Itinerary Check: (Jan 29 – Feb 15) Group Trip From Hokkaido to Osaka

Hello Everyone, I am planning an 18-day trip to Japan starting in Hokkaido and ending in Osaka. We are a group of 4 young adults in our 20s. We will be spending the first 8 days in Hokkaido. After that, we will gain another member when we head down to Tokyo and then spend the remaining days in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka. We are looking to do winter-themed activities or activities that are better in winter, but no winter sports. I am the only member who has been to Japan before and I have beginner-intermediate Japanese Language skills. Looking for any tips, advice, or suggestions for the trip!

**29 Jan:** Arrive at New Chitose Airport at 10:30 AM. We will exchange money, look for Goshuin and stamp books, get pocket Wi-Fi, maybe have lunch, and do any other relevant activities at the airport. I am a Miku fan so I’m going to Snow Miku Sky Town and other Miku attractions (let me know if I missed any!). Leave in the early afternoon to pick up our rental car. Our trip is very unique, so we found a rental car more convenient, especially for luggage. Check into the hotel at Chitose and then spend time around Chitose Shrine / Aoba park until we leave for the Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival. Spend the evening at the festival and then the night in Chitose.

**30 Jan:** Spend the morning in Chitose. Couldn’t find anything exciting so will probably leave early for our day trip to Tomamu Ski Resort. Spend the day doing winter activities in Tomamu and visit the ice village at night. Drive to Obihiro and spend the night in Obihiro.

**31 Jan:** Again, nothing too interesting in Obihiro so will be heading straight to Lake Shikaribetsu Kotan. Then after that, we will drive to the Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival. Drive to Asahikawa where we will spend the night.

**1 Feb:** Visit Asahiyama zoo and maybe do some other activities in Asahikawa. In the afternoon head to Shirogane Blue Pond and Waterfall. After that head to Furano to see Ningle Terrace at night and Kan Kan Mura. Spend the night in Furano.

**2 Feb:** Drive to Sapporo to return our rental car by midday and check in to our apartment. We will be doing central Sapporo activities today. Have lunch at and visit Tanukikoji shopping street. After that in the afternoon visit the Sapporo Beer Museum. Not sure how long we will spend there so have a list of other places we want to go to if we get time in Sapporo such as the Former Hokkaido Government Office, Sapporo Clock Tower, and Sapporo Factory. Then spent the evening in Susukino and maybe return here other nights if we enjoy it.

**3 Feb:** Start with an early morning trip to Nijo Market. Today we are exploring southwest Sapporo and attending Setsubun at Hokkaido Jingu. Not sure how long Setsubun will go on for and if we get time, we will visit the Fushimi Inari shrine and Maruyama zoo. Then we will spend the afternoon and evening at Jozankei for Yokitouro. After that, we will visit Mt Moiwa ropeway and observation deck at night.

**4 Feb:** Otaru day Trip. Will be leaving early in the morning to go to the Snow Miku exhibition at Wing Bay Otaru. Will then spend the day doing activities near the canal. Planning to leave early in the afternoon to visit Shiroikoibito Park. We will then spend the evening and night at the Sapporo Snow Festival.

**5 Feb:** Main activity for today is visiting the Historical Village of Hokkaido. Leaving today free in case there is anything we miss or anything we discover we want to go to for our last day in Sapporo. Also, will be visiting the festival again in the afternoon or night if we want to go again.

**6 Feb:** Travel day from Sapporo to Tokyo to pick up our 5th member. Leave Sapporo at 7 AM arriving in Hakodate at 10:40 AM. Spend the day in Hakodate on a day tour and leave Hakodate in the evening to catch the bullet train to Tokyo. Arrive in Tokyo at 9:30 PM and if we are not exhausted, we will do night activities near the accommodation or just sleep. Maybe see Marunouchi Illumination tonight.

**7 Feb:** First Day in Tokyo. If we are up early for any of the days, we will visit Tsukiji market or Senso-ji. We will spend most of the day in Akihabara from around 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Have a long list of stores to visit and if we get time will go to the arcades. Will also visit the Final Fantasy XIV café as that is one of my friends only requested locations to visit. Then spend the afternoon from around 4 PM to 7 PM in Ikebukuro sightseeing the main road and Sunshine City. Since today is one of my friend’s birthday, at his request we will be visiting the Muscle Girl Bar in Ikebukuro. Then from 7:30 PM onwards we will visit Shinjuku. First seeing the Shinjuku Terrace City Illumination and Shinjuku Southern Terrace Illumination. After that head to the Observation deck and then pass through memory lane to spend the rest of the night in Kabukicho.

**8 Feb:** Start the day with Shibuya at around 10 AM. Walk around Shibuya seeing the sights and shopping until around 1 PM. Then head to Harajuku to go down Takeshita Street and visit an animal café, most likely Harajuku Kawaii Zoo Land. After this visit Meiji Jingu. In the early evening around 5:15 PM visit Team Labs Planet. Will likely stay there until it closes 8 PM. The rest of the night is left free to fit in other activities or rest.

**9 Feb:** Disney Sea Day. Nothing else is planned for today as the park is open 9 AM to 9 PM and we will likely stay the whole time and end up exhausted.

**10 Feb:** Today is the travel day from Tokyo to Kyoto. Our last Tokyo Activity will be the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Leaving plenty of time to explore the museum and take the 1-hour train ride to and from into account. This can be replaced if we missed anything or find another activity we wanted to do. We will then be catching the Shinkansen at around 2:30 PM to arrive at Kyoto Station at 5 PM. Check into our hotel and maybe visit Kyoto Tower. Then spend the night in Gion or Pontocho.

**11 Feb:** Maybe wake up early to visit Nishiki Market. We have a full-day tour of Kyoto planned from 9 AM to 5 PM. Then spend the night in Pontocho or Gion.

**12 Feb:** Check out of Kyoto and leave early in the morning to visit Himeji Castle. Spend from 9 AM to 12 PM in Himeji and visit Kokoen too if we have time. Arrive in Hiroshima and Check in to our hotel. Then aim to be at Miyajima by 3 PM and spend the rest of the day there. Spend the night in Hiroshima or maybe on Miyajima Island.

**13 Feb:** Spend the first half of the day in Hiroshima doing activities near peace park and visit Hiroshima castle if we have time. Then catch the train to Osaka and spend the rest of the trip in Osaka. Depending on how much time we have we will do afternoon activities like visiting Shinsekai and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Visit the Osaka Castle Illuminage in the evening and spend the night in Dotonbori

**14 Feb:** Universal Studios Japan day. Like Disney Sea, nothing else is planned as the park is open 10 AM to 7 PM. If we leave early can visit Teamlab Botanical Garden, Shinsekai at night, or Dotonbori.

**15 Feb:** Day left open in Osaka to fill any missed Japan activities like gardens, shopping, shrines, etc. Check-in for our plane opens at 6 PM and we leave at 9 PM.