Hokkaido: The Nordic Road Trip

Pick up your hire car in Kushiro in the morning. Head for the Kushiro marshes, a haven for local flora and fauna, including the national emblem, the red-crowned Japanese crane. This park covers more than 180km²! 

Discover the International Crane Centre, a unique place in Japan, which aims to protect this species and provide an opportunity to learn more about the country's emblematic bird. Admire Lake Onneto from its observation point. Onneto means old pond in the Ainu language. 

This lake was created by the eruption of Mount Meakan which rises to an altitude of 1449 metres. In the late afternoon, check into your hotel on the shores of Lake Akan. No more than 14 thermal springs of sulphurous water gush out there. They are said to be beneficial for curing certain ailments. 

These springs were already used by the Ainu, who lived in close contact with nature. Take advantage of the hot springs facing the lake for a relaxing moment and a traditional dance show in the evening. 

After a hearty breakfast in your hotel, you drive 10 minutes to the car park of the spa resort you visited the day before. This is where the footpath begins through the strange vegetation typical of the northern territories. 

You will soon hear a rumbling sound as the Meakan is an active volcano, so be sure to follow the signs in English as you walk around the crater towards the other Fuji-like mountain next to it. 

The view from inside the crater is extraordinary! The trail then heads back down to Lake Onneto, which you walk alongside the loop back to your vehicle. 

It's not unusual to come across foxes in these parts, as well as numerous deers. You return to the town for lunch in a restaurant and then relax in a hot bath, gazing out over the lake. It's time to set off again through the national park to another caldera lake, where you will climb a soufrière. 

An amazing museum recounting the life of a sumo wrestling celebrity if you're not too tired. Your hotel is nearby and a splendid dinner will await you there.

Breakfast in your hotel. The day begins with a breathtaking panorama overlooking Lake Mashu. This lake is the caldera of a potentially still active volcano with a circumference of 19.8 kilometres. Its transparent waters offer shades of emerald blue depending on the season. 

It is also known by the Ainu name of Kamuito, Lake of the Gods. Then head for the Shiretoko peninsula along narrow, straight roads lined alternately with fields and forests, where you'll see the long stalks of butterbur, a plant umbrella well known to Miyazaki fans. 

Return to the coast and continue on to the Rausu Observatory, where you can see the large island of Kunashiri, which has been Russian territory since 1945. 

After lunch, continue on to the tip of Japan and a tiny fishing village. A small boat offers an excursion as close as possible to the reefs to catch a glimpse of the bears that abound. You may prefer to take a hike from Rausu to discover the flora and softness of the forests. 

Finally, you cross the peninsula to reach the hotel where you will stay for 2 nights. Dinner is included.

Breakfast in your hotel. You will only be using the car to get to the port on this day, unless you prefer to walk (approximately 20 minutes each way). Discover the Shiretoko peninsula and its marine life on board a boat. A chance to spot whales, dolphins, orcas and birdwatchers the backdrop of the mountain range. 

For lunch, enjoy sushi next to a strange rock reminiscent of Godzilla emerging from the waves. Then return to your hotel, where a guide will pick you up and take you to discover the famous site of the five lakes, where wildlife abounds. You will have to follow his strict instructions not to observe the black bear too closely. 

The walk lasts around 4 hours and a hot bath awaits you, followed by a hearty meal of fresh fish and seafood. Second night in your hotel in Utoro. Dinner is included at your accommodation.

The day begins with the discovery of waterfalls on the coast. North of Abashiri, near a small lighthouse at the end of a cape, enjoy a beautiful panorama of the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk where patches of pack ice drift during the long winter. 

After lunch, you can experience the ice and polar temperatures for yourself at the Okhotsk Ryu-hyo museum and its projection room, where you can discover what life is like under the frozen drifting sea. 

You will then head to Memanbetsu Airport, where you will return the vehicle to the rental agency before boarding your flight to Tokyo. End of the tour and Japan Experience services at 3 PM. Lunch is at your own expense.