Japan's Far East 9 Day Wildlife & Adventure Tour

We gather in Kushiro city and travel to our first destination, Cape Kiritappu. This area is vital to the reestablishment of Sea Otters in Japan, with a pioneering population returning to these coastal waters. We visit the cape to scan the surf for these charismatic animals; if we are lucky in June and July, we may even spot a pup curled up on its mother’s belly.

Our journey continues to Nemuro, a port city renowned for its abundance of seafood. We will head out for dinner to sample some of the local catches and during dinner our guides will talk through the upcoming tour.

We spend the morning on the Bettoga River, which carves its way through wetland and forest towards Lake Furen. On our guided canoe tour, we paddle through these calm waters, keeping a lookout for local wildlife.

After lunch, we explore Shunkunitai, a sand spit stretching 8km into the bay. Here, we walk through a rare coastal spruce forest, seeing how the trees cling on despite the encroachment of the ocean.

Our final stop is Cape Nosappu, the easternmost point of Hokkaido. The waters here are rich in biodiversity, attracting waterfowl and occasional Sea Otters, while the cape itself holds evidence of human habitation dating back millennia.

We’ll return to Nemuro for our second night, heading out into town for another evening meal.

En route to Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula, we stop at Pogawa Historical Forest Park. We enjoy a walk through wetland and forest that has supported human life for millennia– from ancient cultures drawn by the salmon catch to the indigenous Ainu.

Upon reaching the coast, we board a whale-watching cruise. The nutrient-rich waters here feature a deep undersea trench in the Nemuro Strait, providing an excellent hunting ground for sea mammals. We look for seasonal visits from Orcas, Sperm Whales, and Dall’s Porpoises, alongside migratory birds such as Black-footed Albatrosses and Short-tailed Shearwaters.

Back on land, we visit an informative visitor centre to learn more about Shiretoko’s ecosystem, before checking into our accommodation for a delicious dinner at our hotel.

The Shiretoko Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where nature reigns supreme. With only a small human population, the vast majority of the land is an untouched habitat for Brown Bear, Japanese Deer, and Red Fox. We witness this wild coastline from a small fishing boat, hugging the shore to search for bears foraging at the water's edge or on the cliffs during our 2.5-hour cruise.

Back on land, we enjoy a 1km forest walk to Kumagoe Waterfall or a soak in the wild Kumanoyu Hot Springs. After crossing the scenic Shiretoko Pass, we walk 2km to Furepe Waterfall before checking in to our seaside accommodation in Utoro for two nights. Our dinner is at the hotel.

We take a slower pace this morning, allowing free time to explore Utoro. You might visit the Shiretoko World Heritage Centre to learn about the local ecosystem, or climb Oronko Rock for panoramic ocean views.

In the afternoon, we reconvene to hike the 3.2km nature trail through primeval forest around the Shiretoko Five Lakes, where the still waters offer mirror-like reflections of the mountain range. As we move through the trees, we keep a lookout for woodpeckers, wild ducks and Brown Bear.

This area has a dense bear population and we may be lucky enough to spot one foraging at a distance, though if they are foraging too close to the trail we will have to alter our plans. We conclude the day with another unique multi-course feast at our accommodation.

We drive to Kawayu Onsen to begin an easy 2.5km hike to Mt. Io. This active volcano, known as Atosanupuri ("naked mountain") by the indigenous Ainu people, offers a dramatic landscape of bare slopes and fumaroles constantly releasing steam.

After lunch we board Canadian canoes to float down the Kushiro River, the main artery feeding the famous Kushiro Wetland. Starting from Lake Kussharo, at the head of the river, we paddle through a section of the river which feel remarkably untouched by human hands. The crystal-clear river teems with life, offering chances to spot Japanese Dace, Grey Herons, and Kingfishers.

We conclude the day at a secluded accommodation tucked away in a forested valley near Tsubetsu, enjoying a meal and a relaxing hot spring bath.

We start with a relaxed morning with time to watch wildlife around our hotel or exploring the woods before driving to Lake Akan. Upon arrival, we stroll through a protected forest to see bokke (bubbling volcanic mud) and enjoy views of the lake.

The highlight of our day is a walk with a local Ainu guide. As we explore the woods, we learn about Ainu folklore and customs, gaining insight into their spiritual connection with wildlife and history of living in harmony with nature.

The cultural immersion continues into the evening at the Lake Akan Ainu Kotan. We witness a traditional performance of song and dance, followed by a contemporary show retelling the story of the Hokkaido Wolf through a blend of ancient arts and modern choreography.

We spend our final full day exploring Kushiro-Shitsugen National Park, beginning at Kirakotan. Known as the park's "inner sanctum," this area is significant as the place where Japan's Red-crowned Cranes were rediscovered after presumed extinction. This important National Natural Monument has restricted access and we have secured special permission to hike the 4km trail here. On our hike, we keep a keen eye out for these graceful birds, along with other forest birdlife and deer amongst the marshland.

In the afternoon, we visit Onnenai to get closer to the wetland, taking a boardwalk out into the wetland itself. We choose a route of up to 3km based on conditions.

We conclude the day in Tsurui, checking into our accommodation for a celebratory farewell dinner to mark the end of our adventure.

We will say goodbye to our hosts and then drive 45 mins to Kushiro City to complete the tour. We can drop you off at either Kushiro Airport from around 8:00 am or Kushiro Station at 8:30 am at the earliest.