Sapporo Nanseki: A Timeless Legacy
Chitose & Sapporo Guided Walking Tour

Sapporo Soft Stone is a welded tuff compressed over the eons, and originating from the same pyroclastic flows which in prehistoric times poured into the Sapporo area during volcanic eruptions and formed Lake Shikotsu.. The tour starts from the stone’s legendary birthplace, Lake Shikotsu.

Meet your guide at New Chitose Airport at 13:30, and transport to Chitose Shrine.

Pray for the good luck and safety of your visit at the Chitose Shrine. Afterward, collect the spring water gushing from the shrine woods into your own bottle and taste the pureness. Then, proceed to a prime Lake Shikotsu viewpoint, where you’ll be briefed on the positional relationship of the lake and surrounding mountains, and on volcanic activity – a major theme of the tour. Move on to Marukoma Hot Spring Resort, where you’ll enjoy soaking in natural open-air baths highly regarded in Japan. Early check-in to rest from your flight. Relax and refresh at historic Marukoma hot springs on the lakeside.

Dinner

Local Sockeye Salmon at hotel

Breakfast

Japanese Set Meal featuring local produce

Fat Bike Ride 【Time】2 hours【Distance】10km

Fat bike trial ride at Nanajo Otaki Falls in the morning. You may come across wild animals, including local deer, etc. Enjoy the beauty of nature created by volcanic eruptions 40,000 years ago.

Lunch

Lunch at Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa MIZU NO UTA,
which serves set meals prepared with local produce and ingredients.

Clear SUP 【Time】2 hours

The afternoon activity begins with Clear SUP (Stand up Paddling) on Lake Shikotsu, with its uniquely clear underwater views. Admire the superb view of Shikotsu’s three mountains (including Mount Eniwa) reflected on the pure water surface. Feel the wild nature of the caldera lake created by eruptions 40,000 years ago, while enjoying full lake views by standing, lying down or sitting on your boat.

Dinner

Local Sockeye Salmon at hotel

Breakfast

Japanese Set Meal featuring local produce

Hiking Koke no Kairou, a mossy canyon （Stroll on Snowshoes）
【Time】2 hours 【Distance】3.6km

Hike around Koke no Kairou, a Corridor of Moss formed by the eruptions of the many volcanoes surrounding Lake Shikotsu over the years. Enjoy changing seasonal landscapes.

Lunch

Vegan lunch at Chimaki

Bifue Snowshoe Stroll 【Time】2 hours 【Distance】1.5km

Stroll around the Bifue woods on snowshoes in the afternoon. Catch stunning views of Mount Fuppushi and a hot spring resort town, and enjoy a full 360-degree vista of Lake Shikotsu.

Dinner

Local Sockeye Salmon at hotel

Breakfast

Japanese Set Meal featuring local produce

the Lake Shikotsuko Visitor Center 【Time】1 hour

At the Lake Shikotsuko Visitor Center, your nature guide will brief you on local environmental protection efforts, cover the history of Japan’s most prominent caldera lake created by the Shikotsu volcano eruptions, and the story of Sapporo Soft Stone formed from the pyroclastic flows from the same volcano.

Lunch

THE BIRD WATCHING CAFÉ
Lunch at the cafe, featuring an exhibition gallery by Tadashi Shimada, a well-known Japanese photographer who specializes in photos of wild birds. The cafe features a special area where you can easily view and photograph wild birds.

Chitose River, Winter Downriver (Canoe Experience) 【Time】2 hours 【Distance】5km

The Chitose River is the only existing river flowing from Lake Shikotsu. Canoe through the river, enjoy unique winter landscapes and meet wild creatures. The vicinity of the Chitose River and its tributaries is dotted with a number of ruins from the prehistoric Jomon Period.

Eniwa Canyon Walk 【Time】2hours 【Distance】2km

Visit Eniwa’s waterfalls: Rarumanai Falls, Sandan Falls and Hakusen Falls, all formed by volcanic eruption. Ancient pyroclastic flows and other volcanic aftereffects can be seen by observing the falls closely.

Dinner

Japanese kaiseki dishes (tea ceremony cuisine)
Prepared with fresh ingredients from Hokkaido

Breakfast

Breakfast in your private room, featuring locally harvested ingredients.

Sapporo Soft Stone Guided Walk (AM) 【Time】1.2hours 【Distance】2km

Stroll on snowshoes around the Ishiyama Green Space, a former Sapporo Soft Stone quarry,
and learn about the processing of the stone and its history.

lunch

Nisikuru cafe

Sapporo Soft Stone Guided Walk (PM) 【Time】1.2hours 【Distance】3km

Discover various soft stone products and buildings throughout the town, and meet locals at the Ishiyama Town Center. Experience a slice of local life, enjoying making rice balls using local pickled plums, and dressing in authentic kimono actually worn by local people.

Soft Stone Crafts 【Time】1.5hours

Carve and design soft stones, and create a miniature stone house.

Dinner

Dinner at Suginome, featuring Hokkaido cuisine
Japanese dishes local style, prepared with fresh seafood and produce, including famous hairy crabs.

ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SAPPORO

Enjoy access to a large public bath built with Sapporo Soft Stone, filled with hot spring
waters sourced from the Karurusu Onsen in Noboribetsu City.

Breakfast

Japanese breakfast set
Prepared with carefully selected fresh local ingredients and seafood.

Sapporo City Archives Museum【Time】1 hour

Learn about the founding and building of the City of Sapporo prior to the Meiji Period, and
enjoy displays of Sapporo Soft and Hard stones, old maps and historical photos of the city.

Lunch

Rito Kitchen～ Delicious Foods & Drinks From Japanese Isolated Islands～ Savor delicious grilled dishes mainly prepared with ingredients from the remote islands of Hokkaido.

LITTLE JUICE BAR【Time】30 minutes

Visit Little Juice Bar in a renovated old Sapporo soft stone warehouse from the Taisho Period (1912-1926).

Hokkaido Shrine Tongu【Time】30 minutes

Lastly, pray for a safe trip back home at this shrine guarded by a pair of lion-dog statues
made from Sapporo Soft Stone.