Hokkaido Autumn Colors

📍 New Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station: 1 h (train) Orientation walking distance: 3 km Time: Start (orientation walk): TBD Duration: Approx. 3 h *including pick-up/drop-off, and transit times

Welcome to autumn in Hokkaido, Japan’s northern island!  Upon arrival to New Chitose Airport, our representative will be waiting to provide an escort to the hotel.

After head out to discover why Sapporo is a food-lover’s paradise on an evening food tour. Meet the guide at the hotel and depart for a three hour tour of Sapporo’s food scene. 

The locations of tonight’s tour are tailored to the preference of the guest, with the guide providing recommendations for various type of local food. This includes iconic delights like Genghis Khan lamb barbeque or the city’s famous butter ramen. Seafood is on the menu as well for those who want to try regional specialties fresh from the coast.

Make stops in two of Sapporo’s most interesting neighbourhoods: the busy Tanukikoji shopping arcade, and the lively Susukino entertainment district.

Don’t forget dessert! Finish the tour with a Shime Parfait, a tantalizingly creamy ice cream dish made with Hokkaido cream.

After stops at two or three restaurants tailored to the guests’ tastes, bid farewell to the guide and continue exploring the city independently or head back to the hotel.

Overnight in Sapporo 
 

Inclusions:

Today is a self-guided day.

Take in the sights of Sapporo independently and admire the foliage within the city limits.

Suggested self-guided itinerary:

Sapporo offers plenty of opportunities to see the autumn leaves. One of the best places to see the autumn foliage is at Nakajima Park, located in the heart of Sapporo. This large park features a beautiful pond, walking paths, and over 4,000 trees that turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow during the fall season. Visitors can enjoy the scenery while strolling around the park or taking a boat ride on the pond.

Another popular spot to see autumn leaves in Sapporo is at Hokkaido Shrine. This Shinto shrine is surrounded by a forest of trees, including Japanese maples that turn bright red in the fall.

For spectacular view of the city with its colourful trees, head up Mt. Moiwa. Visitors can reach the summit by taking the scenic Mt. Moiwa Ropeway, a cable car ride that takes approximately 5 minutes. Once at the top, enjoy unobstructed views of Sapporo's skyline, as well as a cafe and restaurant. At night, the city lights up, providing a spectacular view of Sapporo's nightlife.

Finally, a 380 meter-long street in the heart of Hokkaido University is a must-see in this season. The main attraction here is Gingko Avenue, where over 70 gingko trees turn bright yellow, creating a golden canopy of fall foliage. Visitors can also enter the Hokkaido University Botanical Garden, which features a wide range of local flora, including Japanese maples and colorful chrysanthemums.

Overnight in Sapporo 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Today is a self-guided day.

Continue exploring Sapporo or enjoy a pleasant day trip to Otaru, half an hour northwest of Sapporo. 

Optional Daytrip: Yoichi: Wine, Whisky, and Fine Dining

Set out for a day exploring Yoichi, one and half hour away from Sapporo by train. The coastal climate and fertile soil have turned this seaside town into one of Japan’s most popular wine producing areas.

Arrive at Yoichi Station where a local guide awaits.  Move by car to a local winery to begin exploring the liquid landscape of the region. Meet the owner of the establishment and taste local vintages together, discovering what makes Hokkaido wine so special. 

Return to town and drop by the local supermarket to explore Yoichi’s seafood to fully grasp the culinary scene here. The guide will then drop guests at a fashionable hotel restaurant built to showcase Yoichi wine and cuisine using local produce. 

Among the hotel’s chic interior, savour a lavish lunch that pairs western-inspired courses of local meat and seafood with regional wine. The rarest Yoichi wine is highly sought-after, and today will be a chance to try some of these special vintages. This is a once-in-a-lifetime meal for wine lovers, carefully overseen by a highly regarded chef and sommelier duo who know the relationship between their cellar and the local dishes.

The rest of the afternoon is self-guided

After a lunch, visit the pride of Yoichi, the venerable Nikka Whisky Distillery, established in 1934 by Taketsuru Masataka, the father of Japanese Whisky. He found that the conditions in Yoichi are suprisingly close to those in Scotland where he learned his craft. We suggest skipping the guided tour (offered in Japanese only) and instead visiting the musuem and shop on the premises, where guests can sample rare whisky for a small fee.

