Hello. I know there are so many posts asking for reviews on itineraries but this trip is quite last minute and I would love any advice. I am getting a bit overwhelmed trying to plan this holiday well.
I am expecting people to say we are trying to cram in too much too fast. We are young, fit, and on the go people. Our plan is to get early morning trains (departing between 6 and 730 am) and leave our bags in station lockers so we can still spend the vast majority of the days sightseeing.
| Day | Date | Day | Location | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/08 | Saturday | Brisbane to Osaka- arrive in evening | Late dinner then bed |
| 2 | 11/08 | Sunday | Day in Osaka | Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Shinsekai, other nostalgic sites from when I lived there. Hire a bike? |
| 3 | 12/08 | Monday | Osaka to Sapporo | Osaka sightseeing we didn't fit in the day before, afternoon flight from Kansai Airport to Chitose Airport, dinner in Sapporo |
| 4 | 13/08 | Tuesday | Day in Sapporo | Nijo FIsh Market for breakfast, hire a bike, Sapporo Art Park, Shiroi Koibito Park (chocolate factory), ?Tanuki Festival in Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Sapporo Summer Festival Beer Garden in Odori Park, Mount Moiwa Observation Deck for sunset, Slowboat jazz bar (opens at 7:30pm) |
| 5 | 14/08 | Wednesday | Day trip to Furano, Biei, and Shirogane Blue Pond | Bus day tour or hire a car?, Ganso Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (ramen alley) for signature miso ramen dinner, check out love hotels in Susukino in evening |
| 6 | 15/08 | Thursday | Day trip to Otaru and Yoichi | Train to Yoichi for Nikka whisky factory (book free tour online, opens 9am), train to Otaru, Otaru Kihinkan (Herring Palace), walk canal at sunset, return to Saporro in evening |
| 7 | 16/08 | Friday | Sapporo to Noboribetsu | Early morning train, Jigokundani (Hell Valley), River Oyunuma Natural Footbath, soak in hotel's onsen |
| 8 | 17/08 | Saturday | Noboribetsu to Lake Toya | Early morning train, drop bags to Hotel Grand Toya, pleasure cruise, Hike the Toya volcanic eruption trail, watch fireworks, have dinner at hotel |
| 9 | 18/08 | Sunday | Day in Lake Toya | Breakfast at hotel, hire bicycles to ride around the lake, stop to taste test sweets at Wakasaimo Honpo Doya, swan boat ride, watch fireworks, have dinner at hotel |
| 10 | 19/08 | Monday | Lake Toya to Hakodate | Breakfast at hotel, late morning train, FLEXSTAY INN Hakodate Station, Red-Brick warehouse, Botanical Garden and Monkey Onsen, Mt. Hakodate ropeway at night, JB house jazz bar |
| 11 | 20/08 | Tuesday | Day in Hakodate | Hakodate Morning Market, soft serve ice-cream in Minatogaoka Street, walk around Motomachi, Goryokaku (star shaped park), Daimon Yokocho in evening (collection of 26 bars) |
| 12 | 21/08 | Wednesday | Hakodate to Aomori City | Early morning train, Furukawa Fish Market for make your own seafood donburi, A-factory, Nebuta Warasse, Aomori Museum of Art |
| 13 | 22/08 | Thursday | Day trip to Hirosaki | Early morning train, Hirosaki City Apple Park, Hirosaki Park and Castle, Former Hirosaki City Library and Former Fifty-Ninth Bank Head Office Main Building |
| 14 | 23/08 | Friday | Day trip to Hachinohe | Early morning train, Kabushima Shrine, Samekado toudai lighthouse, Ashigezaki tenbōdai Observatory, Shirahama Beach, Tanesashi Coast/Beach, dinner at Hachinohe Yatai Mura (Food Stall Village) |
| 15 | 24/08 | Saturday | Aomori City to Ichinoseki | Early morning train, Genbikei Gorge |
| 16 | 25/08 | Sunday | Day trip to Hiraizumi and Geibikei Gorge | ?Pikachu train, Geibikei Gorge, Chusonji Temple via Tsukimizaka (slope), Motsuji Temple, Takkoku-no-iwaya bishamondō |
| 17 | 26/08 | Monday | Ichinoseki to Sendai | Early morning train, Loople tourist bus, Zuihōden Temple, Aobayama Park, Osaki Hachimangu Shrine, AER Building, Jozenji dori for dinner |
| 18 | 27/08 | Tuesday | Day trip to Yamadera and and Whiskey Factory | Train to Yamadera Temple (Rissyakuji Temple- opens 8am), Nikka Whisky Sendai Factory (closes 4:15pm), Rinnoji on the way back |
| 19 | 28/08 | Wednesday | Day trip to Matsushima | Shiogama shrine, Shiogama Fish Market for breakfast, get boat to Matsushima, Godaido of Zuiganji Temple (Godaido Temple), Zuiganji Temple, Entsuin Temple (and gardens), Fukuurabashi Bridge, walk across to Fukuurabashi Island, Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, |
| 20 | 29/08 | Thursday | ??? | ??? |
| 21 | 30/08 | Friday | ??? | ??? |
| 22 | 31/08 | Saturday | Sendai to Nikko | Early morning train, Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, Iemitsu Mausoleum, Kanmangafuchi Abyss, Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park, Shinkyo Bridge, Kegon Waterfalls |
| 23 | 01/09 | Sunday | Nikko to Tokyo | Early morning train, Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Hie Jinja Shrine, Harry Potter Cafe, Yoyogi Park, Yoyogi Flea Market, Shibuya crossing and Hachiko statue, Omotesando, dinner in Nishiazabu (try Butagumi), Roppongi nightlife district |
| 24 | 02/09 | Monday | Day in Tokyo | Yanaka, Ueno Park, Shinjuku, Shinjuku Gyeon National Garden, dinner in “Piss Alley” and drinks in Golden Gai |
| 25 | 03/09 | Tuesday | Day in Tokyo, evening flight from Tokyo to Brisbane | Asakusa, Senso-ji Shrine, Akihabara, Pokemon Cafe, Godzilla Statue |
| 26 | 04/09 | Wednesday | Arrive in Brisbane early morning |
Thank you so much for any advice
by epsilon0