Hokkaido Motorcycle Touring

Posted on September 4, 2007 by Klaus D. Orth

12 days HokkaidoThe Northernmost of the 4 major islands of the Japanese archipelago. motorcycle touring are over - lots of memories remain. Let me share some of them with you.

Going from Toon City (Shikoku) to Maizuru City (Kyoto-ken) for the ferry to Otaru City (Hokkaido) was my first challenge. Roughly 450 kilometers with a fully loaded bike. At Otaru I stayed at a friend's place, who is a log house builder. From there I went to Wakkanai, my home for two nights, enjoying the nature, great food, talking to other bikers and visiting places like Cape Soya, with Russia's Sakhalin island 43 kilometers away. Wakkanai to Shiretoko National Park past Lake Saroma was next. Long, straight roads with little traffic, along the coastline everything that makes a biker's heart beat faster. Two nights at the Raussu camp ground, watching wildlife, enjoying the Aidomari OnsenA hot spring, often used for bathing. Bathing facilities are often, but not always, communal. May be outdoor or indoor. , and meeting more biker friends.

From Raussu to Nemuro and Cape Nossapu on my way to Lake Akan. Meeting and talking with native Japanese, the AinuThe native people of Hokkaido. Also called "Utari," their language and culture are distinctly different from those of the Japanese. - another great experience - less great the stay at the Biker's House! Lake Akan covered in clouds but I did see "Marimo", many of them sold to tourists are imported from Russia or "handmade". The next morning I left for Kushiro, spending two days there because of a typhoon. Visiting the city, seeing the Shitsugen Marsh, eating crab and departing for Kamifurano. Another 2 nights at a very nice campground, looking at lavender and sunflowers fields, and talking to more bikers from all parts of Japan.

One more day left, so I went from Kamifurano past SapporoThe largest city in Hokkaido and the fifth largest in Japan by population. It is home of the famous Sapporo Breweries and hosts the annual Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival). to the Shakotan Peninsula. Eating "Uni-domburi", sleeping at a parking area and finally going back to Otaru to catch the ferry to Maizuru concluded my Hokkaido trip. After roughly 3.500 kilometers of touring I arrived at home, without any problems but lots of great impressions.

Click here to see some pictures from the trip.