Eastern Hokkaido: Kayak & Walking Tour - Tracing the Salmon Story (3 Days)

The town of Shibetsu in the Nemuro region is known as the Mecca for salmon. For more than 10,000 years, salmon has played a crucial role in the lives of the people here. On this tour, you can experience the story of salmon and people through kayaking and walking in the spectacular natural scenery of the Notsuke Peninsula.

On the first day, you’ll learn about the ecology and history of salmon at the Shibetsu Salmon Museum and really feel the passion that the locals have for it. The next day, you’ll head to Notsuke Bay, overlooking the World Heritage Site, Shiretoko, and take a leisurely sea kayak excursion through this paradise of waterfowl which is also registered as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Feel the sea breeze while experiencing the rich ocean where Odaito’s specialty shrimp are found. That same afternoon, you’ll take a stroll around Notsuke Peninsula in time with the changing tides. Observe deer footprints and eelgrass while searching for traces of the people who once lived here. On the final day, you can experience the wisdom of people who make full use of salmon. Visit a facility where salmon is processed into dried flakes, and enjoy the craftsmanship and taste of it by making your own soba noodles with a salmon broth.

Those who take part in this tour will have an extraordinary experience in which the deep relationship between salmon and people, as well as the unique culture and natural features of this area, can be felt through all five senses. Hop into a kayak and take a trip to this hidden wonderland.