Hi,
I’ve been to Japan a few times before but never Hokkaido!
Here is my itinerary for travel from 25 May to 7 June:
25/05-28/05: staying in Asakusa so going to Kappabashi, sensoji, sumo tournament, Ginza, shopping around the area, hanazono Shrine in Shinjuku?
29/05: take train from Tokyo to Aomori going to relax and slow down the pace for one night, toeako lakeside, park, wrasse nebuta museum
30/05: earliest shinkansen to Sapporo and do odori Park and other parks, Fish market, Mt moiwa, Ainu Village maybe, SUSUKINO
31/05: day trip to otaru for canals, music boxes, glass workshops and le Tao!
01/06: day trip to asahikawa for zoo, otokoyama sake, biei
02/06: leave Sapporo for Noboribetsu but may stop off at shiraoi Ainu museum if didn’t get to see in Sapporo; maybe go to Lake toya first then head into Noboribetsu for hells Valley, oyunuma walk and stay the night to onsen away
03/06: early start to go to onuma Park, leave luggage at station and then Hakodate for gortokaku, Mt Hakodate, red brick warehouse, Mt esan etc Stay in Hakodate
04/06: shinkansen to Tokyo (may leave early or later before midday, staying shinagawa) go to Shinjuku
05/06: day trip to ghibli Museum and inokashira Park
06/06: Shibuya day! Shimokitazawa
07/06: team lab tokyo
Questions:
1. JR passes-planning to get the 7 day one for whole of Japan for use from Tokyo to Hokkaido. Do they work between the towns eg Sapporo to otaru? Is there a cheaper Jr pass? (also not interested in flying)
2. Any suggestions for itinerary?
3. Any suggestions for which side to sit on the way up to Aomori and on the way down from Hokkaido for best views?
2 comments
There’s the [JR Hokkaido Tohoku Pass](https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/tohokuhokkaido.html) but that’s only valid for 6 consecutive days. You’d have to compare it to the 7 day full country pass to see which one works best for you. Check [the usage map.](https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/downloads/pdf/tohoku_hokkaido_e.pdf) Asajikawa, Biei, and Furano aren’t covered by these passes though so given that and the 6 day validity then maybe the 7-day full country pass would win for you. [You can see all the JR Hokkaido Pass options here.](https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ticket/index.html)
– [Asahikawa Access](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6891.html?aFROM=2163_6890)
– [Biei Access](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6828.html#section_get_there)
– [Furano Access](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6829.html?aFROM=2163_6825)
You’d also be more easily able to get around Asahikawa/Biei/Furano if you rent a car for a day. Or, look up bus tours that will take you right to all the sites you want to visit that day. Then you sit back, enjoy the ride, and don’t have to worry about train/bus schedules.
– [Hokkaido Labo: Biei Furano Tour](https://hokkaido-labo.com/en/course-furano)
– If you Google Biei Furano sightseeing bus you’ll find other options too.
Just a note; the Shinkansen only runs up to Hakodate. You’ll be taking a normal train after that and it will be about 6 hours from Shin Hakodate to Sapporo, then 10 hours back to Tokyo.