Tours & Experiences | Hokkaido Smelt Fishing & Nature Experiences

Please choose the tour plan you would like to join

Lake Kanayama in Minamifurano, the holy land of smelt fishing, with a pro guideSmelt Fishing × Hot Spring × Hokkaido Cuisine Plan

A relaxed one-day experience.
Enjoy a Hokkaido winter, smelt fishing, hot springs and Hokkaido's finest food, all in one plan.
After smelt fishing, head to a hot spring.
Savor tempura made from the smelt you caught yourself, plus a rare venison tenderloin rice bowl.
Even first-timers can enjoy smelt fishing with confidence.
We provide all fishing gear and supplies, so you can join empty-handed even if you have no equipment.

What you'll experience

Ice fishing for smelt on a stunning lake
Experience everything “from the start,” including setting up the tent and drilling holes
Enjoy hot springs and gourmet food in a single day
Attentive support in small groups (2–4 people)
Includes a welcome dinner of your choice

Tour Highlights

Stunning winter view of Lake Kanayama, a smelt fishing spot

We load our gear onto the sled and we're off.

Participants enjoying smelt fishing on the ice

No worries if it's your first time. Enjoy relaxed smelt fishing inside a warm tent.

Tour with smelt tempura and a hot spring

A special smelt fishing experience set in a classic Hokkaido winter landscape.

From how to use the gear to how to fish, your pro guide supports you every step of the way.

The tent is equipped with a gas heater, so you can stay comfortable without gloves.

Even amid the snowy scenery, the tent stays comfortable, so those worried about the cold can relax.

Your guide grills our delicious and popular wild garlic (gyoja ninniku) dumplings inside the tent. Enjoy a luxurious on-ice lunch with hot tea and Seicomart rice balls.

We took it nice and easy, and look how many we caught!

After the experience, head to a hot spring and slowly warm up your chilled body.

After the hot spring, enjoy our signature venison tenderloin rice bowl and tempura of the smelt you caught.

Two gourmet treats round off the trip.

A one-day smelt fishing tour you can enjoy with peace of mind from start to finish.

Now using a large tent
for even more comfort

From March, our smelt tours use one of the largest tents in Japan, the PROX Gran Paopic.
In this spacious tent, enjoy smelt fishing in more comfort than ever before.

Spacious,
comfortable space

Worry-free
even on cold days

Relax and
enjoy

Smelt tour using the large PROX Gran Paopic tent

Tour Overview

Season: through the end of March (approx.)
Operating days: Mon, Wed, Fri (other days available, please ask via LINE)
*To avoid parking congestion and ensure participant safety, tours are generally held on weekdays.
Meeting: time and place decided after consultation
Price: ¥24,000 per person *For groups of 3–4: ¥20,000 per person
Group size: 2–3 people (please consult us for more than 4)
Duration: day trip (adjusted to include hot spring and meal)

[Included in the price]
• One-on-one lessons, full smelt fishing tackle set, winter wear set, gloves and boots, Yunosato Onsen admission, venison tenderloin rice bowl, guide-recommended lunch
• Payment on site (PayPay accepted)

For those who want to use their winter travel days freely

We also offer small-group custom plans where destinations and times are decided together with you.

View CUSTOM TOUR

Our Popular Wild Garlic Dumplings

We prepare handmade dumplings using wild garlic (gyoja ninniku) that our chief guide personally foraged in early spring, marinated in homemade soy sauce.
During the tour, your guide grills them in the tent so you can enjoy them fresh off the heat.
Piping-hot wild garlic dumplings, enjoyed between casts amid Hokkaido's nature.
Enjoy them alongside the main dish for a moment unique to Only One Tours.

Tour Flow

Smelt Fishing, Hot Spring & Meal

8:00 | Meet & Depart

The meeting place is decided in consultation with you when you book.

11:00 | Arrive at Lake Kanayama

We pull a large sled to the fishing spot and drill holes in the ice ourselves.
With thorough instruction from your pro guide, enjoy the tug of the smelt, then a luxurious on-ice lunch of wild garlic dumplings, Seicomart rice balls and hot tea.

16:00 | Smelt fishing ends

After taking photos of your catch and packing up the tent, we return to the car by sled. We then head to the hot spring along a road where deer are often spotted.

17:00 | Yunosawa Onsen Mori no Shiki

Enjoy your own catch as tempura, plus a Hokkaido venison tenderloin rice bowl and the hot spring.

18:00 | Tour ends

The tour ends in Sapporo.

What to Bring

Cold-weather gear (down jacket, gloves, knit hat, boots, etc.)

We provide wear, but this tour goes to a very cold area.
If you care about your outfit and photos, feel free to enjoy warm and stylish looks with your favorite outerwear and accessories ♪
Stay warm and make wonderful memories!
Smartphone (for photos)

Your guide will take photos and videos during the tour and send them to you as memorial shots via LINE or similar after the tour.

