All Reviews for Top Hokkaido Attractions

The weather was wonderful, and I had a fantastic experience. From the moment I made the reservation, my questions were answered quickly and kindly via email, which made me feel at ease. When I called because I didn't know how to get to the bus stop, they immediately came to pick me up, saying, "I'm on my way!" The instructor was friendly, and before I knew it, the time was up—I wanted to ride more. They also took photos for me, and I was very satisfied. Thank you for everything!

お天気に恵まれ、素晴らしい体験ができました。
予約時から質問にも、迅速かつ親切にメールで対応いただき安心できました。
またバス停から行き方がわからず電話をすると、今行きます！とすぐに迎えに来て下さいました。
インストラクターの方もフレンドリーで、あっという間に時間になってしまい、もっと乗りたいと思いました。
写真も撮っていただき、大満足です。
お世話になりました！

I think Lake Mashu and Lake Akan are among the dream destinations for travelers to Hokkaido, but the transportation options are quite limited, and the distances are considerable. I was at a loss about how to get there without renting a car.

At that time, I happened to find this tour offered by the Kushiro Sightseeing Bus during an internet search. Not only does it take you to Lake Mashu and Lake Akan, but it also stops at Lake Kussharo along the way. That's three lakes in one go! Yay! On top of that, we also visited Mount Io, which was emitting smoke. I wasn't expecting much from it, but wow, it might have more smoke than Hakone... Truly Hokkaido.

The departure point is the bus terminal in front of JR Kushiro Station. (You could also go on a separate Kushiro Wetland tour the day before.) This tour returns to the same JR Kushiro Station on the same day after visiting the three lakes. However, if you want to go to the airport, you can get off at Kushiro Airport along the way. That's not all. You can also get off at the Akanko Onsen and enjoy a leisurely stay. There’s flexibility for travelers to plan according to their curiosity and schedule.

Thanks to this, even as a solo female traveler who doesn't drive, I was able to efficiently explore various places in Eastern Hokkaido and fully enjoy the beautiful nature. I highly recommend it!

摩周湖や阿寒湖は、北海道への旅行者の憧れの目的地のひとつだと思うが、なにせ交通の便が悪い。それぞれに距離もある。レンタカーをせずに、どう行けばよいのか途方にくれていた。
そんな時、インターネット検索で、たまたま見つけたのが釧路観光バスの、このツアー。摩周湖と阿寒湖どころか、途中で屈斜路湖にも寄ってくれる。一挙に三湖制覇！　やったー！　おまけに噴煙立ち昇る、硫黄山にも立ち寄った。ここは期待してなかったけど、あれ？、箱根より煙がすごいかも…。さすが北海道。　
出発はJR釧路駅前のバスターミナル。（そこで前日に別途、釧路湿原ツアーに行くこともできた。）このツアーは三湖に行った後、同日、同じJR釧路駅前に戻ってくる。ただ、空港に行きたい人は、途中の釧路空港で降りてもいい。それだけじゃない。訪問先の阿寒湖温泉で降りて、ノンビリ滞在してもいい。旅行者が好奇心と日程に応じて、それぞれ予定を組める柔軟性まであるのだ。
おかげで運転しない女一人旅の私でも、道東を効率的にあちこち廻れて、美しい大自然を充分に堪能させてもらいました。お薦めです！

I used the service from Kushiro City to Lake Akan. Along the way, we stopped for sightseeing at Lake Mashu, Iouzan, and Sunayu, and we had time to explore each scenic spot, making effective use of our time. The guide was a veteran and provided continuous commentary, which I found impressive. However, there are two points for improvement that would have made it a five-star experience.

1. The bus windows were dirty, so I would appreciate it if they could be cleaned before departure. (It’s hard to enjoy the beautiful scenery.)
2. It would be better to have assigned seating during busy times. (Since I boarded partway, I ended up in a cramped seat at the back. Other families were scattered apart.)

