EXPERIENCES / INTERNATIONAL
Hokkaido, Japan
Overview
- We take you into four mountainous regions of Hokkaido.
- Enjoy the Japanese natural world that inspires so much of the Japanese aesthetic.
- A wonderful variety of landscapes: pools, gorges, spectacular cliff top views and more.
- Camping and hut stays in glorious valleys and high shelves.
- Four day walks and one return multi-day trip (in addition to one multi day through trip) allow a high degree of individual flexabilty in the itinerary.
- Enjoy the hot springs between walks – either open-air in the woods or public baths style. A great finish to any walk.
- Finishes one week before the Honshu walk for those who would like to do some conventional tourism then join us again in Honshu.
INTERNATIONAL
11-24 September 2022
Visitors to Japan do not traditionally head for the mountains. There are reasons for that: there is a fantastic depth of history and culture to be found everywhere. But that means that the mountain scenery gets overlooked, and it’s great.
So the purpose of this and the following Honshu trip is to make sure that Willis clients don’t make that mistake.
We’ll get glimpses of all that between walks. But, the aesthetics of both cultures are deeply rooted in nature, so it is fitting that that’s where we’re headed.
We’ll see spectacular mountain terrain (scaling the Hokkaido’s highest peaks), gorgeous forests of birch, maple, oak and ash - hopefully in Autumn colours –
volcanoes, waterfalls, ezo deer, red squirrels, Sakhalin foxes, pica, maybe bears from a distance, and - surprisingly – Russia!
Between walks, hot springs, Japanese company and Japanese food will top it all off.
Details
DATES
September 11-24
PRICES
Full price: A$4990
GROUP SIZE
5 guests
BOOKINGS CLOSE
30 June 2020
CAMP SITE
Mostly quite roomy. Some on gravel, some on hard ground.
SWIMMING
There are opportunities, and some clients take them, but the temperature will render those opportunities marginal to uninviting. However, bathing in hot springs is an integral part of life for many Japanese, and there will be many opportunities between walks to enjoy indoor or open-air hot springs.
WILDLIFE
Deer and squirrels almost guaranteed. Picas, ezo foxes, very likely. Various other mammals possible. Bears possible at a distance and we will try not to see up close! Many local birds abound though seeing them depends a lot on the observer.
CLIMATE
A mix of weather can be expected. Average daily temperatures near sea level at this time are about max 20ËšC and min 12ËšC. The monthly precipitation for this time is between 50 and 60 mm.
COOKING
At over-night camps, we will need to cook on a fuel stove. Your guide will manage that. Camp dinners and dinners at cafes and restaurants between overnight walks are included.
WALK RATING - MODERATE
Terrain
Lots of hill climbing, generally in short bursts but beginning each walk with a generous climb. Some of the climbs might rate as difficult as opposed to the moderate average on the trip. Check out the PDF trip notes for climb distances.
The first walk includes numerous ankle to knee deep creek crossings.
Such camping as is required will be on small clearings or on improvised sites in alpine heathland. Some of them will be quite tight, but still comfortable.
Vegetation
Walking will mostly be confined to tracks as off-track is mostly way too thick.
Distance
4-8 hours per day
Pack Weight
On the overnight walks you will need to carry your share of three/four days of food.
Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
