Hokkaido Nature Tours
Hokkaido Nature Tours
5
Multi-day ToursPrivate ToursNature & Wildlife ToursDay Trips
About
Welcome to Hokkaido Nature Tours! We bring our love of Hokkaido, travelling and nature to create & guide unforgettable Custom-Made Tours based on your preferences. Start creating your itinerary by visiting our website - hokkaidonaturetours.com - to fill out one of our easy-to-use Preferences Forms. Come experience why we regularly receive 5-star feedback from our guests, many of whom return again and again. Our wide range of tours and activities - from day trips to multi-week odysseys - include sightseeing, hiking, wildlife spotting, culture, food & craft DIY workshops, cherished accommodations, onsens, gourmet and much more. We look forward to hearing from you soon! Enjoy Nature, Be Happy! The HNT Team
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

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(17 reviews)
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
172 reviews
Excellent
159
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Ashley D
Adelaide, Australia9 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We recently did a six night Winter Wonderland tour with Hokkaido Nature Tours.
It truly was a week in a lifetime!
Yukiko was very helpful in the booking process, and kept us up to date as the tour approached. Payment went through smoothly (a relief given fairly large sums of money involved).
Our guide Tak was fantastic, his driving was safe even in the most difficult of conditions. And he was able to adapt the tour to suit us and as the weather dictated.
We experienced nature as we’ve never seen it before, ate fresh delicious food (some of the best seafood imaginable) and did activities we never thought we would (the dogsledding!).
The Abishiri Drift Ice festival was a highlight, we loved the cranes and spotting foxes, dears and eagles as we drove.
Accomodation at the Yoroushi Onsen (we got to see the owl!) and the Abishiri Lake Hotel was great. A few of the other hotels weren’t so great, but I think there are limited hotels choices in some areas.
We feel that what was promised on the itinerary by Hokkaido Nature Tours was well and truly delivered.
I would highly recommend Hokkaido Nature Tours to anyone who wants to explore everything that this beautiful part of the world has to offer.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Ashley, Thank you so much for the wonderful review; we appreciate it! Great to hear that your tour was such a success, and it was an unforgettable week across Hokkaido spotting wildlife, experiencing a variety of winter activities & festivals, food, onsens & more. Those are the reasons we love Hokkaido so much, and it was a pleasure to be able to share our local expertise and love of travel with you. Please let us know if you're considering returning to Hokkaido in the future; we'd love to create & guide another itinerary for you. Until then, please stay safe & healthy during these turbulent times. Best regards, Ido, Yukiko, Tak & the HNT Team
Written March 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

paddycakes_syd
Singapore78 contributions
Jan 2020
Our group of six (3 kids) had a fantastic two day trip with Yas from Hokkaido nature tours.

From the beginning, Yukiko was happy to craft a bespoke itinerary for us. This ensured we were doing activities that suited our group. Payment through Paypal was easy and fuss free. Yukiko was always responsive to my emails.

Prior to the trip, I received an email from our tour guide, Yas, introducing himself and asking if we had any questions about what to wear/take or changes we wanted to make along with his contact details. This kind of professionalism is sadly unusual in the tourism industry I've found, and it was an unexpected pleasure.

Our tour itself was great. Yas was an *excellent* and careful driver - which was really important coming back at night in heavy snow. He was happy to answer any questions we had for him, though if I had one suggestion it would have been for a little more information about the Hokkaido environment and history. He may not have wanted to bore the kids with this info.

He was very happy guiding us around, led by our group's pace. And he took a number of nice photos of the family, which he shared later via drop box. This was most appreciated!

I enjoyed all our activities. Highlights were glass blowing in Otaru to make truly one of a kind souvenirs, and catching the cable car at Lake Toya.

When I return to Hokkaido, I'm very sure I will be booking another tour with HNT. They are not the cheapest option available, however I thought the quality was well worth the cost.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear paddycakes_syd, Thank you for the wonderful review of your 2 private day trips with us at Hokkaido Nature Tours. We very much appreciate your support! As you experienced, we are more than happy to customize even day trips for our guests if they so desire, and we're happy that your family took advantage of this option and were able to explore Central Hokkaido with us keeping your self-booked overnight at Rusutsu Resort intact. We pride ourselves on the flexibility and expert tour planning of our experienced team. Yas is a wonderful guide who is capable of making great connections with people from around, while ensuring professionalism, attention to detail, safety on the roads and reliability. We're lucky to have him as a key member of our team! Yukiko is also a blessing to work with. Her patience, hard-work, efficiency and professionalism set the standard for how communications should be in the private tourism industry. Thank you again for your kind words - you inspire us to continue working hard to provide the best private tours services in Hokkaido and Japan. We look forward to hearing from you again when you're planning your next trip to Hokkaido. All the best in 2020 and beyond! Ido, Yas, Yukiko & the HNT Team Ido, Yas
Written January 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

