Day 1 Sapporo ★ Meeting Day
All day
Today is the gathering day for activities. Tourists from all over the country will take their own flights to Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, Japan.
After arriving at Sapporo Airport according to your flight, tourists will proceed to Sapporo New Chitose Airport. Upon landing, China-TravelNote staff will meet you at the airport and guide you to your hotel in downtown Sapporo. If your flight is earlier, you can visit the New Chitose Airport or the nearby outlet malls to experience the charm of the northern land.
Airport Pickup Arrangement:
If your flight arrives between 9:00 and 18:00, our China-TravelNote staff will meet you at the airport and guide you to public transportation (transportation costs are at your own expense).
If your flight arrives later, we will provide you with detailed directions to your hotel.
P.S. If you encounter any inconveniences, please feel free to call the local tour guide to help you resolve the issue.
Visa Information:
This product requires you to apply for a Japanese visa yourself. It's recommended to apply 10-15 working days in advance, and the visa date must cover your travel dates. China-TravelNote can assist you with this process; search for "Japan visa" for details.
We promise a full refund if you present your visa rejection documents three days in advance, provided they haven't been rejected. (Note: This does not include situations where the visa application cannot be processed due to incomplete documents, insufficient visa time, or other reasons.)
丨Pre-trip instructions:
After payment for the activity, you can check the Japan pre-trip guide in the order to help you prepare for the trip; 5-7 days before the departure of the activity, we will send a travel text message (including the meeting hotel, how to join the group, and the tour guide), so please pay attention to the text message and the website notification; 1-3 days before the activity, the itinerary will be sent in the order, and the travel group will be notified again about the instructions for filling out the Japan entry card, etc.
Registration Instructions:
Resources are limited during peak season, and bookings will close once full. The website indicates a maximum of 25 people per group, but the number of places per group may vary slightly depending on availability. We recommend registering 20-30 days in advance to secure a spot. If the tour is not full, the closing date will be 5 days in advance. The actual number of guests is subject to change.
Note: There are many flights to Sapporo, the meeting point. We recommend purchasing direct flights to Sapporo from all over the country: Domestic direct flights to Sapporo (ANA, Japan Airlines, China Airlines, Spring Airlines, etc.)
Booking in advance can get you a discount. If you buy connecting flights, make sure there is a certain amount of time between them: usually more than 3 hours. This will prevent you from missing your flight due to delays.
Day 2 Sapporo → Otaru → Sapporo
All day
Otaru City Walk : Check out the filming locations of "Love Letter"
Today, we'll head to the romantic city of Otaru, arriving first at the quiet seaside town of Asasato Station. With a few tourists, the sea beside the train tracks, and fairytale-like houses, it feels like something straight out of a Japanese drama! Tired of sightseeing by train? Slow down and join China-TravelNote on a leisurely stroll through this romantic port town, soaking in its unique charm. Once a major herring fishing and trading center, Otaru also had its heyday.
The Otaru Canal is a symbol of romance and love. If you're looking for a photo of the Otaru Canal, Asakusa Bridge is a great spot! Stroll along the ancient canal under the equally ancient Victorian gas lamps and marvel at the charming warehouses dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Then we strolled all the way to Otaru's famous [Kitaichi Glass Museum]. The building itself is a tourist attraction. The glass crafts in the store are unique in style, and there are also courses related to glass making that you can participate in.
Continue forward to the Music Box Hall, where thousands of music boxes from all over the world are displayed, allowing you to be surrounded by beautiful rhythms.
China-TravelNote Special: Music Box Making Experience! After admiring the exquisite music boxes, try making your own and bring the romance of Otaru home with you!
In the evening, we recommend dining at a Japanese izakaya to experience the unique bustle of Japan (meals are at your own expense, or you can dine on your own).
Day 3 Sapporo → Asahikawa → Sounkyo
·morning
After breakfast, proceed to Hokkaido Jingu Shrine.
Originally known as Sapporo Shrine, Hokkaido Jingu Shrine serves as the chief guardian of Hokkaido, enshrining the four guardian deities of Hokkaido. It is a premier spiritual spot and a representative shrine in Hokkaido. Hokkaido Jingu offers its own unique beauty year-round. Winter brings a touch of bleakness, heightened by the snow, creating a mysterious atmosphere. The Jingu Teahouse, located just outside the shrine, is a perfect place for a break after sightseeing. Their handmade "fortune cakes" are especially recommended.
·afternoon
After lunch, we'll travel to Asahikawa Zoo, located in the northernmost part of Japan. The zoo is renowned for its unique displays of animal behavior. Through its uniquely designed exhibits, the animals are allowed to display their natural behaviors in relative freedom, while also allowing visitors to observe the animals in their natural state. In particular, visitors can admire the swimming movements of polar bears, seals, and hippos through glass tanks, and watch penguins stroll through the snow in winter.
Special note: Penguin walks are only available twice a day, the official release time is 11:00 and 14:30
Leaving Asahikawa, we will head to a hot spring hotel in Sounkyo.
This canyon, nestled within Daisetsuzan National Park, boasts captivating beauty year-round. In winter, Sounkyo transforms into a magical ice wonderland, with beautiful icicles and drifts of snow, lending it a mystical atmosphere.
