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Tour Info

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.

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2018 Hokkaido Snow Festival 12 days

Chitose - Asahikawa - Sapporo - Noboribetsu - Hakodate - Hanamaki - Kinugawa - Tokyo

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Honolulu Departure.

Our Hokkaido Snow Festival begins today with a late morning departure for Narita, Japan. We lose one day crossing the International Date Line. Once the preliminary flight schedule is ready it will be displayed online at doldworldjourneys.com under the journey's page.

Day 2 Via Haneda to Chitose, Japan.

A comfortable flight brings us to the Narita International Airport in the mid-afternoon. After completing Immigration and Customs formalities, we meet Michi Goto our fabulous English-speaking Japan guide and transfer by private coach to the Haneda airport for our short flight to Hokkaido. On arrival, we are taken to the Grand Terrace Chitose Hotel for the night.

Day 3 Via Lake Shikotsu to Asahikawa.

After breakfast, we board our coach and head for Lake Shikotsu, after Akita Prefecture’s Lake Tazawa, it is the deepest and clearest lake in Japan. Here we visit the famous Hyoto Ice Festival where lines of ice sculptures are made by spraying water from the lake. Be sure to walk through the mossy tunnel and see the frozen fish suspended in the walls of the ice.

Head back to Chitose and savor a "Ramen-teishoku" lunch at Dosan Ichiba Restaurant. Then drive to Asahikawa the second largest city in Hokkaido where we experience the Asahikawa Winter Festival at Tokiwa Park. Before checking into our hotel, stop at Otokoyama Sake Shop. Dinner and overnight at the Art Hotel Asahikawa. (B), (L), (D)

Day 4 Via Otaru to Sapporo.

Today we depart Asahikawa traveling south for Otaru. Enroute stop at Sunagawa Highway Oasis to purchase "pumpkin seed" cookies, Hokkaido souvenirs, and more. Next, we break for an ono "Barbecue seafood" lunch at Aburiyaki Unga Souko Restaurant before continuing south.

Otaru is known as a town of glass manufacturing. This began with the production of kerosene lamps and floating balls used in the herring fishery in the 20th century. Today there are many stores and studios selling glassware here. Among them, we visit the oldest and most famous shop is Kitaichi Glass Shop founded in 1901.

Then head to Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium site of the 1972 Winter Olympics 90-meter ski jump. The view over Sapporo from here is spectacular. On our way to the Century Royal Hotel (our home for the next two nights) pass Odori Park; the main site of the Snow Festival. Later this evening, experience Odori Park night illuminations of the snow statues & ice carvings. (B), (L)

Day 5 Savoring Sapporo's Snow Festival.

Do as we please today. Explore Odori Park in depth and be sure to take in the Susukino Ice Carvings where all sculptures are all made of ice. Even more amazing to see the neon lights at night. Take a break from the snow with a visit to Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade with about 200 stores including a 100 Yen shop or the Daimaru Department Store. Michi and Alex will be available with suggestion and options for the group. (B)

Day 6 Via Lake Toya to Noboribetsu.

Start the morning with a visit to the Shiraoi Ainu Museum. This open-air museum is a replica of an Ainu village consisting of five thatched houses along the shore of Lake Poroto. Here enjoy a traditional Ainu song and dance performance. Continue to Lake Toya, Japan's ninth largest lake and the third largest caldera lake. Stop for a photo of the Lake and Mt. Showa Shinzan which still vents sulfurous fumes (wasn't me).

Savor lunch at the Ichibankan Restaurant with a full view of Mt. Showa in the background. Next to Noboribetsu's and explore Jigokudani or "Hell Valley." A spectacular, appropriately named valley featuring hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity. It is a main source of Noboribetsu's hot spring waters. Dinner, an opportunity to enjoy a soothing Onsen bath and overnight at the Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace. (B), (L), (D)

Day 7 Via Onuma to Hakodate.

After breakfast, we head south following along Uchiura Bay to Hakodate, Hokkaido's third largest city, located at the island's southern tip. Our first stop is at Onuma Park beautifully surrounded by mountains, lakes and forests. During the winter Onuma turns into a snow-covered wonderland. The lakes develop a thick layer of ice, offering visitors an array of winter-only activities like "Ice Fishing for Wakasagi (Smelt)." Savor lunch at Tembokaku Restaurant inside the park.

Before heading to our hotel, we explore the Hokkaido Konbukan (Kelp Museum) where we "Feel and Experience Everything about Kelp." The museum conveys the importance of kelp cultivation to Japanese diet and the long history of the industry. Dinner, an opportunity to enjoy a soothing Onsen bath and overnight at the La Vista Hakodate Bay Hotel. (B), (L), (D) **Please remember to pack an overnight bag for the next two nights (Hanamaki Spa and Kinugawa Spa).