釧路市内から阿寒湖畔まで利用しました。
途中、摩周湖・硫黄山・砂湯で観光をしながらの移動で各景勝地では観光時間もあり、時間を有効に利用できました。
ガイドさんもベテランの方で、話しっぱなしで案内してくれて感心しました。
ただ、2点ほど改善いただければ★5つでした。
1.バスの窓が汚れていたので出発前に洗浄してほしい。
　（せっかくの景色がきれいに見えない。）
2.混雑時には座席指定にしたほうが良い。
　（途中乗車だったので後ろの方の狭い席だった。他の家族の方はバラバラになっていた。）

When we left the hotel, it was cloudy, but as we were sightseeing, it started to rain little by little, and by the time we boarded the cruise ship, it was pouring. Even so, we set off wearing plastic raincoats. The rain was so heavy that I couldn't lift my face, and I couldn't see very well. Since it's Japan, I think there should be more consideration for the possibility of rain, like using covered boats. To be honest, the cruise itself was disappointing. There was only one straight canal, so the scenery was lacking in variety. Walking along the canal gave a better view, and I could enjoy the beautiful scenery more. I was honestly disappointed because I was expecting a tour like in Matsue, where the canals are spread throughout the town and you can circle around them. Although it wasn't that expensive, it wasn't worth the trouble to board.

ホテルを出るときは曇りでしたが、観光していると雨が少しづつ振り出し、クルーズの船に乗る頃にはドシャ降りに。それでもビニールのカッパをきて出発しました。雨が強くて顔を上げてらず、あまりよく見えなかったです。日本なんだから雨が降ることも前提にして、屋根付きの船にするとかもっと対応のしかたはあると思う。クルーズ自体は正直言って期待外れでした。運河はまっすぐに1本あるだけなので、景色の変化が乏しく、運河沿いを歩いていた方が目線が高い分だけ、きれいな景色を楽しめます。松江みたいに町中に運河が張り巡らされていて、それをぐるりと巡るようなツアーを期待していただけに正直言ってがっかり。そんなに高いお値段じゃないけど、わざわざ乗るほどでもなかった。

I thought there wasn't much to see in Otaru, but that changed when I joined a cruise. They shared many highlights of the town, and I really felt that it is a wonderful city.

小樽はみるとこあまりないな～と思っていましたが、クルーズに参加して変わりました。町の見どころをたくさん教えてくださったり、すごくいい街だなあと実感しました。

I never expected to be able to tour the three lakes of Akan so efficiently. Of course, I think there are other options if you have more time, but for a quick round, this was the perfect tour. The guide, who seemed to be debuting that day, was very kind, and I had a truly memorable trip.

これほど効率的に阿寒三湖を周遊できるとは思ってもいませんでした。もちろん、時間に余裕があれば他の方法もあり得るとは思いますが、とりあえずひと回りするには絶好の周遊ツアーでした。ガイドさんも、その日がデビュー初日だったようですが、大変親切で、とても思い出深い旅行ができました。

When my parents decided to travel to Hokkaido, I made a reservation for them because I wanted them to experience it. They were very happy with the explanations while visiting the sightseeing spots!

両親が北海道に旅行が決まった時に、ぜひ乗ってもらいたいと予約させていただきました。
観光スポットを回りながら説明もあり、とても喜んでもらえて良かったです！

My family had a great time af Biei/ Furano with 8 hrs taxi hire by Ikuta san. He took great effort to ensure we had a good time, -attentive, make good recommendations on what to see, f&b. With my very limited Japanese, ikuta san would use google translate to supply information on places we visited.
Highly recommended!

I boarded the last cruise. If you take it once beforehand, you might see the sights from a different perspective. The timing is well thought out, and it seemed that the lights started to come on just as we were returning. The popular evening cruise tends to fill up quickly, so it's best to make a reservation early.

ディクルーズ最終便に搭乗。
先に一度乗っておくと観光するのに違った視点で観れるかも。
良く考えられている時間で、ちょうど戻ってくる時間に少しランプが付き始めた形でした。
人気のイブニングクルーズは満席になり易いようですので早めの予約を。

I think the cost performance is very good. It's very efficient. However, there are a lot of overseas guests, which can be quite overwhelming.

非常にコストパフォーマンスは良いと思います。大変効率的です。ただし、海外のゲストが非常に多く、なかなか圧倒されます。

I had no experience walking in the snow, and the guide provided rubber grips for my shoes. The tour company's vehicle parked very close to the foot bath, and it took less than five minutes to get there easily. This tour not only guided us to the foot bath location but also provided detailed information about the walking trail to Oyunuma, the frost-covered trees visible because of the hot springs, the origin of Noboribetsu Onsen, geographical introductions, and the different types of hot spring waters. Additionally, the guide kindly prepared mats and towels for us to enjoy at the foot bath. It was a lot of fun!

