Japan – Autumn in Hokkaido 2025

Name: Japan – Autumn in Hokkaido 2025
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

27 September - 11 October 2025
Asia, Japan
Easy, Moderate
Two to three weeks

Birding, Botanical, Cuisine, Culture, Geography, History, Wildlife

Bookings are closed for this tour.

Overview
Highlights
Dates
Details
Itinerary

Experience Autumn colours, seasonal food and scenic walks on a 2 week journey to Hokkaido’s mountains, lakes and peninsulas. After meeting at Asahikawa, we explore waterfalls, forests and geology on easy trails at Sounkyo and Tenninkyo Gorges. Continuing to the imposing ‘roof of Hokkaido’, half day walks highlight the early Autumn hues within Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Cable cars whisk us to mid mountain walks at Kurodake and the Sugatami Highlands at the foot of Mt Asahidake. At the base of Mt Tokachi, we walk on the hardened lava of past eruptions before tasting gourmet products and meeting local artists near Furano. Further south, the gardens, galleries and farm fresh produce are a highlight of our time at Tokachigawa onsen near Obihiro. From our base at Kushiro, we follow marshland boardwalks to see the magnificent tancho, Japan’s red-crowned cranes. At Lakes Akan and Onneto, bubbling mud spring and lake walks contrast with Ainu fire festival and a cruise to view marimo, rare algae that form into beautiful green balls. Driving to the edge of Mashu crater lake, we experience a taste of the Hokkaido backcountry without a huge climb to get there. Continuing to the sand peninsula of Notsuke, we spot for birds, deer and fox. Crossing the pass onto the World Heritage Listed Shiretoko Peninsula, we take a morning cruise looking for sealife & brown bears eating salmon on the shore. Waterfall and lake walks feature more wildlife opportunities and wide sea views. On the northern coastline, we explore Abashiri Quasi-National Park, known for its drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk. We finish the tour at Memanbetsu airport where you can connect with flights to Sapporo or Tokyo.

Watch the first Autumn leaves colour the Hokkaido national parks & lakes
Walk in Sounkyo & Tenninkyo Gorges
Take cable-cars to enjoy half day mountain walks on Kurodake & Asahidake
Hike at the base of active stratovolcano, Tokachidake
Visit forest parks & gardens near Tokachigawa onsen
Wander Kushiro Marsh to search for tancho, rare red-crowned cranes
In Akan-Mashu National Park, enjoy lakeside walks & cruises
Explore the coastline of World Heritage listed Shiretoko Peninsula & walk the Five Lake trail
Visit the northern Sea of Okhotsk & taste the seafood of Abashiri
Soak in Japanese hot-springs (onsen), stay in traditional ryokan plus western hotels

Tour date: 27 September – 11 October 2025

Price: Twinshare / person (starts Asahikawa, ends Memanbetsu) A$11,480
Single Supplement: $1,980 (limited single spaces available)https://www.parktours.com.au/tours/japan-autumn-in-hokkaido-2025
Note: For single people who prefer to share, we will try to find a suitable roommate.
Minimum Group size: 13 guests
Special Interest: Culture, Cuisine, History, Geography, Wildlife, Birding, Botanical
Walk Rating: Easy to Moderate, 2-10km per walking day with shorter or longer options (moderate options are due to ascent and descent on some walk days).

Inclusions

14 night’s twin share accommodation: 3-4 star hotel / traditional inns / onsen / ryokans with some shared facilities
Meals include – 14 Breakfasts (B), 1 Lunch (L), 12 Dinners (D)
Airport transfers for the tour start/end dates
All transfers and activities as listed in itinerary
National park and museum entry fees (where noted)
Professional tour leader assisted when required by local tour guides
Basic group tips where required
Pre-departure material including background & personalised A-Z tour information and destination tour companion

Exclusions

Airfares & taxes to start / from end of tour
Passport & visa expenses
Heavy or excess baggage
Travel insurance
Personal expenses e.g. drinks (water, alcohol, tea & coffee), laundry, telephone, or optional tours / excursions

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Itinerary

You're requesting the itinerary for our Japan - Autumn in Hokkaido 2025 tour.

Name(Required)

First name Last name

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Mobile(Required)

Do you have any specific question about this tour?

Lake Shikaribetsu wildflowers, Hokkaido, Japan

Shirogane Onsen, Blue lake, Hokkaido Japan

Shirogane Onsen, Blue lake waterfalls, Hokkaido Japan

Mt. Asahidake to Tenninkyo and Lake Shikaribetsu, Hokkaido Japan

★★★★★ 5/5 (4 reviews)

