Overview Japan Itinerary: Hokkaido and Tokyo (Winter/Spring 2016)
Japan Itinerary
Be sure to bookmark this page as I update this page of my Japan Itinerary with useful tips and navigation around Hokkaido and Tokyo. Find out interesting attractions to visit, accommodation to stay and food to eat.
Useful Travel Information
Important Tips for Winter Wear:
- How to Layer Clothes for Winter? (Part 1)
- Layering Clothes for Winter (Part 2)
- First Time Skiers: What to Wear for Skiing?
Internet Access:
Other Travel Matters:
- Overseas Transactions Fees for ATM and Credit Card
- A Guide to Buy Travel Insurance
- Guide to Claim Travel Insurance (PART 1), (PART 2)
Airport Transfer:
Tokyo (Summary)
Accommodation
Places to Visit
- Doraemon Museum (Fujiko F. Fujio) | Tokyo
- Tsukiji Fish Market | Ginza, Tokyo
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, Tokyo Skytree or Tokyo Tower?
- Walking Around Glitzy Ginza, Japan
- Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park and Ota Museum | Harajuku Tokyo (Part 1)
- Takeshita Dori and Shopping | Harajuku Tokyo (Part 2)
- From Harajuku’s Cat Street to Shibuya
- What to Do at Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan?
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Spring Sakura
- Shimokitazawa
- Japan’s Drugstores:
- About the different drugstores in Japan: Drugstores in Japan (Part 1)
- Review on over the counter medicine: OTC Medicine in Japan’s Drugstores (Part 2)
- Review on facial products: Beauty Products in Japan’s Drugstores – Facial Care (Part 3A)
- Review on make up products: Make Up Products in Japan’s Drugstores (Part 3B)
- Review on hair and body products: Beauty Products to buy in Japan’s Drugstores – Hair and Body (Part 4)
Food to Eat
- What to Eat in Ginza, Tokyo?
- What to Eat in Harajuku and Shibuya Tokyo?
- What to Eat in Shinjuku Tokyo? (Part 1)
- What to Eat in Shinjuku Tokyo? (Part 2)
Hokkaido (Summary)
Transportation
- From Tokyo to Hokkaido
- Transportation in Hokkaido (Part 1)
- Winter Experience of JR Train in Hokkaido (Part 2)
Sapporo
- Top 5 Things To Do In New Chitose Airport Sapporo
- Sapporo in 2 Days – Suggested Itinerary
- Shiroi Koibito Park in Winter
- Chitose Outlet Mall, Rera
- 5 Food You Must Eat in Sapporo
- Accommodation Review: Dormy Inn Premium Otaru
- Accommodation Review: Richmond Hotel Sapporo Ekimae
Tomamu
Noboribetsu
- Noboribetsu in Winter
- Accommodation Review: Takinoya Bekkan Tamanoyu (Love this place~)
Niseko
- Flash Deal: AYA Niseko Accommodation and Ski Package
- Accommodation Review: Ki Niseko Review (Ski-in Ski-out Hotel)
- Where to Stay in Niseko?; My Top 3 Dream Stays in Niseko, Japan
- Where to eat in Niseko? (Grand Hirafu)
- About Skiing:
Otaru
- Accommodation Review: Dormy Inn Premium Otaru
- 5 Places to Eat in Otaru
- What to Eat in Otaru? (Desserts Edition)
- Attractions:
Detailed Itinerary: Hokkaido
26 Feb 16, Fri (DAY 1)
Tokyo
- Reach Narita International Airport | URL: Narita Airport Transfer to Tokyo
- Buy Hokkaido Rail Pass and Suica at JR East Travel Service Center | URLs: Transportation in Hokkaido (Part 1); Winter Experience of JR Train in Hokkaido (Part 2)
- Buy Doraemon (Tokyo) Tickets from Lawson Loppi
- Take Terminal Connection Bus from T1 to T3
Sapporo
- Vanilla Air: Tokyo > Sapporo (1hr50mins) | URLs: Hokkaido Shinkansen; Domestic Flight
- Dinner at Airport: Ebisoba Ichigen (えびそば 一幻) | URL: Top 5 Things To Do In New Chitose Airport Sapporo
- JR (40 mins): New Chitose Airport > Sapporo
- Check in: Hotel Keihan (ホテル京阪 札幌) | URL: Sapporo in 2 Days – Suggested Itinerary
27 Feb 16, Sat (DAY 2)
- Breakfast at Hotel Keihan
- Buy Donichika Ticket (One-day Subway Pass for Weekends and Holidays)
- Shiroi Koibito Park (2.5-3hrs): Tour and Morning Tea | URL: Shiroi Koibito Park in Winter
- Lunch: Garaku Curry | URL: 5 Food You Must Eat in Sapporo
- Shopping: Pole and Aurora Towns, Tanuki Koji Shopping Arcade | URL: Sapporo in 2 Days – Suggested Itinerary
- Attractions: Sapporo TV Tower, Sapporo Clock Tower, Odori Park | URL: Sapporo in 2 Days – Suggested Itinerary
- Snack: Go Tsubo | URL: 5 Food You Must Eat in Sapporo
- Dinner: Kani Donya (蟹問屋) | URL: 5 Food You Must Eat in Sapporo
28 Feb 16, Sun (DAY 3)
29 Feb 16, Mon (DAY 4)
- Chitose Outlet Mall, Rera
- Check in: Takinoya Bekkan Tamanoyu (Love this place~)
- Walk around Onsen Town and Hell Valley (Jigoku-Dani) | URL: Noboribetsu in Winter
1 Mar 16, Tue (DAY 5)
Noboreibetsu
- Morning at Onsen
- Breakfast at Ryokan: Takinoya Bekkan Tamanoyu
- JR (172 mins): Noboribetsu > Kutchan
Niseko
- Check In: Ki Niseko (Ski-in Ski-out Hotel) | URLs: Ki Niseko Review (Ski-in Ski-out Hotel); Where to Stay in Niseko?; My Top 3 Dream Stays in Niseko, Japan
- Rental of Equipment with Grand Hirafu Gondola Rental Shop
- Dinner: Yosaku (Yakitori) | URL: Where to eat in Niseko? (Grand Hirafu)
2 Mar 16, Wed (DAY 6)
- Full Day Ski Lesson with GoSnow | URLs: First Timer: Skiing at Niseko; First Time Skiers: What to Wear for Skiing?
