Hokkaido Travel Guides (Updated September 2026)

This was a great experience! We learned a bit about the history of not just soba but udon and ramen in Japan. Making the soba itself was fun, and then at the end they cook you a delicious meal with what you just made!

I'll bring you romance~❣An older brother who approached me with a very friendly smile. Since they said they would guide us to places with few tourists, my friend and I decided to ride with them. The night view reflected on the quiet Otaru Canal, where no one was around, was a truly wonderful space illuminated by the gentle glow of the gas lamps and the moon. It was nice to see a completely different view of the historic buildings when they were lit up, unlike during the daytime. The fun story flew by in 60 minutes. The two older women were completely smitten by the smile of Shibakō Ryū, the rickshaw puller, who was so charming. Since you are on a business trip in Otaru during the summer, please take me with you next time you go to Kyoto. I went to the morning market diner you recommended for breakfast the next day!It was delicious. It became a really good memory. Thank you💞

Taku is very knowledgeable and helpful. I had a lot of fun making the soba noodles. When they were done Taku cooked them for me. They are both very friendly. We chatted while I ate the noodles, which were delicious. Highly recommend this experience!

It was a 45-minute tour at 8pm, but it was a very good excursion. I want to ride again next time.

It was great ! We had the opportunity to climb a mountain and do some site seeing, we went through a risk assessment and made sure it was safe, alll in all, was very good.

Would definitely recommend Chris as a tour guide for hiking in Sapporo. He led my family (myself, husband and 2 kids under 10) on a fantastic hike up the Soranuma dake trail up to the Bankei hut and lake. He was knowledgeable, friendly , good with the kids and made us all feel very safe. I don’t often write reviews but felt compelled to write this one as he was so good!

A really cool excursion that was expensive (like everything else in Iceland) but actually worth the money Had a topoenguide called Oli Blomqvist who elevated the trip 😀

Highly recommend this experience! From learning the history of soba in Japan, to the hands on making of the noodles itself and having the actual soba noodles prepared to eat, it was an awesome experience.

The charioteer (Shiba) in Otaru, Hokkaido is a cheerful and pleasant charioteer. The explanation of the guide is easy to understand and humorous. I can ride with peace of mind and it was a good memory. I have been in a tourist spot a few times and it was the best.

Chris is a native English speaker with 10 years of experience living in and hiking in Hokkaido. We enjoyed a moderate hike through a national park on a beautiful sunny day. Chris shared information on native flora and fauna. Much recommended!

Comfort and Safety paramount in hiking/climbing and Chris ensured that I enjoyed the trip! Chris briefed me perfectly on safety and customer expectations vs customer experience! The experience was beyond my expectations! I will come back to hike other trails with Chris! Bravo and take the plunge, it’s worth it!

We loved our rickshaw ride even though the weather was highly variable. Our guide took great care of us thru chilly sunny weather, rain, and even about 1/2 inch of hail! Our guide (Yota?) was very lively and fun, sharing interesting facts about Otaru, both past and present. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer fellow and would highly recommend this activity.

We went to the soba workshop with our 2 teenagers and we had a great time together! Its a cozy soba lunch place, where Tako explains and let you experience the making of soba noodles. After that he prepares the tasting, it was very delicious. The corn tempura he made for us was extra and was so yummy we asked for more which he kindly prepared for us and did not charge for it. Overall a great experience and fun thing to do with a small group.

Excellent experience for the whole family! Taku and his wife are the epitome of Japanese hospitality. Located about 20 minutes away from Sapporo Station by Taxi. We used the Go Taxi App. 1 hour includes history of soba, mixing soba flour and water by hand, rolling, and cutting by hand. The noodles are delicious and chewy. The soba sauce and soup are equally delicious. You can add on tempura if you’d like. Highly recommend this experience for the whole family.

Really fun experience! We had young children and Taku was super patient when guiding them, even with the big soba knife. The best part, tasting the delicious soba with the soba noodle water. Will highly recommend this!

Awesome experience in making soba! The staff was incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and friendly!