On the way back to Sapporo, you may want to drop by at Otaru. One of the main attractions is the Otaru Canal, a picturesque waterway lined with stone warehouses that were once used to store goods from ships. Today, the warehouses have been converted into restaurants, cafes, and shops selling local crafts and souvenirs. 

Another popular spot is Sakaimachi Street, a historic shopping street that has retained its old-world charm. The street is lined with beautifully preserved buildings from the early 20th century, which now house boutiques, glassware shops, and cafes. Visitors can also visit the Otaru Music Box Museum, which showcases a collection of intricately designed music boxes from around the world.

Distance and journey time (approximation):
Sapporo Station to Yoichi Station: 90 min (Change the trains at Otaru)
Yoichi station to Otaru:30 min(train)
Otaru station to Sapporo: 30min(train)

-This tour is available only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Overnight in Sapporo

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Sapporo to Oshamanbe: 2 h 30 min (train)

Depart Sapporo by train and get ready to see another side of Hokkaido that tourists rarely experience. A local guide will greet guests at Oshamanbe station and take you to Kuromatsunai Town where the perfect opportunity to get in touch with Hokkaido’s countryside awaits. Get to know this small town a personal way, and participate in sustainable tourism by supporting local businesses and eating locally-grown produce. 

Walk the village with the guide and find out why this small town is so passionate about the nature that surrounds it. See magnificent foliage in the famous beech tree forest, a natural highlight of the region and then experience a casual dinner gathering with locals in cozy little garage – as is local tradition! BBQ with local residents who are eager to share stories and hospitality. The guide will be on hand to translate, but a smile and some good food go a long way in bridging any language gap!

Tonight, stay overnight in a rental home originally built for city people who are considering moving to countryside.

Overnight in Kuromatsunai
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Start (bar hopping tour): TBD Duration: 3 h *including pick-up/drop-off, and transit times

After a locally-prepared breakfast delivered to the accommodation, depart with a guide on a canoe nature tour through untouched wilderness. Paddle down forested waterways for a special view of autumnal foliage as it glides past. 

Take one more chance to savour the countryside flavour of Hokkaido with a soba noodle lunch at a famous local restaurant. 

Say farewell to Kuromatsunai and board a train for Hakodate. Upon arrival at Hakodate Station, our representative will be waiting to provide an escort to the hotel. After checking in, enjoy an evening bar hopping with a local guide and enjoy this charming city by mingling with locals. Drinks and food are included on this casual night out through lively neighbourhood spots.

Overnight in Hakodate
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Time: Start (guided tour): 09:00 Duration: 8 h *including pick-up/drop-off, and transit times

Today is a self-guided day.

Suggested self-guided itinerary:

Explore Hakodate, a city rich in history and maritime culture, on foot and by tram. This is an excellent chance to understand the unique blend of traditional Japanese and modern western culture that occurred as Hokkaido was settled in the 19th century.

Take the tram to Goryokaku Park, a green space surrounding a western-style citadel in the shape of a star. Originally built in 1866 to defend against the western threats, this is now a favourite spot of the locals to enjoy the seasonal greenery and flowers. Ride back to the Hakodate station to visit a local fish market for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Motomachi District, with its distinct historical buildings, such as a Russian Orthodox Church and classic old brick warehouses.

As sunset approaches, ascend Mt. Hakodate for a fantastic view of the city spanning the narrow isthmus that connects the mountain to the mainland. Visitors can reach the summit of the mountain via the Hakodate Ropeway, a cable car ride that takes approximately 3 minutes. Once at the top, visitors can enjoy the observation deck, which provides unobstructed views of the city and the sea.

As the sun begins to set, the view from Mt. Hakodate becomes even more spectacular. The sky turns into a vivid orange and pink hue, reflecting off the water below. The city lights up, creating a dazzling display of sparkling lights against the darkening sky. It's no wonder that Mt. Hakodate is considered one of Japan's three best night views.

In addition to the observation deck, there are also restaurants and cafes at the summit, offering visitors a chance to enjoy a meal or drink while taking in the beautiful scenery.

Overnight in Hakodate

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

The rest of the day is at leisure until the scheduled departure time by train from Hakodate Station followed by bullet train transfer from Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station.

Inclusions: