- Plan Overview
- Price
- Access
Shiretoko GOKO Lakes Guided Walk
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3 hours
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1 person(s) or more
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7 yrs or older
Plan Overview
Enjoy the Spectacular Scenery of the Shiretoko Mountain Range and the Primeval Forest with a Guide: Shiretoko GOKO Lakes Tour
This is a guided tour of the Shiretoko GOKO Lakes, an iconic attraction in the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site.
The Shiretoko GOKO Lakes have two special attractions.
The first is the spectacular scenery created by the Shiretoko Mountain Range and the five lakes. On calm days, the mountains and the primeval forest are reflected on the lake surface, allowing you to enjoy an iconic landscape in the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage Site.
The second is the primeval forest where wildlife lives. Throughout the forest, many traces of wildlife remain, including antler-rubbing marks left by Ezo deer and claw marks left by brown bears. Walking with a guide, you'll discover aspects of Shiretoko's nature and the lives of its wildlife that you might otherwise overlook.
On this tour, you will walk the Long Loop, which visits all five lakes that make up the Shiretoko GOKO Lakes. The views from the elevated boardwalk are beautiful, but walking through the forest offers discoveries and experiences that you simply can't find from the boardwalk alone.
There Is a "Shiretoko" You Can't Discover Just by Looking at the Scenery
Walk through the forest with a guide, enjoy the discoveries and surprises along the way, and experience the true charm of Shiretoko. This is one of the tours SHINRA recommends for both first-time visitors to Shiretoko and nature lovers.
*For children aged 7–12, SHINRA provides its original "Bingo Game." Enjoy the walk like a treasure hunt as you explore nature.
About the Walking Route
You will walk the Long Loop (approximately 3 km), which takes you around all five lakes of the Shiretoko GOKO Lakes. The tour takes approximately 3 hours, including the required pre-tour briefing.
The ground-level trail includes continuous sections with exposed rocks and tree roots, as well as stone steps, with ongoing ups and downs of slightly more than 10 meters in elevation.
Under the Shiretoko GOKO Lakes regulations, you cannot leave the tour or turn back once the walk has started. This course is intended for participants who are able to comfortably walk approximately 3 km and stay with the group throughout the tour.
No special hiking equipment is required, but please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes.
Tour Start Times
Apr. 20–May 9: 8:30, 9:30, 13:30, 14:30
May 10–Jul. 31: 8:30, 9:00, 9:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30
Aug. 1–Sep. 30: 8:30, 9:30, 13:30, 14:30
*14:30 available through Sep. 15
Oct. 1–Nov. 8: 9:00, 13:20
Note:
・During the following periods, the tour starts only at 8:30 and 13:30: May 2–5, Aug. 11–15, and Sep. 19–23.
・Tour start times are subject to change. If the start time changes by more than 20 minutes, we will notify you within 48 hours of your booking. Please check your reminder email, sent 2 days before the tour, for the final start time, meeting time, and your guide.
- Start Time
- 08:30 / 09:00 / 09:30 / 13:20 / 13:30 / 14:30 / 14:00
- What to bring
- ■ Items to Bring
- Drinks (water or tea)
** ! ** To help prevent attracting brown bears and wasps, food and drinks other than water and tea are not permitted at the Shiretoko Goko Lakes.
- Backpack
- Rain gear (a two-piece rain suit is recommended)
- Sun hat
- Insect repellent
** ! ** Mosquitoes are particularly abundant in June and July.
- Warm knit hat and gloves (depending on the weather)
■ Clothing
*To help prevent insect bites, clothing that covers as much skin as possible is recommended. However, temperatures can become high, so please avoid wearing too many layers to help prevent heat illness .
- Tops: Long-sleeved shirts are recommended, although short sleeves may be suitable on some days. Please also bring a warm layer, such as a lightweight fleece or inner down jacket, to wear when temperatures are low.
- Bottoms: Full-length trousers (Shorts and skirts are not permitted; leggings are not recommended.)
- Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots (Sandals are not permitted.)
- Other: To help prevent attracting wasps, please avoid wearing perfume or strongly scented hair products.
- Participation Requirements
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◯Ages 7–79
Able to walk 3 km+ on hilly or uneven terrain
Able to participate in group activities without difficulty - Min. Persons to Book
- From 1 person(s)
- Regarding the operating of the activity
- - The tour start time may change by approximately 10 minutes. Please check the final tour start and meeting times in the reminder email sent two days before the tour. If the schedule changes by 20 minutes or more, we will contact you within 48 hours of your booking.
- The tour will operate even in rainy weather.
