Hokkaido Water Story: Kiyosato Springs, Farm and Shochu Tour

Kiyosato is a small farm town in eastern Hokkaido, between Shiretoko and Lake Mashu. Two volcanoes feed its water: rain and snow from the hills around Lake Mashu rise at Kaminoko Pond, and water from Mt. Shari surfaces as springs, waters the fields and becomes the town's potato shochu.

This guided tour follows both. See Kaminoko Pond up close and hear why its water looks so blue. Drink from the spring at Raiun Shrine, 6 to 7°C all year. From late April to early November, walk into a fourth-generation farmer's field. At the distillery, run by the town since 1975, step inside the barrel room; in September and October you also see the shochu being made. The day ends with lunch and a shochu tasting at Kiyo-ru.

From November to late April you walk, or snowshoe from mid-January to late March, through the forest to Kaminoko Pond, which never freezes.

A local guide leads the tour with an English interpreter all day. Groups are five guests at most and may be shared with other travelers.