Our timing this week couldn’t have been much worse.After leaving Rausu, we wanted to stay at the onsen campground. Soaking in the outdoor baths sounded like the perfect reward after the Shiretoko hike. Unfortunately, the campsite wouldn’t open for another two days. We spoke to people at the town hall…

From Sapporo, we took a bus to Kushiro and then another bus onward to Rausu, a small but bustling fishing town on the edge of the Shiretoko Peninsula. We stayed in a Rider House, sleeping in the attic. A kind elderly man welcomed us, and we both did our best…

After a total journey of 29 hours, we arrived in Sapporo! We’re using the days to recover, enjoy the first cultural impressions and of course continue preparing for our hiking journey. On the first day we wandered through the streets of Sapporo and picked up our first onigiris, rice balls…