Hokkaido in January

[Cynn2016]

Hi all

Im planning a 12 days trip to hokkaido with a group of 4. None of us have experience in driving in snow.
however we wish to cover this few places: Sapporo, Otaru, Furano Ski, Biei, Asahikawa etc.
Can anyone advise if we should get the JR pass for hokkaido and also are the attractions within train-friendly distances?
If you have an itinerary by train to share, that will also be appreciated
By the way, this is our first time trip to Hokkaido.

thank you in advance!!

 

[MajiMax]

D01 Sapporo
D02 Sapporo
D03 Sapporo > Otaru > Sapporo = 750 yen + 750 yen via local train
D04 Sapporo > Asahikawa = either 4,690 yen via limited express train or 2,860 yen via local train
D05 Asahikawa > Biei = 640 yen via local train
D06 Biei
D07 Biei > Furano = 750 yen via local train
D08 Furano
D09 Furano
D10 Furano > Sapporo = either 4,010 yen via limited express train or 2,860 yen via local train
D11 Sapporo
D12 Sapporo

Either 11,590 yen via limited express train or 8,610 yen via local train. So I don't think any pass is required.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_01.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_001.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_furano.html

 

[Cynn2016]

D01 Sapporo
D02 Sapporo
D03 Sapporo > Otaru > Sapporo = 750 yen + 750 yen via local train
D04 Sapporo > Asahikawa = either 4,690 yen via limited express train or 2,860 yen via local train
D05 Asahikawa > Biei = 640 yen via local train
D06 Biei
D07 Biei > Furano = 750 yen via local train
D08 Furano
D09 Furano
D10 Furano > Sapporo = either 4,010 yen via limited express train or 2,860 yen via local train
D11 Sapporo
D12 Sapporo

Either 11,590 yen via limited express train or 8,610 yen via local train. So I don't think any pass is required.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_01.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_001.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_furano.html

thank you!!!
should i stay at Sapporo throughout the entire trip or would u recommend to stay first 3 nights in sapporo, next 2 nights in asahikawa, next 3 nights in furano, last 3 nights back in sapporo?

by the way, will it be timetight to squeeze kushiro into the itinerary?

 

[MajiMax]

How you going to base yourself in Sapporo throughout the entire trip if you are going to ski at Furano? Just a day trip to ski?

The rationale of the above listed route (3 nights Sapporo, 1 night Asahikawa, 2 nights Biei, 3 nights Furano, 3 nights Sapporo) is based on the assumption that you are going to ski more than a day.

You can always squeeze in whatever places of interest you want so long you deemed it is worth your time. You would need a rail pass if you were to add in Kushiro.

 

[wongkc]

Just a suggestion…

U can choose to arrive in Sapporo via Chitose Airport… and depart using Asahikawa Airport… save u the time to go back to Chitose…

 

[oceanicmanta]

Kushiro is very far, 300km from Sapporo ... 600km to and fro,

that distance would be like your total original itin (Sap, Otaru, Furano, Biei, Asahikawa, Sap)

5hrs train journey, in winter, u leave 10am, reach 3pm ... sunset already

 

[Cynn2016]

How you going to base yourself in Sapporo throughout the entire trip if you are going to ski at Furano? Just a day trip to ski?

The rationale of the above listed route (3 nights Sapporo, 1 night Asahikawa, 2 nights Biei, 3 nights Furano, 3 nights Sapporo) is based on the assumption that you are going to ski more than a day.

You can always squeeze in whatever places of interest you want so long you deemed it is worth your time. You would need a rail pass if you were to add in Kushiro.

Ohhhhhh. I genuinely thought one day to the ski resort will be sufficient HAHAH. Okay will set aside a few days.
Thank you!!

 

[Cynn2016]

Kushiro is very far, 300km from Sapporo ... 600km to and fro,

that distance would be like your total original itin (Sap, Otaru, Furano, Biei, Asahikawa, Sap)

5hrs train journey, in winter, u leave 10am, reach 3pm ... sunset already

Woahh. Okay then i think will visit Kushiro some other time then

 

[oceanicmanta]

D01 Sapporo
D02 Sapporo
D03 Sapporo > Otaru > Sapporo = 750 yen + 750 yen via local train
D04 Sapporo > Asahikawa = either 4,690 yen via limited express train or 2,860 yen via local train
D05 Asahikawa > Biei = 640 yen via local train
D06 Biei
D07 Biei > Furano = 750 yen via local train
D08 Furano
D09 Furano
D10 Furano > Sapporo = either 4,010 yen via limited express train or 2,860 yen via local train
D11 Sapporo
D12 Sapporo

this is very feasible itin

if I may, I wld leave Otaru til the end, ... usually I prefer going to the furthest point first

and bcos Otaru is nearest and easily accessible from Sapporo, if missed, can cover it next trip

 

[rrr2015]

How you going to base yourself in Sapporo throughout the entire trip if you are going to ski at Furano? Just a day trip to ski?

The rationale of the above listed route (3 nights Sapporo, 1 night Asahikawa, 2 nights Biei, 3 nights Furano, 3 nights Sapporo) is based on the assumption that you are going to ski more than a day.

