tour will have the opportunity to learn more about Ainu culture (Oku Japan).
Hokkaidō Daisetsuzan self-guided walking tour
Starting off in the culturally rich city of Asahikawa, where travellers are encouraged to arrive early to have time to sample the rāmen that the city is famous for, they will have the opportunity to explore a charming pottery village and visit a museum that features sake tasting along with a chance to learn about Japan’s indigenous Ainu people. This is followed by a stop in Asahidake Onsen, a charming town located in Daisetsuzan National Park.
From here, the itinerary follows the gentle Sugatami Pond loop course which, at an elevation of 1,600 metres (1,969 feet), offers stunning panoramic views of Hokkaidō’s vast landscapes, including Mount Asahidake, the island’s highest peak. For those looking to extend their exploration that day, they can choose to hike the Susoai Plateau, which is known for its Aleutian avens, a species of alpine plant native to the island that blooms in the summer months.
After a night in a relaxing onsen hotel, the itinerary returns to Asahikawa city to visit a local museum for a chance to gain further insight into the Ainu culture. While here, travellers will visit a chise, a traditional dwelling, and enjoy a private performance of a traditional legend told through song. It is then on to Sōunkyō Onsen, a charming hot spring town, for the night.
One of the many views that await in Daisetsuzan National Park (Oku Japan).
On day four, the itinerary travels to Kōgen Onsen, which sits at an elevation of 1,260 metres (4,133 feet) and is one of the most biodiverse areas of the park. The Numa-Meguri trail features magnificent marshlands, lush forests, and breathtaking waterfalls. As this area is also home to brown bears, the day will start with a session about bear safety and ecology before embarking on the hike.
Next is a trip to the peak of Mount Kurodake (1,984 metres/6,509 feet). Using a cable car and chairlifts to get to the starting point of the hike at an elevation of 1,520 metres (4,987 feet), the peak will reward hikers with stunning panoramic views of the Sōunkyō area and the majestic scenery of the Daisetsuzan mountain range, with its contrasting greenery and snow. The day, and tour, wrap up back in Asahikawa for the final night.
A waterfall along the Numa-Meguri trail in Daisetsuzan (Oku Japan).
This new self-guided tour on Hokkaidō expands Oku Japan’s offering on the island to three tours – two self-guided, with this new Daisetsuzan itinerary complementing the seven-day Hokkaidō Winter – Lake Akan to Shiretoko tour, and one guided: the nine-day Wild Lands of Eastern Hokkaidō small group tour.
The Daisetsuzan itinerary offers an ideal option for exploring Japan in the summer; while other parts of the country are very humid at this time of year, this region offers a much more temperate climate. Departures are recommended from July through September and pricing starts from AU$3,125.00 per person, which also includes all rail tickets, accommodations, daily luggage transfers, entrance fees for sites and activities detailed on the itinerary, and most meals.
