All Reviews for Top Hokkaido Attractions

This is truly a popular tour.
It took 30 minutes to exchange the voucher for the boarding ticket. It's car number 2.
Without a doubt, we departed with people from China, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and others.
We wore multilingual receivers. The guide was very engaging.
At lunch, we toasted with sake. Unfortunately, I left the main dish uneaten.
I experienced almost the same tour last autumn, but the youthful charm of the welcoming flowers was delightful.

　正に大人気のツアーです。
バウチャーから、乗車チケットの交換に３０分を要しました。2号車です。
いわずとも中国、韓国、台湾、フィリピン、ベトナム、インドネシア、？の方々と出発です。
　多言語対応のレシーバー着用です。満載間のあるガイドでした。
昼は、日本酒で乾杯しました。折角の主菜を残してしまいました。
　ほぼ同じツアーを去年の秋に体験しましたが、出迎えの花々の、若々しさは、愛らしいものでした。

It was an amazing kayaking experience guide by our guide, Risa. The weather was a little gloomy but it created a beautiful mountain view shrouded by the mist. We also kayak along the River Chitose that was quiet and calm, allowing us to be close to nature. The highlight was when we spotted 4 huge blue carps in the river swimming under our kayaks. Most importantly, the tour was perfect because of our guide, Risa. Risa was friendly, relaxed, and was adept at striking good, pleasant conversations. Overall, I highly recommend anyone who is dropping by this lake to take this tour.

I thought there would be many inbound tourists in Hokkaido, but this time it was the worst. When I arrived at the tour reception desk, there was an unusual smell of garlic and a lot of noise. After finally checking in and boarding the bus, a Chinese mother with an infant was having a loud argument with the guide over seating. It seemed she didn't know that "infants should sit on laps" and was occupying an entire row of seats. When she was told about it, she got defensive.

The bus finally started moving, but the infant was right behind my seat, crying loudly throughout the tour. The mother didn't seem to be trying to soothe the child, and everyone on the bus appeared to be enduring the situation, but we were all at the mercy of this inconsiderate family. Fortunately, I had earplugs, but even so, the baby's cries echoed in my head, making it impossible to focus on the audio guide. Given the circumstances, all I could do was endure.

The natural tourist spots like Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya were surrounded by refreshing air and were wonderful, but as soon as we got off the bus, several chubby middle-aged Chinese men started smoking while walking and littering. It ruined the sightseeing experience. There were some people, like those from Singapore and Indonesia whom I got to know, who adhered to time and manners, but even knowing the cultural differences, it was still bothersome.

I've heard that the number of travelers from relatively nearby countries like China and South Korea has significantly increased recently. While inbound tourism is good, I hope that the minimum rules are followed at travel destinations. In that regard, I would like travel companies to think a little more about how everyone can enjoy their trips together.

北海道もインバウンドのお客さんが多いと思っていましたが、イヤハヤ今回は最悪でした。
ツアー受付窓口に着くと、周囲は異様なニンニク臭と喧騒です。
やっとチェックインを済ませバスに乗り込むと、乳児を連れた中華系の母親が席をめぐってガイドさんと大声でひと悶着やっています。
どうやら「乳児は膝の上」と言うことを知らずに席一列を占領しているようで、その事を注意され逆ギレしているようです。
どうにかバスは動き始めますが、その乳児は私の席のすぐ後ろで、ツアー中終止むづがり大声でギャーギャー泣く始末。
母親はあやす風でもなく、バス内は皆我慢しているようでしたが、この非常識な親子連れに振り回わされっぱなしです。
幸い私は耳栓を持っていましたが、それでも乳児の声は頭に響き、イヤホンガイドどころではありません。相手が相手だけにじっとガマンの一字です。
支笏湖や洞爺湖の自然豊かな観光地は爽やかな空気に包まれ、すばらしいものでしたが、ここでもバスを降りるや中華系の小太りの中年男性数人が「歩き煙草」で煙を撒き散らしはじめポイ捨て状態。せっかくの観光が台無しです。
中には知り合いになったシンガポールやインドネシア人のように時間やマナーをしっかり守る人達もいましたが、文化の違い？と判っていても迷惑な話です。
最近では比較的近い中国や韓国の旅行者が相当増えていると聞きます。
インバウンドも良いですが、旅行先では最低限のルールは守ってもらいたいものです。
その点では旅行会社もお互いが楽しく旅行が出来るように、もう少し知恵を絞って頂きたいと思います。

