Hokkaido an Autumnal Exploration of Japan’S Remote Island Wilderness Aboard the MS Island Sky 16Th October to 2Nd November 2021 Shiretoko National Park
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SPECIAL OFFER - SA VE £300 PER PERSON Circumnavigation of Hokkaido AN AUTUMNAL EXPLORATION OF JAPAn’S REMOTE ISLAND WILDERNESS ABOARD THE MS ISLAND SKY 16TH OCTOBER TO 2ND NOVEMBER 2021 Shiretoko National Park okkaido, Japan’s northernmost and least developed island is often considered by the Japanese to be the country’s last frontier and is a world away from the traditional view of Japan. Only colonised by Japan in the past 150 years, we won’t find a land of ancientH temples and shrines or developed cities with skyscrapers during our visit, but what the island lacks in regard to 21st century development, it more than makes up for in natural wonders with large swathes of wild, open spaces, primeval forests, crystal clear lakes, active volcanoes and bubbling hot springs. Our exploration begins with the bright neon lights of Tokyo where the cityscape of skyscrapers is interspersed with ancient temples and scenic gardens. Before reaching the enchanting island of Hokkaido we spend some time on the north coast of Honshu island visiting the Feudal town of Hirosaki and the spectacular Towada Hachimantai National Park. Our circumnavigation of Hokkaido then commences and during our time on this remarkable island, we will explore nature trails, watch for wildlife in the national parks, learn more of the indigenous RUSSIA Korsakov Ainu people and hopefully see the stunning autumnal foliage which should coincide with our visit. Shiretoko Rishiri Island National Park More than two million acres on Hokkaido are dedicated to national parkland and we will visit some HOKKAIDO Abashiri of the most remarkable including the Shiretoko National Park located on the north eastern tip of the Otaru Lake Akan Sapporo island and which in Ainu means ‘end of the world’. UNESCO has called it one of the richest integrated Muroran Kushiro ecosystems in the world and in 2005 designated it as a World Heritage Site. We will have a full day Hakodate to explore the national park, home to brown bears, Yezo sika deer and red fox whilst birders can keep Hirosaki Aomori an eye out for Steller sea eagles, Blakiston fish owl and white-tailed eagles.Whilst in the Kushiro Oirase Gorge Akita Marshlands we visit the home of Hokkaido’s resident red-crowned cranes, Japan’s iconic bird, known HONSHU as the bird of happiness. Niigata JAPAN Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert naturalist, our knowledgeable Guest Speaker and three Japanese guides, all adding Train immeasurably to your enjoyment and understanding of this fascinating country. We hope you can join Tokyo us for this rare circumnavigation of Japan’s most enchanting isle aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky. The Itinerary Day 1 London to Tokyo, Japan. Fly of serenity and spirituality in a city welcome drinks and dinner as we seven lakes which are surrounded by scheduled flight. that never sleeps. We will then visit moor overnight. by a forest of Japanese Beech trees the Nezu Museum which exhibits before continuing to Oirase Gorge. Day 2 Tokyo. Arrive today and an excellent collection of Japanese Day 5 Aomori & Oirase Gorge. The gorge runs for 14 kilometres transfer to our hotel for a two night and East Asian art. Hidden away in Today we will head inland to the from Lake Towada to Yakeyama and stay. The remainder of the day is its spacious forest-like garden you spectacular Towada Hachimantai we will walk alongside the crystal free to relax and explore at your will find ponds, stone lanterns and National Park which involves a clear Oirase Stream seeing the own pace before we meet for dinner several tea houses. The afternoon scenic drive through the Kayano beautiful scenery, autumn foliage this evening. and evening are free to relax in the plateau and Hakkoda mountains and waterfalls. After lunch we return hotel or explore independently. to the scenic Oirase Valley and to the ship in Aomori or alternatively Day 3 Tokyo. After breakfast in the Lake Towada, a magnificent enjoy some free time in the city, visit hotel we will make our way to the Day 4 Tokyo to Aomori. After ancient caldera lake surrounded by the market, try the locally caught Meiji Shrine which is dedicated to breakfast we will transfer to the deciduous forests. The scenery is sushi or view the crafts and local the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji airport for our scheduled flight to stunning, especially as the hillsides produce at the A factory. We remain and a popular place for traditional Aomori. On arrival transfer to the change to red and orange. We berthed overnight in Aomori for Japanese weddings. Surrounded