雪に歩く経験がなくて、ガイドが靴の滑りとめ（ゴム）を用意してもらいました。ツアー
会社の車は足湯のすぐ近くの駐車場が泊めれまして、足湯までは５分もかからなく楽々で行けました。このツアーは足湯の場所を案内するだけではなく、大湯沼までの散策路とともに、温泉地だから見えた樹氷、登別温泉の由来、地理的の紹介と、違う温泉の泉質など詳しく紹介をしていただき、さらに足湯で楽しめるためにマット、タオルなどもガイドが用意しまして、とても親切でした。大変楽しかったでした！

I think a day tour from Sapporo is just the right distance. Considering the price, I'm satisfied with the cost performance, especially since lunch is included and you get to ride the ropeway. However, the only downside was the terrible traffic on the way back since it was a holiday.

札幌からの一日で回れるツアーでは、ちょうどいい距離ではないのかと思います。この金額を考えると、昼食もついてロープウエーも乗れてだとコスパ的には満足です。ただ、当日は休日であったため帰りの渋滞がひどかった点だけが残念です。

It was a cruise in the snow and rain in November. We were expecting beautiful scenery, but we couldn't win against the weather. However, the heating on the boat's seats was nice.

11月の雪と雨☔️☃️の中クルーズとなりました。きれいな景色の予定でしたが、天気には勝てませんでしたが、舟のシートは暖房が効いていて良かったです。

The tour was conducted in a very professional manner and the itinerary was well planned. Enough time was given for each sightseeing. The only shortcoming was that the tour was conducted only in Japanese. It would have been fantastic if the tour was conducted in English. I can see that the Tour Guide was very well versed in the areas that we were visiting.

Great job! We think it is one of the best tours around.

The guide's clear explanations and the perfect schedule made for an amazing day! Even though I participated alone, I found myself gasping in awe quite a bit, but if I had joined with family, it might have been quite noisy (laughs). I thoroughly enjoyed the red-crowned cranes, the beauty of Lake Mashu, the sand bath at Lake Kussharo, and the "Marimo tea" at Lake Akan, among countless other memories. The cost performance was definitely better than renting a car, which I was very satisfied with. Thank you for a wonderful day!

ガイドさんのわかりやすい説明と絶妙のスケジュール！最高の一日でした。
ひとりで参加したのに、結構、感嘆の声を上げておりましたが、家族で参加してたら大騒ぎをして、うるさかったかもしれません（笑）
タンチョウを満喫し、摩周湖が美しく、屈斜路湖の砂堀り湯、阿寒湖の「まりも茶」などなど、思い出は数えきれません。レンタカーを借りるより絶対安いコスパも満足です。
１日ありがとうございました！

This is a tour that allows you to see the mysterious Lake Toya from various angles. The schedule is tight, so if you opt for additional activities, there won't be much time for exploration on-site. The Mushroom Kingdom, where you stop for a break, is fantastic. It would have been great to have lunch there.

神秘的な洞爺湖を色々な角度が見ることが出来るツアーです。スケジュールはタイトのため、オプションに行くと、現地での散策は厳しくなります。途中休憩で寄る、きのこの王国は最高です。ここで昼食にしてもらえると良かった。

Unfortunately, the strong winds made it difficult to head out onto the lake, so I changed my plans and explored the Chitose River instead. The power of nature is unbeatable...

The Chitose River was also beautifully clear and transparent. I enjoyed ducking under the trees, discovering small waterfalls, and was shown points where I could see fish. It was a delightful adventure.

Next time, I would like to visit during a warmer season and try going out onto the lake.

あいにくの強風で湖に出ようにも前に進まず
予定を変更して千歳川を散策しました。
自然の力にはかないません･･･

千歳川も充分透明できれいでした。
木立の下をくぐったり、小さな滝を見つけたり
魚が見れるポイントを教えて頂いたり
冒険気分を満喫出来ました。

今度はもう少し暖かい時期に訪れて、湖に出てみたいです。

I visited Lake Shikotsu for the first time, and almost everyone boarded the glass boat. It seems there aren't many other attractions, so if you don't participate, free exploration might be tough. The lunch at Lake Toya was better than I expected, with a good variety of dishes. After that, we toured Mount Usu. There was one more twist on the way back! I think it would be nice to have more sightseeing options.

支笏湖に最初に行きましたが、
ほぼ全員がグラスボートに乗船しました。
他には見どころがないようで、
参加しないと自由散策はきついかも。
洞爺湖での昼食は思ったより、
品数が多く良かったです。
そのあと有珠山観光しました。
帰路でもうひとひねり！
観光があればよいと思います。

Exchanged the voucher for bus ticket at the bus terminal counter. First staff want to charge me, when I explained to her that I've already paid by my card to Veltra, she asked another staff. (maybe a senior). The senior staff then explained to her, and I was issued the bus ticket without any additional payment. Therefore I would suggest reaching the bus terminal at least 15 minutes before bus tour time to allow time to exchange the bus ticket.
Either than that, everything is great! The Japanese tour guide was great too!

