FIRST time in Hokkaido

[Viper0402]

I did not find Otaru worth 2 nights. Maybe one more night at Hakodate

yeah somehow I've realised that afterwards... but hotels fully paid liao

 

[evilerniex]

Ypu're referring to the price increase in October? I'm buying in September.
Look at my itinerary again..
Anyway here's the complete one:

1) Tokyo -
Shinjuku 3N stay to Tokyo DisneySea on 29Nov, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route 28Nov morning, and other Day trips (been to most parts of Tokyo back in 2015)

2) Sendai -
Sakunami Onsen 1N stay (mountain retreat, all meals inclusive)
Sendai city 3N stay and other Day trips. Go to Matsushima Bay

3) Hokkaido -
Sapporo 4N stay and other Day trips - 4Dec to 8Dec
Otaru 2N stay - 8Dec to 10Dec
Hakodate 1N stay - 10Dec to 11Dec

4) Tokyo final night stay in Shinagawa... flight back to Singapore from Haneda

if u buying before the price hike then confirm very worth it for the places u visiting.

ur alpine route going to be a day trip from tokyo? going to be very very rush. recommend staying a night at murodo, or at least somewhere nearer such as toyama or matsumoto.

 

[evilerniex]

I did not find Otaru worth 2 nights. Maybe one more night at Hakodate

i think otaru worth staying a night and visiting the areas nearby such as blue cave.
within the city also got tenguyama.. which will be quite rush if done in a day trip

 

[Viper0402]

if u buying before the price hike then confirm very worth it for the places u visiting.

ur alpine route going to be a day trip from tokyo? going to be very very rush. recommend staying a night at murodo, or at least somewhere nearer such as toyama or matsumoto.

i think otaru worth staying a night and visiting the areas nearby such as blue cave.
within the city also got tenguyama.. which will be quite rush if done in a day trip

Noted on the places you've mentioned

 

[Viper0402]

Trip coming up soon.
To see if anymore advices and recommendations

 

[Gixxerfied]

Noted on the places you've mentioned

tateyama alpine route day trip?

highly not recommended doing from Tokyo.

I did the route back in 2019 from toyama and mostly recently from nagano.

 

[Viper0402]

tateyama alpine route day trip?

highly not recommended doing from Tokyo.

I did the route back in 2019 from toyama and mostly recently from nagano.

Hi, why not from Tokyo?

 

[Viper0402]

You like onsen? There is a 1-day bus package to Jozankei which includes day visit to onsen plus return bus trip unlimited rides it’s very worth it. Can see snow already!

Hi, the 1-day bus package buy from where?

 

[Gixxerfied]

Hi, why not from Tokyo?

the amount of time needed to get from Tokyo to ogizawa.

you probably need to shinkansen to nagano first which is 1.5hrs and then express bus to ogizawa which is like 1hr 45mins. the whole course at a leisure pace is like 4-6hrs.. after that ends at toyama and you need to shinkansen back to Tokyo?

 

[rrr2015]

Hi, why not from Tokyo?

do note alpine route will be closed from 1 Dec 2023 onwards. reopening in Apr 2024

 

[oceanicmanta]

You can buy from Klook but it’s a bit more expensive and need to exchange voucher at chitose airport very troublesome.

https://www.klook.com/activity/86391-hokkaido-join-bus-trip-jozankei-hot-spring/?utm_campaign=platform-share&utm_content=platform=ios_pagespm=Activity_textversion=1_shareid=75CC090D-C098-48E4-AE6F-0EA6FFB604ED&utm_medium=more&utm_source=more

I just buy directly from the bus driver on the day or you can also buy from Japanese website. This website got all the info and bus timetable

https://www.jotetsu.co.jp/bus/global/index.html

https://www.jotetsu.co.jp/bus/global/qlqoi200000002wi-att/qlqoi200000003r1.pdf

to add ...

can check out the Tourist Info Center at Sapporo Station. Staff r helpful

https://www.sapporo.travel/en/info/about/tourist-information-center/

 

[Viper0402]

to add ...

can check out the Tourist Info Center at Sapporo Station. Staff r helpful

https://www.sapporo.travel/en/info/about/tourist-information-center/

Thank you so so much !

 

[Viper0402]

the amount of time needed to get from Tokyo to ogizawa.

you probably need to shinkansen to nagano first which is 1.5hrs and then express bus to ogizawa which is like 1hr 45mins. the whole course at a leisure pace is like 4-6hrs.. after that ends at toyama and you need to shinkansen back to Tokyo?

Reason is, Ogizawa bus to Nagano Station ends early (5pm?), have to rush.
And last Shinkansen from Toyoma to Tokyo, I have extra 4 hours.

 

[Gixxerfied]

Reason is, Ogizawa bus to Nagano Station ends early (5pm?), have to rush.
And last Shinkansen from Toyoma to Tokyo, I have extra 4 hours.

So you planning to get onto the first Kagayaki Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano? Believe that departs at 615am, reach Nagano at 745. The bus from Nagano to Ogizawa departs at 815 from behind Nagano Station or 8am from Hotel Metropolitan Nagano lobby. Reach Ogizawa at around 945 where you buy the ticket on the spot. Assuming you manage to get 10.30 tunnel bus from Ogizawa, So spend some time here and there, you will reach Tateyama Station around 4pm. The next express chiho rail to Dentetsu-Toyama is 4.15pm. Reach almost 5pm to Toyama. Kagayaki 512 departs from Toyama at 507pm and reach Tokyo at 7.20pm.. Assuming there is no changes to the route due to snow condition.

That is up to you thou..Personally on a vacation, i dont like to pack until like this..

 

[Windowlover]

May I know Sakura season is popular spot here ?

 

[galliano]

Will be in Hokkaido (for my 1st time) during X’mas week. Will be in Tokyo before that.
-1st 5 days @ Niseko Hilton (lucky booked early, prices are $$$ now already)
-Last day @ Sapporo

Rented a car from Chitose airport. And will be driving directly to Niseko with family once touch down before lunch.

Have some previous experience skiing in Nagoya many years back, thus trying on snowboarding this time.
Reserved Day 1 group lesson. And will be on my own the next couple of days.

Couple of questions for a newbie
1. Need to request for snow chains for car rental?
2. Anyone been to Hilton? Not sure how many slopes or the environment of the slopes will be like. What’s the procedure like? I just rent equipment, and just head up the slopes?
3. Smoker here. Thus, wondering if i can smoke when up on slopes
4. Renting board, boots. Not sure what is the rates like…
5. Dinner arrangements. I assume i would be driving to the village for din. Gonna be tough i heard .. I’m with 3 other families (total 12 of us). I assume its gonna be crazy to get restaurant reservations in the village.

ApprecIate any shared advise or experience?
Heard the locals avoid Niseko like crazy cos its basically a huge tourist trap (But alas .. wife insists).