Day 8 Via Aomori to Hanamaki Spa, Iwate Prefecture.

We'll take our early risers to visit the Hakodate Asaichi (Morning Market) before breakfast. This tempting market offers an array of delectable fresh Hakodate produce. Seafood, vegetables, fruit and sweets are just some of the edibles available for purchase.

After breakfast we transfer to the Shin Hakodate Hokuto Station to experience one of Japan's bullet trains as we travel through the Seikan Undersea Tunnel (hold your breath) to Aomori Station. Upon arrival, board our awaiting coach and proceed to Kanagi Town where we enjoy a ride aboard the famous Tsugaru Railway. During the winter months, an old-fashioned potbelly stove gains a spot on the train as it runs through the snow field of Tsugaru plain. The red burning coals in the stove creates a comfortable ride. Savor surume (dried squid and cuttlefish) prepared on the stove and served with sake or apple juice.

After lunch at Kanagi Kanko Bussan-kan Madeny take part in the Snow Blizzard Challenge. Wearing the Kanjiki (wooden snow shoes) we race across the open snow field. Try a Bamba Horse sled ride before heading to Hanamaki located in the center of the Kitakami Basin in the mid-western part of Iwate Prefecture. Dinner, an opportunity to enjoy a soothing Onsen bath and overnight at the Hanamaki Onsen Hotel Koyokan. (B). (L), (D)

Day 9 To Kinugawa, Tochigi Prefecture.

This morning we depart Hanamaki Spa and head south to Kinugawa on the Tohoku Expressway which stretches from Aomori City all the way to the North of Tokyo. Tochigi prefecture is known for its fertile land and streams of clear water from Nikko and Nasu. The climate here features long hours of sunshine in the winter and a large temperature difference between day and night creating the best conditions for growing strawberries. This afternoon, try our hand at Ichigo-gari (Strawberry Picking) at the famous Nikko Ichigo Strawberry Farm. We have 30 minutes to hunt and eat as many sweet and delicious strawberries as we can in a comfortable music-filled greenhouse.

A short drive brings us to Kinugawa Onsen, known as the Okuyashiki (living room) of Tokyo. It was opened to development in the early Meiji period, and it became a major destination for those wanting to escape the noise and congestion of the city. The name Kinugawa literally means Angry Demon River. Tonight dinner, an opportunity for a relaxing Onsen bath and overnight at the Kinugawa Hotel Mikazuki. (B), (D)

Day 10 To Tokyo, Tokyo Prefecture.

Today our coach continues south to Tokyo, the capital and largest city of Japan. We make a stop at Nikko Robata-zuke to shop for rakkyo and other tsukemono omiyage. Then spend time at Tobu World Square, an architectural museum with skillful reproductions of 102 world-famous buildings on the 1/25 scale, including 45 World Heritage Sites. All reproduced with amazing detail all the way down to cars, trains and miniature people populating the sites, and with gardens that change with the seasons. We end our day at the Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba, our home for the next two nights. (B)

Day 11 Exploring Tokyo.

We start our guided sightseeing with a ride up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Building observatory decks for a panoramic view of the city and beyond. Once the tallest building in Tokyo at 797 feet high. The samurai has been an iconic symbol of courage, power and masculinity for over 700 years of Japanese warfare history. Today we experience their way of life at the Samurai Museum including our chance to be in full costume (Mike?). Then head to the Akihabara Electronics District and visit the Yodobashi building. This is a massive department store offers everything electronic, plus sporting-, car-, office-related, and more.

End our sightseeing day with a stop to browse at the Yanaka Ginza Shopping Arcade. Located in the traditional temple district in Taito, this arcade preserves and partly recreates the atmosphere of old Tokyo. With an assortment of little stores offering mainly traditional-style Japanese snacks and sweets, trinkets, souvenirs, and clothing, the area is very popular with locals as well as tourist. We make our way back to our hotel for a delicious Sayonara Buffet Dinner. (B), (D)

Day 12 To Honolulu.

This morning is our to do as we please. Very near to our hotel are two malls, museums, and more. Alex and Michi will have some suggestion. In the early afternoon, we transfer to Narita International Airport and check in for our United Airlines flight. Perhaps do some last-minute shopping or grab one more tonkatsu meal? We arrive in Honolulu in the morning of the same day, clear Immigration and Customs, and remember our fabulous time in the winter wonderland of Japan. (B)