Located about a 15-minute drive from Memanbetsu Airport, the gateway to Eastern Hokkaido, lies the town of Bihoro. Surrounded by cities like Abashiri and Kitami, and Shari Town, home to the World Heritage site of Shiretoko, Bihoro is where you'll find "Pikan Planning," a company offering eco-tours and outdoor programs to fully enjoy nature. Their popular activities, such as trekking to see a sea of clouds, SUP and canoeing on Lake Kussharo, and birdwatching for the "snow fairy," the Shima Enaga, allow you to feel the nature of Eastern Hokkaido up close. Here, we introduce the charms of Bihoro's unique nature experiences, guided by a seasoned round-the-world traveler.

A photo taken with the sea of clouds from Mt. Mokoto in the background

Pikan Planning develops activity tours based in Bihoro. It was established in 2023 with the desire to "create tours that value the 'feeling of connecting with nature'." The representative, Akimasa Takikawa, is an experienced traveler who began a round-the-world journey at the age of 23, trekking through mountains across the globe, including Sagarmatha National Park, the Caucasus Mountains, the Tatra Mountains, the Santa Cruz Valley, and Patagonia.

Mr. Takikawa during his round-the-world trip

Thanks to the kindness he received from people during his travels, he felt he "wanted to be the one to welcome travelers next." After returning to his hometown of Sapporo, he began working for a company that managed guesthouses and guide services. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020, tourism-related businesses came to a halt. It was then that Mr. Takikawa came across a job posting for Bihoro's Community-Reactivating Cooperator Squad, which read: "Recruiting people to become guides who can utilize the Bihoro region."

Mr. Takikawa, who had been thinking, "I want to put down roots in a community and share the charm of its local nature," immediately applied for the position and was successfully hired. He moved to Bihoro in April 2020 and has been living there, "discovering" the town's natural beauty with his own eyes.

So, what exactly is the charm of Bihoro's nature?
Mr. Takikawa explained it using the phrase "70% nature."

Scene from the Lake Kussharo Wakoto Peninsula SUP Tour

Pikan Planning offers activities based in Bihoro. Their main fields are Lake Kussharo, a crater lake formed when a volcanic caldera filled with water, and Mt. Mokoto, the highest peak among the mountains surrounding the lake. They offer a variety of eco-tours and outdoor programs, including trekking, canoeing, SUP, and birdwatching.

For those wondering, "How is this different from outdoor programs in other areas?" let us tell you about the unique appeal of the programs offered by Pikan Planning!

The sea of clouds viewed from the summit of Mt. Mokoto

First, we'd like to introduce the Mt. Mokoto Trekking Tour. The highlight of this eco-tour is undoubtedly the sea of clouds visible from the summit. A view like this would make you forget all your fatigue!

Wake up early for the "Mt. Mokoto Sea of Clouds & Sunrise Tour" and you might see a magical view like this!

At the 8th station, about a 15-minute descent from the summit, there is a mountain hut where you can also stay overnight. It's recommended to refresh yourself by drinking the spring water called "Ginreisui." When there are few people, they sometimes bring bamboo poles and have nagashi-somen (flowing noodles) using the spring water. This kind of fun is perhaps unique to the "70% nature" where people can actively engage with their surroundings.

When the trails and trees are buried in snow, it becomes a completely different world from summer

Furthermore, the "Mt. Mokoto Snow Trekking Tour" held in winter offers a completely different landscape from the summer. In summer, you walk on maintained trails, but in winter, the paths and low shrubs are buried in snow, giving you the advantage of being able to walk freely wherever you want.

You can fully enjoy the charm of Mt. Mokoto as its expression changes with the seasons, whether in summer or winter.

Lake Kussharo, where spring water from the surrounding mountains flows directly in

Another major field for Pikan Planning's Bihoro-based activities is Lake Kussharo. They offer eco-tours where you can enjoy canoeing and SUP on Lake Kussharo, which is the largest caldera lake in Japan and said to be the second largest in the world.

A magical view from the canoe

You might even see deer from the lake

Just riding a canoe or SUP on the beautiful lake allows you to immerse yourself in a sense of unity with nature, but on calm days, you can also go to the hot spring "Oyakotsu Jigoku" at the tip of the Wakoto Peninsula. This place is apparently inaccessible by land, making it a true "hidden hot spring." Besides soaking in the onsen, they sometimes make and eat boiled eggs there.

Onsen eggs made with the power of nature are exceptionally delicious

Making boiled eggs in a natural hot spring is not something you can easily do even at famous tourist spots. This seems to be another one of the precious experiences unique to Pikan Planning's activities.

Pikan Planning also holds birdwatching tours in both Bihoro town and on the Wakoto Peninsula. On both tours, there's a chance to meet the Shima Enaga, also known as the "snow fairy." This bird inhabits all of Hokkaido, but it can be difficult to spot if you're not used to it, making the "Find the Shima Enaga! Bihoro Birdwatching Tour" particularly popular.

White-tailed eagle

Kingfisher

In addition, you are likely to encounter birds like the Black Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, as well as the vividly colored Japanese Green Pigeon. Peer intently into the forest and try to find these beautiful wild birds.

Japanese green pigeon

They also offer a "Bihoro Headwaters Mountain Biking Tour."

Mr. Takikawa, who has experienced a round-the-world trip himself, says, "Eco-tours and outdoor programs might seem expensive at around 10,000 yen for a 2-3 hour trip, but I believe that 'experiences' like travel and activities become irreplaceable."

Bihoro is conveniently located, about a 30-minute drive to Abashiri where drift ice arrives in winter, a 40-minute drive to Akan-Mashu National Park, and a 90-minute drive to Shiretoko. You could wake up early to see the sea of clouds at Mt. Mokoto before heading to another area, or you could try several of Pikan Planning's activities.

It might be difficult to experience everything if your schedule is limited, but be sure to choose the activities that interest you and share a wonderful time with your family and friends!

Pikan Planning

■Price: Half-day tour from 8,000 yen / Full-day tour from 12,000 yen
*Varies depending on the tour content
Click here for details on "Pikan Planning"

＜DOTO Young Discount × Pikan Planning＞

■Pikan Planning's Special Offer: 25% off tour participation fee (applies to groups of 3-5 people per tour.)

For more details on the "DOTO Young Discount," please see this feature page.