Hokkaido Itinerary

[kentona]

Anyone can share Hokkaido itinerary over here?

Does anyone have experience with travelling during the Japan Golden Week (first week of May), do share whether it’s a good time to travel during this period as I have read that it’s too busy everywhere.

Singapore to Sapporo (CTS Chitose)
- scoot flight (1 stop @ Taipei)
- ~10 to 11 hours journey

 

[oceanicmanta]

Hokkaido is very big

dont think its any issue

May is also not a particular peak period for Hokkaido

 

[Jeanrc]

Hokkaido in May can have sakura there and hotel can be expensive in certain area during sakura as alot of Japanese and maybe tourist go there. I been there late April to early May for sakura. So it's not bad as you can try to catch the sakura period

 

[sbl2560]

Anyone can share Hokkaido itinerary over here?

Does anyone have experience with travelling during the Japan Golden Week (first week of May), do share whether it’s a good time to travel during this period as I have read that it’s too busy everywhere.

Singapore to Sapporo (CTS Chitose)
- scoot flight (1 stop @ Taipei)
- ~10 to 11 hours journey

Travelled in first week of May in 2018, for Sakura at Matsume and Hakodate. Visited Otaru,Shakotan Peninsula, Cape Kamui, Hakodate, Lake Toya,Noboribetsu and Sapporo.

Accommodation are generally more expensive, due to demand and availability. Hotels prices were higher due to Golden week. It's a trade off, as Sakura blooms during the Golden week at Hokkaido.

Flown via Thai airways ( promo fares ). Cheaper than scoot.

 

[purpleberry]

What's considered a good rate for Hokkaido airfares via Thai or Scoot?

 

[oceanicmanta]

What's considered a good rate for Hokkaido airfares via Thai or Scoot?

TG - $500 to 550

usual is 650 to 700

some data points for reference:

cheapest I booked was $375 in 2017 ... never seen again ... I went 2x that year

most ex I paid was $680 in 2016

most recently, in Sep 2019, I paid $485 (but only 23kg luggage ... mistake) .. shld have topped up $30 for another 7kg

all-in return, inclusive of taxes. all TG

 

[kentona]

TG = Thai airways?
I checked their price it’s ard $1200. Is it must key in some promo code?

So far the cheapest I checked is scoot air

TG - $500 to 550

usual is 650 to 700

some data points for reference:

cheapest I booked was $375 in 2017 ... never seen again ... I went 2x that year

most ex I paid was $680 in 2016

most recently, in Sep 2019, I paid $485 (but only 23kg luggage ... mistake) .. shld have topped up $30 for another 7kg

all-in return, inclusive of taxes. all TG

 

[oceanicmanta]

TG = Thai airways?
I checked their price it’s ard $1200. Is it must key in some promo code?

So far the cheapest I checked is scoot air

yes Thai Airways. Their website can be a little messy.

yes, try to search from the Special Offers page/links where possible.

Also depends on dates ... some dates the prices r indeed ridiculous.

 

[naz1983]

went last year on TG(Thai airways). Tickets i got were $700+ which i think is midrange from some of the replies here. Think is under the mastercard promo under deals. Can get around $500-600 if dates is favourable.

Korean air/Cathay also fly to New Chitose.

your question is so vague. What do you want to experience there?

March is sakura season
June is Summer
Dec/Jan is Winter

I went in starting winter(Nov) and here is my rough Itinerary. Solo trip and more of a recce trip also

Day 1-Sapporo
Day 2-Otaru(day trip)
Day 3-Noboribetsu-Hakodate
Day 4-Hakodate
Day 5-Hakodate-Wakkanai(almost 12hours train ride from south to north hokkaido)
Day 6-Wakkanai
Day 7-Wakkanai-Sapporo
Day 8-Lake toya(Day trip)
Day 9-Sapporo - Back home

Get a JR pass if you moving around location to location.Kitaca card to travel in sapporo subway. Or if family trip can drive there also.

Hokkaido is beautiful so don't just travel around town area if you are into the scenic stuff.

 

[kentona]

I intend to drive in Hokkaido, but is driving required in Sapporo, or only when travelling outside of sapporo?

 

[purpleberry]

I intend to drive in Hokkaido, but is driving required in Sapporo, or only when travelling outside of sapporo?

Sapporo is walkable and you can take public transport so driving is not really necessary but nice to have for a night stroll and dinner.

 

[cryingsmiley]

Don’t really need to drive in Sapporo since the public transport system is so accessible. Also, parking is not cheap.