802steam
Ile-de-France, France124 contributions
Dec 2019
We booked a 8 days tour in Dec with 3 big children from Otaru,Lake Shikotsu,Kushiro, Lake akan, Asahikawa, Biei, Furano Sapporo. We had snow, cold and sunny weather. We had Onsen almost every day and saw many animals : deers, fox, eagle, cranes ... we saw beautiful volcanic land, we particularly love our walk on lake Mashu and the active area of Mt Iou. At this time there wasn't a lot of tourists you feel bless to see these landscapes in this condition. We changed hotels every days but because our driver/guide Yuichi was so helpfull, nice, friendly but discreet it was not difficult at all. The selection of hotels was good, we could squeeze one day of ski to experience the nicest snow in the world in Furano. We would recommend with no hesitation HNT. I would only improve the paiement possibility to make it possible to make the direct paiement with visa cards (so with insurance) :)
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear 802steam, Thank you for the great review; we really appreciate it! We're very happy that you enjoyed the tour with Yuichi as your guide. It was a classic Hokkaido road-trip type tour, which is perfect in December for the many opportunities to see wildlife especially in Easter Hokkaido. Great to hear that you enjoyed our selection of quality hotels & ryokans, onsens, meals & all! Regarding the credit card payment method, you can use your Visa card via PayPal (even if you don't have a PayPal account) in order to activate your travel insurance. We're sorry if that part of the payment process was not explained clearly enough. We're leaning towards adding a direct credit card payment method in addition to the current bank transfer, PayPal & cash settlement options, and we hope to be able to enact that in the coming months. We are sorry if there was any inconvenience caused. Please let us know next time you're planning on returning to Hokkaido; we would love to organize and guide another tour for your family in the future. Thank you again for your support! All the best in 2020 and beyond! Ido, Yuichi & the HNT Team
Written January 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

hedwigmd2000
Paranaque, Philippines60 contributions
Dec 2019
First of all, it was very easy to communicate with Hokkaido Nature Tours. Yukiko answered emails promptly and clearly. Though our first choice of dogsledding was not available, our next choice of a day trip in Sapporo and Otaru did not disappoint!

It was a snowy and windy day yet we had so much fun on our day trip! Our guide and driver Amanda was delightful! First of all, she did very well with our 4 kids ages 9-14 :) The visit to the Hokkaido Shrine was a treat and an enjoyable cultural experience especially for our kids who got their luck predictions for the coming year. The visit to Ishiya Chocolate Factory was fun although it would be nice to see it too in the evening for the illumination. Otaru is a gem even in the winter! We enjoyed the local market with the fresh and delicious seafood. And the Tanaka Brewery was a find! Ended up bringing home 3 bottles of sake!

All in all, it was a day well spent! Thank you Yukiko and Amanda! Thank you Hokkaido Nature Tours!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear hedwigmd2000, Thank you very much for the wonderful review; we very much appreciate it! Great to hear that you enjoyed your day trip with Amanda as your guide. With her 20+ years of Hokkaido experience, she is an absolute expert on so many parts of life in Japan, history, culture and more. She also has a passion for sharing her knowledge and experience with guests from around the world, and we're lucky to have her as a part of our team : ) That's unfortunate that dogsledding was booked out for your dates. December is a peak tourism month in Hokkaido, so unless we reserve a month or more in advance, the activity operators are usually sold-out. We hope next time you can contact us a bit earlier in your trip planning and we should be able to reserve the dogsledding activity without issue. Thank you again for choosing us for your day trip in Hokkaido! Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2020 and beyond! Best regards, Ido, Amanda, Yukiko & the HNT Team
Written January 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

JJH_Low
Singapore31 contributions
Nov 2019
We did an amazing 6-day road trip last November with HNT covering Noboribetsu, Toya, Hakodate, Otaru, Asahikawa, Biei, Furano and Sapporo. It was truly one of our best holidays!
Many thanks to Yukiko Ichikawa who helped us customize our dream vacation! She was so helpful in answering all our questions and accommodating all our requests. Kudos to our guide Takuto Shimode (Tak-san) for his excellent driving skills through the snow and showing us all the sights. The tour was only 6 days but we never felt rushed.
Thank you once again for a wonderful road trip and an unforgettable vacation. Highly recommended!
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear JJH_Low, Thank you very much for the great review! We really appreciate it : ) Great to hear that you had a wonderful tour with Tak as your guide. Although November is low-tourism month, it can be a superb time to visit with better value hotels and no crowds whatsoever. This year we also had some good snow in the second half of November, so it was really a win-win! Thank you again for your support, and for choosing us at HNT for your holiday in Hokkaido. We hope to have another opportunity to create & guide an unforgettable tour for you in the future. Please keep in touch! All the best in 2020 and beyond! Best regards, Ido, Tak & the HNT Team
Written January 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

