An arctic field adventure tour will be held at Lake Shumarinai, commonly known as Shumari, in Horokanai Town, located in the northern Hokkaido region. This lake is the site of Japan's coldest ever temperature, recorded at -41.2°C (unofficially known as -41.2°C). The area around Lake Shumarinai has previously recorded Japan's coldest temperature, -41.2°C, and currently remains below -30°C. On February 14, 2018, Hokkaido recorded a snowfall of 3.11m, exceeding three meters, for the first time in 36 years. It is known as a place in a class of its own, even within Hokkaido. Although the lake was originally built as a dam for power generation, over 70 years later, it remains surrounded by a dense virgin forest and offers a rich natural environment, home to a variety of creatures, including the endangered and rare fish, the taimen.


On this tour, Nobuyuki Nakano, a winter expert living in the extremely cold and snowy region of Shumarinai, will guide you through the adventure. The "Experience Activity Plan @ Lake House Shumarinai" (one night, two meals, accommodation included/¥35,000) will take you to a private tent on the lake and lead you to the "lakeside cafe." You can take a break from the bitterly cold lake with a hot drink and food. You can also try smelt fishing, a winter activity unique to Lake Shumarinai. If you're lucky, you might catch a large fish like cherry salmon or white-spotted char, and enjoy the fun of sourcing a side dish for dinner.


With its 13 islands, complex topography, and expansive landscape, Lake Shumarinai has been described as reminiscent of Finland, Alaska, Canada, or the polar regions. The "ultimate powder snow," a gift of the extreme cold and heavy snowfall, creates an overwhelmingly extraordinary space.


Other activities include a snowmobile tour that takes you around the world, creating scenery that some describe as "not quite Japan," and enjoying the snow, a place that could be called the origin of snow play. Adults and children alike can enjoy sliding down steep slopes, getting pulled around by snowmobiles, and more.