Wild Hokkaido!

Niseko has become synonymous with hitting the slopes in Hokkaido. The fine snow lures skiers from Japan and abroad. Tune in to take a ride on the lift and revel in breathtaking views of Mt. Yotei. This episode also features rare footage of wild birds and fish related to char. Join our reporter for some easy trekking amid the great nature of Niseko.

Our new program "Wild Hokkaido!" offers tourist information highlighting the wonderful nature of Hokkaido. In this episode, actress Charlotte Kate Fox visits the Kushiro area of eastern Hokkaido. After taking in the magnificent landscape of Kushiro Marsh, which is Japan's largest wetland, Fox encounters the Red-crowned crane, a bird that is symbolic of the area. These cranes stay with their partner for the entirety of their lives. Fox was moved by how the cranes synchronize their cries and take off together. She even had the opportunity to witness their mating ritual. The program also includes rare footage of the Red-crowned cranes, documenting their ecology in detail.

In this episode, we are visiting Hakodate in southern Hokkaido, which is gathering increased attention since the bullet train started its operation. Right next to the city stands the home to a breathtaking rich nature, Mt. Hakodate. Actress Charlotte Kate Fox is going up to the peak of Mt. Hakodate via ropeway. From where you can see Mt. Hakodate from a distance, you can enjoy the beautiful spring scenery of southern Hokkaido by riding a Dosanko, the native horse of Hokkaido. We'll also reveal the rare footage of Mt. Hakodate going through changes.

In this episode, we are visiting Furano in central Hokkaido. The cultivated flat lands have been used to create lavish lavender fields, a popular attraction among foreign tourists. Torinuma is one of the few remaining areas in Furano where the original landscape remains intact. Many wild birds gather at the lake because of the abundance of fresh spring water. Charlotte Kate Fox has begun bird-watching! She has spotted a duck floating upside down reaching for algae as well as a woodpecker searching for insects in trees.

In this episode, Charlotte Kate Fox visits Otaru, which is a 45-minute drive from Sapporo. The retro canal is a very popular tourist attraction. Otaru was a prospering town in the past and fished over a million tons of herring annually. For a period, the herring population had declined, but successful spawning has been observed in recent years. We will show you the impressive footage of the herring spawning later in the show. Charlotte will also try skishoe trekking for the first time on a mountain with an amazing ocean view! Join her, as she gets close to nature while enjoying the scenery of a snowy forest.

In this episode, our stage is the city that is home to the New Chitose airport and is known as the Sky's gateway to Hokkaido, Chitose. The Chitose River, which flows through the city, is well known for its clear streams as well as the salmon that swim upstream. Thanks to the abundance of nature along the stream, the river is also home to a wide variety of birds. In this program, we will witness rare footage of these birds that capture their ecology, and our host Charlotte Kate Fox will also visit a bird-watching café on the outskirts of the city to capture the wild birds on camera.