Winter Hokkaido:
Snow & Water Multisport in Lake Shikotsu
and Niseko (Hiking/Skiing)

When everyone has arrived, your guide will tell you more about the tour and then show you to your tour bus. It’s a custom in Japan to pray for safe travels, so your first stop will be Chitose Shrine. The deity enshrined here is the deity of food and water. Next to the stairs in the main building is Sachii no Mizu (Spring of Good Fortune), a holy spring that originates in the forest by the shrine. After experiencing a Shinto prayer ritual, you can collect some in your water bottle. You’ll notice that this is a popular spot among locals too.

And then it’s off to Lake Shikotsu. This caldera lake was formed by the eruption of Mt. Shikotsu 40,000 years ago, and is Japan’s northernmost ice-free lake. The exceptionally high level of purity gives the glittering waters a one-of-a-kind hue known as “Lake Shikotsu blue”.

After a good lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll head to Lake Shikotsu Visitor Center, where you’ll see a video about the lake and find out about the tour from your guide, with dioramas as visual aids. You’ll then watch people building ice sculptures for the spectacular Chitose-Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, which is held every January. The stunning sculptures are made with water from Lake Shikotsu.

After that, you’ll be taken to Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu No Uta, where you’ll spend the next few nights. There’ll be time before dinner to relax in your room or admire the lake nearby.

Dinner will be a traditional kaiseki multi-course meal, made with local seasonal ingredients. Every element, from the colors to the size of each helping, is meticulously designed to create a meal as beautiful as it is delicious.

Dinner

Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu No Uta Japanese kaiseki meal

After a healthy buffet breakfast at the hotel, you’ll set off for the activities you’ve been waiting for.
The snowshoe tour and clear SUP will give you a close-up view of the clear waters created by the unique natural conditions.
First, we get on the Fat Bike and head to the Nanajo Otaki waterfall to the south of Lake Shikotsu.
We start off and pedal about 14 kilometers one way on a straight road. Depending on the snow conditions, you can also enjoy the up-and-down, gravel road. A local guide will tell you all about the nature of Lake Shikotsu along the way. You might even see wildlife such as deer! The deep, dazzling snow and the rows of gigantic trees will make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world…to say nothing of the icy wonderland you’ll be greeted by when you reach the icicle-covered waterfall.

Lunch

Shikotsuko-so

Choose from a variety of great dishes, from Lake Shikotsu’s famous kokanee trout to miso ramen and tanteki-nabe made from generations- old recipes.

The miso ramen is a particular favorite that diners keep coming back to.

After lunch, you’ll get an up-close view of the glittering “Lake Shikotsu blue” waters of the lake from a clear stand-up paddleboard.

Your drysuit will keep your whole body dry, so you’ll stay nice and warm! Your guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to get on the board and paddle. And then you’ll cruise along the coastline of the lake, taking in the mesmerizing view of the crystal-clear waters and the stunning backdrop of the “three mountains of Shikotsu” (Mt. Eniwa, Mt. Fuppushi and Mt. Tarumae).

Whether you stand, sit or lie on your board, this experience will allow you to see this natural wonder from a whole new angle.

Dinner

Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu No Uta Healthy buffet

After fueling up with a breakfast buffet, we’ll depart for Mt. Ichankoppe. The name is Ainu for “hole where salmon and trout spawn” (ichan) and “waves” or “river” (koy pet), because salmon and trout apparently spawned here. This mountain stands 829m high, and your hike will cover 480m of it. The first part of the trail is steep, but when you get around 30% of the way up the mountain, you’ll be rewarded by a breathtaking view of Lake Shikotsu through the gaps in the trees. Until about 80% of the way up, you’ll enjoy a gentle walk along ridges that offer panoramic views of Lake Shikotsu and the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Tarumae. If you’re lucky, you might see Ezo deer or black woodpeckers.

We’ll have a lot of ground to cover, so lunch will be some backpacking food during a short break. We’ll go to buy some on the first day, so make sure you grab something that will keep your energy levels up. (It’ll be too cold for onigiri (rice balls)! Try some rich mushi-pan (steamed cakes) instead.)

After enjoying the view at the summit, we’ll head

back down the way we came. Please note that we may take a different route (or hike up a different mountain) depending on the weather.

Dinner

Lake Shikotsu Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu No Uta Healthy buffet

After breakfast, we’ll head to Niseko.

You’ll see the deep forest around Lake Shikotsu give way to pastoral scenery surrounding a beautiful conical mountain. This is Mt. Yotei, whose natural spring water has nourished the land and allowed local farmers to flourish. Here you’ll experience generations-old traditions, including snowshoeing, making imo-mochi (sticky potato cakes) and a barbecue in a snow hut (kamakura).

Your first stop in Niseko will be a local restaurant for lunch.

Then you’ll spend around two hours walking through Niseko Forest on snowshoes.

Look for animal tracks, watch wild birds and enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest in winter.

You’ll see that although Niseko isn’t far from Lake Shikotsu, the snow is totally different. After your walk, you’ll keep your snowshoes on and dig for potatoes that are buried in the snow. The ancestors of today’s locals figured out that if you store potatoes in the snow, they stay at a constant temperature, and they become sweeter as a result. Once you have enough potatoes, you’ll make imo-mochi with your guide’s wife and eat them with hand-churned butter and sweet soy sauce—the perfect way to refuel after a busy afternoon.

And then you’ll enjoy a barbecue in a kamakura, a dome-shaped snow hut. These have historically been built by populations in Japan’s snowiest areas, and have been used in spiritual rituals. You’ll enjoy a delicious array of local foods, from venison caught near Mt. Yotei to handmade sausages, Niseko-grown vegetables preserved using the natural winter cold and scallops from Toyoura Bay.

You can even try an original juice made by your guide’s own family!

Dinner

BBQ in kamakura snow hut

After a good breakfast, it’s time for your skiing and snowboarding trip—the highlight of the tour.
At Niseko Moiwa Ski Resort, you’ll enjoy a full-body experience of JAPOW (Japan Powder) snow, some of the best powder snow in the world.

A qualified guide will help you on your backcountry skiing trip.

Our guides can also take you skiing or snowboarding on the slopes. The charge for this guide is not included in this tour and will be charged additionally.

Dinner

Niseko Konbu Onsen Tsuruga Besso Moku no Sho
Kaiseki course meal

When we get back to your accommodation, there’ll be time to rest and recharge before dinner.

On your final day, relax until check-out at 11:00am.

The hot spring is a great way to recharge after the active few days you’ve had.

We’ll meet briefly in the lobby after check-out before traveling two hours to the airport, with a rest stop on the way.

We are planning to arrive at New Chitose Airport by 15:00.

Lunch

Local restaurant