14 Day Japan Winter Wonderland Small Group Tour

Welcome to Japan!

Upon arrival in Sapporo please make your way to your hotel. Once you check in and collect your welcome pack, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the capital of Hokkaido.

Perhaps you could start with Odori Park, a popular spot year-round, it's about 1.5km east to west (12 blocks) and the site for the Sapporo Snow Festival.

If it’s snowing, maybe explore central Sapporo underground in one of the several shopping streets.

Sapporo is also home to the Historic Village of Hokkaido, an open-air museum featuring historical buildings to show Hokkaido as it was in the Meiji and Taisho eras. The village is divided into four sections: a city area, farm village, fishing village and mountain village. There is a horse-drawn sled in winter.

Check In and Arrival Information:

You can travel between Sapporo Airport and your hotel by train. Your hotel is located approx 800mts from Sapporo Train Station. The train ticket will cost you approximately  ¥1,150 per person and a taxi from the train station to the hotel approximately ¥ 1,200 per car.

Travellers will be arriving at various times throughout the day.  If arriving prior to standard check-in time (3pm) you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in; however, this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.

Enjoy a tour of Sapporo today. Visit the famous Sapporo Clock Tower, built from timber in the late 1800s, the Sapporo Beer Museum and the lively Susukino district. It’s a haven for food, shopping and entertainment. It’s positively buzzing, with neon signs, noise, shopping and nightlife.

The evening is yours to enjoy this compact and friendly city.

SNOW FESTIVAL DEPARTURES INFO (4 Feb & 11 Feb departures only)

The snow festival is staged on three sites: the Odori Site, Susukino Site and TsuDome Site. 

The main site is the Odori Site in Sapporo's centrally located 1.5 kilometre long Odori Park. The festival's famous large snow sculptures, some measuring more than 25 metres wide and 15 metres high, are exhibited there. They are lit up daily until 22:00.

Besides about a dozen large snow sculptures, the Odori Site exhibits more than one hundred smaller snow statues and hosts several concerts and events, many of which use the sculptures as their stage.

A good view over the Odori Site can be enjoyed from the Sapporo TV Tower at the eastern end of Odori Park. The tower has extended hours (8:30 to 22:30) during the festival. Admission to the top observatory deck costs 720 yen per adult. A 1100 yen ticket allows a day visit and a night visit. 

The Susukino Site, located in and named after Sapporo's largest entertainment district, exhibits about one hundred ice sculptures. Susukino is located only one subway stop south of Odori Park. The ice sculptures are lit up daily until 23:00 

The less centrally located TsuDome Site is a family oriented site with three types of snow slides, snow rafting and more snow sculptures. Inside the dome, there are many food stands and a stage for events.

Start with a half-day trip to Otaru this morning, a small harbour city known for glassworks, music boxes and sake distilleries.

On our walking tour we’ll visit the quaint Otaru Canal, once an important commercial port. It’s well preserved and charming, lined with old merchant houses. We’ll visit landmarks like the Otaru Music Box Museum and the traditional shopping street Sakaimachi, all while learning about Otaru’s rich industrial heritage. Many of the buildings on Sakaimachi street have been converted into restaurants, cafes and shops – you’ll likely find some of the region’s fine glassware, a lovely souvenir.

Later we’ll return to Sapporo where you can enjoy some free time in the evening.

Continue to Noboribetsu today, a small town with countless mineral springs. 

The onsens of Noboribetsu are the most famous in Hokkaido and Japanese tourists travel from far and wide.

The source of the waters are Jigoku-dani (Hell Valley), a steaming Volcanic pit near the town. Legend has it that this is the home to the oni (demon) Yukujin who bestows luck. You can see many statues of him around the town. It's a short walk from the town centre to Jigoku-dani passing many steaming vents that are scattered around town. 

Next, visit Kuttara-ko, a circular volcanic caldera lake, remarkable for not having a river flowing in or out of it.

Maybe relax afterwards in the hotel's onsen and bathe your cares away. The perfect way to finish the day.

As your day ends, prepare and overnight bag for the next two nights as your main luggage will be shipped directly to Nagano (Luggage restrictions on Shinkansen train).

After breakfast, continue to the port city of Hakodate, on the southern tip of Hokkaido Island. Upon arrival, catch a glimpse of Motomachi – this Western-influenced neighbourhood was the heart of the city's foreign settlement, one of only three allowed in Japan some 150 years ago. We'll also visit Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, a quaint shopping mall housed in a complex that dates back to the 1860s.

Next, visit Fort Goryokaku, a star fort located in the centre of Hakodate. This french influenced fort was the first western style fortification in Japan and was completed in 1864 

We’ll then ride up the 334m Mt Hakodate on the Hakodate ropeway, an aerial lift that takes about three minutes. On a nice day the views are spectacular across the city.

Today is a free day to explore Hakodate. This compact city can easily be explored on foot or by public transport. 