At the time of our departure, there was some really bad weather in Hakodate, so Mount Hakodate was so foggy that we couldn't see anything. Even when we arrived at the summit, we couldn't see any of the night view. There were also a lot of people at the summit as well,so the picture spots were crowded.

But! While I was taking out my camera to take a picture, the wind started blowing and I saw the night view!!
Don't give up on this tour in bad weather. Even if you think you won't see anything, you've got to go up the mountain! The fog didn't completely disappear, but I'm glad I didn't completely give up.

If you visit Hakodate, don't miss the night view! The scenery was so beautiful and the view will leave you speechless. I would like to see the scenery again and go on this tour again.

Lastly, to everyone going to Hakodate, I recommend going to the top of the mountain even if the weather is bad!

(Translated from Japanese by Veltra.com)

We got on the bus in front of Hakodate Station and headed straight to the summit of Mount Hakodate from there. Since I thought it would be a round-trip ropeway, I was a little bit disappointed, but along the way, in order to help us see the night scenery, the lights on the bus were turned down. Our guide was great and we had fun on the way to the summit. The scenery from the bus was beautiful and everyone commented on it, but when we got off the bus and saw the night view from the observatory, it was even more beautiful.

The day that I went was very cold but I forgot about that and felt like I could look at the scenery forever. The 30 minutes passed by so quickly. I couldn't see any of the heart-shaped lights, so that was a little unlucky. On the way back we got on the ropeway and went down the mountain. There were a lot of students on their school trips, so it took about an hour and a half before we could get on the ropeway and that was kind of tough. The line was out the door, so I wish I'd worn even warmer clothes. Since the night view was so beautiful, I still had a really nice time. The guide was so nice and attentive. If I have the chance, I'd like to take this tour again.

(Translated from Japanese by Veltra.com)

I was able to tour my desired locations in a short amount of time, which was very efficient. Additionally, even though it was after 9 PM on a very busy night and I hadn't made reservations in advance, they took me to various restaurants, allowing me to have dinner. Thank you for everything.

　短い時間で希望の場所を観光が出来、とても有効でした。
また、追加でお願いした後、とても混み合っている日の夜９時過ぎにもかかわらず、事前に予約をしていなかった為、飲食店を次々と回って下さって、晩御飯を頂くことが出来ました。
色々と、ありがとうございました。

It was rainy and bad weather throughout the eastern part of Hokkaido, but it was comfortable because we traveled by bus. We couldn't see Lake Mashu at all. It's said that the area around Lake Mashu has a low rate of clear weather, so autumn is recommended.

道東全域雨の悪天候の参加でしたが、バス移動のため、楽ちんでした。摩周湖は、全く見えず。摩周湖周辺は、晴天率が低いため、秋がおすすめとのこと

It's my first time using private taxi tour. The driver was Homa san who is very efficient in managing time to bring me sightsee at the different attractions. I requested for two on the spot additional sightseeing spots and Home san fulfilled my wish. What is more is that he even waited for me to take-away my dinner from the fastfood restaurant before sending me back to my apartment. Veltra is prompt and efficient in answering my queries for this tour. Despite it was raining on that day, I still had an overall pleasant tour experience. Thank you for making my trip hassle-free!

Thoroughly enjoyed this day trip. Our driver arrived at our hotel early to pick us up and was utterly charming and helpful throughout the trip. He had a translation phone app which allowed him to communicate what we would be doing, i.e which places to visit, and when we would be having lunch etc. He suggested changing the schedule slightly which was fine with us, as the weather wasn't very good. We squeezed lots of activities into the day and it was a great opportunity to get out into the beautiful Hokkaido countryside. We particularly enjoyed the visit to the crane centre. Thank you very much.

