You may have already gone to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and want to visit Japan again… or just want to avoid the tourist crowds, and experience a different kind of Japan, surrounded by nature, and enjoying a slow-paced break. Here is an example 3 nights plan at ENJ Farmstay in Eastern Hokkaido. It is flexible to suit your needs, and written to give you ideas and inspiration.
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ENJ Farmstay is a cosy accommodation located in Eastern Hokkaido, in a green area of Teshikaga Town. Meet your hosts, Sayaka and Tammo, and enjoy the surrounding nature, with red-crowned cranes passing by, goats grazing the grass outside, and ducks in the fruit forest making you smile. Soak in the mineral-rich hot springs to end the night in your comfortable futon mattress.
Check in, meet your hosts: Sayaka and Tammo.
Settle in with an orientation around the house and around the fruit forest.
Tammo can explain the symbiotic relationship of the plants and animals.
Say hi to the goats and ducks!
Later on, if you have the energy, start making handmade gyoza together.
Enjoy sharing stories and laughing the night away.
Soak in the mineral-rich natural hot spring, called onsen (温泉) in Japanese.
Relax in your comfortable Japanese futon (with extra cushioning), with natural materials in the room creating a cosy atmosphere.
If you ordered breakfast, Sayaka can prepare a traditional Japanese breakfast for you.
Alternatively, we can prepare homemade bread with our special recipe.
It is optional to do Japanese radio exercises together, a beloved morning routine over generations.
You then have free time to walk, hike or bike at the surrounding lakes (Lake Mashu or Lake Kussharo, only 30 minutes by car or train), as we are nearby national parks.
In Winter, whooper swans gather at Lake Kussharo, due to the warm water from the natural hot springs.
You will likely spot some rare red-crowned cranes on the way!
Enjoy soup curry, a famous Hokkaido food at a local soup curry & bar.
For dinner, there is the option to enjoy homemade Japanese meals together, too, such as okonomiyaki, or making Japanese-style pizza from scratch together.
Wake up with radio exercise together, and enjoy a nourishing Japanese breakfast (optional).
Explore Teshikaga town, which is just 15 minutes from our place.
For lunch, there is Jingisukan (named after Genghis khan), which is a lamb dish, also famous in Hokkaido (at Poppotei, next to Mashu station).
There is a special sweets shop that has an outlet for sweets, it is very dangerous if you have a sweet tooth! 🙂
Drive to Lake Kussharo, and enjoy the crystal clear water of the lake, or if you book in advance, do stand-up paddling (SUP).
If you do the 3 hour course, you can boil your own eggs in the sulfuric volcanic hot springs.
Later on, enjoy a nice foot bath in the hot springs on the lake, and have dinner at a restaurant in the onsen town, Kawayu, with robata-yaki, a traditional Japanese style of fireside cooking where fresh seafood, vegetables, and meats are slow-grilled over hot charcoal.
For dinner, there is the option to enjoy Japanese meals together, too, like shabu-shabu, with local pork or beef.
Wake up to french-pressed coffee, or even freshly whisked matcha.
If you ordered breakfast, try natto, a sticky fermented soy bean dish that is a staple Japanese breakfast, together with rice.
Some people love it, some hate it. Give it a try!
If not, there is still Japanese egg-roll, with Hokkaido rice and miso soup for breakfast.
Wake up with radio exercise together (optional).
Take a rest & check out, or in the afternoon, take the local train and explore the next town over, Shibecha town.
There are cute cafes and even retro cafes that have been running for many years, loved by locals and travelers.
Explore the stationery shop, with local Japanese sweets too.
There are also bakeries to try out.
End the day relaxing in the private onsen again, or even try out the neighbour’s onsen, that is a private open-air hot spring (露天風呂).
If you wish, there is a sake tasting experience we have prepared, with a variety of options from Hokkaido.
Surprisingly, there is a whole list of activities you can do throughout the year.
We even had guests stay for 3 weeks, enjoying slow travel in Japan.
It is a nice balance to do 1 day of activities and 1 day of rest in between.
See the Farmstay Plus page for a list of activities.
By plane:
Fly to Kushiro Airport (KUH) (about 50 minutes).
By car: You can then take a rental car, it is about 1 hour drive. Rental cars are available next to the airport, if you reserve in advance. Don't worry, places such as Toyota rental car offers English support.
Please let us know if you wish to book a taxi, and we can assist.
From Kushiro Airport
→ Take the Airport Shuttle bus (950yen at time of writing) to
→ Kushiro Station.
From Kushiro Station
→ Take the Senmo line to Isobunnai Station (about 1 hour 10 min, 1590yen.)
By train: From Sapporo train station
→ 4 hour train (おおぞら) line (about 10,000yen)
→ Kushiro station.
→ Take the Senmo line to Isobunnai Station (about 1 hour 10 min, 1590yen.)
By bus: From Sapporo Station
→ Take the Sapporo Kushiro New-Star Express bus (about 5,500 yen, 5 hours & 5 minutes. Book online for a discount).
→ Kushiro Station.
→ Take the Senmo line (train) to Isobunnai Station (about 1 hour 10 min, 1590yen.)
Take a flight to Kushiro airport (KUH).
By car: Rent a car at Kushiro airport (reserve in advance). It is about a 1 hour drive to our Farmstay. Don't worry, places such as Toyota rental car offers English support.
Please let us know if you wish to book a taxi, and we can assist.
By train: From Kushiro Airport
→ Take the Airport Shuttle bus (950yen at time of writing) to
→ Kushiro Station. From Kushiro Station
→ Take the Senmo line to Isobunnai Station (about 1 hour 10 min, 1590yen.)
ENJ is a 5 minute drive from Isobunnai station.
Let us know your arrival time, and we can pick you up!
Please know that we are a reservation only accommodation.
Limited to 180 nights a year, and 1 group per night, together with the hosts, for a cosy setting.
See more and secure your spot today:
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