7 Days 5 Nights Hokkaido Itinerary: Winter Hokkaido Delight | What to do in Hokkaido
Japan is one of those places that’s ideal to visit regardless of the season. I have never gone to Japan before and I have always wanted to visit the country. Undeniable, Hokkaido is one of the best places to visit during winter, due to the amount of snow you can get as well as the sightseeing destinations. It has been always my dream to be able to see snow one day and I didn't expect it to come so soon. It is definitely dreams come true that I am able to see snow in my favourite country, Japan.
Waking up with sunrise is one of the best things you can get to greet and start the day.
I had a midnight flight, which made me reach New Chitose Airport the next day.
Noboribetsu Date Jidaimura
The Date Jidai Mura is a theme park that recreates the style of the Edo period, where you can cross hundreds of years ago and wander through the streets of antique buildings.
Stepping in the entrance, you will be greeted by the Ninja and here is the photo of my dad with him.
They have a lot of shops/houses selling Samurai items, such as Shinsengumi replica swords and umbrellas, ninja goods and other items special to Jidaimura.
Besides selling their merchant there, they even have sets of every style for rental to wear around the park for the day! Games and activities such as painting kokeshi dolls, archery, archery and shuriken throw can be found in the park.
Here is one of the shows that I have watched in the Date Jidai Village. They have around 4 shows and theatres in the theme park and this is one of the shows that I have watched in Japanese Culture Theater (Oiran Show). They have different shows going on a different time, such as the Kasumi Ninja House (Ninja Show), O-edo Theater (Nyanmage Comedy) and Ninja Fort (Outdoor Action Show).
This is the popular "Kumasanya", which is a back-street nagaya house filled with older town residents. This is a perfect recreation of life in standard commoner housing of the time. Besides that, they also have recreated the residence of samurai and museums to learn about their history.
I also get to see the House of Monster, which is not scary at all. LOL. It is basically just filled with traditional Japanese yokai and other creatures. They even have the Ninja Maze, which is filled with tricks and traps!
The place is indeed really fun, filled with amazing activities and we almost spent a day there!
Have I mentioned that the place is insta-worthy? Every corner can be in your picture and it is undeniable that it will make you think that you have gone back hundreds of years and are wandering through the streets of Edo period.
Mount Hakodate
Mount Hakodate is a 334 meter high, wooded mountain at the southern end of the peninsula on which much of central Hakodate is located.
We have taken the cable car up to the top to view the Hakodate night scene, which is known as one of the world's most beautiful night scene. The charming of Hakodate Night are the 2 sides of the city that show a curved coastline, it is one of the city landscape that is worth to visit.
We had our dinner in the hotel and that basically how we end our day.
Goryokaku Park
The goryokaku park is a western style castle with a pentagonal star shape. After passage the time of the history, the wall of the castle remains, but the inside has been rebuild to a garden.
It was a regret that we are unable to go into the castle and see the whole star shape of the garden. However, we got to take a lot of nice pictures outside, playing with snows and all.
Aren't you think that the place is very dreamy, covered with snow?
Snow World
Besides sitting banana boat and the mini snowmobile, I also got to play sledging, which is absolutely fun and tiring! Cause you will have to walk all the way up and slide down. :D
Would definitely like to play more snow activities!
Lunch was Hot Plate and soft serve as dessert nearby the snow land.
The ice creams are sooo good! The lavender and honeydew one are my favourites!
Onuma Koen National Park
After a warm and satisfying lunch, we went to the Onuma Koen National Park for some view and picture taking. The place is one of the major views in Japan and most of the natural landscape is concentrated of the two lakes by connecting with the bridges. By looking from a different angle, you will be able to see different scenery. :)
Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch
The ranch is divided into a number of viewing and interactive areas. In the bear ranch, you will get to greet the bear and enjoy the fun of feeding them from above. The workers will provide some free apples and biscuits for you to feed the bear and the bear will do a variety of postures just to attract your attention.
However, some said that it is very cruel to feed the bear by throwing apples and biscuits to them from the top. This is because if the food is not thrown into their mouth, the food will be all over the ground and it is not very hygienic. Besides that, there is also one area where bigger and wilder bears are locked in dark small cages, while they're growling and hitting the cage bar, which seems like the bears are suffering.
Showa Shinzan
Outside the Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch, you will see this mountain with the white smoke around it. Shōwa-shinzan is a volcanic lava dome in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan, next to Mount Usu. Fun fact, it is is one of Japan's youngest mountains.
Lake Toya
Guys, this is real snow!
It feels so magical and unreal when I first saw it and even now I still can't really believe that I have gone to such an amazing place. This is actually not in my itinerary but we found this on our way back to the hotel. Guess what!? All of us are not wearing any heat tech or sweater or pants inside. Just our Yukata and jacket! This is definitely one of the craziest things we did on our trip, but undeniable, it is super fun!
Snow World Toya
Winter scenery here takes your breath away!!
The snowmobile costs 15,000 yen for 2 pax on 1 mobile, and 10,000 yen for a single. The cost includes gear rental (such as gloves, helmet, boots and more) and about 1 hour of the mobile ride.
It is actually pretty easy to ride it because even my cousin who doesn't have a driving license can ride it. The weather is super good that day and our ride up into the mountain is pretty easy. After a few minutes ride up to the mountain, my hands start to numb a little because you have to maintain the same speed, which is not too fast, to be safe. I also found that the mobile is a little heavy and not so easy to turn. Overall, it is indeed an awesome experience to ride the snowmobile and witness the amazing scenery. For all, it is worth.
After we reached the top, we got to rest and take pictures around. The time given to us is actually very short. For me, it is totally not enough. I wished that I can stay a little longer to enjoy the view and have fun.
