5 or 6 nights in Hokkaido in July -- where to go?
Jul 20, 2014, 5:51 pm
#31
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I'll be doing something very similar in two weeks in eastern Hokkaido -- I'll be flying into Memanbetsu, then driving around through (hopefully) some of Shiretoko and Akan, Kushiro, and Obihiro. I'll be sure to report back.
Jul 20, 2014, 11:03 pm
#33
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If you are a photographer, be sure to walk down to the main bridge in Kushiro for one of the better sunset opportunities on the island. From the bridge, you can shoot straight down the river, through the harbor and out to sea at the setting sun. I have framed prints of that shot hanging on my wall and a couple of others around town.
Jul 20, 2014, 11:58 pm
#34
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Sadly not. Plenty of foxes, deer, owls, and other woodland creatures but no bears.
We got back from one day of walking and some folks who were staying in the same hotel as us told us they'd seen a bear on the same trail later that day ... The following day, we thought we might see bears on a boat trip up the coastline to see the "wild" end of the peninsula. But no. (The boat trip is probably your best bet, since the boat passes some river outlets where the bears often hang out).
We did, however, see a bear from a distance at Lake Akan, on the same trip. Since a bear had been sighted, the area was closed off. That's the "normal" reaction to bears in Hokkaido, I think. According to one person we spoke to, folks who live around the Shiretoko national park are pretty accustomed to bears - a sighting does not provoke panic as it seems to in other places.
BTW - The other national park that you should look into is Yakushima. It's compact but spectacular. No bears, but lots of monkeys and deer.
We got back from one day of walking and some folks who were staying in the same hotel as us told us they'd seen a bear on the same trail later that day ... The following day, we thought we might see bears on a boat trip up the coastline to see the "wild" end of the peninsula. But no. (The boat trip is probably your best bet, since the boat passes some river outlets where the bears often hang out).
We did, however, see a bear from a distance at Lake Akan, on the same trip. Since a bear had been sighted, the area was closed off. That's the "normal" reaction to bears in Hokkaido, I think. According to one person we spoke to, folks who live around the Shiretoko national park are pretty accustomed to bears - a sighting does not provoke panic as it seems to in other places.
BTW - The other national park that you should look into is Yakushima. It's compact but spectacular. No bears, but lots of monkeys and deer.
Yakushima has also intrigued me indeed (I've never been), and I'm sure I'd like it. Would love to go someday but, man, another really far-off place.
Jul 21, 2014, 12:02 am
#35
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The botanical gardens in Sapporo were a few blocks from my hotel so I did go there. Admission also includes a small Ainu museum. I wasn't overwhelmed by any of it.
The Shiretoko wilderness is more a Bear Grylls than a Les Stroud type of wilderness -- it's untamed but not very large so you can face all the dangers of being out in the wilderness and still get easily coptered to a nice hotel for the night. The total size of the area is smaller than the size of the wilderness area in Yosemite Park, I'd say.
I didn't notice anything that I would regard as an absolutely must-see natural attraction.
The Shiretoko wilderness is more a Bear Grylls than a Les Stroud type of wilderness -- it's untamed but not very large so you can face all the dangers of being out in the wilderness and still get easily coptered to a nice hotel for the night. The total size of the area is smaller than the size of the wilderness area in Yosemite Park, I'd say.
I didn't notice anything that I would regard as an absolutely must-see natural attraction.
Jul 21, 2014, 12:06 am
#36
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Jul 21, 2014, 12:16 am
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Jul 21, 2014, 12:16 am
#38
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Jul 21, 2014, 12:34 am
#39
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But where I encountered the closure was in Honshu... think it was Gunma. I think Honshu bears are all black bears (eg, tsukinowaguma or half-moon bears).
Jul 21, 2014, 3:39 am
#40
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That said, the Honshu black bears are a bit more aggressive than their American cousins, and the reduction in hunting has made them much less cautious around humans.
Jul 21, 2014, 8:05 pm
#41
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Yes, but usually not in the city proper. You're better off going to Jozankei Onsen or Otaru. I posted a few in the Luxury Hotels forum here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-hokkaido.html
Jul 21, 2014, 11:47 pm
#42
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Yes, but usually not in the city proper. You're better off going to Jozankei Onsen or Otaru. I posted a few in the Luxury Hotels forum here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...-hokkaido.html
Jul 22, 2014, 6:13 pm
#43
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To be honest, I know of none, and couldn't find any decent ones after a quick search. Unlike Kyoto or Tokyo, you'll need to leave the urban center to find a proper ryokan in central Hokkaido.
Jul 22, 2014, 9:43 pm
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