Lakes & Volcanoes 8 Day Self-Guided Tour

Welcome to Sapporo! Your adventure starts in Hokkaido's capital city. Store your luggage at the station and explore the city by taking the subway to Maruyama-Koen. A short 1km walk brings you to Hokkaido-Jingu, the largest Shinto shrine in Hokkaido.

Next, you hike Mt. Maruyama (3.7 km round trip) through beautiful old-growth forests that exist alongside the city. The trail takes you to a peaceful viewpoint above the urban landscape.

For dinner, you can explore three lively food districts: Ramen Yokocho Alley, Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade, or Noren Yokocho near Nijo Market. Each offers plenty of local dishes from ramen to fresh seafood.

You travel by bus from Sapporo to Jozankei Onsen, a historic hot spring town within Shikotsu-Toya National Park.

After lunch, you embark on a 4.1 km loop hike up Mt. Asahi through Iwato Park, where you might spot wildlife like squirrels and woodpeckers. The trail - steep at times - winds through lush forest and along the scenic Toyohira River.

After your hike, you can soak your feet in one of the town's many foot baths and spot unique Kappa statues that reflect local folklore. Your day ends with a relaxing dinner and soak in the healing hot springs at your lodging.

After breakfast, you take a bus journey to Lake Toya Onsen, where you discover a stunning crater lake that's recognised as both a National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark. After leaving your luggage at your hotel, you visit Lake Toya Visitor Centre to learn about the area's volcanic history, including the dramatic 2000 eruption.

Your afternoon features two connected hiking trails showcasing Mt. Usu's volcanic power. The Konpira route (4.8 km loop) takes you past eruption-damaged buildings and a mud-buried highway, with views into the volcanic crater. The Nishiyama route shows more dramatic evidence of the eruption's force. Together, the trails take about 3.5 hours.

Your day ends with a relaxing soak in the hot springs at Lake Toya Onsen.

You take a 25-minute ferry to Nakajima Island, a pristine wildlife sanctuary where you can explore untouched nature. The longest hiking trail is a 8.2 km loop that takes about 3 hours through beautiful Daiheigen, offering views of Mt. Yotei on clear days. The island has a museum with historical information and a café for light meals.

After returning to the mainland, you can walk along the lake or relax at a café before enjoying dinner and a soak in the natural hot springs at your hotel.

From Lake Toya, you begin your journey to Noboribetsu Onsen, taking a bus and train journey with time to enjoy lunch along the way. After leaving your luggage at your hotel, you embark on a fascinating 3.2 km walk through the Noboribetsu Hell Valley, where a wooden walkway lets you explore a dramatic sulphuric landscape.

Your walk continues to Oyunuma, a volcanic crater lake with incredibly hot water - up to 130 °C at the bottom! The lake flows into Oyunuma River, creating a natural foot bath where you can rest your feet. Your day ends with dinner and a relaxing soak in Noboribetsu's famous hot springs.

You take a morning bus and express train journey to Shiraoi, a coastal town that's significant in Ainu culture. Here, you visit the Upopoy National Ainu Museum to learn about Hokkaido's indigenous people and their heritage.

The museum offers both Japanese meals with Ainu influences and traditional Ainu dishes at its three restaurants. In the evening, you travel by train and bus to Lake Shikotsu, a beautiful caldera lake surrounded by active volcanoes.

Today you hike Mt. Monbetsu, an 866 m peak bordering Lake Shikotsu. The trail gently climbs a maintenance road to the summit, where panoramic views of Lake Shikotsu and its surrounding volcanoes - Mt. Eniwa and Mt. Tarumae - await.

After your morning hike, spend the afternoon exploring the lakeside. For lunch, try the local specialty Shikotsu-ko Chippu (Kokanee Salmon), which has been in the lake for over 100 years, or enjoy a contemporary western meal.

In the evening, you travel back to Sapporo by bus and train, where you can have dinner at your leisure.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, your tour officially ends.

If you have extra time in Sapporo, you can explore the Sapporo Beer Museum, Botanic Garden, or Hokkaido University Museum. For one final outdoor adventure, consider hiking up Mt. Moiwa - a 3.1km trail starting from Asahiyama Memorial Park leads to a summit lookout deck with city views. You can enjoy lunch at the ropeway station before taking the ropeway down and catching a bus back to central Sapporo.