Wendy Wu Tours is expanding its Japan portfolio with the launch of its new Northern Japan: Secrets of Hokkaido tour.
Designed for travellers keen to explore a different side of Japan beyond the usual tourist trail.
Japan continues to cement its position as Australia’s most sought-after international destination, with recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showing travel to Japan surged 6.2 per cent compared to February 2025, overtaking Indonesia in monthly arrivals for the first time since international travel resumed in late 2022.
This growth aligns with Wendy Wu Tours’ The Journey Ahead report, which identifies Japan as the number one destination Australians want to visit, with 58 per cent of travellers also now preferring slower, more immersive and engaging travel experiences.
“While Japan’s iconic cities continue to attract travellers, we’re seeing a growing number of Australians returning for a second, third or even fourth visit. Japan has evolved from a once-in-a-lifetime destination into a place people return to time and again, each trip uncovering a different side of the country,” Wendy Wu Tours head of product Sonia Orrego said.
“Hokkaido delivers exactly that opportunity, offering deeper connections to nature, local culture and a slower pace of travel. It’s been carefully designed to go beyond the familiar and showcase the rich diversity that continues to make Japan one of the world’s most compelling travel destinations.”
Northern Japan: Secrets of Hokkaido
This 14-day Go Beyond tour starts at $12,090 per person (based on Early Bird pricing and a $900pp saving).
The itinerary takes travellers through the island’s spectacular landscapes from the flower fields of Furano and the peaks of Daisetsuzan National Park to the rugged coastline of the Shiretoko Peninsula.
Highlights include meeting Hokkaido’s Indigenous Ainu people, cruising the tranquil waters of Lake Akan, spotting wild brown bears in Shiretoko National Park, ascending Mount Asahidake by cable car, visiting a traditional dairy farm, and sampling local specialities, including Sapporo’s famous miso ramen.