It was an amazing kayaking experience guide by our guide, Risa. The weather was a little gloomy but it created a beautiful mountain view shrouded by the mist. We also kayak along the River Chitose that was quiet and calm, allowing us to be close to nature. The highlight was when we spotted 4 huge blue carps in the river swimming under our kayaks. Most importantly, the tour was perfect because of our guide, Risa. Risa was friendly, relaxed, and was adept at striking good, pleasant conversations. Overall, I highly recommend anyone who is dropping by this lake to take this tour.

I am satisfied that I can visit important locations such as Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, and Lake Akan. When taking a sightseeing boat at Lake Akan, although I may not make it in time for the bus, there is a system in place that allows me to catch the next scheduled boat, which shows consideration. It seems that there is also coordination for luggage, making it a plan that allows for plenty of enjoyment.

摩周湖・屈斜路湖・阿寒湖と重要拠点が回れることに満足感がある。阿寒湖で遊覧船に乗る場合、バスの時間に間に合わないが後続の定期便に乗れる運用がされており配慮されている。荷物の連携もされるようであり、存分に楽しめるプランである。

We were blessed with beautiful weather and were thrilled by the magnificent scenery. The cheese fondue and hamburger lunch were delicious and absolutely the best!

晴天にも恵まれて、壮大な景色に感激♡
チーズフォンデュとハンバーグのランチも美味しくて最高でした♡

I visited Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya, and it included a pretty delicious lunch, along with tickets for the Usuzan Ropeway. The time allocation was also perfect. As an option, I also enjoyed a boat ride on Lake Shikotsu and a soak in the hot springs at Lake Toya.

I highly recommend this.

I had a thoroughly fulfilling sightseeing experience.

支笏湖と洞爺湖を観光して、
結構おいしい昼食も付いていて、
有珠山ロープウェイのチケット付き。
時間配分も申し分ないです。
オプションで
支笏湖のボートと
洞爺湖温泉の入浴もしました。

いやいや、これはお勧めでしょう。

たっぷりと充実した観光が出来ました。

I wanted to see Lake Mashu at least once, so I took the trip. I had planned to go from Kushiro to Lake Mashu and then to Lake Akan by JR train or local bus, but it was difficult to transfer due to time constraints. When I departed, Kushiro was cloudy, and the bus was driving through fog. I thought I wouldn't be able to see Lake Mashu because of the fog, but luckily it cleared up quickly. It was mystical and wonderful. I also got to see Iouzan up close, and the smell of sulfur was strong. Although Lake Kussharo and Lake Akan were also cloudy, I was glad to see them up close. I would like to go again.

摩周湖を一度見たかったので乗車しました。釧路からJRや路線バスで摩周湖から阿寒湖に行こうと計画しましたが、乗り継ぎが時間的に難しいためです。出発時釧路は曇って、途中バスが霧の中を走行していて、摩周湖は行っも霧で見えないと思っていましたが、すぐに霧が晴れてラッキーでした。神秘的で素晴らしかったてす。また硫黄山も間近で見て硫黄のにおいがぷんぷんしてました。あと屈斜路湖、阿寒湖も曇っていましたが間近で見て良かったです。また行きたいと思いました。

Due to the rain, I couldn't tell where Lake Mashu was, and while I was taking pictures of the squirrels, I had given up. Suddenly, the mist cleared, and I could see the lake and the island. After taking some photos, it quickly became hidden by the mist again. The guide's explanations were also great.

雨で、摩周湖も、何処が湖か、判らず、栗鼠の写真を撮って、諦めていたら、スーっと、霧が晴れて、湖も島も見えて、写真を撮ったら、又、直ぐに、霧に隠れた。ガイドの説明も良かった。

Since I had a set time to return, I left the itinerary up to you except for Goryokaku. The weather was great, and coincidentally, I used the same taxi company as the night before when I enjoyed the night view. Although the driver was different, I had a very enjoyable time. I was taken to Hakodate Station right on time as requested. Thank you very much. I genuinely want to create another opportunity to have fun again.

