Hokkaido & TOHOKU

OVERVIEW

The island of Hokkaido and region of Tohoku both offer a side of Japan not experienced by most travellers, as poet Bashō noted centuries ago in The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Hokkaido’s scenery forms a stunning backdrop for the indigenous Ainu culture, and the island offers art from the traditional to the contemporary, as well as exceptional seafood and locally-grown produce. Tohoku, in northern Honshu, is similarly diverse, and our tour is timed to take in the annual vibrant Nebuta Festival, when enormous lantern floats parade through Aomori’s streets.

This itinerary commences in Sapporo, best known as a winter holiday base but with a mild summer perfect for exploring its modern history and spectacular scenery. Travelling into Hokkaido’s interior, fields of bright flowers form a backdrop to our visits, as we encounter the Ainu village at Noboribetsu and Hakodate’s historic sites.

Crossing the Tsugaru Strait by ferry, we explore Japan’s ancient past at a well-preserved Jomon archaeological site and celebrate in festive Aomori.

The experience is rounded out by Japan’s refined and regional cuisine, and by the expertise of tour leader Dr Kathleen Olive, who is well-known for her courses on Japanese art and history