JAPAN: Hokkaido (13 days)

1st day: flight to Tokyo
Meeting at the airport, departure to Tokyo.

2nd day: flight to Tokyo – Tokyo
Arrival to Tokyo. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel, dinner, rest after the journey. Overnight in Tokyo.

3rd day: Tokyo – Wakkanai
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Wakkanai, northernmost city of Japan. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel, walk around Wakkanai – town with many inscriptions in Russian language. In the evening drive to the famous local hot springs – Wakkanai Onsen. Relaxation in the onsen on the open air, with the view of Okhotsk Sea. Dinner and overnight in Wakkanai.

4th day: Wakkanai – Rishiri
That day you will leave your main luggage at the hotel in Wakkanai (you will collect it next day). Please take with you the things you need for 1 night in a separate bag. Breakfast at your hotel. We will take a ferry to the island of Rishiri. In the central part of Rishiri is an extinct volcano Rishiri Fuji (1721 m). The view of this volcano is one of the most impressive in all of Japan. The whole island is a part of the Rishiri – Rebun – Sarobetsu National Park, there are also numerous Chashi – sacred mounds made by indigenous people of Northern Japan (Ainu). After arrival to the island we will take a bus tour around Rishiri. Relaxation in the most famous onsen in the islands: Rishiri Fuji. Dinner and overnight at Rishiri.

5th day: Rishiri – Wakkanai
Breakfast at your hotel. Walk along the coast of the island (during the winter and spring – the opportunity to observe seals), then ferry transfer to Wakkanai. Dinner and overnight in Wakkanai.

6th day: Wakkanai – Asahikawa
Breakfast at your hotel. Short walk to the train station. We will take a train to Asahikawa – a city located in the central part of the island of Hokkaido. Transfer to the Asahiyama Zoo considered to be the most interesting zoo in Japan. You can see here a variety of animal species, including endemics from Hokkaido. Dinner and overnight in Asahikawa.

7th day: Asahikawa – Asahidake – Daisetsuzan National Park – Sapporo
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer by bus to Asahidake – a small village located in the mountains of Daisetsuzan (it is the largest protected area in Japan): the ropeway ride up to one of the peaks. A visit to the local store – a chance to purchase unique products made by the people from Ainu community: canned seals and bears meat. In the evening transfer by bus and train to Sapporo – the largest city of Hokkaido, the host of the Winter Olympics in 1972. Dinner and overnight in Sapporo.

8th day: Sapporo – Otaru – Sapporo
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning walk around the city of Sapporo, a visit to the “Beer Museum” – one of the most impressive museums in Japan. During the tour lunch: Jingisukan (“Genghis Khan”) – the most famous dish of the island of Hokkaido served with a “Sapporo Beer” – recognized brand throughout Japan. Transfer to the train station, travel by train to the seaside town of Otaru. Walk on the shopping street and along old Otaru canal. A visit to the famous historical café illuminated by 167 kerosene lamps. Overnight in Sapporo.

9th day: Sapporo – Jigokudani – Hakodate
Breakfast at your hotel. Travel by train and then by bus to Jigokudani – the valley of impressive geysers that looks like landscapes of hell (even the word jigoku means in Japanese hell). Transfer by train through the southern part of the island of Hokkaido. Arrival to Hakodate. Dinner and overnight in Hakodate.

10th day: Hakodate
Breakfast at your hotel. Walk through the historical town of Hakodate. We will see picturesque harbour district Motomachi, the British Consulate and an old Catholic and Orthodox churches. The cable car ride up to the hill, from where you can see an impressive panorama of the city and surrounding areas. We will also take a tram to the huge Goryokaku fort. Visiting the reconstruction of the seat of government of the Republic of Ezo (an independent state existing in the 19th century, formed by samurais fled from other islands of Japan). Dinner and overnight in Hakodate.

11th day: Hakodate – Seikan tunnel – Tokyo
Breakfast at the hotel. The shinkansen train ride through the world’s longest undersea tunnel (Seikan), then through the northern and central part of Honshu to Tokyo. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Tokyo.

12th day: Tokyo
Breakfast at your hotel. Full day Tokyo sightseeing tour by public transportation. A visit to the temple – the mausoleum of Emperor Meiji. Walk on the Harajuku fashion street, Imperial Palace (view from the outside only) and a visit to the temple of Asakusa. Walk on the streets of Shinjuku – Tokyo’s famous red light district, enjoying impressive panorama of Japan’s capital from one of the upper floors of the Metropolitan Government Building. Dinner and overnight in Tokyo.

13th day: Tokyo – flight back
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight back to your destination. Arrival to your destination.