Self-Launched Hokkaido: Wild Trails & Volcanic Onsens
9 days · Hokkaido, Japan
G Adventures charges £2,990
No-markup version: ~£645 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day Active Japan trip, covering Hokkaido's wildest corners — Shiretoko's primeval coast, the volcanic lakes of Akan and Kussharo, the Daisetsuzan peaks — at a fraction of the £2,900+ group tour price. You'll do the same hikes, dig your own riverside onsen, soak in a ryokan, catch an Ainu dance performance, eat Asahikawa ramen and finish on Sapporo beer — all on public buses, trains and self-booked day tours. Japan isn't a cheap destination, but even at backpacker-to-mid-budget rates you'll spend well under half the tour price. All costs are approximate per person, excluding international flights; a Japan Rail Pass or Hokkaido regional pass is optional as the bus network covers most of this route.
Day-by-day
Arrive Abashiri
Abashiri
Fly into Memanbetsu Airport (MMB) — the same gateway the tour uses — and take the Abashiri Bus Memanbetsu Airport Line to the city centre (~¥770 / £4, 20 mins). Check into a business hotel or guesthouse near Abashiri Station. Spend the evening wandering the harbour and grabbing dinner at a local seafood izakaya (Okhotsk scallops and salmon are the local specialities, ~£10-13). Sort out tomorrow's bus timetable — the Shiretoko routes leave from Abashiri Station bus terminal.
🚌Airport bus from Memanbetsu (MMB) to Abashiri
🛏Business hotel or guesthouse near Abashiri Station (£30-45/night)
- →Arrival and bus transfer
- →Harbour evening walk
- →Seafood dinner
Shiretoko National Park — Primeval Forest & Five Lakes
Shiretoko / Abashiri
Catch the early Shari/Utoro bus from Abashiri Station (~2hrs, ~¥2,200 / £12) up the Okhotsk coast into Shiretoko National Park. Rather than the operator's private vehicle, book a half-day guided nature walk online in advance (Shiretoko nature tour operators run fixed-departure walks for ¥5,000-7,000 / £27-38, or join a shared guided walk via GetYourGuide). Walk the primeval forest trail and the Shiretoko Five Lakes loop (~3-4hrs total) — bring binoculars for Steller's sea eagle and Japanese deer, and the cliff-top views over turquoise water. In the afternoon walk the short trail to Furepe Waterfall dropping into the Okhotsk Sea (free, unguided). Bus back to Abashiri for dinner.
🚌Local bus Abashiri–Utoro/Shiretoko (~£12 return)
🛏Business hotel or guesthouse near Abashiri Station (£30-45/night)
- →Shiretoko Five Lakes walk
- →Primeval forest guided nature walk
- →Furepe Waterfall trail
Abashiri by Bicycle — Ainu History & Prison Museum
Abashiri
Rent a bicycle from a local cycle shop near the station (~¥1,500 / £8 for the day — several shops rent city bikes). Ride the loop toward Mt Tento for the observatory views over the Okhotsk Sea and Lake Abashiri, then continue to the Museum of Northern People (Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples) to learn about the Ainu and northern indigenous cultures (¥550 / £3). Finish at the Abashiri Prison Museum (¥1,500 / £8) — the beautifully preserved Meiji-era wooden prison, where you can try the prison-style lunch in the cafeteria. Dinner back in town.
🚌Rental bicycle
🛏Business hotel or guesthouse near Abashiri Station (£30-45/night)
- →Self-guided bike loop
- →Museum of Northern Peoples
- →Abashiri Prison Museum
Volcanic Lakes & Ryokan Night
Lake Akan
Take the local bus inland toward Lake Akan (Abashiri–Tsubetsu–Akan line, ~2hrs, ~¥2,500 / £14), stopping at Lake Kussharo to dig your own beach onsen in the sand (free — bring a small towel). Continue to Mt Io for the sulphur vents and steam (free walk), then the observatory deck over Lakes Kussharo and Mashu. Catch the next bus to Lake Akan and check into a ryokan — book a traditional tatami room with half-board in advance via a Japanese booking site like Jalan or Rakuten Travel, or a hostel-style minshuku if you're tightening the budget. After dinner, buy a ticket for the 'Akan Yukar Lost Kamuy' Ainu dance and digital art performance at Akan Kotan village (from ~¥2,500 / £13).
