Back in October, I participated in a week-long adventure inside Akan-Mashu National Park in Eastern Hokkaido. Three days were spent hiking up the volcanic peaks of Mt. Maeakan, Mt. Atosanupuri, and near Lake Mashu, we climbed Mt. Risuke, Mt. Nishibetsu, and Mt. Mashu. We also canoed on Lake Kussharo and Kushiro River, did some mountain biking, relaxed in a hot spring, and did some forest bathing. We also met representatives of the Ainu (Japan’s indigenous people), dined on their traditional foods, and took in a ceremony and dance performance. Many action-packed days in this less-traveled area of Hokkaido and Japan. This is a place to go if you like wide-open spaces and nature – oh, and volcanoes!
Special thanks to Mark Brazil, who once again was my buddy through the week of adventures. Mark, who lives in Eastern Hokkaido, is a naturalist, author, and leading authority on east Asian birds. So, as you can imagine, he was a fantastic source of information about the places we visited. Coincidentally, Mark just completed a new book Wild Hokkaido – “A Guidebook to the National Parks and other Wild Places of East Hokkaido,” and it will be available in early 2021. I saw a preview copy, and it will be invaluable to anyone planning a trip to the area.
Coming up soon, more adventure travel videos. Next time: Kyushu! So please hit that SUBSCRIBE button to catch it – and support me. And of course, I love to read your comments? Has anyone else been to Eastern Hokkaido?
Nick Szasz
Fukuoka Now:
Links:
Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido, Japan, 20-23 September 2021
一般社団法人日本アドベンチャーツーリズム協議会 / Japan Adventure Tourism Organization