Bihoro is a town located about a 15-minute drive from Memanbetsu Airport, the gateway to Eastern Hokkaido. 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 that let you fully enjoy nature. Their popular activities bring you up close with the nature of Eastern Hokkaido, including sea of clouds trekking, SUP and canoeing on Lake Kussharo, and birdwatching for a chance to see the long-tailed tit, also known as the "snow fairy." Join us as we explore the unique natural experiences offered by a guide who has traveled the world.

A photo taken with the sea of clouds seen from Mount Mokoto in the background

Pikan Planning offers activity tours based in Bihoro Town. The company was founded in 2023 with the desire to "create tours that value the feeling of connecting with nature." The founder, Akimasa Takigawa, is an experienced mountaineer who began a round-the-world journey at the age of 23, hiking through mountains across the globe, including Sagarmatha National Park, the Caucasus Mountains, the Tatra Mountains, the Santa Cruz Valley, and the Patagonia region.

Mr. Takigawa during his trip around the world

Inspired by the kindness he received from people on his travels, he decided, "Now it's my turn to welcome travelers." He returned to his hometown of Sapporo and began working for a company that managed guesthouses and guide services. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought tourism-related businesses to a halt in 2020. It was then that Mr. Takigawa came across a job posting for Bihoro Town's Community-Revitalization Cooperator program, which read: "Seeking individuals to become guides who can leverage the local region of Bihoro."

Mr. Takigawa, who had been thinking, "I want to put down roots in a community and share the charm of its local nature," immediately applied and was successfully hired. He moved to Bihoro in April 2020 and has since been living there, personally discovering and "unearthing" the wonders of the town's nature.

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

A SUP tour on the Wakoto Peninsula of Lake Kussharo

Pikan Planning offers activities based in Bihoro. Their main fields of operation are Lake Kussharo, a caldera lake formed when a crater from a volcanic eruption filled with water, and Mount 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.

But you might be wondering, "How are these different from outdoor programs in other areas?" Let's dive into what makes the programs offered by Pikan Planning so special!

The sea of clouds viewed from the summit of Mount Mokoto

First up is the Mount Mokoto Trekking Tour. The highlight of this eco-tour is undoubtedly the sea of clouds visible from the summit. A view like this is sure to make you forget all your fatigue!

Wake up early for the "Mount Mokoto Sea of Clouds & Sunrise Tour" and you might witness a magical scene like this!

About a 15-minute walk down from the summit, at the 8th station, there's a mountain hut where you can even stay overnight. It's also recommended to refresh yourself with a drink of spring water called "Ginreisui." When there are few people around, they sometimes bring bamboo poles and use the spring water to enjoy *nagashi somen* (flowing noodles). This kind of fun is perhaps unique to a "70% nature" environment, 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.

The "Mount Mokoto Snow Trekking Tour" held in winter offers a completely different landscape. In summer, you follow maintained hiking trails, but in winter, the paths and low shrubs are covered in snow, giving you the freedom to walk wherever you please.

Whether in summer or winter, you can fully savor the charm of Mount Mokoto as it changes with the seasons.

Spring water from the surrounding mountains flows directly into Lake Kussharo

Another major playground for Bihoro-based Pikan Planning is Lake Kussharo. As Japan's largest and the world's second-largest caldera lake, it's the setting for eco-tours where you can enjoy canoeing and SUP.

A magical view from a canoe

You might even see deer from the lake

Simply paddling a canoe or SUP on the beautiful lake allows you to feel at one with nature, but on calm days, you can also visit "Oyakotsu Jigoku," a hot spring at the tip of the Wakoto Peninsula. This spot is inaccessible by land, making it a true "secret hot spring." Besides soaking in the onsen, participants sometimes boil eggs to eat.

Onsen tamago made with the power of nature are exceptionally delicious

Making boiled eggs in a natural hot spring is a rare experience, even at most tourist destinations. This is another one of the precious experiences unique to Pikan Planning's activities.

Pikan Planning also offers birdwatching tours in both Bihoro Town and on the Wakoto Peninsula. On either tour, you have a chance to see the *shimaenaga* (long-tailed tit), also known as the "snow fairy." Although this bird inhabits all of Hokkaido, it can be difficult to spot without a trained eye, making the "Find the Shimaenaga! Bihoro Birdwatching Tour" particularly popular.

White-tailed eagle

Common kingfisher

You can also frequently encounter other birds such as the black woodpecker (*kumagera*) and the great spotted woodpecker (*akagera*), as well as the Japanese green pigeon (*aobato*), known for its vibrant colors. Peer deep into the forest and try to find these beautiful wild birds.

Japanese green pigeon

They also offer a "Mountain Bike Tour to the Headwaters of Bihoro."

Mr. Takigawa, who has traveled the world 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 treasures."

Bihoro is conveniently located for visiting any of the surrounding areas: about 30 minutes by car to Abashiri, where drift ice arrives in winter; about 40 minutes to Akan-Mashu National Park; and about 90 minutes to Shiretoko. You could wake up early to see the sea of clouds on Mount Mokoto before heading to another area, or you could try several of Pikan Planning's activities.

While it might be difficult to experience everything on a limited schedule, be sure to choose the activities that interest you most and share a wonderful time with your family and friends!

Pikan Planning

■Fees: Half-day tours from 8,000 yen / Full-day tours from 12,000 yen
*Prices vary depending on the tour.
Click here for more details on Pikan Planning

＜DOTO Youth Discount × Pikan Planning＞

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

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