Last minute, Kyoto-Sapporo-Tokyo

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some itinerary advice for a last-minute spontaneous trip! Second time visiting

Kyoto-Naoshima Island-Takayama-Sapporo-Lake Kawaguchiko-Tokyo

Dates: Dec 13- 31, 2022

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**Dec 13: TRAVEL DAY**

* Depart from Canada
* Do any Canadians have experience with using the Canada vaccine certificate to show three vaccinations? Was it a smooth process?
* \*\*Debating on getting a PCR just in case for backup

(land Dec 14 evening, train to Kyoto)

**Dec 15 – 17: Kyoto**

DAY 1

* Lots of temples and shrines
* Eikando Temple, for maple viewing (catching the end or is the season over?)
* Ryoan-Ji, stone garden- if time permits, Nanzen-Ji, Oku-no-In
* Explore Gion and Hokanji

DAY 2

* Shibori museum
* Museums of modern art Kyoto
* Explore some cafes and shop

DAY 3

* Kurama-dera temple- small hike to Kibuneguchi
* on the way, see kifune jinja shrine
* has anyone eaten at Beniya, the riverside resto? Will try for walk-in

**Dec 18- train from Kyoto to Naoshima Island**

* rent an e-bike and check out museums- out the multiple, which were your favs?
* How is visiting in the winter?
* 3 hr. bus and ferry back to Kyoto in the evening
* \*\*Was conserving to stay a night on the island but was concerned about the three-hour ride back in the morning adding stress to the already long travel to Takayama

**Dec 19: Kyoto – Takayama**

* 7am, bus 6 hrs to an ryokan/onsen in Takayama
* 2pm Check into ryokan, location specific due to wanting to see the winter scenery while soaking
* \*\*Has anyone gone to Mt. Fukuji trailhead? Not looking to do a full hike but wanted to venture into and do a small section (1 hr)

**Dec 20: Takayama-Nagoya- Sapporo**

* 9:30 am; check of out ryokan
* 5 hr bus to Chubu airport, arrive either 2pm or 4pm depending on the bus schedule
* Check out some second-hand clothing shops and eat if early for the flight
* 6pm flight to Sapporo, get into airport at 4pm
* \*\* I’m considering staying the night and then flying on Dec 21 morning. Catching a flight might be too ambitious if encountering any delays on the bus
* I’m open to other airports as well; flying out of NGO was the cheapest based on the same amount of bus time

\*\*Side question: for domestic air travel, are the covid requirements consistent with international?

ie: 3 vaccinations

**Dec 21- 25: Sapporo**

* Explore Sapporo
* Day trips to niseko, (if not snowboarding, Is it still worth it?)
* Day trip to otaru
* Day trip to furano and beiei
* \*should I do this in one day or two desperate trips?
* any locations to take photos like Love Letter?
* ⁃ Book ice drifting tour
* Mainly want to see snow
* Bought some heavy-duty winter boots, so hiking is available too
* \*\*Is the Sapporo beer Museum with it for a non-beer lover? Just to go to eat Genghis khan

**Dec 25: fly out of Sapporo-Haneda airport- lake kawaguchiko**

* Check out in the morning
* \*\* can stay the day in Sapporo and choose a flight back in the evening or fly in the morning to Haneda airport, then bus to lake kawaguchiko
* ⁃ Booked a night at kawaguchiko inn (Do most rooms have views?)
* \*\* Is it logical to stay the night at the lake or doable in a day trip? Should I stay in the night in Tokyo?

**Dec 26: lake kawaguchiko – Tokyo**

* See mt fuji
* Oshii park
* The lakes
* Any hidden gem locations to see mt Fuji?
* Evening, 2.5 train to Tokyo

**Dec 27-30 Tokyo and day trips**

Day trips to:

* Nikko
* Chiba
* Kamakura
* Bemejima (worth it in the winter?)
* Hang out in Tokyo, explore cafes

Dec 31: Fly out of Tokyo

All help is appreciated. Please drop any suggestions- interests include nature, eating, secondhand clothing shops, and art.

Thank you!