Hokkaido: L'Éclat Pur du Lac Shikotsu – Circuit Auto Inoubliable

Tomo was a fantastic guide. Friendly and knowledgeable, he took us to all the important places in lake Shikotsu, where we went fishing and was in an excellent onsen. Highly recommended!

It was a fantastic trip! Tomo San was very knowledgeable and friendly, and took us to all the hotspots in Shikotsu. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

The tour not to miss! We were very lucky that our tour guide was Tomo-san. He was very well organized and made sure that we have everything we may need to make our journey enjoyable. His English and driving skills were excellent. We had enough time to enjoy all the points of our tour without rushing. He is very knowledgeable, warm, flexible and friendly person. Special thank you for your help with fishing:) and wonderful experience in onsen.

Our private tour with Tomo had some highlights but ultimately did not meet our expectations. The morning started off well with pleasant scenery to Shikotsuko Lake, where we enjoyed a scenic viewpoint and delicious Hokkaido-style ice cream. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was less satisfying. Firstly, Tomo's vehicle was very uncomfortable. The rough ride, combined with his driving style, made the journey physically taxing. Additionally, we understood from the wording on his tour description that it  "included" three onsen visits, but we only went to one. It would be helpful if Tomo clarified what is actually included in the tour to avoid misunderstandings. Communication was also lacking. We received little guidance on our location or what was planned next. Moreover, one of the onsen we intended to visit was closed, and although Tomo took us to an alternative, it was an hour away and not up to expectations. That onsen was old, dirty, and had an unpleasant smell of curry from the attached restaurant; not at the level of the originally planned Onsen visit with a view of the lake. Overall, the afternoon was quite disappointing, and the tour fell short of what we had hoped for given the high price. More planning (for example calling the Onsen ahead of time for a reservation) and better communication could significantly improve the experience.

The drive out of town was really enjoyable. Tomo is a great tour guide and will create a bespoke experience, just for you. Shikotsu Lake is so clear and absolutely gorgeous. The ambience is serene and picturesque. Possible sightings of deer and bears. Try some fresh sushi straight from the lake or the fried or grilled 'chips' (sock-eyed salmon). The Hokkaido melon ice-cream was truly mind blowing, a must try! A visit to Marukoma Onsen is a truly beautiful experience as you soak in the natural hot springs on the edge of the lake and then dip into the ice baths. Perfect for a meditation. Enjoy your way home in peace, or crack out the Karaoke, however you like!

Tomo was an amazing tour guide for this tour and another tour I had with him in Sapporo as well. He was very helpful and customized the itinerary based on my interests and needs. It was great to hear about the stories and other helpful information about the area, food, and onsen culture. It's a bit hard to travel around Hokkaido without a car, so this is such a great option and we made various stops including an observatory, food street, onsen, and even a last stop at an awesome ice cream store. You can even enjoy karaoke during the ride :) I recommend Tomo and this trip to anyone, and I look forward to coming back for another season with more tours with Tomo. Thank you, Tomo for such a great time!