Hello! I am planning my first trip to Japan this May. I’m thinking of flying up to Sapporo the day we land to catch the cherry blossoms. Based on the Japan guide they should be blooming, but we’ll probably catch the tail end of the season. My issue is that I decided to fly up for the blossoms after booking a ryokan in Mt Fuji (Kozantei Ubuya) and based on my itinerary I think I’ll have a long travel day trying to get from Sapporo to Mt Fuji.
Here are the first couple days of my itinerary to give you an idea of my dilemma:
May 8: Land in NRT at 2pm. Taking a flight to Sapporo from NRT at 5pm.
May 9: Explore Sappro and Otaru + see cherry blossoms.
May 10: Here is where I am wondering if the travel is feasible. This is my plan:
* Fly out of Sapporo at 8 am and land at NRT at 9:30 am.
* Get to Shinjuku Station by 12 pm.
* Train to Kawaguchiko around 2.5 hours. (Google Maps says to take Kaiji 23 limited express to Otsuki and switch to Fujikyuko Line for Kawaguchiko. I would have wanted to take Fuji Excursion LE but the last one leaves at 9:30 on weekdays)
If all goes well I expect to reach Kawaguchiko by 3 pm. I am just worried that this is too ambitious and I will end up not making the 6 pm latest check-in time at the ryokan. They have no other availability during my stay so I can’t move the Mt Fuji trip to another day where I don’t have to get off a flight in the morning.
What do you guys think? Is there even a guarantee I will be able to see cherry blossoms in Sapporo? Is the trek to Kawaguchiko worth it at all? Please help.
7 comments
You’re most likely to see Fuji on the morning of a clear day. Arriving at 3pm maybe doesn’t give you much of a chance to see Fuji — perhaps think more about the morning of the next day.
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Going up to Sapporo for what is effectively a day trip (and fitting Otaru in there as well) right after you arrive in Japan sounds exhausting and stressful, especially if you’ll be dealing with jet lag on top. There’s so much to see in both Sapporo and Otaru that you’ll definitely feel like you’re missing out by only staying for one day – and an 8am flight plus several hours of trains will be seriously draining.
If you want a more conveniently located (but still spectacular) flower experience, the wisteria at [Ashikaga Park](https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/) should still be in full bloom in early-mid-May.
Also, consider the [highway bus](https://highway-buses.jp/course/kawaguchiko.php) option to get to Kawaguchiko after the Fuji Excursion trains stop running in the morning. It’s cheaper than the ltd-exp + local train itinerary unless you’ve got a JR pass, and takes less than two hours from Shinjuku.
There is bus – [http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/](http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/)
Seems the one from Narita to Kawaguchiko is suspended, but there is still bus from Tokyo, Shinjuku or Akihabara. Taking the train will likely be the longest and most expensive.
I would guess you can be in Tokyo much faster. It’s a domestic flight, so no custom/immigration to exit the airport.
I’d recommend to not do so much in so little time.
Tbh I don’t think it’ll be worth the hassle… But have you asked the Ryokan if it’s possible to check in later than 6pm as travel can take time?
My “Ryokan” (mind you it was a small budget one with only one guy managing it 😂) said last check in was 8pm but we could only arrive around 11pm or even midnight so asked if that was okay and he made it happen for us. I mean you pay them so if circumstances don’t work out they should try to be flexible I think. Check out time is more strict.
keep in mind that it’s 40-60 minutes from the airport to sapporo (relatively frequent trains, but you still might have to wait 20 or so minutes), about 30-40 minutes from sapporo to otaru (twice an hour-ish), and the best places to see cherry blossoms in sapporo aren’t right next to the station, either.