Backcountry Skiing with Okhotsk Culture and Northern Peoples
5-DAY
DIFFICULTY
SNOW SEASON
5 days 4 nights
Min. 1, Max. 6
Ski/Snowboard
- LOCATION
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Hokkaido is the norther island of Japan. Eastern Hokkaido is especially rich in terms of wild life and nature with mountains and oceans. Shiretoko , a world heritage area is located about 1.5hrs away (90km) from Memanbetsu Airport. In winter, drift ice flow from the north to Okhotsk sea which attracts lots of tourists, not only for the Japanese but also inbound visitors.
OVERVIEW
The Ainu are not the only indigenous people of Hokkaido; the bearers of the so-called “Okhotsk culture” such as the Tvinitai culture, which is said to have existed from the 8th to 11th centuries, shared ancestry with the Niub (Russian name: Gilyak) and Urich in the Amur River basin in Siberia, and the Itelimen and Koryak in the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The “culture” bearers were the so-called northern peoples who shared ancestry with the Niub (Russian name: Gilyak) and Urich in the Amur River basin of Siberia, as well as the Itelimen and Koryak peoples of the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Although they have attracted attention as an enigmatic marine fishing tribe, they did not necessarily seek their sustenance exclusively from the sea, as traces of their existence can be found in the interior of Hokkaido.
In honor of the indigenous people who share similarities with the Ainu people but have developed their own unique culture, we ski in the Okhotsk region which has a unique natural environment.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Traveling from Memanbetsu Airport to Monbetsu city
You meet a guide at Memanbetsu Airport that connects to Tokyo Haneda airport or
Other airports with considerable number of daily flights. About less than 2hrs drive with a private van takes you to Monbetsu city. We visit at Mombetsu Museum and Drift Ice Science Center to learn Okhotsk culture and ice drift.
Accommodation – Monbetsu city | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Dinner at HTL
DAY 2
Tourist Ship to see ice drift & visiting Lakes and Museum
After breakfast at hotel, we head to the port to get on a tourist ship to see ice drift. After the ship tour, we drop by Saroma-lake, Abashiri-lake and Notori-lake for sightseeing. We head to Abashiri city and Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples . We stay overnight at hotel in Abashiri. Dinner at restaurant in the city.
Activity – Sighseeing (Tourist Ship/ Lakes/ Museum)
Accommodation – Abashiri city | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Breakfast at HTL | Dinner at Restaurant
DAY 3
BC Skiing in Mt. Mokoto (1,000m)
After breakfast at hotel, we head to Koshimizu-pass by driving about 1hr from Abashiri city.
We hike and ski around the area of Mt. Mokoto. Nice view of Lake Kussharo from the ridge of Mt. Mokoto. After ski touring, we head to Shari town and eat out for dinner. Staying overnight at HTL in Shari town.
Activity – Backcountry Skiing
Accommodation – Shari | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Breakfast & Dinner at Restaurant
DAY 4
Guided BC Skiing in Mt. Unabetsu (1419m)
Breakfast at Hotel. We depart for Mt. Unabetsu and head to its peak by skinning up. Skiing down on big slopes and if with luck, we can ski with the view of ice drift on the ocean. After ski touring, we transfer to Utoro in Shiretoko. We enjoy Onsen and dinner at hotel in Utoro.
Activity – Backcountry Skiing (7hrs)
Accommodation – Utoro | Hotel | Private room with ensuite
Included meals – Breakfast & Dinner at hotel
DAY 5
Museum and traveling to Memanbetsu Airport
After breakfast at hotel, we head to Shiretoko Museum in Shari town to learn the lives of the Northern Peoples and the Wild Animals in the area. After having lunch, we send you to Memanbets airport driving about 1hr by a private van.
Included meals – Breakfast at hotel
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 celebrated our 36th anniversary.
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