- Lunch & Dinner: Takeaway from Convenience Store
3 Mar 16, Thu (DAY 7)
Niseko
- Breakfast: An Dining at Ki Niseko
- Full Day Ski Lesson with GoSnow | URL: First Timer’s Guide: 8 Ski Terms and Lingo
- Lunch: An Dining at Ki Niseko | URL: Where to eat in Niseko? (Grand Hirafu)
- JR (150 mins): Kutchan > Otaru Station
Otaru
- Check In: Dormy Inn Premium Otaru
- Dinner: Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten, 若鶏時代なると- Fried Chicken | URL: 5 Places to Eat in Otaru
4 Mar 16, Fri (DAY 8) | Otaru – Sapporo
Otaru
- Breakfast: Sankaku Fish Market (三角市場), Dining Takeda | URL: 5 Places to Eat in Otaru
- Otaru Canal – Day View
- Snack: Kamaei – Fish cake | URL: 5 Places to Eat in Otaru
- Dessert Snacks: Kitakaro main store (北菓楼), Rokkatei Otaru (六花亭), LeTao Outlets | URL: What to Eat in Otaru? (Desserts Edition)
- Attractions:
- Otaru Music Box Museums
- Kitaichi Glass Otaru
- Marchen intersection and Sakaimachi Street (境町通り) | URL: One Day Guide: Things to do in Otaru
- Ice Cream: Yamanaka Dairy Farm Otaru (山中牧場) | URL: What to Eat in Otaru? (Desserts Edition)
- Dinner: Yabuhan Soba | URL: 5 Places to Eat in Otaru
- JR (45 mins): Otaru > Sapporo Station
Sapporo
- Check in: Richmond Hotel Sapporo Ekimae
- Daimaru Food Hall
- Lunch: Tadumura Tazumura Tonkatsu Restaurant たづむら | URL: 5 Food You Must Eat in Sapporo
- Food Souvenir buying at New Chitose Airport, Sapporo | URL: Top 5 Things To Do In New Chitose Airport Sapporo
Bookmark this page as I update it with links of useful tips and navigation around Japan.
Travelled in February – March 2016
Hi Christina,
I am planning a 11 days family trip in dec 2016 that covers Bangkok, Osaka and Sapporo. While doing my study to plan the itinerary, I chance upon your travelog that gives me a good reference to begin with.
Thank you for sharing many of the useful information.
Hello Sam, great to hear that! :) Happy to be able to help. I will be updating the website with more information about Japan. Keep checking back :)
Hi Christina,
I will be in sappora with my 3 chidlren for holiday. Any interesting place to visit? Pls advise
Hello Peter,
When will you be going? I can’t comment much on the children friendly places, but you can consider Shiroi Koibito Park, Sapporo TV tower or Odori park. Sapporo in 2 Days – Suggested Itinerary. IMO, Sapporo is a city mainly for shopping and eating.
If you going for a winter holiday, you can venture a little further out to Niseko for skiing. I have a Niseko accommodation and ski package to let go at a good rate. You can check it out at travel.joogo.sg/great-deal-aya-niseko-ski-package :)
HI Christina!
We are going to Japan for a 12-day trip on December and stay there after New Year. We are planning to visit again Tokyo then Hokkaido. We are a family of 3. Any suggestions for our iterinary?
Hello Lillie! How long are you planning to stay in Tokyo and Hokkaido? And how old is your little one? :)
Hi Christina,
I’m planning to bring my family to Hokkaido next Nov 2018 for a 10days trip. Can u suggest where to go n accommodation place to stay? We tot of bringing the kids to Niroro resort for skiing.
Hello Sharon! I’ve never been to Niroro resort, so can’t comment. You can refer to my Tomamu and Niseko posts if you want to ski. Sapporo is more of a city, and Otaru a day trip location. It all depends on what you want to do during this trip :)
Hi Christina
I read at somewhere that in Japan, paying by cash is much more preferred than credit cards. Could you please advise? I’m wondering how much cash should I change for my 16 days trip. Thank you!
Hello Jing,
We usually pay by cash to save on the credit card charges. However, I assume credit card is accepted in most major cities of Japan. Having said that, I believe smaller establishments prefer cash. Hope this helps!