The Official Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide

Rafting and Gliding in Sorachi:
Ishikari River Travels- Taking a Vantage Point of Migratory Birds

1-DAY

DIFFICULTY

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GREEN SEASON

  • 1 day

  • Min. 10, Max. 15

  • Rafting

    Rafting

HIGHTLIGHTS
  • Rafting experience along the Ishikari River, one of Japan's three major rivers
  • Gliding experience at Takikawa Sky Park
  • Learning and getting to know river-specific history and culture from the Ishikari River
  • Observing the global dynamism of nature through migrating greater white-fronted geese
LOCATION

Takikawa City and Bibai City in Hokkaido

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Rafting

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Rafting

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Gliding

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Gliding

OVERVIEW

The Ishikari River and its surroundings lie on the main migration route of birds, and are visited by tens of thousands of greater white-fronted geese and swans every year, backed by a symbiotic relationship with human activities such as the conversion of wetlands to paddy fields (abundant food) since the pioneering days, and the creation of flood control- related oxbow lakes (roosts). On this tour participants get a bird’s-eye view of the area and its natural history through rafting and gliding. At the end of the tour, participants will encounter greater white-fronted geese at Lake Miyajimanuma, one of the world’s most popular migratory bird stopovers.

ITINERARY

Take a bus to Takikawa City.

Board a raft in Takikawa in the morning and meander down the Ishikari River from the vantage point of waterfowl,
where we will experiencie the natural environment of the river and its surroundings.
Take a ride in a glider, without an engine, at Takikawa Sky Park in the afternoon. We will see a general view of the meandering Ishikari River, wetlands, surrounding fields and migration routes from the vantage point of flying birds. Experience the world of gliders soaring like birds without the noise and vibration of an engine.
(The glider is a two-seater, so participants will take turns flying in pairs with the pilot. The actual flight time will be about 10 minutes. Some participants may have the gliding experience in the morning and the rafting in the afternoon)
Travel to Bibai City after the rafting and gliding activities in Takikawa. Learn about the importance of the remaining swamps and wetlands in the Ishikari Plain at Lake Miyajimanuma, a wetland registered under the Ram sar Convention. You can also observe white-fronted geese returning to their roosts after foraging the surrounding fields.
We will then return to Sapporo to arrive around 19:00.

LUNCH

Enjoy a lunch of lamb and other dishes at Hotel Miura Kaen, which has its roots in the Sorachi River ferry service and the
traveler’s inn “Miuraya” from the early pioneering days. The lamb dish originated when sheep breeding developed during the pioneering era. In particular, Genghis Khan (mutton/lamb barbecue), which is also a certified Hokkaido heritage object, has become a soul food for Takikawa residents and is strongly related to the history of the region.
〇 Three kinds of appetizers 〇 Lamb with bone and roasted onion from Takikawa
〇 Pumpkin pudding with gelato 〇 Bread and coffee
*The main dish can be changed from lamb to beef, pork or chicken.
*Vegetarian dishes are also available.
*Other preferences can be negotiated.
*Please provide participants’ dietary restrictions and allergy information.

Tour Operator / Contact

HOKKAIDO CHUO BUS CO., LTD.

Address

Chuo Bus Sapporo Terminal 2F, Odori Higashi 1-3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Contact Person

Yasuyuki Yamauchi

Email

yamauchi@chuo-bus.co.jp

Official web site
https://www.cb-tours.com/
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