Hy everyone! As a part of a big solo backpacking around Asia, I plan to spend six days in West Hokkaido. This section will cover from the arrival to Sapporo (by flight) to the department from Hakodate (by ferry) and will be done on the first week of March.
What am I looking for: food, nature, emblematic sights, meeting locals. I do not care that much about museums and art. I also want to keep it within budget and to stay in hostels as much as possible, and the fact that I will be carrying a backpack should also be in consideration.
Given the context, this is my plan so far:
* Monday: Arrival to Sapporo
* I will arrive by plane at 15:00 local time. I plan to go to the city center, check in and walk a little bit until it is dark. Have dinner and go to bed as I will be tired. Maybe I have a drink at the Slowboat before catching the bed.
* **Q:** How is nightlife in Sapporo? Any local tips around the city center?
* Tuesday: Sapporo
* I will spend the whole day walking around the city. Sapporo is not a city that I hold any particular interest for, so I do not have any must sees. Main stops will be Nakajim Park, Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Sapporo Beer Museum and Maruyama Park/Hokkaido Jingu. I am open, however, to any suggestion.
* **Q:** What else should I see? What are your musts?
* Wednesday: Day trip to Otaru
* I want to leave this on hold until the very first day because I will do the day trip or not depending on how reachable I end up thinking Sapporo is. If I feel overwhelmed by the Tuesday plan, I will simply not go there.
* I have seen other proposals for day trips, but I think the most interesting ones are Otaru and Furano. Of those, I doubt there is anything worth seeing in Furano during March, but again, I am open for suggestions here.
* **Q:** Should I do a day trip? If I do, should I go to Otaru, Furano or another place?
* Thursday: Noboribetsu and Toyako
* My idea is to wake up early, check out and take a bus or a train for Noboribetsu. There the main attaction will be Jigokudani. Are the Bear Park, the Lake Kuttara or the Jidai Village worth the visit?
* This is when things start to get complicated. I wanted to go further west before or after lunch to reach Toyako and sleep there. But I have seen eveyrthing is quite expensive around there, so I was considering sleeping at Muroran. However, I also think I am just not finding good availability for hostels because it is still too early for that.
* If I stay at Toyako, and it is still relatively early, I will take the bus to watch the Lake Toya. I do not think the Usu Volcano is worth a stop here.
* **Q:** Where do you recommend me to stay? Considering next day, should I push it even further?
* Friday: Niseko
* My initial idea was to go direcly form here to Hakodate, but after seeing some amazing pictures of Niseko and Mount Yotei (whcih I think are still going to be covered with snow on the first week of March), I really want to see it.
* I will take a bus to Niseko and spend the day there. I actually wonder if it is possible to take great pictures of the area without going to the Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu. I do not mind going there, but I will not sky.
* I am not sure about where to spend the night, if in Niseko direcly or if I should return to Toyako (main benefit being not carrying my backpack). Probably I stay in Niseko I find something cheap around there.
* **Q:** Is it feasible to go there just for the views? Can I enjoy them without paying for the sky resort? Any other spot you recommend? Where to spend the night?
* Saturday: Hakotade
* On the last day of the section I will take a train to Hakodate. My main reason to go to the city is that I want to take the ferry, so I do not know that much about it. I, however, want to see Goryokaku Park and the Mount Hakodate obvervatory.
* I will sleep there and take a ferry to Aomori on the next day.
* **Q:** Recommendations for what to see and where to sleep? Is nightlife worth a try in the city?
General questions for the trip: I really love food, so any suggestions of local food will not only be noted down but greatly appreciated. Feel free to suggest big changes like skipping whole areas or moving stuff around. For example, I initially considered doing Niseko (and even Noboribetsu) a day day trip from Sapporo, but I do not want to lose too much time going back and forth.
Thank you very much!
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2 comments
Hakodate has a morning market!! They also have good uni. If you can, I hear the Mount Hakodate has a wonderful view and there is a ropeway you can take! There is also a Tea Shop Yuhi for something more chill. Ill be there next week but that is what we’re planning on doing. Plus a fancy lunch.
For Noboribetsu and Toyako, I prefer Noboribetsu since it has a lively streets and diverse landscape.
> I have seen eveyrthing is quite expensive around there
Before Covid, many hotels there has free shuttle bus between Sapporo and Noboribetsu. It cloud save some money for you.
> Goryokaku Park and the Mount Hakodate obvervatory.
The two spots are must-see for me. Other than the two places, Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, Hachiman Zaka, the old church around Motomachi are my favorite too.