Travel throughout the Okhotsk area from river to sea by cycling and canoeing!
4-DAY
DIFFICULTY
GREEN SEASON
4 days 3 nights
Min. 5, Max. 12
River Canoe
Cycling
Fishing
Walking
- HIGHTLIGHTS
-
- 4 days bicycle and canoe tours from the headwaters of the Abashiri River to the Okhotsk sea
- Take a close look to the wildlife nurtured in the nature of Okhotsk
- Enjoy interacting with local people in the primary industry who are connected to nature
- Experience fishing for salmon, a symbol of the cycle of nature on a fishing boat!
- LOCATION
-
Tsubetsu, Bihoro, Abashiri
OVERVIEW
Through this 4-day tour you can experience the dynamic natural ecosystem cycle of Okhotsk area with all five senses. You will travel along the Abashiri River, which flows from its headwaters to the Okhotsk sea, you will use mainly cycling and canoeing to travel. Also, you will experience the lifestyle and culture of the people in Okhotsk through cooking experiences. Using local ingredients and interacting with local primary industry people will definitely give you some unforgettable moments. This is a trip where you can refresh your body and soul with interacting different culture and nature.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Experience the natural environment of this area in a secluded forest!
After meeting your guide at Memanbetsu Airport, you will be transferred to Nonno Forest, a place deep in the mountains of Tsubetsu Town. In Nonno forest, there are spring water everywhere, and they are one of the headwaters of the Abashiri River. This program will also serve as an introduction to the 4-day program.
DAY 2
Enjoy beautiful scenery and farmers' interaction by cycling along the Abashiri River!
Today, you will start your cycling journey! We will start from the uppermost reaches of the Tsubetsu River, one of the headwaters of the Abashiri River, and pedal our bicycles along the flow of the water. As the rivers merge, the width of the river becomes wider and the sound of the flowing water becomes louder, making the changes seem clearer. As we ride along, you can see that the plain we are riding on is also created by the flow of the river. Truly you can realize that almost everything in our lives is created by water.
We will experience harvesting vegetables at “Saikou Farm,” a farm that makes use of the river water we have seen so far. While harvesting potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, etc., we will enjoy interacting with the farmers. For dinner, we will make curry with the vegetables we harvested.
DAY 3
Ride a canoe to the Sea of Okhotsk!
Today, we will run for the goal by canoe to the sea! First, we will move to the canoe dock and take twin canoes down the Abashiri River. Riding the slow current of the water, you will enjoy the feeling of coexist with nature. This is the period of year when salmon come back to the Abashiri River to spawn. By contact with the the forest and the sea, you will become aware of your relationship with the cycle of nature.
You may also encounter wild birds such as kingfishers and red-crowned cranes during your canoe trip.
Around 3:00 p.m., we finally arrive at the Sea of Okhotsk, the terminus of the Abashiri River! Seeing the water from the headwaters, which was only a trickle, gather and converge to form a large ocean, you realize how small you are and how great nature is.
DAY 4
Let's learn about the relationship between the ecosystem and the wilderness of the “salmon” that symbolize the Abashiri River!
The guests will impress this trip by catching their own salmon, a creature that symbolizes the “Abashiri River Connection,” the theme of this trip.
We will make chanchan-yaki with the salmon which is a local cuisine in Hokkaido with the salmon we have just caught by yourselves. The tour will end with “Itadakimasu” and “Gochisosama” to express all the excitement, gratitude, and awe we feel for nature.
After the tour, we will send you back to Memanbetsu Airport.
MEAL
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | - | Local restaurant | hotel |
2 | Hotel | Local restaurant | Home made curry |
3 | Hotel | Bento (Lunch box) | Local restaurant |
4 | Hotel | Hokkaido's local dish, “Salmon Chanchanyaki" | - |
ACCOMMODATIONS
Area | Facility Type | Room Type | Onsen / Spa | WiFi | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tsubetsu | hot spring hotel | Western-style room | ||
2 | Bihoro | cottage, | Western-style room | ||
3 | Abashiri | hotel | Western-style room |
Tour Operator / Contact
DOTO Adventure Network
- WEBsite
“Doto Adventure Network” is a coalition of coordinators, travel designers, land operators, and through-guides specializing in Eastern Hokkaido, the ‘Doto Area.’ Deeply rooted in the region, we promote sustainable tourism for the future.

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