🚌Local bus Abashiri–Kussharo–Akan (~£14)
🛏Ryokan at Lake Akan, tatami room with dinner and breakfast (£70-100/night; minshuku options from ~£40)
- →Kussharo sand onsen
- →Mt Io sulphur vents
- →Lake Mashu observatory
- →Ainu Yukar Lost Kamuy performance
Lake Akan Morning & On to Asahikawa
Asahikawa
Wake early and use the ryokan's hot spring baths a second time before breakfast, then take the lakeside trail around Lake Akan (free, ~1-1.5hrs). Check out and take the bus to Kushiro or directly to Asahikawa (the through bus takes ~4-5hrs; alternatively bus to Kushiro then the JR Senmo line and onward train — ~£25-30 total). Check into a hotel or hostel near Asahikawa Station. In the evening hunt down the famous Asahikawa ramen — shops like Baikoken or Santouka in the station area keep a bowl at ¥900-1,100 (£5-6).
🚌Bus and local train to Asahikawa
🛏Business hotel or hostel near Asahikawa Station (£25-40/night)
- →Lake Akan walking trail
- →Ryokan onsen
- →Asahikawa ramen dinner
Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway & Hike
Asahidake / Asahikawa
Take the Asahidake bus from Asahikawa Station (~1.5hrs, ~¥1,000 / £6, seasonal late May–mid Oct). Buy the Asahidake Ropeway return ticket (¥3,000 / £16) and ride up to the Sugatami plateau, then walk the Sugatami Pond loop or the longer summit trail depending on conditions and snow — 2-4hrs of volcanic plateau hiking with steaming fumaroles and ridgeline views when the fog lifts (weather changes fast, bring layers and a rain shell). Bus back to Asahikawa; onsen at a local sento in the evening (~¥700 / £4).
🚌Local bus Asahikawa–Asahidake return (~£12)
🛏Business hotel or hostel near Asahikawa Station (£25-40/night)
- →Asahidake Ropeway
- →Sugatami plateau hike
- →Local sento
Asahikawa to Sapporo + Hill of the Buddha
Sapporo
Take the JR limited express (Kamui/Lilac) from Asahikawa to Sapporo (~1.5hrs, ~¥5,000 / £27, or ~¥3,000 / £16 on the slower local trains with a change at Iwamizawa). Drop bags at your hostel or business hotel near Odori or Sapporo Station, then head to the Hill of the Buddha in Takino (bus from Makomanai subway station, ~30 mins; entrance ¥300 / £2) — the extraordinary hilltop temple with a giant Buddha and lavender beds in July. On the way back, stop at Hokkaido Jingu shrine if time allows. Evening in the Susukino district for yakitori and Sapporo beer.
🚌JR limited express Asahikawa–Sapporo
🛏Hostel or business hotel in central Sapporo (£25-45/night)
- →Hill of the Buddha
- →Hokkaido Jingu shrine
- →Susukino evening
Sapporo — Nijo Market & Beer Museum
Sapporo
Start with breakfast at Nijo Market — walk the stalls of Hokkaido crab, urchin, salmon roe and scallops (a bowl of kaisen-don ¥2,000-3,000 / £11-16, or just graze the stalls). Take the subway and bus out to the Sapporo Beer Museum (free entry, ~30 mins from Odori; ¥200 for a small tasting or the paid tour set). Afterwards, loop back via Odori Park and the old Hokkaido Government Office (both free), and finish the evening with Sapporo's famed soup curry or Genghis Khan lamb barbecue (~£10-14). Check tomorrow's airport transfer options.
🚌Subway and local bus
🛏Hostel or business hotel in central Sapporo (£25-45/night)
- →Nijo Market
- →Sapporo Beer Museum and tasting
- →Odori Park walk
Depart Sapporo
Sapporo
Take the JR Rapid Airport train from Sapporo Station to New Chitose Airport (~40 mins, ¥1,150 / £6) and fly out. If you have a late flight, use the morning for the last bowl of ramen or a final soak at a Sapporo sento.
🚌JR Rapid Airport to New Chitose
🛏N/A
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£645 | £2,990 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,345 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£645
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Hokkaido: Wild Trails & Volcanic Onsens cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £645 per person for 9 days in Hokkaido, Japan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,990 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £645 — a saving of roughly £2,345 (78%) per person.
How long is the Hokkaido, Japan trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Hokkaido, Japan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, culture trip through Hokkaido, Japan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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