Hi everyone, I’m planning my third trip to Japan doing a bit of a off-beaten-path trip and would like to hear some tips and feedback on my current itinerary from Oct 21***\**st* to Nov 5***\**th*, especially if you are familiar with the area of Japan that I will be exploring
Please let me know:
- If the pacing is fairly realistic without being too rushed?
- Will I encounter any issues with public transport, etc?
- If there’s any recommendation or suggestions 🙂
✈️ Trip Overview
- Total Days: 16 days, 15 nights
- Arrival Airport: Sapporo CTS (~Noon)
- Departure Airport: Tokyo Narita (~1:30 pm)
- Pass: JR EAST Pass (Tohoku Area) – 5 days
🗓️ Itinerary overview
Day 1 – Oct 21***\**st* (Tue): Arrival in Sapporo – CTS
- Land at CTS (~ noon). Check in at a hotel near Susukino station
- Have lunch and explore around Odori Park, Sapporo TV Tower, and Nakajima Park in the afternoon. Then take the Mt Moiwa Ropeway in the evening.
Day 2 – Oct 22***\**nd* (Wed): Jozankei Day Trip
- Jozankei Onsen Day Trip. Also hoping to catch the bus to Hoheikyo Dam from Jozankei
- Have dinner in Sapporo and probably explore Asahiyama Memorial Park in the evening.
Day 3 – Oct 23***\**rd* (Thurs): Otaru + Yoichi Day Trip
- Go to Otaru in the morning to explore the town and have lunch there
- Nikka whiskey tasting tour after lunch (reservation at 2:30 pm)
- Go back to Otaru for dinner and back to Sapporo to walk around Susukino and hit a bar/brewery in the area.
Day 4 – Oct 24***\**th* (Fri): Explore Sapporo
· Explore Sapporo for the day: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Hokkaido Jingu, Maruyama Park, Sapporo TV Tower, Hokkaido Uni, and Sapporo Beer Museum.
Day 5 – Oct 25***\**th* (Sat): Sapporo → Lake Toya
- Take an early bus from Sapporo to Toyako Onsen (~2:30 hrs). Check in to hotel.
- Explore the south side of Lake Toya and take the ferry to Nakajima Island.
- Have dinner and go to Onsen until fireworks
Day 6 – Oct 26***\**th* (Sun): Lake Toya
- Explore more of Lake Toya: Sobetsu Park, Mt Usu Ropeway, Silo Observation Deck
- Maybe rent a bike in Lake Toya (?)
Day 7 – Oct 27***\**th* (Mon): Lake Toya → Hakodate
- Take a train in the morning from Lake Toya to Hakodate Station (~ 2 hours). Drop off luggage into hotel near Hakodate Station.
- Explore Goryokaku and Kosetsuen in the day. Have dinner/drinks in the Bay area
Day 8 – Oct 28***\**th* (Tue): Hakodate
- Breakfast at Hakodate Morning Market
- Explore Motomachi area and nearby neighborhood, including the Red Brick Warehousre
- Ride the Mt Hakodate Ropeway in the afternoon.
Day 9 – Oct 29th (Wed): Hakodate → Aomori
- Arrange taxi for a pick-up from hotel to Hakodate Ferry Terminal
- Take a ferry across to Aomori (~4 hours). Is it better to take Shinkansen instead?
- Check into hotel near Aomori Station.
- Go and explore Hirosaki Castle + Garden for the rest of the day
- Back to Aomori in the evening
Day 10 – Oct 30***\**th* (Thu): Day trip to Mt Hakkoda
- Morning bus to Hakkoda Ropeway Station and take the ropeway
- Hiking for ~3 – 4 hours, and take the bus back to Aomori
- Explore A factory and Nebuta Museum in the afternoon
Day 11 – Oct 31***\**st* (Fri): Day Trip to Oirese Gorge and Lake Towada
· 1st day to activate JR EAST Pass (Tohoku area)
- Morning JR bus to Ishigedo stop at Oirese Gorge
- Rent a bike and bike Oirese Gorge upstream to Nenokuchi
- Take a Lake Towada ferry across to Yasumiya. Explore Yasumiya area before taking a JR bus back to Aomori Station
Day 12 – Nov 1***\**st* (Sat): Aomori → Hiraizumi
· *I am tempted to go back to Hirosaki to check out the Autumn Festival there in the morning*
- Take Shinkansen from Aomori to Ichinoseki; then train to Hiraizumi
- Check into a hotel in Hiraizumi
- Explore Hiraizumi for the rest of the day: Chusonji, Motsuji, etc
Day 13 – Nov 2***\**nd* (Sun): Geibeikei Gorge Day trip
- Take a train to Ichinoseki to drop off luggage into a hotel in Ichinoseki
- Take a train to Geibikei Gorge and take the River Boat Tour.
- May go back to Hiraizumi to explore things I miss on day 12. Otherwise just chill in Ichinoseki after Geibikei Gorge
Day 14 – Nov 3***\**rd* (Mon): Ichinoseki → Sendai → Matsushima
· Take a shinkansen from Ichinoseki to Sendai in the morning. Drop off luggage into a hotel
· Take a train to Shiogama and explore Shiogama Shrine
· Take a ferry from Shiogama to Matsushima. Explore Matsushima for the day.
· Back to Sendai
Day 15 – Nov 4***\**th* (Tue): Yamadera Day Trip.
· Take a train from Sendai to explore Yamadera in the morning.
· Back to Sendai for dinner and take shinkansen from Sendai to Tokyo
· Check into a hotel in Asakusa. May explore the are a bit, or go to a bar in Ueno for a night-cap.
Day 16– Nov 5***\**th* (Wed): Flight home out from Narita Airport
· Have a breakfast somewhere in Asakusa
· Take Narita Express to Narita Airport to fly out
Thanks for reading and hoping to hear some feedback and suggestions!
by CRISPR-0322