The home of New Chitose International Airport, Chitose City is an unexpected gem for soft adventure. Its pristine, crowdless, highly-accessible nature lets you enjoy Japan without Olympic stamina. Senior tourists, parents travelling with young kids, conference attendees, or residents on a low-stress escape, these outdoor activities will delight you and serve as springboards for your local cultural explorations.
Thanks to the 2023 Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan conjures images of backcountry skiing in Niseko, snowy canoeing on Lake Shikotsu, thrill-packed rafting in Furano, and arduous treks across Daisetsuzan, in addition to Shikoku pilgrimages and Minobu retreats with waterfall meditation. However, adventure travel is not the preserve of hard-core travelers, and gentle cycling, hiking, canoeing, and even rafting in Chitose proves it.
Chitose River Rafting
Far removed from high-adrenaline rapids, Chitose River rafting is entry-level adventure at its best, inviting you and your companions to serenely and comfortably drift along crystal-clear waters, wrapped in gentle nature.
Keep your eyes peeled below the water’s surface for submerged clusters of dark-green, blade-like baikamo evergreens, which grace riverbeds with myriads of white blossoms in summer. Lush riverbanks of seasonal grasses, flanked by Japanese elms, mizunara water oaks (whose nuts nourished prehistoric Jomon hunter-gatherers), fragrant katsura caramel trees, and endangered Miyabe's maples will charm you from spring to autumn. Time your journey just right and, with luck, you'll witness wild salmon swimming upstream in a forest of yellows, oranges and reds.
A 108km lifeline and historic artery flowing from Lake Shikotsu, the Chitose River is designated as a Class A river (crucial for land conservation and Japan's economy) by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Once a vital water source for the Jomon people 15,000 years ago, the Chitose River enabled major trade between indigenous Ainus and Japanese settlers in modern times ("Ezo," the historical name of Hokkaido, became "Hokkaido" in 1869). May your guide double as a captivating storyteller, bringing local tales to life during your descent!
I enjoyed my first time #rafting 🛶 Pure water, autumn leaves, salmon, birds, and a Japanese guide who lived in Canada welcomed us. This #Chitose route suitable for novices (request Niseko for challenging #AdventureTravel), kids, elders, and groups of ±25 is also doable on evenings (great for MICE). [image or embed]
— Sébastien Duval (@sebastienplus.bsky.social) 25 October 2025 at 09:04
Note: With advance notice, groups of up to 25 rafters can enjoy private rafting on the Chitose River.
Lake Shikotsu Canoeing
Lake Shikotsu canoeing suits even the most hesitant adventure seekers. Guests aged four to 93 can comfortably glide on the famously clear "Lake Shikotsu Blue", enjoying tranquil landscapes, while occasionally spotting kokanee salmon, white-spotted char, and tiny freshwater shrimps with the guide's help. Even wheelchair users are welcome!
Canoeing may start with an easy waterway bordered by cherry blossoms in spring, greens darkening from spring to summer, fiery leaves in autumn, or charming ensnowed banks in winter. It may finish on the lake itself with a splendid sunset over a unique panorama encircled by five volcanoes (Eniwa & Tarumae remain active).
We finished #canoeing in #Chitose as the sun set on Shikotsu lake (+ we saw many fish). Giving back our equipment, we saw photos of our canoeing route with cherry blossoms (no drone though) and with snowwear during snow (looked wonderful)! #AdventureTravel [image or embed]
— Sébastien Duval (@sebastienplus.bsky.social) 23 October 2025 at 00:55
Regarded as the second deepest lake in Japan (363m) but relatively small (8th surface), Lake Shikotsu keeps a somewhat steady temperature year round, making it the northernmost ice-free lake in Japan despite a -5℃ local average in the depth of winter. With access to magical winter canoeing during frequent snowfalls, live memorable video-worthy adventures like never before!