帰りの時間が決まっていたので、五稜郭以外はお任せで回っていただきました。天気にも恵まれたのもそうですが、たまたま前日の夜景で乗せていただいた同じタクシー会社様で、ドライバーの方は違ったのですがとても楽しく過ごすことが出来ました。お願いした時間通りに函館駅に送っていただきました。ありがとうございました。楽しくてまたの機会を作りたいと本気で思っています。

You can enjoy the view of the Kushiro Wetlands from the window of the bus, and then visit the observation deck of Lake Mashu, Iouzan in Teshikaga, Lake Kussharo, and Lake Akan. The stay at each location, except for Lake Akan, is about 20 to 30 minutes, which allows for a decent amount of sightseeing. If you want to take your time at Lake Akan, you can choose to get off the Pirika bus and take the evening local bus back to Kushiro (you can use your Pirika bus ticket for this).

However, the local bus takes about two hours to Kushiro, and there are no restroom breaks, so it might be a bit tough. The bus guide shares information about the local history and industries, as well as local songs, making the journey enjoyable. When foxes or deer appear, the bus stops for a moment to let everyone take a look.

About half of the passengers were foreigners, but there were also a few solo travelers. For those staying at Lake Akan, the bus will drop you off right in front of your hotel, and I think the Pirika bus offers a very reasonable and great tour.

釧路湿原を車窓から眺め、摩周湖の展望台、弟子屈の硫黄山、屈斜路湖、阿寒湖と周ります。阿寒湖以外のそれぞれの滞在時間は20～30分ですが、けっこうしっかり観光できます。阿寒湖でゆっくり観光したい方は、ピリカ号を降りて夕方の路線バスで釧路まで帰る選択もできます（ピリカ号のチケットで乗れます）。
ただ路線バスは釧路まで2時間ほどかかり、当然トイレ休憩も無いのでしんどいかも。
バスガイドさんは地域の歴史や産業の紹介から、ご当地ソングまで披露してくれて、飽きずに過ごせます。キツネや鹿が現れると、ちょっとの間バスを止めてくれました。
お客さんの半分くらいは外国人でしたが、一人参加の人もちらほらいました。
阿寒湖で宿泊する人は、宿泊ホテルの前で降ろしてくれるし、ピリカ号はとってもリーズナブルでいいツアーだと思います。

I participated in a tour organized by a travel company, and we disbanded at Memanbetsu Airport. However, I couldn't find a flight at a convenient time, so I had about a six-hour wait, which is why I decided to use this service. When I vaguely mentioned to the driver that I wanted to go to Bihoro Pass, he took me to various nearby places and provided explanations. I was truly satisfied to see the magnificent scenery of Hokkaido. Since I was traveling alone, I was worried about the wait time at Memanbetsu Airport, but I'm glad I used this service.

旅行会社のツアーに参加し、女満別空港で解散になったのですが、丁度良い時間の飛行機が取れず、待ち時間が６時間位あったため利用させていただきました。運転手さんに漠然と美幌峠に行きたいと言ったら、近場でいろいろな所に行ってくださり、説明もしていただきました。北海道の雄大な景色が見れて本当に満足でした。
一人旅だったので、女満別空港での待ち時間が心配だったのですが利用して良かったです。

Our guide Mr. Jumbo was very friendly and knowledgeable. It was our first time to have kayak in Hokkaido. We learned a lot from Mr. Jumbo. He taught us how to appreciate the beauty of nature, and he even let us have a taste of the green onion leaves near the river side. It’s a wonderful experience that I’ll recommend for people going to 支芴湖！

Akan Lake was quite desolate, and I found myself with too much free time for two hours. Thirty minutes would have been enough... I was disappointed. It was a very cold day, and I found a somewhat nice bakery where I wanted to have something warm to drink, but I was told the coffee maker was broken and they could only serve iced drinks. The staff was also very unfriendly... I had no good impression at all.