Day 4 Sounkyo → Lake Kussharo → Lake Mashu → Lake Akan
·morning
Today we will leave the Sounkyo area in northern Hokkaido and head to Lake Kussharo, one of the three major lakes in eastern Hokkaido.
Lake Kussharo is the largest of the three lakes of Eastern Hokkaido and the largest volcanic crater lake in Japan. We'll first visit Sunayu, located on the lake's eastern shore. While the lake's sandy beaches appear ordinary at first glance, they conceal hot springs beneath. Digging beneath the steaming sand reveals warm, open-air baths, a wonderland that attracts countless visitors. In the summer, enjoy a refreshing hot spring bath after a swim in the lake, and in the winter, witness the graceful resting of migratory whooper swans.
After viewing Lake Kussharo from a distance, we will head towards the lakeside.
·afternoon
After lunch and our visit to Sand Hot Springs, we'll head to Mount Sulfur, which erupted 1,700 years ago and continues to emit smoke. As you approach, you'll smell the strong odor of sulfur. The surrounding area is rocky and full of spectacular mountain scenery, allowing you to fully experience the power of nature.
We then headed to Lake Mashu, another of the three lakes of eastern Hokkaido and also the most mysterious.
Lake Mashu is a relatively lesser-known of the three lakes of Eastern Hokkaido. Formed approximately 7,000 years ago as a volcanic crater, it is incredibly pristine and said to be one of the clearest lakes in the world. However, the lake's surface is often shrouded in mist, making it difficult to truly see its surface. We'll visit the observatory to admire the magnificent winter scenery of Lake Mashu.
Tonight we will stay at Lake Akan, which is one of the three lakes in Eastern Hokkaido. It is a relatively well-known lake and often appears in movies, TV shows, and novels. In addition, the hot springs here are also very famous.
Day 5 Akan Lake → Tokachi River Hot Spring
·morning
In the morning, we will go to the Ainu Folk Village to learn about and get closer to the stories of the Ainu people, the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido.
The Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, believe in animism, a belief similar to Shintoism in Japan. In their faith, they refer to spirits of great importance to humanity as "kamui." The Ainu have their own festivals and rituals, the most famous of which is the "Bear Festival." They enjoy carving animals, particularly bears, onto peeled logs with chisels. These carvings are known in Japan as "Ainu carvings."
China-TravelNote Special Arrangement: Experience Ainu woodworking, try making animal sculptures like the Ainu people, and take away your own exclusive souvenir.
·afternoon
After lunch, we'll depart for Tokachigawa Onsen, a renowned hot spring resort in Hokkaido known for its stunning scenery. Its springs, rich in organic plant matter, are a rare type of brown carbon, also known as "Beauty Hot Springs." Every winter, in late January, thousands of swans migrate to this area for the winter, and Tokachigawa Onsen celebrates their arrival with the annual Sairinka Winter Illumination Festival. The night sky, white snow, and countless lights create a dreamlike spectacle. Standing here, you'll feel lost in another world.
We will come to the Tokachi River Nature Center, where we can fully enjoy the fun given by nature. We have specially arranged snowmobiles to travel and speed along the Tokachi River and experience the passion of winter from the north.
Stay at Tokachigawa Onsen Hotel at night
Day 6 Tokachi River → Furano
·morning
Depart from Tokachigawa in the morning and head to Furano in central Hokkaido.
This is a vast rolling hilly area located in the central area of Hokkaido. In winter, Furano transforms into a powder snow paradise. It not only has world-class ski resorts, but also world-class scenery.
The first place we visited was the Furano Cheese Factory. Dairy products can be said to be one of Hokkaido's most prestigious agricultural and sideline products. In this cheese factory surrounded by white birch trees, in addition to being able to taste a variety of Hokkaido-style cheeses, we also specially arranged a cheese-making experience, so that you can make your own Hokkaido flavor in the most original way.
·afternoon
After lunch, we headed to the Elf Terrace, a fairytale-like handicraft market hidden in the forest. Designed by Japanese author Satoshi Kuramoto, it draws inspiration from Nordic fairy tales. Composed of a dozen small wooden houses, each housing an independent workshop, the market sells ingenious crafts such as glassware, wood carvings, candles, and wool products. In the evening, warm yellow lights illuminate the forest paths, creating a dreamy, fairytale atmosphere.
Every year from late December to late February, the "Furano Winter Village" event takes place next to the Fairy Terrace! Enjoy the magical atmosphere of ice and snow on Furano's winter nights, capturing beautiful moments all to yourself. After playing in the snow, why not relax at the "Igloo Café," where the tables, chairs, and counter are all made of ice and snow? Enjoy a warm drink or mulled wine and fully enjoy the winter nights in Furano!
Day 7 Furano → Sapporo → All over the country★Dissolution Day
All day
丨Free disbandment day, looking forward to seeing you next time
Today is the day to disband. Everyone will disperse according to their flight schedules this morning. Tourists who haven't had enough can stay in Hokkaido for a few more days. Please check your belongings upon leaving your hotel and at the airport; don't leave them behind. This concludes our in-depth Hokkaido experience. A tearful goodbye! Remember to return and submit your work!
China-TravelNote's complimentary phone service: Meet at your Furano hotel at the appropriate time. Your first stop will be New Chitose Airport, and your second stop will be Sapporo Station in downtown Sapporo.
