Winter 2017 - Japan revisited

7 years after we first went to Hokkaido, we are returning for our 4th Winter there... but on our first Train Adventure.
Starting in Tokyo. we will be taking the Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate, and the Super Hokuto to Sapporo.
Leaving Sapporo we head down to Hakodate for a few days before spending a couple of nights in Tokyo again.

Hakodate is one of the nicest placest we have visited in Japan, and this is a LIVE view from Mt Hakodate

Has it been 3 years already?

The last time I posted (Dec 2013), we were heading to Hokkaido for the 4th time (3rd Winter vacation there).
We had gone to Hokkaido, skiied at Niseko, drove to Otaru and enjoyed the wonderful Christmasy feeling there, and then headed into Sapporo for the usual food and minor entertainment.

After that, we have travelled, but as it was not to Hokkaido, I felt compelled to leave the blog the way it was, as my tribute to our favourite Vacation Destination.


As a quick update, these are the places I have been since Dec 2013.

Feb 2014 - Hong Kong (business trip)
June 2014 - Australia: Sydney, Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley
Dec 2014 - Tokyo, Kawaguchi, Hakone
2015 (we did not travel that year... as Daniel was having his PSLE)
Jan 2016 - Hong Kong (short vacation)
June 2016 - Tokyo (with Randal and his family too)

And now in Dec 2016, we are heading to Hong Kong for 10 days of fun, food and SHOPPING!

Hokkaido Winter Vacation - 2013

And off we go again...

Day 0	Dec 16
19:30 - Leave for the Airport 22:15 - Flight to Haneda
Day 1	Dec 17
8:00 - Flight to Chitose 10:00 - RERA - shopping & lunch 12:30 - Bus to Niseko 15:30 - Check-in @ Niseko Hilton 16:30 - Ski 19:00 - Dinner 21:00 - Onsen 22:00 - Rest
Day 2	Dec 18
8:00 - Breakfast 10:00 - Ski 12:30 - Lunch 13:30 - Ski 19:00 - Dinner 21:00 - Onsen 22:00 - Rest
Day 3	Dec 19
8:00 - Breakfast 10:00 - Ski 12:30 - Lunch 13:30 - Ski 19:00 - Dinner 21:00 - Onsen 22:00 - Rest
Day 4	Dec 20
8:00 - Breakfast 10:00 - Checkout - pickup Rental Car 10:30-12:30 - Drive to Otaru 12:30 - Lunch 14:30 - Checkin at Hotel 15:30 - Sightseeing in Otaru 18:30 - Dinner 19:30 - Sightseeing in Otaru 21:00 - Onsen 22:00 - Rest
Day 5	Dec 21
8:00 - Breakfast 10:00 - Checkout - 10:30-11:30 - Drive to Ishiya Factory 12:30 - Lunch 15:30 - Checkin at Hotel 16:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 18:30 - Dinner 19:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 22:00 - Rest
Day 6	Dec 22
8:00 - Breakfast 9:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 12:30 - Lunch 16:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 18:30 - Dinner 19:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 22:00 - Rest
Day 7	Dec 23
8:00 - Breakfast 10:00 - Checkout - leave luggage at hotel concierge 10:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 12:30 - Lunch 13:30 - Sightseeing in Sapporo 16:00 - Collect luggage and wait for transport 17:30 - Check in at Airport 20:30 - Flight - Chitose to Haneda 23:30 - Flight - Haneda to Singapore
Day 8	Dec 24
06:30 - back in Singapore 07:30 - Home Sweet Home

Kamiyubetsu

we are heading back to Hokkaido in June, and this is the live shot of the Tulip Farm in North Hokkaido, our Day 4 Destination.

2 weeks to go

We're heading back to hokkaido in 2 weeks time and to keep watch over the weather:
Niseko Webcams
Hokkaido Webcams

The itinerary for this trip will be as follows:


Day 1

• Start from Chitose after a redeye flight.
• Quick pit stop at RERA for last minute Winter Essentials
• Head to Sapporo via JR Hokkaido Express Train
• Check-in to Mecure Hotel
• Head to Odori area for shopping and tea
• More Shopping around JR Sapporo Station and Dinner
• Back to Odori for Night Illumination

Day 2

• Winter Sightseeing around Town (Govt Building, Gardens, ...)

Day 3

• Pick up Rental car and checkout of Mecure
• Head to Shiroi Kobito/Ishiya Chocolate Factory
• Look for Chateraise near Otaru
• General Sightseeing around Otaru and Otaru Canal area
• Check-in to Grand Park Otaru
• Back to Canal Area for sightseeing and shopping

Day 4

• Checkout and head down to Hakodate
• Checkin to Hotel Chocolat
• Visit Mount Hakodate and Vincinity
• Hakodate Christmas Tree and Warehouse district

Day 5

• Visit Hakodate Market/Breakfast
• Checkout and head to Kutchan/Niseko Area
• Checkin to Kimamaya
• Sightseeing around Hirafu/Niseko or Skiing if possible
• Dinner at The Barn

Day 6

• After Breakfast, checkout and sightsee around the area (Milk Kobo/Kutchan...)
• After Lunch, check-in to Hilton Niseko
• Skiing if possible
• Onsen
• Dinner

Day 7

• Breakfast
• Skiing / Snow activities
• Lunch
• Skiing / Snow activities
• Dinner

Day 8

• Breakfast and then checkout
• Sightseeing around the area
• Head to Lake Toya / Noboribetsu area
• Lunch
• RERA?
• Return Rental Car
• Flight back to Singapore

Niseko Lodge (Hirafu)

Webcams and Weather Reports

Annupuri Village


Niseko Village Webcam 1


Niseko Village Webcam 2


Niseko Village Webcam 3


Annupuri Top

King Lift (Hirafu)

Ace Family Run

Japan Weather Map