Active Japan: Mt Fuji & Hokkaido

Welcome to Japan! Join your group early this morning for a welcome meeting in Tokyo then travel together to Mount Fuji! We'll take public transportation to arrive to the tallest mountain in Japan, the legendary Mount Fuji, to begin our epic adventure. Hike up the flower covered mountain and enjoy views of Suruga Bay, Sagami Bay in the Pacific Ocean and the top of the mountain on a clear day. Arrive at your hut where we'll stay this evening. Have dinner on the slopes of Mount Fuji before heading to bed for an extra early start tomorrow. End today at 2,700 m elevation. The Mount Fuji portion of this trip is particularly difficult, nonetheless amazing. If it seems a bit too difficult for your abilities, check out Active Northern Japan: Tokyo & Hokkaido (AJTH) or Active Japan: Hokkaido Highights & Okinawa Island Hopping (AJTN)

Included Experiences

• Local Train: Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
• Bullet Train: Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Mt Fuji Hike Day 1: Drive to Fujinomiya Station 5 and start the ascent up Mt Fuji towards Station 7. The climb itself isn't difficult but the rapid ascent, constant incline and altitude can be challenging for hikers. The 1,396m (4580 ft) to the summit takes 6-7 hours in total, stop at Station 7 tonight to rest and prepare for the rest of the climb.

After a rest, embark again at 10:00pm in the evening of Day 1 in order to complete to hike to the summit of Mt Fuji in time for an epic sunrise at 3,776 m of altitude. Take in the views, snap some photos, then begin your decent down the mountain. Reach Mount Fuji 5th Station in time for lunch and then transfer back to Tokyo. Enjoy a free evening in Tokyo. Opt to rest before the adventure continues tomorrow or if you happen to have energy to spare, explore Japan's biggest city on foot.

Included Experiences

• Mt Fuji Hike Day 2: Start hiking towards the summit before dawn. There will be some rough patches that will only be visible with flashlights. Tread carefully, don't rush and drink plenty of water. Watch the sunrise atop the mountain and celebrate a successful climb. Hike back down to retrieve your bags. It's about 4-5 hrs to Station 10. After watching the sunrise, slowly head back down about 3 more hrs.
• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Local Train: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Today you have the chance to see the biggest city in Japan on a tour with your CEO. See highlights of this amazing city like Asakusa Sensoji Temple and Asakusa neighbourhood, Nakamise shopping street and the historic Meiji Shrine. In the afternoon, spend your time in Tokyo how you'd like. Opt to visit cool neighborhoods like Akihabara or Harajuku. Or find some green space in the famous Ueno Park.

Included Experiences

• Sensō-ji Temple Visit: Explore Sensō-ji Temple, a colourful Buddhist temple and the oldest temple in the entire city. Leading up to the temple the street is lined with shops selling yummy food and great souvenirs.
• Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū) Visit: Visit this shrine dedicated to the 123rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Meiji and his wife. The shrine is a great place to escape the bustle of the city and wander the grounds along the wide walking paths.
• Free Time: Enjoy a free afternoon in Tokyo.

Optional Experiences

• Akihabara Visit: Tokyo's Akihabara district is a cultural centre and shopping district for video games, anime, manga, and electronics.
• Harajuku Visit: The Harajuku district is known as the centre of Japanese youth culture and fashion. Here, find dozens of shopping and dining options including independent boutiques and larger international luxury stores.
• Ueno Park Visit: As Japan's most popular city park, Ueno is known for its museums and cherry blossoms. Stroll the pathways, admire the thousands of trees, including approximately 800 Somei-yoshino cherry trees, look for lotus on the pond, or opt to visit the temples and museums (entrance fees).

There's no time to waste as you join your fellow travelers in the morning 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 travel mates.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

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. The area now offers picturesque views of the mountains and the wilderness all around. In the afternoon, take a short walk to the Furepe Waterfall, a waterfall cascading into the Okhotsk Sea.

Included Experiences

• Furepe Waterfall: Hike to this waterfall that plunges down the side of the emerald cliffs into the sea. This forest hike with a 64 m elevation gain is will have you seeing blue water year round and reflective rainbow when the sun hits just right.
• Shiretoko Five Lakes Hike: Hike through the Shiretoko Five Lakes. On this 4.8 km loop with an elevation of 43 m, walk by reflective lakes and stunning green mountainous scenery. Admire bright green foliage in the summer, gorgeous flower covered mountains in spring and impressive fall colors in autumn.

