[Sample]

Hokkaido & Tohoku Cherry Blossoms Hunting 12 Days

Tokyo (Arrival)

• Arrive at Haneda International Airport [HND]
• Sightseeing in Tokyo: Asakusa Sensoji Temple, Sumida River cruise, Ueno Park
• Suggested Lunch: Tempura
• Tokyo night tour: Kabukicho, Omoide Yokocho
• Suggested Dinner: Shabu shabu or Sukiyaki

 

Tokyo

Tokyo - Fukushima - Sendai

• Transfer to Koriyama by private car [approx. 3.5 hours]  OR
• Transfer to Koriyama by bullet train (Ueno to Koriyama Station) [approx. 1.5 hours] [*JR Pass Day 1]
• Miharu Takizakura, Hanamiyama Park
  • **INFO** "Miharu takizakura," an ancient cherry tree in Fukushima, is one of three major cherry blossom trees in Japan. The tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, and it has been 100 years since it was designated as a national natural monument. In "Hanamiyama park," there are more than 10 kinds of cherry blossoms and about 70 different kinds of flowers bloom in spring.
• Suggested Lunch: Hanami Bento lunch box
• Suggested Dinner: Beef tongue

  

Sendai

Sendai

• Sightseeing in Sendai and Matsushima by private car or public transportation [*JR Pass Day 2]
• The Hitome Senbonzakura, Sendai Toshogu shrine, Matsushima Cruise, Fish market
• **INFO** "The Hitome Senbonzakura is a symbol of the town,"which blooms against the background of the Shiroishi River and the remaining snow of the Zao mountain range. A spring festival is held on the 3rd weekend of April every year at "Sendai Toshogu Shrine" with beautiful cherry blossoms.
• Suggested Lunch: at fish market

  

Sendai

Sendai - Kakunodate - Morioka

• Transfer to Kakunodate by private car [approx. 3 hours] OR
• Transfer to Kakunodate by bullet train (Sendai to Kakunodate Station) [approx. 1.5 hours] [*JR Pass Day 3]
• Sightseeing in Kakunodate: Samurai House, Kakunodate Kabazaiku Center
• **INFO** Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival is usually held between late April and mid-May
• Transfer to Morioka by private car [approx. 1 hour] OR
• Transfer to Morioka by train [approx. 1.5 hours]
• Morioka handcraft village
• Suggested Lunch: Hinaijidori wappa meshi, rice topped with chicken and other ingredients
• Suggested Dinner: Wanko soba, all you can eat soba noodle

Aomori - Hakodate

• Transfer to Hokkaido by bullet train (Shin Aomori to Kikonai Station) [approx. 40 min] [*JR Pass Day 5]
• Transfer to Hakodate by private car OR
• Transfer to Hakodate by Donan Isaribi Tetsudo railway
• Sightseeing in Hakodate: Trappist Monasteries, Hokuto Sakura Kairo, Goryokaku, Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Mt. Hakodate Ropeway
• Suggested Lunch: Shio Ramen (salt soup)
• Suggested Dinner: Seafood

 

Hakodate

Hakodate - Toya

• Sightseeing in Hakodate by private car or public transportation: Hakodate Morning Market, Motomachi area
• Transfer to Toya by private car [approx. 2.5 hours]
• Transfer to Toya by train (Hakodate - Toya Station) [approx. 2 hours] [*JR Pass Day 6]
• Lake Toya, Shikotsu Toya National Park Silo Observatory
• **INFO** In May, plum blossoms bloom in Sobetsu Park
• Suggested Lunch: Local cuisine

 

Toya - Noboribetsu

• Mt. Usu Ropeway
• Transfer to Noboribetsu by private car [approx. 45 min] OR
• Transfer to Noboribetsu by train (Toya - Noboribetsu Station) [approx. 45 min][*JR Pass Day 7]
• Tunnel of "Ezoyama cherry blossom"
• Wakasaimo Honpo, “Jigokudani” Hell Valley, Noboribetsu Date Jidai Village
• Suggested Lunch: Ishikarinabe hot pot lunch set with local beer

 

Noboribetsu

Noboribetsu - Shiraoi - Sapporo

• Transfer to Shiraoi by private car [approx. 30 min] OR
• Transfer to Shiraoi by train (Noboribetsu→ Shiraoi Station) [approx. 30 min]
• Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park
• **INFO** The national center for Ainu culture is called Upopoy, and a base for the creation of Ainu culture. The Ainu are an indigenous people from the northern region of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido. The Ainu culture is distinctive, with a language that is unrelated to Japanese, a spirituality that holds that spirits dwell in every part of the natural world, traditional dances that are performed at family events and festivals, and crafts such as wood carving and embroidery that have unique patterns. At Upopoy, visitors can come together to enjoy traditional Ainu dance, which has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as performances of the mukkuri (mouth harp) and tonkori (five stringed harp). There is also a restaurant where you can eat Ainu cuisine.
• Suggested Lunch: Ainu cuisine
• Transfer to Sapporo by private car [approx. 1h 30min] OR
• Transfer to Sapporo by train (Shiraoi - Shin Sapporo – Maruyama Koen Station) [approx. 2h]
• Sightseeing in Sapporo: Hokkaido Jingu shrine / Tanukikoji / Susukino
• Suggested Dinner: Genghis Khan BBQ, grilled lamb and vegetables

 

Sapporo

Sapporo - Otaru - Sapporo

• Transfer to Otaru by private car [approx. 1 hour] OR
• Transfer to Otaru by train (Sapporo to Otaru Station) [approx. 45 min]
• Sightseeing in Otaru: Otaru Triangle Market, Otaru Canal, Sakaimachi Street, Otaru Music Box Museum, Kitaichi Glass, Mt.Tengu ropeway
• Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery
• Suggested Lunch: Sushi
• Transfer to Sapporo by private car [approx. 1 hour] OR
• Transfer to Sapporo by train (Sapporo to Otaru Station) [approx. 45 min]

 

Sapporo - New Chitose (Departure)

• Transfer to New Chitose Airport by private car [approx. 1 hour] OR
• Transfer to New Chitose Airport by train (Sapporo to New Chitose Airport Station) [approx. 45 min]
• Fly from New Chitose Airport to Tokyo-Haneda Airport [HND]