Shiretoko Five Lakes and Forest Hiking Tour
Highlights
- A pre-walk briefing is provided, so even first-time participants can join with confidence!
- Explore the highlights of Shiretoko on a Shiretoko Five Lakes walk, with a chance to spot wildlife!
- Guided by a highly experienced Shiretoko guide with over 20 years of expertise
- Autumn foliage at the Five Lakes is spectacular, with peak colors typically from early to mid-October
What to expect
Tour around the five lakes of Shiretoko on a 3 km course. With plenty of photo taking opportunities, hike through the scenic course while taking in the wonderful scenery of Hokkaido.
What's included
- Insurance
- Shiretoko goko lakes entry lecture fee
- Japanese-speaking guide
About this experience
Schedule
- Meet at Shiretoko Goko Lakes Field House.
- Utoro Pickup Available Depending on Guide Schedule (Upon Request)
- Pre-Tour Briefing
- Shiretoko Goko Lakes Guided TourA signature Shiretoko field with five lakes nestled in the forest, guided by a seasoned local guide.
・Experience the essence of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage–listed Shiretoko.
・Led by a guide with over 20 years of experience.
・Duration: approx. 3 hours (approx. 4 hours with Utoro pickup).
- Elevated BoardwalkAt the end of the walk, you’ll head onto an approximately 800 m elevated boardwalk. Electric fencing is in place, allowing you to enjoy the scenery with peace of mind.

- Shiretoko Five Lakes Guided Tour Ends
- Tour Ends at Shiretoko Goko Field House
- *Drop-off service to the Utoro area is also available
Location and Directions
Check-in / Check-out
Shiretoko goko lakes Field House
Iwaobetsu, Shari-cho Shari-gun, Hokkaido
From Shari-cho to Utoro:
About 90 Km from Memambetsu airport.(about 2 hours)
About 40 Km from JR Konsen Line Shiretoko Shari Station.
From Utoro to Shiretoko goko lakes:
About 1.8 km from Utoro in Shari town. (about 20 minutes by car)
Your final pick-up time will be notified to you via e-mail one day before your tour from VELTRA. Please make sure to check your e-mail a day before your tour.Parking information
For people who come by car
Please park your car at Goko lakes parking area, which is open from 7:30 a.m.
Charge: Standard-sized car - JPY 500
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Restrictions
- Participants must be elementary school age or older and up to 75 years old.
Must be able to go up and down stairs without using handrails and walk at least 3 km without assistance. - Basically, the meeting point is on site (Shiretoko Goko Field House), but pickup and drop-off service is also available within the Utoro area. Please note that this service may not be available depending on the guide’s schedule.
- Participants with serious pre-existing conditions related to the cardiovascular, respiratory, or nervous systems must declare their diagnosis and any medications they are currently taking in advance, and must bring their medication with them on the day of the tour. Depending on the medical condition and the participant’s physical condition on the day, participation may be declined.
Pregnant participants and those who have consumed alcohol are not permitted to join. - Please note that if such conditions are discovered on the day of the tour without prior declaration, participation will be denied and the standard cancellation fee will apply.
- During the period from May 10 to July 31 (brown bear active season), access to the ground-level walking trails at the Shiretoko Five Lakes is permitted only as part of a guided tour led by a certified nature guide.
What to bring
- 【Clothing】
・Hat / long pants
・Please wear comfortable, well-broken-in athletic shoes or trekking shoes.
・To prevent attracting hornets, please avoid dark-colored clothing, perfume, and hair products.
・Gaiters and shorts are not recommended, as they make you more susceptible to mosquito and tick bites. - ・In spring and autumn, a lightweight down jacket, fleece, gloves, a hat that covers the ears, and thermal innerwear may be necessary on some days. Please check the weekly weather forecast and prepare accordingly.
- 【What to Bring】
・Towel / hat / insect repellent / sunscreen / camera / personal medications / backpack (to keep your hands free) / drinks (water or tea with no sugar)
・As this is a brown bear habitat, bringing food is not permitted. - In the event of rain or muddy conditions, rubber boots (free of charge) and rainwear (¥500) are available for rental.
If you wish to use this service, please specify your size (e.g., ○○ cm, women’s M size) in the booking form.
Other requirements
- The standard meeting time is 15 minutes before the tour start time. The time stated in the email sent by VELTRA the day before is only a guideline.
Further details will be provided directly by the guide via mobile phone after the evening of the day before the tour. (For guests using the pickup service, the confirmed pickup time will be communicated.)
Additional notes
- ・Free binoculars are available for rental (excluding rainy or dense fog conditions; no reservation required).
・The tour will operate in light rain; however, it will be canceled in severe weather if safety cannot be ensured. If the tour is canceled before the start, no fee will be charged. Please note that no refunds will be given if the tour is discontinued after it has started due to sudden weather changes. - The activity schedule is subject to change or cancellation due to weather or traffic conditions.
- In the event that the walking trails are closed due to snow accumulation or brown bear activity, the tour may be canceled or an alternative plan will be offered, depending on the guide’s schedule.
- We kindly ask for your cooperation to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any accidents caused by a participant’s intentional actions or negligence.
Operated by
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation until your booking is confirmed.
- 3-7 business days before (local time): 20%
- 1-3 business days before (local time): 50%
- After 6:00 PM the day before / No-show: 100%
Reviews
Guest photos 90
The female guide provided rubber boots and raincoats, saying that the tour would go on as long as it was manageable. She mentioned that the rain would lessen in the forest, but since my journey was still ongoing and I didn't want to catch a cold during the pandemic, I decided to cancel the tour at the last minute.