The other lakes were also desolate, which was disappointing.

On the bus, the tour guide kept talking non-stop, and the volume was loud and just annoying.

Such a disappointment.

阿寒湖は寂れてしまっていて、2時間のフリー時間ももて余してしまった。
30分もあれば充分・・
がっかり・・
とても寒い日で、少し小綺麗なパン屋を見つけてイートインで何か温かい物を飲みたくて入ったのに、コーヒーメーカーが故障でアイスしか出せないと言われ、店員もとてもとても無愛想で・・
良い印象は全く無し

他の湖も寂れていてがっかりだけ

バスの中ではバスガイドがひたすらしゃべりまくり、音量も大きくうるさいだけ

がっかりのがっかり

I think we were able to efficiently enjoy lunch, including the cable car fare, at a reasonable price. The guide was an audio guide, which also had options in languages other than Japanese. It was disappointing that the lunch, which should have been warm, was served cold, possibly to save time. I believe it would have been better if the bus stop times at each sightseeing location were a bit longer. It was helpful that they asked for our preferences regarding the drop-off location for the return bus.

昼食、ロープウェイの料金も込みで、リーズナブルに効率よく回れたと思います。
ガイドは音声ガイドで、日本語以外にも対応ありでした。
お昼ご飯は時間短縮の為か本来なら温かい食べ物が配膳済みで冷たかったのが残念でした。
各観光地のバス停車時間がもう少し長いとより良かったと思います。
帰りのバス下車場所は希望を聞いていただけるので助かりました。

I participated in the morning session. There is a counter for the bus company inside the "Bus Information and Waiting Area" building in front of JR Hakodate Station, where you can receive your official ticket and information pamphlet. Both the waiting area and the boarding stop are easy to find, and the guide provides assistance.

The weather was nice that day. Since it was March in Hokkaido, which is still off-season, there weren't many tourists even though it was a Sunday, making it easy to explore various places.

We were able to visit Goryokaku Tower and the Trappistine Monastery, and we had enough time to look around. There were also many interesting souvenirs for sale, which made it enjoyable.

The guide's stories on the bus were fascinating. I learned interesting details about the characteristics, history, and development of Hakodate. This is truly something special about a bus guided tour. The view from the bus window becomes even more intriguing while listening to such stories.

　午前の部に参加しました。JR函館駅前の「バス案内・待合所」という建物内に催行バス会社のカウンターがあり、そこで正式なチケットと案内パンフをもらいます。待合所、乗り込む停留所ともにわかりやすいしガイドさんが案内してくれます。
　この日は天気が良くてよかった。３月の北海道はまだオフシーズンなのか日曜だったけど観光客も多くなく、あちこち空いていて観光しやすかったです。
　バスから降りて見学できたのは五稜郭タワーとトラピスチヌ修道院くらいでしたが、じっくり見学できたし面白いおみやげ物もたくさん売っていて楽しかったです。
　車内でのガイドさんの話も興味深かった。函館の街の特徴や歴史、成り立ちなど興味深い話を聞けました。やはりこれはバスガイドツアーならでは。車窓からの眺めもそうしたお話を聞きながらだとよりいっそう興味がかきたてられますね。

This time, I used a bus tour to welcome a friend from outside the prefecture. My friend, who wanted to visit Lake Toya, enjoyed the scenery of Hokkaido along with the lingering cold of winter.

今回、道外から友人をお迎えするにあたりバスツアーを利用しました。
｢洞爺湖｣を希望してた友人は、終わりかけの冬の寒さと一緒に北海道の景色を楽しんでくれました。

Tsurumidai, the beautifully frozen and snow-covered Lake Mashu on a sunny day, the swans at Lake Kussharo, and the impressive Mount Iou were all highlights. I was very satisfied. The pork bowl for lunch was also delicious. I got off at Lake Akan, and both the guide and the driver were kind and made it a fun experience.

