The Official Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide

Guide

place：Onuma

Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide System

Hokkaido is currently preparing for the establishment of the Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide System.

The Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide System is a new certification system of adventure travel guides by the Hokkaido Governor.  Certified guides should meet certain standards, including international qualifications, in order to introduce the unique attractions of Hokkaido such as the blessed natural environment, the Ainu culture and the Jomon ruins to adventure travelers visiting Hokkaido, and to ensure that they can enjoy adventure travel in Hokkaido safely.  This certificate system is expected to go into effect within 2023.

Criteria for Certified Guides

Guides accredited under the Hokkaido Adventure Travel Guide System are required to undergo training based on the Adventure Travel Guide Standards (ATGS), which are the standards for adventure travel guides, as proposed by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), an international organization for adventure travel, and to obtain an international qualification in outdoor first aid.  This ensures that they have the knowledge and competence to handle adventure travel.  As a criterion for the accreditation, it is also required that they have sufficient continuous experiences including a certain number of days of guiding experiences at the time of certification.

Areas of Certification for Activity Guide

  • Mountain (summer/winter)

    Mountain (summer/winter)

  • Nature

    Nature

  • Canoeing

    Canoeing

  • Rafting

    Rafting

  • Trail Riding

    Trail Riding

  • Cycling

    Cycling

  • Backcountry Skiing (including sidecountry skiing)

    Backcountry Skiing (including sidecountry skiing)

  • Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)

    Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)

Certification of Through-guides

In addition to the certification system for activity guides, a new certification system for through guides will be newly set up. Through guides are guides who accompany adventure travelers and assist them on their journeys.  They are required to have the certain English speaking skills and diverse knowledge of Hokkaido to act as a coordinator between adventure travelers and activity guides.

Future Notices to Guides

In  September 2023, The Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS), an international business conference on adventure travel, will be held in Hokkaido. Under such circumstances preparations by the Hokkaido Government are currently underway to launch the certification systems within the fiscal year 2023. Once the database of the certified guides is completed, a link to the official site will be posted on this page.

Contacts

Adventure Travel Coordination Officers
Bureau of Tourism, Department of Economic Affairs,
Hokkaido Government
TEL　+81 (0)11-206-6944
E-mail　kanko.web@pref.hokkaido.lg.jp