Note: Some of the proceeds of Canoa tours go towards lake clean-up efforts, making it a favoured regenerative choice. While Lake Shikotsu has established its own rule requiring users of the waterfront areas to contribute an environmental conservation cooperation fee to help protect the lake, Canoa goes a step further by independently allocating a portion of the revenue from its tours to lake cleanup activities.
National Park Cycling & Hiking
Formed 40,000 years ago, Lake Shikotsu’s caldera is the heart of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. You can spot or hear black woodpeckers, Hokkaido squirrels, Ezo red foxes, and more around it, as well as soothe your muscles at Shikotsuko Onsen hot spring resort.
Our last day in #Chitose started with a jaw-dropping #sunrise over Shikotsu lake, visible from my and all adjacent rooms at Marukoma Onsen Ryokan inn. You can easily sleep here if you book your room 6+ months in advance. #JapanTravel [image or embed]
— Sébastien Duval (@sebastienplus.bsky.social) 25 October 2025 at 00:02
Rare in Japan, safe cycling paths isolated from both car/truck traffic and coastal winds abound in Chitose near houses, along streams, and in forests. Vast flat lands make them highly accessible, and you can cycle from urban Chitose to the national park until you reach Lake Shikotsu, which stands at just 247m of altitude. In May, the stress-free routes near Oji-seishi Chitose Dai-ichi Power Station are gorgeous as colourful flowers blanket the sides. Be on the lookout for indigenous Ezo deers. I could observe a small herd thanks to the vigilance of our guide!
Seventy percent mountainous, Japan offers countless hiking and trekking paths of all difficulty levels, and you'll certainly find a route that suits you near your accommodation. Adventurous and eager to experience more Japanese uniqueness? Hike up the active volcano Mount Tarumae with a guide; its lava dome and fumes at 1,041m are mesmerizing!
Walking at your pace and with moderate effort, you'll enjoy splendid intermediary and summit panoramas, but be ready in case of sudden weather change (a snowy descent followed our blue-sky ascent despite favorable forecasts).
From Nature To Culture
Rafting, canoeing, cycling, and hiking will help you understand how societies emerged here. Afterwards, you can learn about the first local human settlements and local culture at:
- Buried Cultural Property Center: A well-curated small museum with an exciting, unique zoomorphic clay figurine from the Jomon period (ca. 14,000–ca. 300 BCE) (observe it under all angles to see different animals).
- Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circles: Mass graves that reach up to 93m in diameter. They are the best preserved in Japan and part of UNESCO's World Heritage "Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan".
- Chitose Shrine: Built in 1658 (samurai era), it hosts the Shinto gods of water and rice.
- Komyo-ji: A recently-established Buddhist temple. Its priest skillfully connects Buddhist teachings to Chitose Shrine and to the surrounding nature.
Many places in the region are named after the Ainu language, and the Ainu people remain present in Chitose. Since 2022, Chitose City even allows people to collect medicinal herbs and vegetables for Ainu cuisine in 2,500 hectares of national forest situated in the city to help preserve Ainu culture. Consider wrapping your stay in Chitose with a day trip to the acclaimed Upopoy National Ainu Museum & Park, located in the adjacent town of Shiraoi.
Travel Tips
- Before rafting & canoeing, get blessed by the god of water at Chitose Shrine. You may need a travel agent to organize this touch of spiritual adventure.
- After outdoor activities, relax at hot springs. The open-air bath of Marukoma Onsen Ryokan offers incredible stargazing, whereas the open-air bath of Tsuruga Resort Spa Mizu-No-Uta is most exclusive.
- If you have special dietary needs, plan in advance and you'll be fine. Hokkaido Prefecture is the biggest agricultural producer in Japan so you can eat diverse dishes using local ingredients even if you are vegan, gluten-free or very health-conscious (some farmers practice natural farming). Ideally use a travel agent to avoid misunderstandings.
- Consider the whole year for your stay here. Unlike Tokyo, Chitose is far enough north to avoid the worst of typhoons and the humid rainy season.
- Book early to ensure your guides speak English! If you want to plan your itinerary in French, German or Italian, ask our team of Japan travel agents.