- The tour itinerary may be partially cancelled or changed due to weather conditions, brown bear sightings, road conditions, or other circumstances. If the Ground Pathways at Shiretoko Five Lakes is closed due to brown bear sightings or other reasons, we will provide one of the following alternatives depending on the time and circumstances: “alternative walking area,” “Elevated Wooden Path + alternative walking area,” or “Elevated Wooden Path only.” If only the Short Loop is available, we will guide you along the Short Loop. If you have to turn back near Lake 3, no alternative walking route will generally be provided. In all cases, there will be no change to or refund of the tour fee.
- Until around early May, the Long Loop may not be available due to lingering snow and other conditions.
Price
Base Cost
Included in the base cost
Rain Boot Rental (Available depending on trail conditions)
Cancellation Policy
Please be aware that the following cancellation fees will apply if you cancel due to your own circumstances.
Please contact us immediately by phone (0152-22-5522) if you wish to cancel.
*Cancellations made after business hours (cancellations after 19:00) will be processed the following day.
7 to 4 days before the meeting: 30% of the fee
3 days to the day before: 50% of the fee
On the day of the tour: 100% of the fee
*Similarly, 100% of the tour fee will be charged for no-shows without prior notice.
No cancellation fee will be charged if you are unable to attend due to transportation disruptions or road closures caused by bad weather, or if the tour is cancelled before it begins due to typhoon or heavy rain/flood warnings.
No refunds will be given for tour cancellations after the start due to natural conditions such as bear sightings or severe weather. Please be aware of this in advance.
Payment Method
Pay on arrival: Cash only
Online Payment: Any of the following credit cards or pay later services
Access
- Meeting Point
- Meet at activity location⇒Shiretoko goko lakes field house
Please choose from the designated locations below.
・KITAKOBUSHI SHIRETOKO Hotel & Resort
・KIKI SHIRETOKO NATURAL RESORT
・Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel
・Hotel Shiretoko
・Onsen Guesthouse The SUNSET Shiretoko
・Hotel Kifuu Club Shiretoko
・SHIRETOKO VILLAGE
・Kokun Kekun
・PRIVATE COTTAGE Lantern SHIRETOKO
・Guest House TANPOPO
・REMBRANDT RESORT SHIRETOKO
・Guest House ISHIYAMA
・Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Rest Area) “Utoro/Shirietoku”
・Utoro Onsen Bus Terminal
- Parking
- 【The Parking of the Shiretoko Goko Lakes】*Approximately 25 minutes by car from the Utoro area
■ Parking fee: ¥500 per passenger vehicle
■ Car navigation: Please set Map Code “757 730 727” as your destination.
● Important: Please use the Map Code rather than searching by phone number, as the phone number search may direct you to the wrong location.
● Traffic and parking: During consecutive holidays and the Obon period, traffic congestion and crowded parking lots are common around Shiretoko Five Lakes. For afternoon tours in particular, please allow at least one extra hour for travel. Depending on traffic and parking conditions, you may also wish to consider using the local bus or shuttle bus.
- About Meeting Point
- ■ Meeting at the Shiretoko Five Lakes Field House: 15 minutes before the tour start time
■ Pickup from designated accommodations: 40–60 minutes before the tour start time
● As a pre-tour briefing is mandatory at Shiretoko Five Lakes, please arrive at the designated meeting time without fail.
● Even if you request pickup service, we may not be able to accommodate your request due to tour operation circumstances. If this is the case, we will contact you within 48 hours of your reservation.
● If you are coming by car as a group of three or more people, we kindly ask that you meet directly at the location.
■ If your accommodation is not one of our designated pickup locations, please choose one of the following meeting points:
① Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Rest Area) “Utoro/Shirietoku”
② Utoro Onsen Bus Terminal *No parking available
Time Schedule
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◯Example
If the tour starts at 8:30
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◯7:30 - 7:50
Pick-up at each designated meeting point in sequence (at 5-minute intervals)
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◯8:15
Meet at the location (Shiretoko goko lakes field house)
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◯8:30 - 11:30
Shiretoko GOKO Lakes Guided Walk
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◯Around 12:00
Drop-off at each designated meeting point in sequence
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◯*
The tour start time may vary by approximately 10 minutes. Please be sure to check the final tour start time, meeting time, and assigned guide in the reminder email sent two days before the tour.
Note
- Please use the restroom before a short information lecture. Restroom facilities will not be available for approximately three hours during the tour.
- During the “Bears Active Season” from May 10 to July 31, joining a guided tour is mandatory for safety reasons when walking on the trails. Please note that the tour follows a designated walking pace, so the pace cannot be changed during the tour.
- The Shiretoko goko lakes field house is operated by a separate organization and is not affiliated with our company. For inquiries regarding the guided tour, please contact our company directly.