鶴見台、晴れた中氷結して雪化粧した摩周湖、屈斜路湖の白鳥、迫力ある硫黄山と見所満載でした。大満足。お昼の豚丼も美味しかった。阿寒湖下車しましたが、ガイドさんも運転手さんも親切で楽しかったです

It might be due to the influence of the Spring Festival, but the tourist spots were filled with foreigners. There was only one Japanese person on the bus. That said, there were no particular issues. Although it was cloudy, the view was still good! The scenery is definitely different between visiting in summer and when there is snow. Personally, I prefer the snowy landscape. As for the food, don't get your hopes up. It was just average. The chicken in the hot pot looked thick and delicious, but I didn't eat it because it wasn't cooked all the way through, and I was worried about food poisoning. What a shame.

春節の影響か、観光地は外国人だらけ。
バスも１人だけ日本人でした。だからと言って、特に問題はなかったです。
雲っていたけれど、遠くまでみえて良かった！
夏に行くのと、雪のある時に行くのとでは景色がやっぱり違う。個人的には雪景色が好き。
ごはんは、期待してはダメ。普通くらい。
鍋の鶏肉は分厚く美味しそうだったが、中まで火が入っていなかったため、食中毒が怖く食べなかった。残念。

I only participated in the morning, but I was glad to be able to compactly explore the highlights of Hakodate. The guide was very nice, explained things well, and showed great consideration by greeting each group after the pickup and before the disbanding. I was able to enjoy the tour comfortably from start to finish. I highly recommend this tour!

午前中だけの参加でしたが、函館の見所をコンパクトに巡れてよかったです。ガイドさんがとてもいい方で、説明は上手だし、ピックアップ後と解散前にはグループ毎に挨拶されたりと、気配りも最高の方で、終始気持ちよくツアーに参加できました。オススメのツアーです！

Mr. Ishida was prompt picking us up at curbside at 0900. {He was actually early} The drive was out to a rural part of Kushiro to various crane sanctuaries. The view at each of these places was outstanding. Mr. Ishida explained about the cranes & their revival from the brink of extinction. He had setup an itinerary but was not bound to it. We bypassed one sight, since we had seen it on a previous visit to Kushiro. With this change brought some spare time, so he took us around the seaport & made several stops at scenic points for photographs.

It was a memorable experience. Definitely a highlight in our trip to Hokkaido.

I appreciate that you made it clear that the driver would not be able to speak English and he did try to use an app - but it was so dangerous as he tried to drive and look at his phone that we agreed that he would not do that.

So really what I got was a taxi ride not a private tour.

If the driver had any expertise about Kushiro's nature, he was not able to share it with me.

The first place we visited was basically a bridge with a view over a river, with a few cranes on the horizon.

I understand that this bridge is a famous viewing point. You could say that there are no guarantees where nature is concerned but judging by the fact that there were only two other people there, then I believe that this fact was knowable in advance and we should have gone somewhere else.

The second was a feeding station which did at least afford a view of a number of cranes. Here there were many other people viewing them too, even coaches (proving that - see above - it is possible to know where to go - and where not to)

However, I discovered after my visit, that there are set times for feeding the cranes, so surely I should have been advised about this and my arrival timed to coincide with the feeding.

There would have been much more activity, as birds arrived for the food ...

The third stop was at an observatory which was not very inspiring. And again there was hardly anyone there.

Apparently the roof viewpoint it a highlight but I guess that is in the summer months. In winter it was simply a barren landscape.

I travelled to Kushiro especially to see the cranes. All in all, a disappointing experience.

p.s. The taxi driver himself was courteous and I felt he was a very nice man, so this is NOT a complaint about him. The tour organisers should have put more thought into it - to justify calling it a tour.

I love Gintama, and it was my dream to visit Lake Toya. On this tour, I got to see the beautiful Lake Toya and even bought a wooden sword, so I'm very satisfied!