★★★★★

Wow, what an awesome introduction to Japan! Hokkaido – the second largest and northernmost island of Japan. We joined the Spirit of Spring Tour and savoured every minute of it. This was a first for us in many ways: our first trip to Japan and our first group tour, and we're so glad we chose Park Tours. The coach was spacious and luxurious (literally three seats per person!), our driver was exceptional, Yuichi was a knowledgeable and engaging local guide, and Luke was an outstanding Park Tours leader who engaged us with his colourful storytelling of past travel experiences and gave us thoughtful (but fun!) challenges during the longer bus rides between destinations. The itinerary was packed with a wide variety of activities and attractions across the island. We wandered through stunning fields of pink phlox and tulips in every imaginable colour, learnt about and experienced Ainu culture, and visited the Drift Ice Museum, where several large chunks of drift ice from the most recent winter had been transported and preserved in a walk-through cold-room exhibition. Oh, and don't leave without trying the Drift Ice Soft Serve ice cream—it was delicious... and blue! 😊 We walked through misty, snow-laden tracks to volcanic crater rims and lakes, and cruised around the spectacular Shiretoko Peninsula hoping to encounter whales, dolphins and orcas. We felt as though we'd hit the jackpot. Not only did the weather cooperate, allowing the cruises to go ahead, but we were treated to three orcas making gentle appearances through the mist in incredibly calm conditions. We also spotted three brown bears wandering the shoreline and rocky cliffs from the safety of the boat. Other unexpected wildlife highlights included red-crowned cranes standing in a farmer's paddy field (they'd apparently missed their migration call!), a raccoon dog, wild foxes and an impressive variety of birds. One of my favourite parts of the tour was the hands-on cultural experiences. We made soba noodles in a local community hall and kitchen, then watched and participated in traditional mochi making at a local farm using an usu (a deep wooden mortar) and kine (a large wooden mallet). Timing is definitely everything during this process! Best of all, on both occasions we got to enjoy the fruits of our labour—yum! The accommodation was varied, with both traditional Japanese and Western-style options. Wherever possible, we chose traditional Japanese rooms to complete the experience. Most of the hotels provided yukatas (light cotton robes) for guests to wear to breakfast, dinner and the onsens. Ahhh... the onsens! I very quickly became a fan of this wonderful Japanese tradition. Soaking in steaming hot pools, both indoors and outdoors, many designed as natural rock pools nestled within beautiful gardens, was incredibly relaxing. Some even had private outdoor baths where you could simply sit, listen to the trees swaying in the breeze and gaze up at the star-filled night sky. It was magical. There's so much more I could say about this trip, but one comment from Yuichi has stayed with me. He said that once you've experienced one season in Hokkaido—as we did with spring—you'll inevitably want to return to experience the others, because each season has its own unique character and beauty. I can honestly say he was right. I'm already planning my next adventure. Thanks, Luke, for a wonderful experience. And if I can offer one piece of advice to anyone considering a Park Tour—anywhere—don't think about it... JUST DO IT!!

Monette Gardiner Japan, Spirit of Spring - A Journey in Hokkaido's Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture 2026 19/07/2026

Read the full review

★★★★★

We have recently returned from a 14-day 'Japan, Spirit of Spring - A Journey in Hokkaido's Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture 2026’ walking holiday with Park Tours. We absolutely loved the trip! We were attracted to this tour by the opportunities to experience the local cultures, including that of the indigenous Ainu people, and to get off the beaten tourist track and explore National Parks, World Heritage areas and Ramsar Wetlands with a small group of like-minded people. As first time travellers to Hokkaido, we were pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of landscapes, from volcanic peaks with the last of the winter snows, to steaming fumeroles and bubbling hot mud and springs, to fresh green birch forests, wide open seascapes, and rich farmlands. There were many highlights, not the least being walking up close to these fumeroles and sulphur deposits on extinct volcanoes, walking among old forests next to crater lakes, learning about the Ainu culture and experiencing some of their folk dances and music, the local foods and learning how to make some of our own, and seeing wild bears and orcas. We stayed in a range of accommodation styles, almost all with onsens so we could soak in the warm waters at the end of the day. And wearing kimonos, supplied by our accommodation, to breakfast and dinner was a great touch. Our experiences were enhanced by our Japanese tour leader, Yuichi, and Park Tours' owner, Luke. We learned so much more than we would have as independent travellers, with Yuichi's enthusiasm for all things Hokkaido and explanations of culture, food and wildlife, and Luke's love of the outdoors and experiences in natural and unspoilt environments.

Kay N Japan, Spirit of Spring - A Journey in Hokkaido's Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture 2026 24/06/2026

Read the full review

★★★★★

I had a wonderful time in Hokkaido with guides Luke and Yuichi our local Hokkaido tour guide, both of whom had good senses of humour which is very important on a trip. Hokkaido is truly beautiful and as a dairy farmer’s daughter I loved the dairy farms, the crops and the forests’ brilliant green spring leaves. Then there were the lakes and fascinating Sea of Okhotsk, the museums, and the varied hikes. Thrills like the sulphur pools, walks in the snow and rafting (both novelties). The sight of bears from the safety of a boat, orcas, a snake, cranes, and unexpected fumeroles. The tulip farm and pink moss phlox were curiosities. I must say that Japanese food is not my favourite but the variety ensured that there was enjoyment to be found. Ice cream and beer were winners. Attempts to concoct noodles, sushi and mochi were a bit of a nightmare. Our hotels were varied and wearing a kimono to dinner was a great idea because it saved dressing up. All in all, I had a fantastic time and wouldn’t have missed it for quids.

Jane Purton Japan, Spirit of Spring - A Journey in Hokkaido's Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture 2026 11/06/2026

Read the full review

★★★★★

I had a fabulous trip and really enjoyed the opportunity to discover the wilder side of Japan in Hokkaido. Highlights were the cruises to see bears and orca, unexpectedly walking in the snow on the mountaintop (with steaming volcanic vents as a backdrop), and learning about the Ainu culture and the winter landscapes with sea ice in northern Hokkaido. It was also wonderful to stay in onsen resorts and enjoy donning a kimono and soaking in the hot springs most days - my knees have never felt better! Our Hokkaido guide Yuichi and ParkTours leader Luke were fantastic and enthusiastic guides, and shared my interest in the appreciation and understanding of wild places and biodiversity.

Sarah Ashmore Japan, Spirit of Spring - A Journey in Hokkaido's Landscapes, Wildlife and Culture 2026 10/06/2026

Read the full review