Active Northern Japan: Winter in Hokkaido

Welcome to Tokyo, Japan. There's no time to waste as you join your fellow travelers in the morning for a welcome briefing with your CEO and head towards the airport to board your flight to Memanbetsu airport in Hokkaido. Upon arrival, head to your hotel outside Shiretoko National Park and enjoy dinner together with your CEO and new travel mates.

After a filling breakfast, depart the hotel en route to the Five Lakes area of Shiretoko National Park. This area is famous for its namesake five lakes that were formed years ago by the eruption of Mount Lo. In the winter, this park is completely blanketed in perfectly white snow and the lakes freeze over. Strap on some snowshoes and hike through the park and over the lakes. In the evening, enjoy a free afternoon to explore Shiretoko.

Another morning snowshoe hike in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shiretoko Peninsula awaits. Embark on a guided four hour snowshoe trek through the Primeval Forest area of the park. Be sure to bring binoculars if you are a keen animal enthusiast, as there is ample opportunity to spot various species from the Steller's sea eagle to Japanese deer and maybe even a flying squirrel. The scenery is equally as dramatic as you witness the cliff edges hang over the turquoise water of the sea. In the afternoon, take a short walk to the Furepe Waterfall, a waterfall of icicles cascading into the Okhotsk Sea.

Depart Shiretoko this morning and head slightly inland towards Lake Akan. En route stop to visit active volcano Mt Lo, which sits inside the Kussharo caldera. Watch the sulfurous smoke and steam dramatically rise from the wintery craggy landmass. From there, continue on to the shore of Lake Kussharo, where you can take a moment to get your hands dirty digging into the sandy shore and actually hitting hot spring water. Dig your own personal Onsen! Yet another sign of the volcanic activity still present underground in this area. Make a final stop at the observatory deck to take in views of Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu before continuing on your overnight stay at a Ryokan. After a dinner with your fellow travelers, enjoy a cultural performance in tribute to the history of the local Ainu people of the region. Akan Yukar Lost Kamuy is a presentation of Ainu ancient ceremonial dance, contemporary dance and digital art.

Enjoy a leisurely start to the morning to spend the morning hours enjoying the Ryokan hot springs a second time. Or choose to join your CEO for a walk around Lake Akan. Then make your way towards Asahikawa. Don't fill up too much during the day, because dinner this evening is the famous Asahikawa ramen. This ramen is famed throughout Japan as one of the best in the country.

It's time to rise and shine and strap on those hiking boots once again. This morning, head to the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway. Board the ten minute gondola ride up to the start of the walk. Spend a couple of hours exploring the area on foot, and hope for glimpses of the mountain ranges as the fog comes and goes.

Sapporo, the capitol of Hokkaido, is home to some of the island's most interesting spots. With a day at leisure, choose to join your CEO on a walking tour of Otaru, a nearby town full of historical gems to explore. Or, choose to explore the Hokkaido Jingu shrine, a shinto shrine honoring 4 deities.

Spend today getting well acquainted with the city of Sapporo, home of the world famous beer. Begin your day with a visit to the Nijo Market. Walk through the stalls full of fresh seafood, most caught right of the coast of Hokkaido. You'll see crabs, fish and things you may have never seen before like fresh urchin and fish eggs. Afterwards, head to the home of the first Japanese made beer, Sapporo Beer Museum, and sample beer that can only be found at this location.

Depart at any time.