I participated alone in early June. It was a tour around Lake Mashu, Lake Kussharo, Lake Akan, and Mount Io. Since I was alone, it was more convenient than renting a car. Lake Mashu was indeed shrouded in mist and not visible, but even in the rain, the greenery along the walking path at Lake Akan was beautiful, and it was very nice. I was picked up from the hotel just after 8 AM and returned to Kushiro Station around 4 PM, but the guide talked non-stop on the bus. It was interesting because they shared a lot of knowledge, but I was impressed by how they never seemed to get tired.
*I only passed through Kushiro Marsh on the bus, so I went there on another day by myself.*

6月初旬にひとりで参加しました。摩周湖、屈斜路湖、阿寒湖、硫黄山をめぐるツアーです。ひとりなのでレンタカーを借りたりするより便利です。摩周湖はやはり霧で見えませんでしたが、阿寒湖は雨降りでも遊歩道の緑が美しく、とても良かったです。朝8時過ぎにホテルでピックアップしてもらって、夕方16時くらいに釧路駅に戻ってきましたが、バスの中ではガイドさんがずーーーーーーーっとしゃべりっぱなし。いろんな知識を教えてくれるので面白いのですが、いや、よく疲れないなと感心しました。
※釧路湿原はバスで通過するだけなので、別の日に自分で行きました。

It was drizzling from the time we left Sapporo, and when we arrived at Lake Shikotsu, it was rainy and a bit chilly. However, the rain falling on the lake added to its charm, and I was glad we could ride the glass boat without any issues. By the time we reached Lake Toya, the rain had stopped, and I was able to take beautiful photos of the lake and the blooming wisteria. I was worried about having time to enjoy the hot springs, but I managed to soak in the outdoor bath and enjoy the view of the lake from there. We also included other attractions like the cable car, and we made stops at Mushroom Kingdom, observation decks, and service areas, making for a packed day. The bus guide was great, and it turned out to be a fun day. If you go to Hokkaido and find yourself wondering, "What should we do today?" I recommend this tour.

札幌を出発時から霧雨で、支笏湖に着いた時は雨降り＆肌寒かったですが、雨がポツポツと降り注ぐ湖も味があり、グラスボートには問題なく乗れたので良かったです。洞爺湖に着いた頃には雨も止み、湖や咲き誇る藤の写真も綺麗に撮れました。温泉に入る時間があるか心配でしたが、何とか露天に浸かり、そこからも湖を眺めることが出来ました。ケーブルカーなど他の乗り物も入り、途中立ち寄ったきのこ王国や展望台やサービスエリアなど盛り沢山で、またバスガイドさんの案内もよく、楽しい一日となりました。北海道に行き、「今日はどうしよう」と迷ったらこのツアーをお勧めします。

First, I communicated several places that I definitely wanted to visit to the driver. After that, I left the course planning up to them within the time limit. My husband, who previously lived in Hakodate for a short period, was able to include his "memorable Leopalace (laughs)" in the itinerary. We also visited places like Trappistine Monastery, Cape Tachimachi, the Foreign Cemetery, and the classic Goryokaku Tower, smoothly traveling by car to famous spots in Hakodate within three hours.

I initially thought it was a tour that followed the spots listed on the Veltra introduction page, but we could skip places we weren't interested in or include spots that weren't tourist attractions, just like we did. This flexibility allowed us to enjoy a customized tour.

Thank you to our driver, K, for being considerate of my mother, who has difficulty walking, and for providing us with a fulfilling experience.

まずドライバーさんに「ここだけは行きたい！」と言う所を何カ所かお伝えして
後は時間内お任せでコースを組んでいただきました。
以前短期間函館に住んでいたことがある夫の「思い出のレオパレス（苦笑）」を
コースに入れてもらうことも出来、
また市街から離れたトラピスチヌや立待岬、外人墓地、定番の五稜郭タワーや
ベイエリア方面まで車でサクサク行けて３時間で函館の有名スポットを巡ることが出来ました。

veltraの紹介ページにあるスポットを巡るツアーだと思っていたのですが、
興味のない場所はパスしたり、私達のように全く観光地でないスポットを
入れたりと時間内で色々リクエスト出来ますので自分達仕様のツアーを楽しむことが出来ます。

足の悪い母にも色々お気遣いいただいたドライバーのＫさん、
充実した時間をありがとうございました。

I chose a cruise just before sunset, so I was able to see the scenery illuminated by lights in the evening! I was lucky to take some great photos of the illuminated views.

However, there were a few parts where the voice of the female guide was a bit hard to hear from my seat at the front, which was a little disappointing.

日没直前のクルーズを選んだので、
夕方からライトが灯る景色を見られました！
写真もライトアップの良い写真が撮れて、幸運でした。

女ガイドさんの声が、一番前に座った私には、
ちょっと聴きにくい所がありましたのが、少し残念でした。