Technical Tour

“Establishment of Hokkaido: Water Management in the Past and Future”

This tour is specially designed for GEWEX scientists and is hosted by the Local Organizing Committee. The tour aims to embody the conference theme of “Water・Climate” and Anthropocene by exploring dynamic natural zones, farms, and infrastructure facilities along the river. Participants will learn about the practical application of scientific knowledge to societal adaptation to climate change.

Itinerary

At 08:30 am a comfortable tour bus will pick us up at Keio Plaza Hotel and will bring us to our first stop, Hoheiko Dam. We will hike to to top where we will learn more about Houheikyou valley and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Around 10:15 am we will continue our journey to Hakkenzan winery. Thanks to its unique microclimate and soils, Mt. Hakkenzan area is well known as suitable for orchard and farming in Sapporo which is a growing industry in Japan. The unique local wines are made from grapes and apples produced by Hakkenzan winery’s our own vineyards and neighboring farms. Also available are locally produced jams, juices, and processed products.

The bus tour along the Toyohira river will show us more of Sapporo’s geomorphology including the rushing flow of Toyohira River and the alluvial fan on which Sapporo city is built. During the drive a video will be shown on the establishment of Hokkaido and its coal industry.

Our next stop is the Sapporo Sewerage Science Museum to learn more about Sapporo’s sewerage systems which also plays an important role in preserving the environment, including organisms in the rivers and in preventing disasters caused by heavy rains.

This tour will be concluded at Moerenuma Park where lunch will be served. Lunch will feature a standing buffet-style meal, offering an introduction to Japanese food culture using Hokkaido’s world-famous seasonal ingredients. After lunch follows an introduction to the many functions of Moerenuma Park (by-products of cutoff channels, storage facilities for climate change (watershed flood control), parks, and art).

The tour ends at Keio Plaza Hotel around 16:30 hrs.

Images courtesy of Sapporo Travel (left to right) Sapporo Sewerage Science Museum, Hoheikyo Dam, Moerenuma Park, Hakkenzan Winery.
Images (bottom left to right) Lunch at Moerenuma park courtesy of COOLSTAR

Details & Registration

Date: Saturday July 13, 2024
Price: 5,000 JPY per person (5 tickets max.)
* Children under 3yrs. of age are free1
Group size: max. 80 persons.
1 seated on your lap on the bus and will not receive their own lunch

What’s Included

  • Transport by an air-conditioned comfortable bus.
  • Technical Government official who guides the tour (English-speaking)
  • Specially planned Japanese cuisine with world-renowned ingredients of Hokkaido. (standing-buffet style)

Disclamer

The organizers cannot accept liability for personal accident, loss, or damage to private property, which may be incurred as a result of participation in any of the organized tours . Participants are, therefore, advised to arrange appropriate insurance coverage.

Route of the Technical Tour by Google Maps