Aloha mai! This is my first time posting on Reddit. Hope I am following guidelines, but happy to revise for compliance!
Below is an outline of my *intended*, but adjustable, itinerary for our honeymoon. We plan to start in Osaka, go to Hokkaido (mostly east, then make our way back to Sapporo), and end in Tokyo to visit with family. Below are my main concerns/questions and our openness to recommendations. Hoping you can keep these in mind while reviewing:
* Overall, is this itinerary realistic? Any place we are not spending enough time in or missing major opportunities? Our priorities are food and outdoor experiences, but very open to suggestions
* Is it safe to drive in East Hokkaido (Kushiro/Akan Ainu Kotan/Sounkyo) during late February/early march? My husband has some experience driving in snow (though not harsh/stormy conditions) and has driven in Japan before. Hoping late Feb/early March will be calmer conditions (but still snowy). Is this a realistic expectation?
* Recommendations for where/what to buy for cold weather gear? Interested especially in glove and head gear recs (we are from Hawaiʻi, so not used to being in these temperatures)
* Is it worth looking into transportation passes/cards or should we just pay individual fares since most of our travel is by plane/car? We currently only have a Suica/Pasmo cards
* Any recommendations for any and all food/lodging along the way? Both my husband and I will try (and usually enjoy) everything. We have been to Japan a few times, but only to Tokyo, so we are especially interested in regional/seasonal offerings
**DAY 1 & DAY 2: Traveling from Hawaiʻi to Osaka**
* Evening: arrive in Osaka
* Dinner and river walk in Dontonburi
* *Recommendations for food/sites welcome!*
**DAY 3: Day trip to Nara**
* Morning: train to Nara
* Todai-ji Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall)
* *Confirming this is also a good location to see deer?*
* Afternoon: walk around and eat lunch
* *Recommendations for food/sites welcome! I heard it is a good region for unagi? Which is my husband’s favorite*
* Evening: Nipponbashi Denden Town
* For omiyage, gachapon, *recommendations for dinner?*
**DAY 4: Explore Osaka**
* Morning: breakfast at Cafe Annon for souffle pancakes
* *Saw this was popular, worth trying or better to get a more traditional Japanese breakfast?*
* Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street
* *Omiyage/home goods, recommendations for shops? Especially ceramics*
* Namba Yasaka Jinja (Lion Shrine)
* Afternoon: lunch at Kuromon Ichiba Market
* *Recommendations for specific vendors/foods?*
* Plum Garden at Osaka Castle/Explore castle area
* *Confirming ume matsuri (plum blossoms) should still be around this time at the castle?*
* Dinner: open to recommendations!
**DAY 5: Travel from Osaka to Kushiro**
* Morning: flight from KIX (Osaka) to CTS (Sapporo)
* *Looking at Peach flight, does this airline accommodate check in baggage well?*
* Afternoon: flight from CTS (Sapporo) to KUH (Kushiro)
* *Looking at ANA flight, able to accommodate check in baggage? If switching airlines, will we need to recheck in?*
* Toyota Rent-A-Car pick up
* *Recommendations for make/model/other requirements for driving in East Hokkaido?*
* Drive to Kushiro town area
* *Recommendations for lodging?*
* Dinner at Washou Market: *recommendations for vendor/restaurant?*
**DAY 6: Kushiro to Northern Arc Resort**
* Sunrise: Ottowa bridge to see Tancho
* *Sunrise may be ambitious but at least hoping to see Tancho along the way. Seemed like some of the sanctuaries are closed on certain days of the week, are there any other locations to see Tancho besides the sanctuaries that require entry?*
* Morning at Akan Ainu Kotan
* *Eat breakfast, walk around. Will fishing on lake be possible at this time? If so, seems like you just pay on site on possible to make reservation?*
* Visit Kotan Onsen Hot Spring
* *Any other public/outdoor onsen along the way? This seemed to be the most popular/well known*
* Stop at Bihoro Pass
* Check in/settle at Northern Arc Resort
* *Not completely tied to staying at this resort. Wanted to ski/snowboard somewhere in East Hokkaido that accommodates some English, has rentals available, and has lots of open runs for beginners. Any others that may be good for us?*
**DAY 7 & Day 8: Ski/snowboard at Northern Arc Resort**
* Mostly planning to be on the slopes unless weather says otherwise
* *Any other recommendations for this area?*
**DAY 9: Northern Arc Resort to Sounkyo**
* Morning: drive to Sounkyo
* *Estimated 2 hour drive, is this realistic?*
* *Recommendations for stops along this route?*
* *Recommendations for onsen to stay at near the Sounkyo Ice Festival?*
* Evening: visit to the Sounkyo Ice Festival
**DAY 10: Drive from Sounkyo to Sapporo**
* Drive to CTS (Sapporo airport) Toyota Rent-A-Car location
* *Estimated 4 hour drive from Sounkyo, is this realistic? Recommendations for lunch/gas/sightseeing along the way?*
* Train to Sapporo
* Dinner/bar hop in Sapporo
* *Want to try Mutton yakiniku, but open to recommendations*
**DAY 11: Explore Sapporo**
* Morning: Hill of Buddha
* Afternoon: *get miso ramen for lunch, recommendations?*
* ***Recommendation: omiyage/Hokkaido specialty to bring for Japanese family?***
* Evening: Moiwa Ropeway for Sunset
* Dinner: *seafood recommendation? Hoping for kegani/crab, squid, other Hokkaido specialties*
**DAY 12: Sapporo to Tokyo**
* *Breakfast in Sapporo: recommendation?*
* Afternoon flight from CTS (Sapporo) to NRT (Narita)
* *Looking at Peach flight, able to accommodate check in baggage?*
* Evening and rest of the trip with family
Truly appreciative of anyone who took the time to review and provide feedback! Mahalo for your time and consideration