Basically, it seems that this tour does… I booked this tour in Shiretoko for late August. However, it rained on the day of the tour. By the meeting time at 9 AM, the rain had intensified.
The female guide provided rubber boots and raincoats, saying that the tour would go on as long as it was manageable. She mentioned that the rain would lessen in the forest, but since my journey was still ongoing and I didn't want to catch a cold during the pandemic, I decided to cancel the tour at the last minute.
Basically, it seems that this tour does not allow for shortening or leaving midway (possibly due to concerns about bears). I would like to try again. 8月下旬に知床のこちらのツアーを予約しました。
だけど、当日は雨。9時の集合時刻頃には雨が一層強くなりました。
ガイドの女性の方は、長靴と合羽も用意してくださり、これぐらいならツアーはしますよとのこと。森の中は雨が弱まりますとのことでしたが、旅もまだ続けるので、コロナ禍で風邪にかかっては大変と思い、直前でツアーは断念した次第です。
基本、このツアーは短縮と途中離脱はできないそうです。(熊のこともあるようです)
また、再チャレンジしたいな。
Unfortunately, I didn't encounter many animals or birds, but I was able to truly feel the nature of Shiretoko. I definitely want to come back in a different season.
*I was grateful that they lent me rubber boots since the path was quite muddy.*草や木やキノコなどたくさん知識をゆっくり歩きながら教えてもらえてとても有意義な時間でした。
残念ながらあまり動物や鳥などには会えませんでしたが、知床の自然は肌で感じることができました。また違う季節にも是非来てみたいです。
※道が結構ぬかるんでいて長靴を貸してもらえるのはありがたかったです。
The content included stories about bears, plants, and the history of Shiretoko, which I thought was very good. The tour was canceled due to a bear encounter, but by August, they are no longer around. I think experiencing the thrill in July would be better.8月以降、ガイドマストじゃなかったんですね。
ガイドさんをお願いしたわけですが、お金的になんか騙された感じ。
内容は、熊の話、植物の話、知床の歴史とふんだんに教えてもらい、大変良かったと思います。クマとの遭遇でツアー中止となりますが、8月はもういない状況。7月にって、ドキドキ感を味わうのがいいと思います。
As a result, it turned out to be quite enjoyable. The guide's explanations were clear and I really appreciated them. We got to see a waterfall and encountered wild deer, making for a unique experience that I wouldn't normally have. I definitely recommend participating in the tour at least once to enjoy the walk while listening to the guide's stories. 「知床五湖ウォーキングツアー 五湖一周」を午後一番の申し込みをしましたが、当日午後、ガイドさんの丁寧な説明があり朝のツアーから熊が出てしまいこの日はすべてのツアー自体が残念ながら中止となってしましました。こればかりは自然相手ですから残念ですがしょうがないですね。取り合えず高架木道を往復歩いている間もガイドさんの説明は非常に興味深いもがありました、これで解散かと思ったら少し場所は違いますがそちらを散策すると言う事なのでそれに参加致しました。
結果、それはそれでなかなか楽しかったです。なんと言ってもガ… 「知床五湖ウォーキングツアー 五湖一周」を午後一番の申し込みをしましたが、当日午後、ガイドさんの丁寧な説明があり朝のツアーから熊が出てしまいこの日はすべてのツアー自体が残念ながら中止となってしましました。こればかりは自然相手ですから残念ですがしょうがないですね。取り合えず高架木道を往復歩いている間もガイドさんの説明は非常に興味深いもがありました、これで解散かと思ったら少し場所は違いますがそちらを散策すると言う事なのでそれに参加致しました。
結果、それはそれでなかなか楽しかったです。なんと言ってもガイドさんの説明が分かりやすく非常に堪能させてもらいました。途中で滝?を見たり野生の鹿に遭遇したりと普段は経験できない散策で良かったですよ。
やはり一度はツアー参加でガイドさんの話を聞きながら散策するのも楽しいのでおすすめ致します。
この日は生憎の雨で気温も一桁。でも始まる頃には雨も上がり濡れずに散策できました!晴れていたらもっといい景色を見る事が出来たと思うとちょっと残念。
なかなか踏み入れる事ができない自然遺産で貴重な体験をする事が出来ました!
ツアー後も、ランチのお勧めの店迄送ってくれた。
野生のクマを見ることができて感動しました。
We took three hours to cover 3 km, so it was quite a slow pace.
Our guide, Mr. Umebayashi, was excellent.
He made it easy to understand the formation of the Shiretoko Five Lakes and shared interesting stories about the trees.
It was hot in the sunny spots, but when the wind blew, it was refreshing, and we enjoyed a nice forest bath.天気に恵まれ山がくっきりみれました。
3kmを3時間ですので、かなりゆっくりペースです。
ガイドの梅林さんがとてもよかったです。
知床5湖の成り立ち、木の話など聞きやすかったです。
日が当たる場所は暑かったですが、風が吹くとさわやかで、いい森林浴ができました。
I also appreciate the thoughtfulness of providing an alternative tour instead of just canceling.あいにく知床五湖に熊が出たーということで知床五湖ツアーは中止になりましたが 代わりに原生林の森トレッキングに連れて行ってもらいました。
説明を聞きながら 森を歩き 知識も増え 本当に面白かったです。
ガイドの方の説明が面白く、海の絶景も見られ
最高の旅になりました。
キャンセルではなく 他のツアーを用意してくださる心遣いにも感謝です。


























































