Snowshoe Hiking on Lake Shikaribetsu, Railroad Remains, and Tokachi River Boat Cruise

We will gather at Tokachi Obihiro Airport and take a private car to the town of Shikaoi (approx. 1 hour).

Next we will visit Kanno Onsen, a natural hot spring hotel in Shikaribetsu-kyo (approx. 30 min).

We can also take a walk around the area.

In the morning, we will take a private car to the town of Shikaoi to experience dog sledding with Mushing Works on a 12km section (each sled can only seat two riders but we will all go as a group). This quiet means of transportation allows us to blend in with nature and experience the Tokachi Plain from a unique perspective (approx. 2 hours).

After lunch in Shikaoi town, we will move on to Lake Shikaribetsu by private car for a snowshoe hike in the forests surrounding the lake, experiencing the nature of Daisetsuzan National Park (approx. 2 hours on foot).

Afterwards, we will enjoy the open-air hot bath in the snow as well as an ice bar at Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan, an event held at the lake only during winter.

We will take a private car to Lake Nukabira (approx. 2 hours). The tour will take us on a leisurely snowshoe hike through a white birch forest to the frozen lake. There, we will see the Taushubetsu River Bridge, which only appears in winter, and the Nukabira arch bridges of the old Shihoro Line.

Here we can view the railroad remains from a perspective unique to winter and feel the relationship between the forests and the industry that once thrived there. Looking out over Mt. Upepesanke, we explore the dynamic icy scenery along the shore and search for the rare natural phenomenon of Ice Bubbles (approx. 2 hours on foot).

Next we will travel to Tokachigawa Onsen (approx. 1.5 hours).

After leaving the hotel, we will take a winter boat cruise on the Tokachigawa River organized by the Tokachi Nature Center. We can enjoy a leisurely river cruise amidst the sparkling scenery of the river on a winter morning.

From the waters of the river we can take in the harsh winter landscape of Tokachi and observe the ecology of wild birds and wildlife (approx. 2 hours).

Finally, we will transfer by private car to Tokachi Obihiro Airport (approx. 40 minutes) to conclude the tour.