Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

For those seeking to dive into the thick of Hokkaido’s snow country, a tour that must be experienced is the the Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour offered by NPO Lake Shumarinai. During the winter season, wakasagi (smelt) fishing is one of the most popular and unique experiences taking place in Hokkaido’s frozen rivers and lakes. At Lake Shumarinai, this tradition is accessible not only to fishing enthusiasts of all skill levels but also to thrill seekers looking to experience the best of the chilly outdoors. The two-day adventure tour will not only have you catching handfuls of wakasagi, but also enjoying the adrenaline rush of speeding across the lake on snowmobiles and converted motorbikes, tobogganing down snowy slopes, and savouring a delicious barbecue right on the lake, among other things.

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

The tour begins as the guide picks you up at Asahikawa Airport or Asahikawa Station, depending on where you are coming from. With a 4x4 pickup truck ready to handle the snowy conditions of the region, you’ll be driven for about an hour and a half through the white landscape of Hokkaido’s north, and although it can feel long, getting a look at how locals navigate around in these conditions is a little added bonus to the trip.

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

Once at the Lake, you’ll quickly check in at Lakehouse Shumarinai, change into your snow gear, and after a short briefing explaining the day’s activities, you’ll be on board a snowmobile and cruising to the reserved tent in a hidden section of the lake. At the tent, a crew is already well ahead of the game, with the bbq started, the pizza ready for baking in the stone oven, and more than enough hot wine and beer to keep you warm while you fish.

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

As you savour the grilled skewers and the mouthwatering pizza, Nakano-san and his crew waste no time in getting their guests on the ice, with fishing rod on hand, and ready to begin catching enough wakasagi for a tempura feast later in the evening. You not only get to fish, but you learn how to open the hole in the ice, how to increase your chances of catching the smelt, and also about what makes Lake Shumarinai such a special place.

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

Fishing is only the beginning, just as you start thinking that you’ve caught enough fish and are ready to try something different, the guides show up in their retrofitted motorbikes and powerful snowmobiles, and not only dazzle you with their moves on the snow, but also hand you the keys to their toys and let you tackle the famous powdery snow of the lake for a good couple of hours.

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

After you’ve had your fair share of excitement on the lake and the sun disappears behind the hills, the group heads back to the lodge to enjoy the day’s catch, a few drinks, and the pleasure derived from sleeping in a cozy cabin in the countryside. The stay at Lakehouse Shumarinai is a great experience and a perfect compliment to the outdoor adventure.

Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour

On the second day of the tour, and with even more snow on the ground, the snowmobiles are waiting right by the lake to continue where you left off. With your confidence built up, and the trust of the guides who’ve tested your ability to have fun on a snowmobile the day before, you’ll be able to take an even faster machine across the lake and explore an even more remote area of Shumarinai. The tour ends around noon as the group packs up and heads back to Asahikawa, a little bit tired but full of joy thanks to the Lake Shumarinai Winter Adventure Tour.

Lake Shumarinai

Hokkaido Uryugunhorokanaichou Shumarinai

0165382101

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Asahikawa Airport

Hokkaido

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