銀魂が好きで、洞爺湖に行くのが夢でした。今回このツアーで、綺麗な洞爺湖を見て、木刀も買えて、大満足です！

接待我们的司机是一位年纪很大的大叔，在日本开车的行业当中都是年龄较大的人。驾驶技术非常平稳。很有礼貌。语言上沟通不便，会使用翻译软件。

What a great tour! My tour guide was waiting for me with a sign when I got off the plane (which was delayed about 20 minutes). We went to the crane center where I could photograph the endangered Tancho, red-cranes cranes, and visit the center. My guide Inoue-San, was so professional, patient and an excellent driver on the snowy mountain roads. We visited Lake Akan, the beautiful caldera Lake Mashu and also Lake Kussharo, with wintering wild Whooper Swans along the shore. We also stopped to see steaming sulfur springs coming out of the bottom of a mountain, another wild crane viewing spot and the overlook of Kushiro Marsh. I was so happy I booked this tour, seeing the Tancho fulfilled a Bucket List item for me and the beautiful lakes and wild swans were icing on the cake. Thank you for such wonderful memories!

In winter, the buses are infrequent and you won't want to wait for a bus in the cold! This taxi is the way to go!!! We were able to customize our tour to what we wanted to see. We do not speak Japanese, so veltra was the stress-free way to book a sightseeing taxi. They are very prompt in replying to email. The taxi driver was professional and waiting for us prior to schedule and had all the information on what we wanted to see.

It was a tour that allowed us to enjoy both Lake Shikotsu and Lake Toya. It was great to have a panoramic view of Lake Toya from the Sairo Observatory. The 15-minute stay felt a bit short; I wish we had about 30 minutes!

支笏湖と洞爺湖観光を両方楽しめるツアーでした。サイロ展望台で洞爺湖を一望できてよかったです。１５分の滞在時間はちょっと短い感じがする。３０分ぐらい欲しいな！

Great tour to Kushiro area red crane observation points. We are not avid birders...just wanted to see the cranes close up. We were not disappointed. Visited 3 major sites where cranes congregated in January. Took in other sites on history, geology, ecology etc of the area. The weather cooperated for us, beautiful sunny day even if a bit cold, but it was mid January. Partner spoke some Japanese so it was helpful but our driver had a translator device which was also helpful. Great tour, lots of cranes...hundreds of them at each site...yes, really! Well worth the time and cost, and private taxi so much better than a big bus...a big bus wouldn't be able to get to some of the areas. Taxi is best way to go.

I was able to efficiently tour the lake and was very satisfied. I feel that it wouldn't be possible to do this in a rental car in terms of time. There were many cranes, and the view of Lake Mashu was excellent. Finally, I was able to get off at the airport, and I truly appreciate all the help.

効率的に湖をみてまわることができ、たいへん満足できました。レンタカーでは時間的にもこうはいかない気がします。タンチョウもたくさん、摩周湖も視界良好、最後は空港で下車できて、本当にお世話になりました。

Upon departing from Sapporo Station Bus Center, we immediately encountered a major traffic jam, arriving at our first sightseeing spot, Lake Shikotsu, an hour later than scheduled. The bus was nearly full, with the second bus joining us later. The composition of passengers in the first bus seemed to be about 60 to 70 percent tourists from Asia. The bus guide's main job was coordinating the timing in Japanese and English, and the explanations were provided in four languages through headphones. The timely explanations made the experience enjoyable. The lunch at Lake Toya was surprisingly delicious, and we also enjoyed the extremely cold summit tour via the Usuzan Ropeway. Given that winter roads in Hokkaido are icy, it would have been impossible to follow this schedule with an unfamiliar rental car, so participating in the tour was a good decision. We arrived in Susukino a little after 7 PM, which was an hour later than planned, but it was within the expected range.

札幌駅バスセンターを出発するといきなりの大渋滞、予定時刻より1時間遅れで最初の観光地支笏湖へ到着。
乗客はほぼ満席で2号車も後から合流。
１号車の乗客の構成は、アジアからの観光客が全体の６から７割程の印象。
バスガイドは、日本語と英語で時間のコーディネートが主な仕事で、解説はイヤホンで4ヶ国語で対応していた。
タイムリーな解説で充分楽しめた。
洞爺湖の昼食も思った以上に美味しかったし、有珠山のロープウェイで極寒の頂上観光も楽しめた。
冬の北海道の道路は路面凍結で慣れないレンタカーではこのスケジュールは無理なのでツアーに参加して良かった。
ススキノ到着は予定の１時間遅れの１９時過ぎだったが、想定範囲内。