Another morning hike in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shiretoko Peninsula awaits. Embark on a guided three to four hour hike 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. The scenery is equally as dramatic as you witness the cliff edges hang over the turquoise water of the sea. The afternoon is at leisure, and you can choose to relax at your hotel bathing facilities, or walk into the village area some 20 minutes away.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a free afternoon exploring Shiretoko how you'd like.
• Primeval Forest Hike: Hike through this part of Shiretoko, seemingly untouched by man. Walk through the forest and be on the look out for foxes and deer while admiring the incredible forest and cliff side views. You may even have the chance to see bear markings on the trees.

Optional Experiences

• Hot Springs Village: After a couple days of hiking, enjoy a relaxing soak in an onsen, a Japanese hot spring.
• Shiretoko World Heritage Conservation Centre: Learn about the amazing natural environment of Hokkaido at the Shiretoko World Heritage Conservation Centre. Visit the animal photograph exhibit, watch the short film about Shiretoko and learn the norms for how to help support the area during your visit.

Depart the Shiretoko area 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 rise from the 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.

Included Experiences

• Lake Mashu Observatory Deck: Visit the impressive caldera lake within Akan Mashu National Park. Take in the views from the best spot to see whats considered the clearest lake in the world.
• Ryokan Stay: Experience traditional Japanese life with a night at a traditional Japanese Inn. Stay in tatami-matted rooms and enjoy a glimpse into Japanese culture and history.
• Sulphur Mountain & Lake Kussharo: Visit the otherworldly sulphur mountain and breathe in the hot air. See the greenish yellow algae that grows around the fumaroles with a steady stream of steam released across the mountain. The head to Lake Kushharo. With a hot spring under the sand, dig a hole and relax in your hand-dug beachy hot spring.
• Ainu Kotan - Ainu Culture Dance: Visit the Ainu Kotan Village. There are only two indigenous groups remaining in Japan and Akanko Ainu Kotan is one of the largest settlements still remaining in Hokkaido. During our visit, we'll see the village and experience their cultural performance in the evening.

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.

Included Experiences

• Ramen Dinner in Asahikawa: Nearly every region of Japan has their own style of ramen, so a trip to Hokkaido wouldn't be complete without trying Asahikawa specialty ramen. With thin noodles and savory broth, this is a dish you won't want to miss.

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. It's important to note that in Spring and Fall, its common to still have snow on the ground at Asahidake, so itinerary adjustments may be made. Cold weather clothing should be packed during this season.

Included Experiences

• Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway & Hike: Visit Daisetsuzan National Park and ride the gondola up to start your hike around Sugatami Pond Loop. This easy, loop hike will give you astounding views of volcanic rock and Mount Asahi-dake, the tallest mountain in Hokkaido reflecting off ponds. After the hike, take the gondola back down.

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 to visit the Hill of the Buddha, a incredible and huge shrine. Or, choose to explore the Hokkaido Jingu shrine, a shinto shrine honoring 4 deities.

Included Experiences

• Local Train: Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.
• Free Time: Spend a free afternoon in Sapporo.

Optional Experiences

• Hokkaido Jingu Shrine: Visit the important Hokkaido Jingu Shrine, the resting place of four different kami (deities) of the Shinto religion. Come to the shrine and walk through torii (Japanese gates), write your wish on a wooden plaque and buy a lucky charm. This shrine is one of the best places to witness the four season of Japan. As one of the most renowned places to see cherry blossoms in the spring, fall leaves in autumn, green and colorful in the summer and snow covered in the winter.
• Hill of the Buddha: Visit the beautiful and massive Hill of the Buddha outside Sapporo. A metro ride and bus ride brings you to this incredible location. Covered in snow in the winter or covered in flowers in the spring, this place is a must see no matter the season.

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.

Included Experiences

• Nijo Market: Visit Nijo Market, a market over 100 years old. You'll see fresh local seafood like urchins and salmon eggs, and other local vendors.
• Sapporo Beer Testing: Visit the Sapporo Beer Museum for a tour and tasting of the popular brew. Known as the first beer made in Japan, we'll have a chance to sample a beer that can only be found at the museum. Opt for a fun all-you-can-eat-and-drink meal in the Beer Hall.

Depart at any time.