Hokkaido Explorer

Day 1  Hakodate                      
Upon arrival you will be welcomed and escorted to your hotel by private transfer.

Day 2  Hakodate          
Explore Hakodate and surrounds with a private guide on a full day of sightseeing. Head first to Onuma Quasi National park, known for its beautiful lakes and large dormant volcano. On return to Hakodate, stroll through the historic Motomachi district. A highlight is the Russian Orthodox Church, affectionately known locally as the ‘Ding-dong Temple’ because of the sound of its bells. Take the tram to scenic Goryokaku Park, set within the battlements of a star shaped fortress. Finish off the day by taking the lift to the top of the 107m Goryokaku Tower for a bird’s eye view of the park.                      

Day 3  Hakodate to Shikotsu-Toya NP                
Meet your guide and drive to Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Head to Noboribetsu, an area famous for its volcanic activity and hot springs. Visit Hell Valley, a spectacle of hot steam vents and sulphurous streams. From here, it is an easy 30 minute walk along an attractive trail to Oyunuma, a steaming pond where the water temperature reaches up to 50ºC. Leaving the park behind, check into your ryokan and enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner.

Day 4  Shikotsu-Toya NP            
Continue your exploration of the national park with your guide. Drive to Mount Usu, an active volcano which has erupted 4 times in the past 100 years. Visit the Volcano Science Museum before taking the cable car to the top of the volcano. Later head to picturesque Mount Yotei which boasts a near perfect volcanic cone. Stop at Kyogoku Fukidashi Koen, a natural mineral water source to enjoy some of the freshest and purest water you are ever likely to drink! Continue on to the cosmopolitan mountain resort of Niseko before returning to your ryokan.      

Day 5  Shikotsu-Toya NP to Sapporo        
Today take the train to Sapporo. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore. We suggest strolling through Odori Park which stretches for a mile across the heart of the city before climbing the Sapporo TV Tower. Lager lovers should head to the Sapporo Beer Museum, housed in a former brewery from the Meiji period. Stop by one of the adjacent beer halls to enjoy some amber nectar! This evening why not head to Sapporo’s famous ‘Ramen Street’ for dinner?          

Day 6  Otaru            
Catch the train to Otaru, a pleasant port city north west of Sapporo. Many of the old warehouses here have been converted into shops and restaurants. Don’t miss an opportunity to try the sushi in Otaru – said to be the freshest sushi in the whole of Japan! Later head back to Sapporo.

Day 7  Sapporo            
Transfer to the airport.