Hokkaido Explorer

Day 1  Hakodate                              
Upon arrival you will be welcomed and escorted to your hotel by private transfer. After checking in, meet your local guide at the hotel and set out for an enjoyable tour of some of Hakodate’s best spots. Visit three handpicked bars, one of which is a vintage mokkiriya standing bar, where a drink and food pairing is included at each stop.    

Day 2  Hakodate              
Explore Hakodate and surrounds with a private guide on a full day of sightseeing. Head first to the historic red brick warehouses and then onto the preserved enclave of western-style houses in the Motomachi district, both symbols of the city’s heritage. Stop for lunch at one of the vibrant markets, where stalls are filled with fresh produce and an atmospheric buzz. Afterwards, 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      
After breakfast, you will be taken to Onuma Quasi National Park, known for its beautiful lakes and large dormant volcano. Continue your exploration of the national parks with a visit to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, a region named for the two lakes within its borders, formed by years of volcanic activity. 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. Leaving the park behind, check into your ryokan and enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner.    

Day 4  Shikotsu-Toya NP    
Meet your guide and 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. Spend the afternoon exploring the town and why not take a dip in one of the many onsens available to the public.    

Day 5  Shikotsu-Toya NP to Sapporo        
Today take the train to Sapporo. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore. Perhaps stroll through Odori Park which stretches for a mile across the heart of the city before climbing the Sapporo TV Tower. Beer enthusiasts should head to the Sapporo Beer Museum, housed in a former brewery from the Meiji period. Food lovers should try the local seafood at Nijyo Market or head to the famous ‘Ramen Street'. End your evening admiring the dazzling skyline from the 38th floor of the JR Tower Observation Deck.    

Day 6  Otaru              
Spend the day at leisure in Sapporo or choose too catch the train to Otaru. This pleasant port city northwest of Sapporo offers a glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural heritage. Many of the old stone warehouses here have been converted into shops and restaurants. For another popular spot, visit the historic shopping area of Sakaimachi Street, lined with beautiful early 20th Century boutiques. 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.