Tour Pages
Tour Info
Tour Length: 12 days
Leave Tue. Feb. 06
Return Sat. Feb. 17
$4,565 - Total Package
fr $37 - Travel Insurance
$100 - possible Sign-up Discount
* This program maybe back
in 5 to 8 years.
More Information
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2018 Hokkaido Snow Festival 12 days
Chitose - Asahikawa - Sapporo - Noboribetsu - Hakodate - Hanamaki - Kinugawa - Tokyo
Overview
Features
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10 nights in First or Superior First Class hotels. Custom First Class Bobby Chinen / Nippon Travel Agency. 10 (B) Buffet-style breakfasts, 5 (L) Lunch, and 6 (D) Dinners, including a Sayonara Dinner in Tokyo.
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Hosted by Alex Dold with Michi Goto as our amazing professional host/guide in Japan. Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling (where applicable) at hotels.
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United Airlines from Honolulu. JR Bullet train through the Seikan Undersea Tunnel. Tsugaru Railways' Stove Train with surume (dried squid and cuttlefish). Private motorcoach with air - conditioning and heating.
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Overnights in Chitose, Asahikawa, Sapporo, Noboribetsu, Hakodate, Hanamaki, Kinugawa and Tokyo.
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Unique experiences like Hyoto Ice Festival, Asahikawa Winter Festival, Sapporo Snow Festival, Noboribetsu's Jigokudani (Hell Valley), our Snow Blizzard Challenge, and Ichigo-gari (Strawberry Picking).
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Highlights included Okurayama Ski Jump, Shiraoi Ainu Museum, Hokkaido Konbukan (Kelp Museum), Tobu World Square, Tokyo Metropolitan Building, Samurai Museum and more.
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Scenic highlights are Lake Shikotsu, Lake Poroto, Lake Toya, Mt. Showa Shinzan, Uchiura Bay, Onuma Park.
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Shopping at Otokoyama Sake Shop, Sunagawa Highway Oasis, Kitaichi Glass Shop, Hakodate Asaichi (Morning Market), Nikko Robata-zuke, Akihabara, Yanaka Ginza Shopping Arcade.
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Onsen in Noboribetsu, Hakodate, Hanamaki, and Kinugawa.
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Anti-slip snow shoe cleats provided.
Alex's Notes
Although this will be my sixth time hosting a Japan journey, and second time to Hokkaido, it will be my first Snow Festival. A huge desire of mine since starting in the travel industry 26 plus years ago. Mahalo to Bobby-san, my Japanese brother and mentor, for allowing us to journey side by side with him and his group up to Kinugawa on an itinerary he's been perfecting for decades. Plus, the honor of working with the sensational Michi Goto as our Japan guide for the fourth time is a dream coming into a reality.
When finalizing Bobby's masterpiece, the amazement of Hokkaido's winter wonderland, unique experiences, and culinary delights has piqued my craving. The many must see sights, shopping highlights, and four Onsen properties are icing on the cake.
Hokkaido's Winter Wonderland
Be in awe of: the Hyoto Ice Festival where the ice sculptures are made from the lake's water; the Asahikawa Winter Festival an eye pleasing mix of light, ice and snow; the Sapporo Snow Festival with its night illuminations of the snow statues & ice carvings; snow covered Onuma Park where the lake is a sheet of thick ice; and our Snow Blizzard Challenge race across the snow field wearing Kanjiki.
Unique Experiences
Walk through Noboribetsu's Jigokudani (Hell Valley) featuring hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity in the winter; ride the JR Bullet Train through the Seikan Undersea Tunnel, and Tsugaru Railways' Stove Train with surume (dried squid and cuttlefish) and sake or apple juice served on board; eat as many sweet and delicious strawberries as we can in a comfortable music-filled greenhouse Nikko Ichigo (Strawberry) Farm; be a Samurai for a day at the Samurai Museum.
Culinary Delights
Warm up with a ‟Ramen-teishokuˮ lunch at Dosan Ichiba Restaurant in Chitose; delight in an ono ‟Barbecue seafoodˮ meal at Aburiyaki Unga Souko Restaurant; dine at the Ichibankan Restaurant with a full view of Mt. Showa Shinzan; savor lunch at Tembokaku Restaurant inside majestic Onuma park; build your strength at Kanagi Kanko Bussan-kan Madeny restaurant before our Snow Blizzard Challenge; plus all the Onsen Hotel meals (mouth is watering!)
Retail Therapy
Starting at Sunagawa Highway Oasis to purchase “pumpkin seed” cookies and Hokkaido souvenirs; find Shoyu bottles and color glasses at the Kitaichi Glass Shop; the Hakodate Asaichi (Morning Market) offers an array of delectable fresh Hakodate produce, Seafood, vegetables, fruit and sweets; Nikko Robata-zuke for rakkyo and other tsukemono omiyage; Akihabara Yodobashi Electronics carries an array of gadgets (toys and stationery too); and browse the Yanaka Ginza Shopping Arcade with its assortment of little stores offering mainly traditional-style Japanese snacks and sweets, trinkets, souvenirs, and clothing.
Must See Sights
Okurayama Ski Jump with its magnificent view over Sapporo; explore a recreation of an Ainu Village at the Shiraoi Museum; learn the importance of Kelp at Hokkaido Konbukan, stand in awe of the 102-world famous (1/25 scaled) buildings at the Tobu World Square, ride up to the observatory deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building and more
Four Onsen Properties
While I realize some Ohana members abstain from birthday suit bath parties, there are huge benefits with onsen overnights. These properties are superior hotels normally with amazing locations, spectacular views and have many traditional Japanese characteristics. Best of all are the lavish meals. Breakfast and dinner are always included at Onsen properties and tend to be out of this world. Our Onsen visits include Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace (Noboribetsu), La Vista Hakodate Bay Hotel (Hakodate), Hanamaki Onsen Hotel Koyokan (Hanamaki), and Kinugawa Hotel Mikazuki (Kinugawa).
Mahalo to Bobby-san and Ted-san at Nippon Travel Agency for using their amazing talents to make this happen. Bobby-san has taught me how to spoil our Travel 'Ohana. His programs are top of the line and continue the Dold Family Tradition of Value, Service and Making Travel Dreams Come True. This Custom First Class journey including breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 6 dinners, full days of sightseeing, special features, Onsen hotels, and more. Being a custom program, there are no optional excursions. Pray this itinerary fulfills a cool dream of yours too.
View Day by Day Itinerary
Dates & Prices
Leave Tue. Feb. 06 - Return Sat. Feb. 17, 2018 - $4,565
Single Room Supplement - $525 / Land Only - $3,955 / Travel Insurance - fr. $37
Save Up To $100 with our Sign-up Discounts. First Come, First Save!
32 Travel 'Ohana maximum. Very Limited Single rooms.
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