by port where we will embark the will wander the trails at the Tsuta anyone who wishes to take an after over 100,000 trees, Meiji is an oasis MS Island Sky. Tonight enjoy Nana-numa Ponds, a collection of dinner stroll or dine ashore. www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Steller sea eagle Oirase gorge Lamp, Meiji Shrine Red-crowned crane Kakunodate Day 6 Hirosaki. We can immerse up Mount Sokuryo offering views to and O-Akan. The lake is also famous covers the majority of the Shiretoko ourselves in Japanese history and the city below. for marimo, an aggregation of algae Peninsula and is a UNESCO World culture as we visit the former Feudal which forms into balls and is unique Heritage Site due to the diversity town of Hirosaki which was the Day 8 Kushiro. After a morning at to this lake. During our cruise we of its ecosystems. This remote and political capital of the region in the sea we arrive in Kushiro over lunch. will pass by Takiguchi, one of the untouched park combines rivers, Edo Period. During a tour of the city This afternoon we will visit Kushiro most beautiful spots on the lake as forests, mountains and waterfalls we will see the small, three storey Marshlands, Japan’s largest wetland well as visit the observation centre and is home to an array of wildlife castle which was the focal point and marsh habitat and home to the on Churui Island. After lunch we will including brown bears, Yezo of the old city and the base of the only known population of Japan’s walk to Akanko Ainu Kotan, where sika deer and red fox. If weather powerful Tsugaru Clan. Surrounding sacred red-crowned cranes. The we will be able to see the traditional permits, we will take the Shiretoko the castle was the samurai and cranes were thought to have been crafts and dance and learn about Pass offering stunning views of the merchant district where we can visit made extinct due to overhunting the culture of the indigenous autumn leaves on Mount Rausu. the preserved houses and the Fujita and habitat destruction. However, Ainu people of Hokkaido before Continue to the Shiretoko Nature Kinen Teien, a Japanese landscape in 1926 a group of 20 birds were returning to the MS Island Sky this Centre where we can learn about garden built in 1919. After a local discovered in this area and with afternoon and sailing. the wildlife of the park. Here there lunch, we spend the afternoon conservation efforts now number will be a choice of either a long or visiting Neputa Mura Museum more than 1000. We will visit the Day 10 Abashiri. Spend the short walk through the wilderness showcasing the crafts of the area Kushiro Onnenai Visitor Centre morning on deck as we sail in the on the lookout for wildlife, autumnal and dedicated to the annual Neputa with displays of the flora and fauna Nemuro Channel and around the colours and views of the lakes. festival held in August. Return to the of the region and views over the Shiretoko Peninsula where we will Return to the ship via the Oshin ship and sail this evening. marshlands before taking the keep an eye out for wildlife on Koshin Waterfall. walking trails where we hope to land and in the water. Arriving in Day 7 Muroran. We will spend our see the cranes and birds in their Abashiri at lunchtime we spend Day 12 Korsakov, Russia. Arrive morning around the Shikotsu-Toya natural habitat. Continue to the the afternoon learning more about this morning at Korsakov where National Park, named after the two Kushiro Crane Reserve, which was the Ainu culture, clothing, legends we will clear into Russia. Once the caldera lakes which offer wonderful created 60 years ago to protect and crafts at the Hokkaido Museum formalities are concluded we will scenery and excellent hiking and and preserve the crane population of Northern Peoples which also explore part of this city which was walking opportunities. This is still an and continues to rescue injured provides insight into the cultures founded in 1853 as Sakhalin’s first active area and a geological wonder birds whilst also breeding and and traditions of the peoples Russian military post. From here with the volcano Showa Shin-zan releasing young birds into the wild. inhabiting the sub-Arctic regions we drive to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, only created in the 1940s. Our day We remain in Kushiro overnight for of the globe including Inuit and the capital of the island with a will be flexible around the weather anyone wishing to explore ashore Sami. Afterwards we travel the short population of just over 160,000. but if clear we may take the cable this evening. distance to the Okhotsk Sea Ice Founded as a small Russian car to the top of Mount Usu for the Museum which offers insight into settlement in the 1880s, the city wonderful views to Lake Toya or visit Day 9 Lake Akan.