We actually planned to ski but due to not enough of snow, the instructor told us that it is impossible to have that activity. Too bad the snow is not thick enough for that activity and he even told us that the best timing for ski is actually January and February. I should have visited the place 1 month later tho.
Shikotsu Toya National Park silo observatory
The charm of this silo observatory is that you are able to see the superb spread panaroma view of the Lake Toya.
Noboribetsu Marine Park
There are so many things you can do in this Marine Park and watching penguin up so close is definitely one of the things you won't want to miss. They also have dolphin shows, sardine performance and sea lion show, where you can feed and touch a sea lion behind the stage.
Mitsui Outlet Park
It's shopping time !!
We went to the brand-name factory outlet to purchase the international brands of good.
The designs are not the newest one but they are all in a very good discounted price.
Ippudo Ramen
Dinner is at Ippudo Ramen, which is really near to the Tanukikoji street.
We have a quick shopping time over there after our dinner and before all the shops closed down.
The best thing about shopping in Japan as a foreigner is that everything is tax-free. YAS!!
In day 5, we have visited the Otaru, which is flanked by restaurants, shops and vendors.
The city is known for glassworks, music boxes and sake distilleries.
Kitakaro Patissier | Ginnokane Cafe
The first thing we did in Otaru is to get some Kitakaro cream puff at Ginnokane cafe. The Ginnokane cafe's signature is the silver bell outside of the shop, whose name is "pioneering bell". Silver bell's name comes from the winter snow-covered bell face shiny silver white.
In the first floor, they are selling souvenirs and snacks, while on the second floor, it is a cafe, where you can enjoy unlimited cups of coffee. The best thing is that you can get free Hello Kitty coffee cup for souvenir!
Kitaichi Glass
Kitaichi glass is one of the most distinctive glass handicraft shops in Otaru.
There are a lot of shops and if you love handicraft, you will definitely spend quite some time there.
The stores have a variety of European style and Japanese style of glass crafts.
Ice Cream
While the adults are busy shopping, I got myself 10 layers of ice cream. Huhu.
Best thing about eating ice cream in winter is that it won't melt easily. xD
Otaru Music Box Museum
Just opposite the Ginnokane cafe, this is the famous Music Box, where everyone comes here to get their souvenir. They have thousands of music boxes with different shapes, design, tone and music.
Otaru Canal
The Otaru Canal is a place where a row of red brick warehouses is along with it. It is also a symbol of the financial and economic centre of Hokkaido in Otaru. The historic canal has attracted a lot of tourists to come over because it has a very romantic and old-timey ambience.
Shiroi Koibito Park
Shiroi Koibito Park is a fantastic space based on the ideals of deliciousness, fun and stories of sweets from a bygone era. In addition to housing the Shiroi Koibito Factory where this well-known Hokkaido confectionery is produced, the park also has a cafe to allow visitors to savour Ishiya’s original sweets (the white lovers biscuit) and flower garden.
Last 2 days in Hokkaido.
Former Hokkaido Government Office
In the morning, we visited the Former Hokkaido Government Office, which is Hokkaido’s best-known symbol. It has a baroque style of European-style red brick to build up the official building and the red star on its exterior wall is the symbol of the Hokkaido Development Commission. Fun fact: the building has the highest administrative authority hall in Hokkaido.
The facilities of the former Hokkaidō Government Office in Sapporo, Japan, include a conference room, a museum shop, a tourist information office, and a few historical exhibition rooms and libraries. Visitors can enter the building for free.
Sapporo Clock Tower
The Clock Tower is a symbol of the introduction of Western education during 19th century in Sapporo. The building was constructed during the early period of Sapporo's development in 1878 as a drill hall of the Sapporo Agricultural College.
The bell still ringing in the building at the city centre of Sapporo for more than 120 years and it is designated as a national important cultural property. It has become a symbolic of Sapporo.
Hokkaido Jingu Shrine
The Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is the most popular Japanese temple, which is built in 1871, in Hokkaido. It is located in Sapporo's Maruyama Park and it is a beautiful and serene place where people go for prayer. It is said that one of the best places to view cherry blossoms in northern Japan is at Hokkaido-jingu.
A deeply spiritual place of inner beauty and refined elegance with four guardian gods.
This shrine is also the resting place of four deities. You can write your wish on a wooden plaque at the shrine and buy a lucky charm there.
Sapporo TV Tower
The Sapporo TV Tower, built in 1957, is a 147.2-metre-high TV tower with an observation deck at a height of 90.38 metres. Located on the ground of Odori Park, in the northern city of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, the tower is open to tourists. Tourists can view Sapporo and Odori Park.
Sapporo Station
This is one of the busiest underground stations in Sapporo, with lots of shops and restaurant.
It is an approximately 520m underground space, passing right under Sapporo city's main street, linking a few stations.
Asahi Beer Museum
The tour is guided by a special guide who has walked us through the entire brewing process. We had a chance to actually touch barley and hops, the primary ingredients of beer. Besides that, we also got to enjoy freshly brewed beer in our open-area tasting room. (Approximately 20 minutes. Up to three glasses per person.)
Den - Japanese Buffet Dining
Dinner at Den - Japanese Buffet Dining, with unlimited of gorgeous crab and seafood with ShabuShabu. They have all different kind of gorgeous crab, such as King crab, Snow crab, Hair crab and more, which Seafood, such as Shrimp, Scallops, Fish slice, Shellfish (depends on season)
Sliced meats, such as Beef, Pork, Chicken are just basics, as well as the Sushi and Tempura.
Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade
Shop until all the shops closed down. One good thing about their drugstore is that, most of them close a little later (around 30mins later) than the other shops there.
Watch my youtube video to have a better view of the places and what I have done :D
That's all for this post. Hope that it is a little helpful for you to plan your trip. :)
Thanks for reading!
Love,
CLYL
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