2026 Summer Lavender Northern Hokkaido Tour Featuring Rishiri Island Photos

Lavender Fields, Island Life and Northern Hokkaido: Our 2026 Summer Tour

Our 2026 Summer Lavender Northern Hokkaido Tour Featuring Rishiri Island was a journey through some of Japan’s most breathtaking northern landscapes. We learned about the indigenous Ainu people at the UPOPOY National Ainu Museum, relaxed in the Noboribetsu onsen, and hopped on a ferry to the remote islands of Rishiri and Rebun for sea urchin cleaning, kelp souvenir making, and stunning ocean views. In Wakkanai, we stood at the northernmost point of Japan at Soya Cape before heading south through Sarobetsu Marshland. Furano was a highlight with lavender in bloom at Tomita Farm, ice cream making at the Furano Cheese Factory, and a stop at the magical Blue Pond. We also enjoyed all-you-can-eat Yubari melon, a king crab lunch in Sapporo, and a stroll along the historic Otaru Canal. A big mahalo to Tour Manager Andy Lau for taking care of this group!

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We had a connecting flight from Haneda to Chitose and enjoyed a nice bento box at the gate.

And tried some ice cream!

Lots of other great food to eat at the airport.

We arrived in Chitose and our first stop was UPOPOY National Ainu Museum and Park.

We had to try the famous applie pie made with sweet Hokkaido apples!

We called ahead to the Sweet Shop to reserve 24 hot apple pies.

Tour manager Andy, agrees that this is the bestest apple pie around!

Our hotel stay for the night, Dai-Ichi Takimotokan in Noboribetsu.

Everyone dressed to impress with their yukata.

The buffet dinner was amazing. We made our own seafood bowls and the crab was delicious!

Dai-Ichi Takimotokan Hotel Buffet Dinner

We took a flight from Chitose to Rishiri Island on ANA.

Ready to explore Rishiri Island.

The coastline of Rishiri Island offers dramatic rock formations, clear waters, and panoramic ocean vistas.

We visited the Kamui Kaigan Park, where we learned how to carefully clean uni (sea urchin) and make konbu (kelp) souvenirs.

Uni tank

Scooping our fresh uni.

Ready to crack the shell.

Cracked uni shell, ready to be scooped out.

Ready to taste our fresh uni!

We then proceeded to the classroom to make konbu (kelp) souvenirs

Afterwards, we headed to the southern point of Rishiri to visit Senpoushi Misaki Park.

Senpoushi Misaki Park features dramatic lava-formed rock formations and clear waters.

Our last stop of the day was Otatomari Pond.

Beautiful views of Mount Rishiri from the pond.

Our room at the Island Inn Rishiri.

The next day, we jumped on the Heartland Ferry to Rebun Island.

View of the seating on the ferry.

First stop, North Canary Park.

Clear views of Mount Rishiri and some perfect pics!

Having fun on the swings.

The school building that was built for the Japanese movie, Canaries of the North.

Tour Manager Andy Lau, sporting his Rishiri t-shirt.

After lunch, we took in some views of Cape Sukoton's incredible landscapes.

Sign reads, "Cape Sukoton, the Northernmost Point."

After some pics at Cape Sukoton, we rode the ferry back to Rishiri.

The next morning we visited the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park.

Himenuma Pond is a peaceful, man-made body of water within Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park.

Lots of beautiful flowers and butterflies here.

After the pond, we jumped on a ferry to Wakkanai and stopped by Cape Soya.

The Prayer Monument at Cape Soya.

Future of Our Children Peace Bell, Cape Soya

World Peace Bell, Cape Soya

Wild Yezo sika deer

Cape Soya, the northernmost point in Japan.

We arrived at our overnight stay at the Surfeel Hotel Wakkanai.

For dinner we enjoyed a kaiseki dinner at the hotel.

Delicious crab.

Thinly sliced octopus.

We visited Sarobetsu Marshland, a national wetland park.

Walking paths let you explore the marsh safely.

Then we stopped at Janome Zushi for lunch.

Delicious soba and tempura lunch.

We were able to get a view of the Hokkaido Daikannon.

And Koshoin Temple in the distance.

We checked in to the Shin Furano Prince Hotel for 2 nights.

And enjoyed a yummy buffet dinner.

We started the next day at the Furano Cheese Factory to learn how to make ice cream.

Started off with fresh Hokkaido milk!

Freshly made waffle bowls!

The finished ice cream!

Time to taste our sweet creation!

After the sweet treat, we visited Farm Tomita to view the seasonal flowers.

And their yummy soft serve!

We left Furano for Biei and visited the Blue Pond.

The pond gets its name from the almost unworldly blue color of its waters.

And Shirahige Waterfall, or “white beard waterfall."

Yubari Melon Dome

The orange-fleshed Yubari Melon (Japan’s Cadillac of melons) is showcased at the dome.

You start off with one tray, then you can have more. Each tray contains one whole melon.

Our melon eating champions, eating four trays together!

A highlight of the tour was lunch at Kitanogurume, where we picked out live crabs from the tanks.

Then sat down for a fresh seafood feast of crab and kaisendon.

King crab legs.

Kaisendon, fresh seafood over rice.

Miso soup with crab.

Non-raw seafood tour members had shredded crab over rice bowl with miso butterfish and salmon.

We stopped at Tanaka Sake Brewery to tour the facilities and taste the sake.

Then took a stroll around the Otaru Canal.

We couldn't resist the 8-layer ice cream, a recommended spot in Otaru.

Exploring more of Sapporo for our final leg of the tour. Here is the Sapporo Clock Tower.

We enjoyed lunch at the Asahi Beer Garden.

It was all you can eat and drink.

Bellies full and ready to head from Chitose to Haneda and back to Honolulu!

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2026 Summer Lavender Northern Hokkaido Tour Featuring Rishiri Island Photos

Lavender Fields, Island Life and Northern Hokkaido: Our 2026 Summer Tour

Travel Photo Gallery

Explore more adventures in our photo and video galleries below!