You can always squeeze in whatever places of interest you want so long you deemed it is worth your time. You would need a rail pass if you were to add in Kushiro.

what's there to sightsee in Hokkaido winter? you guys are brave to travel/drive especially during winter peak & even more so for first timer

 

[MajiMax]

Ohhhhhh. I genuinely thought one day to the ski resort will be sufficient HAHAH. Okay will set aside a few days.
Thank you!!

You and your friends are experienced in skiing? Otherwise, it would take at least a day to learn the basic from trainer.

 

[MajiMax]

what's there to sightsee in Hokkaido winter? you guys are brave to travel/drive especially during winter peak & even more so for first timer

More things to see if they going in Feb.

Sapporo Snow Festival is scheduled for February 4 to 11.

Asahikawa Winter Festival is scheduled for February 7 to 12.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is scheduled to be held from February 11 to 18.

https://livejapan.com/en/in-hokkaido/?sc_lid=lj_pc_header_area_switch
https://en.japantravel.com/hokkaido
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1101.html

 

[rrr2015]

More things to see if they going in Feb.

Sapporo Snow Festival is scheduled for February 4 to 11.

Asahikawa Winter Festival is scheduled for February 7 to 12.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is scheduled to be held from February 11 to 18.

https://livejapan.com/en/in-hokkaido/?sc_lid=lj_pc_header_area_switch
https://en.japantravel.com/hokkaido
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1101.html

thanks… doesn't interest me, guess I'm not a winter person. will only go Hokkaido for ski, snowboard, onsen & nothing else. hate winter driving too.

 

[algrenfrancis]

A rough plan on the most updated itinerary for me and my wife going to Hokkaido in end Jan.

4 nights Sapporo (suzukino)
- day 1 relax walk walk acclimatise to the weather.
- day 2 otaru
- day 3 Sapporo kokusai ski
- day 4 relax chill around Sapporo, odori park and just chill

2 night Toya
- day 1, bus from Sapporo to Toya town, walk around lake toya then hotel onsen. Was lucky to get to book nonokaze
- day 2, chillax Mt usu walk walk onsen in hotel.
Hotel provide half board, breakfast and dinner. So just nua only, gave up on hell valley, seems like not worth the travel and time

2 night hakodate (will activate 7 day JR pass Toya to hakodate coz it's sgd60+ per pax Toya to hako)
- no exact plan, places to go
Iconic Starbucks, slope, Mt hakodate, fire works, eat shopping a bit

3 nights Yamagata (staying in tendo)
- day 1 travel down will half day thus walk about Yamagata and some winery
- day 2 Mt zao, snow monster and probably ski again
- day 3 ginzan onsen walk walk

3 night tokyo (Jr pass will end mid Tokyo, but no issue, travel is cheaper in city)
- no plan at all

 

[MajiMax]

How do I attach picture here? Can only link?

https://imgur.com/
Drag and drop the picture using the above link.

After you have uploaded the picture, copy the link.

Ctrl+P in your post, then insert the link.

 

[MajiMax]

A rough plan on the most updated itinerary for me and my wife going to Hokkaido in end Jan.

2 night hakodate (will activate 7 day JR pass Toya to hakodate coz it's sgd60+ per pax Toya to hako)
- no exact plan, places to go
Iconic Starbucks, slope, Mt hakodate, fire works, eat shopping a bit

Have fireworks in Jan?

That time my trip, I only saw the fireworks in Feb.

 

[algrenfrancis]

I not sure leh, saw on YouTube. Hope have ba.. lol

Have fireworks in Jan?

That time my trip, I only saw the fireworks in Feb.

 

[MajiMax]

I not sure leh, saw on YouTube. Hope have ba.. lol

https://www.japan.travel/en/sports/snow/snow-travel/hakodate-fireworks/

Schedule​

Held in early February.

 

[Jeanrc]

First of all what do you all like to do when you go hokkaido? why are you going to kushiro?
lake akan? kushiro crane? i went kushiro during 2020
My itinerary as follow for about 17 days.
Chitose Airport > noboribetsu > kushiro ( lake akan ) > kawayuonsen ( mount lo, lake kussharo ) > abashiri ( ice breaking cruise ) > sounkyo kurodake via kamikawa ( sounkyo hyobaku festival ) > sapporo ( snow festival , otaru, etc )

noboribetsu have natural onsen that you can dip in and onsen hotel and some onsen scenery, lake akan is frozen during winter and have winter stuff you can do there like riding buggy, winter fishing thru the frozen lake, winter slide. obihiro suppose to have very nice pork don which i happen to taste in kushiro.
kawayuonsen station have a foot onsen beside, inside nearby hotel also got public onsen and nearby got mount io and lake kussharo, lake kussharo during winter period got swarn where you can buy popcorn to feed and also some sort of sand digging for onsen water.

i find lake akan worth visiting for those winter things you can do and kawayuonsen nearby area like lake kusssharo worth visiting as its like some ice on non frozen lake with swarn and onsen below creating a interesting place to visit

 

[Cynn2016]

You and your friends are experienced in skiing? Otherwise, it would take at least a day to learn the basic from trainer.

No, we are planning to play the banana boat, snow mobile etc.