Backcountry Skiing with the Memory of Railway in Akan & Eastern Daisetsuzan National Park
5-DAY
DIFFICULTY
SNOW SEASON
5 days 4 nights
Min. 1, Max. 6
Ski/Snowboard
- HIGHTLIGHTS
-
- To visit the history and traces of the railroads that supported the transportation of people and goods in eastern Hokkaido
- To visit abandoned railway tracks and preserved station buildings that can still be seen today, and reminisce about the bustle of the past
- To enjoy backcountry skiing while thinking about the benefits of the railroad that helped people enter deep mountain areas
- To enjoy Onsen with a high-quality and abundant volcanic hot spring after skiing
- LOCATION
-
Akan and Eastern Daisetsuzan N.P. are located in the north of Tokachi Plateau in Hokkaido/Japan. Approximately 150,000 ha of national forests is spread over the land. Also, it is the area of beautiful lakes such as Lake Akan, Lake Kussharo, Lake Nukabira, and Lake Shikaribetsu etc. Nukabira Onsen village is located 1.5hrs away by driving from Obihiro Airport.
an abandoned railroad track
SL train contributed to the coal mining and forestry industries
OVERVIEW
When discussing the development and growth of eastern Hokkaido (“Dotou”), we cannot ignore the existence of railroads that connected settlements scattered across the vast land. The number of railroads essential for the transportation of coal and lumber in the entire province reached more than 30 lines with a total length of 4,000 km around 1965.
In the eastern part of Hokkaido, iron roads stretching to remote areas enabled access to deep mountainous regions. Later, the decline of coal and lumber led to the elimination of many routes, and the automobile replaced them as the primary mode of transportation. However, even today, railroad heritage can be seen everywhere, including abandoned railroad tracks such as railway bridges and embankments, and preserved station buildings.
Backcountry skiing in the area will give you a different perspective on eastern Hokkaido, and will be an extremely moving experience.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Trveling from Obihiro Airport to Nukabira Onsen village
You meet a guide at Obihiro Airport that connects to Tokyo Haneda airport or other airports with considerable number of daily flights. It takes about 1.5hr with a private van to Nukabira Onsen village from the airport. We go through route 241 &273 along the route of the “Shihoro Line.” We stay overnight at a hotel in Nukabira Onsen village.
Accommodation – Nukabira Onsen village | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Dinner at hotel
DAY 2
Guided Backcountry Skiing in Mt. Upepesanke (1,834m)
After breakfast at hotel, we depart for the trail head of Mt. Upepesanke. Mt. We try to hike up to the peak and ski down on the same route as hiking up. Under 1400m is tree lines and enjoy skiing on the slopes in forest. Tour Time is about 8hrs.
Activity – 8 hrs Backcountry Skiing
Accommodation – Nukabira Onsen village | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Breakfast & Dinner at hotel
DAY 3
Trekking to Taushubetsu Bridge
After Breakfast at hotel, we depart Taushubetsu Bridge, a concrete arch bridge of the former Japan National Railways Shihoro Line (closed line) at Lake Nukabira. It is one of the “Former Japan National Railways Shihoro Line Concrete Arch Bridges,” selected as the first Hokkaido Heritage Site.
We have lunch at restaurant on the way to Tsubetsu via Ashoro town and Rikubetsu town. Dropping at Michi no Eki Ashoro and Michi no Eki Rikubetsu (Michi no Eki is “Roadside Station” as we call), the former stations of the Ikehoku Line, which were once used for transporting passengers and goods, we reach Tsubetsu, a town along the Aioi Line.
Activity –Trekking and Sightseeing
Accommodation – Tsubetsu | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Breakfast & Dinner at hotel
DAY 4
Guided Backcountry Skiing in Mt. Kotonipuri (952m)
Breakfast at hotel. We depart for Mt. Kotonupuri. We try to hike to the peak and ski down into the deep forest via Mt. Osappenupuri and Mt. Samakkenupuri. In the forest, there was Aioi Line which was used to transport lumber in Akan. Tour time is about 7hrs.
Activity –7hrs Backcountry Skiing
Accommodation – Tsubetsu| Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Breakfast & Dinner at hotel
DAY 5
Traveling To New Chitose Airport
After breakfast at HTL, we drop by “Michi no Eki Aioi” (Road Station Aioi), the former terminus of the Aioi Line and then travel to Kushiro Airport by a private van. 1.5hr to the airport.
Activity – Traveling 1.5 hr by van
Included meals – Breakfast at hotel
MEAL
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | - | a set menu or a buffet at hotel |
| 2 | a set menu or a buffet at hotel | Purchase your own foods such as sandwiches, energy bars, and snacks. | a set menu or a buffet at hotel |
| 3 | a set menu or a buffet at hotel | Purchase your own foods such as sandwiches, energy bars, and snacks. | a set menu or a buffet at hotel |
| 4 | a set menu or a buffet at hotel | Purchase your own foods such as sandwiches, energy bars, and snacks. | a set menu or a buffet at hotel |
| 5 | a set menu or a buffet at hotel | - | - |
ACCOMMODATIONS
| Area | Facility Type | Room Type | Onsen / Spa | WiFi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nukabira Onsen | Hotel | Private room with en suite | Onsen |  |
| 2 | Nukabira Onsen | Hotel | Private room with en suite | Onsen | |
| 3 | Tsubetsu | Hotel | Private room with en suite | |
|
| 4 | Tsubetsu | Hotel | Private room with en suite | |
Tour Operator / Contact
NOMAD Co., Ltd
- TEL
+81 (0)11-261-2039
- Official web site
Our company was established in 1987 as a pioneer in the field of mountaineering, trekking, hiking and other “walking” tours in Hokkaido. Since then, our company has built up achievements of successes in travel in the mountains and unexplored areas of all over Japan and the world. And in 2023, thanks to your support, we will celebrate our 36th anniversary.
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