Hi all! My fiancee and I are doing our honeymoon in Japan next August, and due to the heat (and because it looks beautiful) we've decided to start in Hokkaido for a week and a half before moving on to Tokyo. We definitely want to spend a few days in the Furano/Biei/Daisetsuzan area, but are not sure where to start. We've narrowed it down to three areas:
– Jozankei/Sapporo/Otaru
– Akan Mashu
– Lake Toya
They all seem wonderful, but do you guys have any recommendations for one over the others?
To break it down, here are our tentative itineraries for each:
SAPPORO
July 31/Aug 1 fly to Tokyo then to Sapporo chitose airport
– taxi to Chalet Ivy Jozankei
Aug 3 chill day at Jozankei – relax, walk around the area, enjoy the spa at night
Aug 4 Sapporo
– hokkaido jingu and Fushimi Inari shrine (45 minutes walking from one to the other but it might be nice to explore, take our time)
– mt moiwa ropeway at sunset
– dinner – scallop butter ramen at Amewayasashiku
Aug 4 Otaru
– drive up
– take a boat through the Blue Grotto (may need reservations/tickets)
– lunch: Otaru Sushi Restaurant Street and leTAO bakery
– Otaru music box museum
– wander around for dinner, possibly at Masazashu Hontai
Aug 5
– Wagashi Sweets Making class south of Sapporo in the morning (or if we prefer, just have a spa day at the hotel)
– head up to Sapporo to wander around – beer fest, explore ramen alley for dinner and maybe do some shopping at Sapporo Factory
– drinks at Slow Boat in the evening
AKAN MASHU
July 31 fly out, land on August 2
Fly from Tokyo to Kushiro, taxi or shuttle to Akan Tsuruga Besso Hinaoza, relax in in-room onsen and have a nice dinner there
August 3 chill day to get used to jet lag – walk around Lake Akan for a bit, visit the mud volcano, abandoned railway, or akan art gallery, and then use the hotel spa/get massages
August 4
– Kayak around Lake Akan
– after lunch, visit the Marimo Moss Ball Museum or Halyuru shrine (see if we can kayak all the way to them)
– visit nearby Lawson for snacks/lunch before setting out
– Forest Night Walk light show after dinner
August 5
– Ainu guided tour of the forest and/or of Ainu Village
August 6
-free hike day – can find particular places in Akan Mashu to visit, loop around the lake, or enjoy the spa – decide vibes that day
LAKE TOYA
July 31 fly out, land on August 2
Fly from Tokyo to Chitose, taxi or shuttle to Bourou Lake Toya or Hikari No Uta, relax in in-room onsen and have a nice dinner there – watch the fireworks from our room/onsen
August 3 chill day to get used to jet lag – walk around Lake Toya for a bit and do some birding, maybe go up for lunch at Kozensyo Nakamura then stop at Lake Hill Farm for ice cream
– use the spa at night
August 4kayak around Lake toya – go to the floating tower and Nakajima Island if we can, otherwise just kayak around
– before departing, grab rice balls from the Rice Ball Store for lunch
August 5
– Jigokudani Hell Valley, stopping at the Oyunuma Natural Footbath
– Noboribetsu Date Jidai Village or Noboribetsu Bear Park if we have time afterward
August 6
-enjoy a spa treatment during the day, go to the Mt Usu Ropeway in the afternoon and take in the views
– Sushi Aikawazushi for lunch
– fireworks cruise in the evening
Obviously Sapporo would mean more taxiing and be a little more fast paced, though it might have more to do which could be fun. (Though for a honeymoon staying in a hotel with a nice lake view for a few days may be preferable – I'm trying to make sure it's relaxing but not boring.) From what I can tell there won't be a huge difference between Toya vs Akan, other than Toya having fireworks and maybe a few more cute touristy things do to and Akan having more wildlife to see and being the best to see the stars.
Apologies for the long post, but do you guys have any suggestions? Thanks!
by Crambo1000