Important Notes

⚠️ Please follow staff instructions while on the ice.
• Details may change depending on weather and ice conditions.
• Please dress warmly when you join.
• If you're feeling unwell, please let us know rather than pushing yourself.

*Toilets are outdoor temporary toilets in February and simple toilets inside the tent in March.

2026 MEMORIAL PHOTO

Memories of the 2026 Season

Here are memories of the Lake Kanayama smelt tour
with everyone who joined us in the 2026 season.

Click a photo to enlarge it

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US

Thank you so much for joining us
throughout the 2026 season.

SUNAGAWA TOUR

Spend a day in Sunagawa:
smelt fishing and a delicious food-filled treat

About an hour from Sapporo. Starting with Sunagawa's popular “SHIRO Minna no Kojo,”
this day trip explores Sunagawa's charms, including handmade soba, ranch food and sweets.
Taste soba you made yourself and tempura of freshly caught smelt,
a special lunch you can only have here.
In the afternoon, visit Iwase Farm, Restaurant Rivista and the Sunagawa Sweets Road,
and finish with apple pie from Honda and Nakaya, a day to enjoy everything Sunagawa has to offer.
Beyond winter, Sunagawa offers year-round appeal with food and nature that soothe the soul,
and in winter we offer a tour with a special smelt fishing experience.

01 SHIRO MINNA NO KOJO

SHIRO Minna no Kojo

A special time surrounded by fragrance

Experience the world of SHIRO, available only here.
Enjoy a special time blending your own perfume, browsing the shop and learning about the thinking behind the craftsmanship.

02 SUNAGAWA GOURMET

Year-Round Food & Experiences in Sunagawa

Explore Sunagawa, packed with delicious and fun things.

01Soba-Making Experience

Soba you make yourself is exceptional. Enjoy it freshly made for lunch.

02Smelt Tempura & Handmade Soba

A luxurious lunch of tempura made from freshly caught smelt and freshly made soba.

03Iwase Farm & Restaurant Rivista

Carefully crafted dishes made with fresh ingredients,
enjoyed with a magnificent view.

04Ranch Gelato

Rich gelato that brings out the flavor of its ingredients. Be sure to try the milk flavor only a ranch can offer.

05Apple Pie from Honda & Nakaya

Sunagawa's famous apple pie.
Take home the taste of a renowned shop as a souvenir of your trip.

06Sunagawa Sweets Road

Visit popular sweets shops around town and enjoy snacking on the go and shopping.

07Enjoy Seasonal Nature

There are also photo spots where you can encounter the nature and scenery of every season.
Enjoy the changing views of each season.

08Seasonal Pleasures

A tour offering smelt fishing in winter, and fun nature and food experiences in the other seasons too.

03 WINTER ONLY

Winter-Only Smelt Fishing Experience

A special winter-only experience enjoyed in crisp, clear air

In winter, you can try smelt fishing at Oasis Park in Sunagawa. Freshly caught smelt can also be made into tempura on the spot. Enjoy a winter activity you can only do here, surrounded by snowy nature.

Catch it, eat it,
make it a winter memory.

Soba-making experience guided by master Hirama

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

A Special Culinary Experience with Soba Master Hirama

After enjoying ice fishing for wakasagi smelt, head to a warm private room inside the Sunagawa Oasis Park administration building.

Your instructor is Mr. Hirama, the former director of the Sunagawa Oasis Park administration building and a skilled soba-making master. Under his guidance, you will experience the traditional art of making authentic Japanese soba noodles.

The wakasagi you catch will also be freshly prepared as crispy tempura! Enjoy a special tasting experience featuring your own handmade soba noodles and freshly fried wakasagi tempura — a truly memorable culinary experience unique to this tour.

04TOUR INFORMATION

Tour Overview & Pricing

We offer two plans that let you enjoy both food and experiences.

Season: Open year-round
(Smelt fishing included in the winter plan／
Period: February 1–25, 2027)
Operating days: Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Departure: Around 8:00 in Sapporo
Group size: Up to 4 people (Please contact us for groups of 5 or more.)
Duration: Approx. 10 hours

🌱 Year-Round Plan(no smelt fishing)

2 people16,000yen/person

3–4 people14,000yen/person

❄ Winter Plan(includes smelt fishing)

2 people20,000yen/person

3–4 people18,000yen/person

Included in the priceOne-on-one lectures, transport, and the cost of each experience, tour and meal
(soba-making experience & lunch / SHIRO Minna no Kojo tour / Iwase Farm restaurant / gelato / apple pie, etc.)
*The itinerary and details may change depending on the season, weather and road conditions, so please contact us in advance.