The Tokachi region of Hokkaido is known for its frigid winters with clear blue skies and temperatures that can go below -20℃. In this tour program, you can experience the winter outdoors of Tokachi through a sauna built on top of a frozen lake. You can then cool your body down by jumping into a hole in the icy lake, a practice known in Finland as “avanto”. The program also includes a soba noodle making activity. It’s a great way to enhance your wellness while enjoying the winter landscape and local specialties of Hokkaido.

After arriving at Yuyado Kuttari Onsen Lake Inn, you will first experience Japanese food culture through a soba noodle making activity. Soba (buckwheat) is one of the local specialties of Shintoku Town. Learn how to slice the dough and boil the noodles from a soba master, then enjoy it for lunch.

After lunch, you will go to the shore of the frozen Lake Kuttari, where an outdoor sauna operates during the winter. Heat your body up in the authentic Finnish style of löyly by pouring water on the hot stones on top of the stove.

When you start to feel too hot, go outside and take a plunge into the avanto, a hole cut in the frozen surface of the lake. The sensation of your warm body cooling down in the icy water is truly liberating. You can also relax on the loungers while admiring the surrounding winter scenery.

After the sauna experience, you can finish up the routine with a bath in the hot spring waters of Kuttari Onsen.

For transportation between Furano and Tokachi, you will use the North Liner transit bus pictured above (operated by Dohoku Bus). An attendant will be present at the meetup location to guide you.

Note: All images are for illustration purposes only. Your actual experience may vary.

Schedule

Note: Schedule is subject to change depending on weather conditions and other circumstances.

9:00	Meetup at Furano Bus Terminal (beside Furano Station)
9:27	Board North Liner bus
11:02	Alight bus at Shintoku Station bus stop, transfer by car
11:30	Arrive at Yuyado Kuttari Onsen Lake Inn
11:35	Soba noodle making activity and lunch
13:00	Outdoor sauna and avanto experience
15:00	Onsen hot spring bath
15:40	Depart from Yuyado Kuttari Onsen Lake Inn by car
16:10	Arrive at Shintoku Station
16:49	Board North Liner bus
18:24	Arrive at Furano Bus Terminal