Top 15 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Hokkaido, Reviewed
18 tours · from $44 a day out
Hokkaido rewards careful booking; the difference between a memorable day and a wasted one is usually the operator. These are the 15 hiking & trekking tours we consider worth your time, strongest first.
★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $53.73Our top pick
Spend about three hours with Picchio Shiretoko guides such as Makoto, Yuki, or Kato, walking animal tracks through untouched forest to cliff views and a waterfall. Rainwear, rubber boots, and binoculars are supplied.
“Our guide Yuki spoke English well and is very friendly and took good care of us. She shared interesting information about the different forest and we spotted deers too!”
Sumi and her team pick you up in central Sapporo for a beginner-friendly snowshoe walk near Nakayama Pass, with gear, tea, local snacks, and a relaxing visit to Hoheikyo Onsen. Lunch in Jozankei costs extra.
“The whole experience was amazing. Sumi was the best guide knowledgeable, very outgoing and experienced guide. As a 76 year old Nanna, I found sliding and sledging down the slopes was exhilarating and my granddaughters had a blast. Read more”
Join Picchio Shiretoko for a 3.5-hour winter walk through animal-made forest paths. Use snowshoes when snow allows, seek the frozen Tears of Man waterfall, and watch for Ezo deer, red foxes, tracks, and Okhotsk Sea ice.
“Please be ready early. Maybe 10 minutes before the agreed pick up time, it would be best if you were already ready and waiting to be picked up. We were part of a small group. The tour provider will pick up everybody from different (but nearRead more”
Walk with a small group and guide from Utoro to Furepe Falls on a beginner-friendly snowshoe route. Gear is provided for deep snow, with frozen falls, Sea of Okhotsk views, seasonal drift ice, and possible deer sightings.
“They will lend you the appropriate gear for walking in deep snow. Our guide was very accommodating and the pace was good even for beginners. We saw some deers even during a blizzard. They kept us safe and we had so much fun. We haRead more”
Join Aidan or another English or Japanese-speaking guide for a six-hour outing from Noboribetsu. Hike Mt. Usu to its crater rim, visit the Toya-Usu Geopark Center, and stop at a prime Lake Toya viewpoint.
“This was a great day out. Aidan is very friendly and easy to get along with. He put us at ease and made us feel comfortable. The hike was easy enough that my friend who doesnt hike was happy to come along and enjoyed it but alsRead more”
Meet guide Chris at Makomanai Station for a small-group hike through Hokkaido’s forests, ridges, and mountain trails. Choose from several routes, then relax at Koganeyu Onsen before returning to Sapporo.
“Chris took me on an out of the way hike up a nice ridge to a vantage point overlooking an old caldera. Would have never found this one on my own. He then brought me to an onsen that was equally nice, not overly crowded even though it was a weekend, and plenty of locals enjoying themselves (i.e. not a tourist trap).”
Join guide Aidan or a Japanese-speaking guide for a 6.5-hour small-group hike on active Mt. Usu. Walk through forest to the crater path, enjoy Lake Toya views, then visit an eruption exhibition.
“Excellent trip with incredible views and great history provided by Aidan”
Walk Shiretoko Five Lakes on snowshoes during the short winter season when the frozen lake surfaces open for guided access. A guide leads a group of up to eight past wildlife tracks and the coast, with drift ice in view. Pickup is offered.
“We took the short 1.5 hrs guided tour in Shirotoko national park 5 lakes. In the short tour you see only 2 lakes. They are not very impressive so its enough. I don't think the long tour adds anything. The scenery is beautiful. The reason for the nRead more”
Meet guide Chris at Makomanai Station for a private-van hiking day tailored to your fitness. Pick from forest trails, mountain summits, lake views, lunch, and an onsen, with groups limited to six.
“Chris was professional, very knowledgeable on the area and super accomodating. A novice to trekking I got a great experience of a good climb , with spectacular views of the area and no question was left unanswered. Exactly what I was after! Highly recommended!”
Walk 4 km through Hokkaido’s broadleaf forest from Karurusu Onsen to Lake Tachibana. Your English or Japanese guide leads the ridge hike, explains local wildlife, and serves tea, coffee, or hot chocolate beside the lake.
Join an English or Japanese guide for a 7.5 km hike from Mt. Tarumae’s 7th station to its steaming lava dome. Expect steep, uneven ground, volcanic scenery, lunch, poles, transport, and wide views.
“Expérience très agréable, ajustée au besoins et capacités du jour, une attention particulière à faire de ce moment un rencontre avec un paysage mais humaine aussi. Des échanges riches, multiculturels, et conviviaux, une rando qui sort des sentiers battus avec du défi dans la montée et du plaisir à faire le tour du cratère, avec ce jour là l'ambiance mystérieuse d'être dans la brume. Merci!”
Start at Sapporo Station for a guided hike up forested Mt. Maruyama, then visit the Olympic Museum and ride the chairlift up Okurayama Ski Jump. You get two very different views of Sapporo in one long day.
Join a qualified native English-speaking guide for a private, entry-level hike up Shioya Maruyama near Otaru. The four-hour outing includes transport from Shioya Station, hiking poles, summit views, and a snack break.
“So glad we did this hike. Beautiful walk through the forest and great views at the top. The guide kept the pace comfortable for everyone and made sure we were all ok. He provided some snacks to enjoy at the summit and also picked us up from Shioya Station.”
Meet your English-speaking guide at Sapporo Station at 8 a.m. for a gentle Mt. Maruyama hike, Olympic Winter Museum visit, and chairlift ride to Okurayama’s ski-jump lookout. Scott is the named guide connected with this experience.
“For our first time in Japan, and our first full day in Japan, Sapporo was where we started. Withoutt any prior recommendation, we booked a day exploration tour with Snow Monkey, and when Scott turned up, on time at the agreeRead more”
Meet nature guide Mr. Miyakawa at your Sapporo hotel, ride to a nearby park, and walk a small mountain by snowshoe after dark. You’ll see snowy city views, learn about the trail, and pause for a hot coffee or drink.
“This was a wonderful snowshoe trek to escape the crowds to enjoy a peaceful nighttime view of Sapporo. Mr. Miyakawa was friendly and easy to talk to about the features of the trail and activities in Sapporo. The coffee break midway through was a delight. I highly recommend this to anyone visiting Sapporo during the wintertime.”