mr-cool1
sydney10 contributions
Dec 2019
We are a family of 5 visiting Hokkaido in winter for the first time. We booked a 4-day tour with HNT and, wow, we had a fantastic time! Everything was beyond expectation. From the booking process with Yukiko-san to the actual tour, it was the best we had ever experienced. Snowboarding and snowmobiling in Furano, to dogsledding in Takasu, to snowshoeing in Sounkyo, and everything in between, was done with pure passion and professionalism. Special thanks to Yuichi-san, our guide and our friend, you made our dream vacation possible. We hope to see you again. HNT, highly recommended!
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Mr-cool1, Thank you SO much for the amazing review! We very much appreciate it!! Your kind words and support inspire us to continue to provide the best service possible. It is very gratifying that you not only praise our work so highly, but also publicly on this forum. Yuichi is truly one of the best guides in Japan, of that we are certain. His care, professionalism, expertise and flexibility are the cornerstones of our approach to private tours, and when our guests experience it first-hand and appreciate the quality we provide, it makes all of our hard work worth it. Yukiko is also an absolute star! Her clear, timely and patient communications with our guests allow our tour planners, reservation staff and guides to all focus on what we do best knowing that Yukiko is on top of the latest communications. We not only survive as a team, we thrive! Thank you again for choosing us for your tour in Hokkaido, and we look forward to offering you another unforgettable tour in the future. Please keep in touch. All the best to you and your family in 2020 & beyond! Best regards, Ido, Yuichi, Yukiko & the HNT Team
Written January 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Eli C
Brighton, UK38 contributions
Feb 2020
We had a 3.5 day trip though east and central Hokkaido with Yas. He was kind, considerate and enthusiastic throughout. We appreciated his careful driving on icy roads - and getting us to interesting places. We especially loved the wild onsen, foot onsen and snow shoeing to see the frozen waterfalls. Seeing cranes in the wild, as well as at feeding stations, was a joy!
The company is an excellent choice - with great attention to detail, from the first contact through to delivery of photos after the tour.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Eli C, Thank you very much for the wonderful review. We appreciate it! Great to hear that you enjoyed the private tour with Yas guiding. Eastern Hokkaido is magical in winter, and your favorites are shared by us as well: snowshoeing, wild onsens, crane & wildlife spotting, not to mention scenery, food & accommodations. Thank you again for choosing us for your tour in Hokkaido. We put great effort to ensure that each of our tours is a success, through out detail-oriented tour planning & pre-tour preparations, to our excellent hand-picked team of guides, to post-tour communication : It's the way we believe private tours should be! Hope to see you again on a future trip to Hokkaido. Please keep in touch! Best regards, Ido, Yas & the HNT Team
Written February 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jenica H
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
We took the central Hokkaido day tour to Furano and Biei. Our tour guide Max was knowledgeable and allowed our group to explore each stop at our own pace. Because we had a small group we made our way through the stops at a relatively quicker pace and Max added extra stops along the way which we really appreciated. He even dropped us off at a dinner spot in Sapporo which he had recommended to us. Hokkaido is beautiful and we felt as though we wouldn’t have been able to see these sights without this tour. Would highly recommend Hokkaido nature tours to anyone visiting the region!
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Jenica San, Thank you so much for the great review! We really appreciate it : ) Wonderful to hear that you had a memorable day with Max guiding your tour. The sites and nature of the Furano & Biei area are always impressive! We hope to see you again one day for another tour. Please keep in touch on a future trip to Hokkaido! Best regards, Ido, Max & the HNT Team
Written October 17, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Maria K
2 contributions
Feb 2020
We are the group from Italy that recently came to Hokkaido.
We were very happy with our experience in Japan, Hokkaido is an amazing island. The Nature and Snow Festivals were really beautiful. We would like to thank you Hokkaido Nature Tours, our guide Ichi san and our driver Sato san because of their professionality and their effort to make our trip perfect.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Maria, Thank you for the great review; we appreciate it! We're very happy that the group enjoyed the Eastern Hokkaido wildlife and nature tour with us last month! The weather was great, lots of wildlife to be spotted this year, and of course the food & hospitality all top-notch. We loved seeing the positive energy from the group members who seems to enjoy every day of the tour. We also are keeping your group in our thoughts & prayers as some of them must be caught up in the lock-down currently underway to control the spread of Coronavirus. Hopefully this difficult period will end soon and life will return to normal. Thank you again for choosing us for your tour in Hokkaido, and we look forward to another great tour with your group next year! Please remain safe & healthy until we meet again. Best regards, Ido, Yuichi & the HNT Team
Written March 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Heyaoming
5 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
We did a 7 Day Tour to East Hokkaido. Everything was very expertly handled. The itinerary was interesting without being too packed. The accommodation was well chosen, and the food excellent. Our guide and driver Tak was knowledgeable and paced the tour well. He is a very calm and careful driver. He handled the changes to our schedule caused by road closures (avalanche, floods) and coronavirus restrictions very professionally.
Written March 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Heyaoming, Thank you for the wonderful review; we appreciate it! We were relieved that your tour was not negatively affected by Coronavirus and you were able to fully enjoy the week with Tak as your guide. His expert knowledge of Eastern Hokkaido was very beneficial as regards to the avalanche-related road closures as well. Thank you again for entrusting us with your tour during these turbulent times. We are all striving to put our best foot forward even now, and will continue to do our best in the future. Please take care, stay strong & healthy, and hope to see you again in the future! Best regards, Ido, Tak & the HNT Team
Written March 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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