Maybe make your first stop at the Hakodate morning market. The market boasts over 250 stalls offering fresh produce and souvenirs. You might like to try the mouth-watering seafood donburi here to start your day with a bowl of steaming rice topped with freshly-caught seafood.

Otherwise visit the  Red Brick Warehouses of Hakodate. Dating back to the trading days of the past, the warehouses have been thoughtfully restored and now host an atmospheric shopping, dining and entertainment complex. 

Today, make your way to the train station to board the shinkansen bullet train to Nagano. (approx 6 hours) On arrival, make your way to your hotel, a short walk from the train station.. The rest of the day is free to explore Nagano.

Nagano prefecture, often referred to as the roof of Japan, is well known for its mountains, cultural history, great food and outstanding architecture.

Today our first stop is the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Witness Japanese macaque monkeys soaking in the onsen during the cold winter months. It’s an adorable sight. The monkeys live in large social groups, and it can be quite entertaining to watch their interactions. Accustomed to humans, the monkeys can be observed from very close and almost completely ignore their human guests.

Continue to Zenkoji Temple, a national treasure,  founded around 642AD when a Buddhist image was enshrined at the present site. None of the 37 generations of emperors have been allowed to view the image. The popularity of the temple comes partly from its liberal welcoming of pilgrims regardless of gender, creed or religious beliefs. 

Next, visit Hokusai Museum, home to works by Katsushika Hokusai whose most well known works include The Great Wave off Kanagawa and Red Fuji, which are a couple of prints from the collection Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.

This morning travel to Takayama, one of the most atmospheric towns in Japan. Visit the open air museum of Hida Folk Village, followed by Takayama Jinya, the former local government office which was in use from 1692 right up until 1969. Next, visit Matsuri no Mori (Festival Museum), an impressive museum about the famous Takayama Matsuri (festival) that is held twice a year in the town. Before leaving Takayama, we visit Yatai Kaikan (Festival Float Exhibition Hall) where some of the centuries old festival floats are on display to the public.

Before leaving Takayama this morning we'll tour the Miyagawa Open-Air Market and stop at Kami Sannomachi Street in Takayama’s Old Town, a wonderfully well-preserved slice of old Japan, with houses and shops dating back to the Edo period (1600-1868). As well as the charming architecture, there are several quaint cafés and a number of old saké breweries to explore.

We'll then travel to Shirakawa-gō Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has more than 100 'Gassho-style' houses, which feature steeply-pitched roofs. Built many hundreds of years ago, these historic houses stand together in a beautiful natural setting. From the site’s observation deck you can enjoy a panoramic view of this unique village, its thatched-roof houses sitting among gorgeous mountain scenery. Following this we will transfer to Kanazawa to rest for the evening.

Today we’ll visit the stunning Kenrokuen Garden – one of the most beautiful in Japan. Developed over more than 200 years, starting in 1620, the garden contains almost 9000 trees and 200 plant species.

We also visit Nomura Samurai House, the historic residence of the Nomura Samurai clan. The intriguing house and grounds provide an insight into the lifestyle of the samurai, or military nobility, during the 16-19th centuries. The residence features beautiful architecture, gardens and décor, such as intricately painted screen doors.

Finally we will take a brief tour around Higashi Chaya District, a beautifully preserved and picturesque historical area of Kanazawa.

Travel today to oft overlooked Fukui - home of dramatic sea cliff scenery, archaeological sites and traditional craftsmen. Visit the Eiheiji Temple. Standing on cedar-covered slopes, the temple was founded in 1244. The large temple complex consists of over 70 buildings, which are connected to each other by covered walkways that protect from the heavy snow seen in the region from December to March. 

Next, stop off at 2 of the region's most famous traditional crafts. First the Takefu Knife Village to view how traditional Japanese blades are made. Continue to Echizen Washi Village to learn about traditional paper making.

Continue to Osaka today. En route, stop at the stunning Miho Museum, home to the Koyama family collection of art. The IM Pei designed building has the feeling of a secret hideout in a futuristic farmhouse. The museum houses works from Japan, and ancient art from areas such as Egypt, Western Asia, Greece, Rome, Southern Asia and China.

Continue to Osaka where the rest of the day is free.

Today marks the end of your incredible winter tour of Japan.

Departure and check out: There are several ways to travel from your hotel to either Osaka International Airport (ITM) or Kansai International Airport (KIX), from shuttle buses to trains and taxis. Transport to the airports can cost between 250 Yen to 21,000 Yen depending on the form of transport you choose. Your Tour Leader will be able to assist you arrange the most convenient way to the airport on the last day of the trip.

Travellers will be departing at various times throughout the day. Standard hotel check-out is from 10am-12pm. You are welcome to leave your luggage at the hotel reception and spend your final moments of free time exploring the area or alternatively please speak with hotel staff if you would like to extend your check-out time. Please note this service is subject to availability and will likely come at an additional cost.