Best of Hokkaido & Honshu: Sapporo Autumn Fest

Day 1

Sapporo New Chitose Airport

Welcome to Sapporo! You will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose or similar class

NOTE 1: The meet and greet and airport transfer to the first hotel is ONLY available on the first day of the tour after 11 AM. If you plan to stay extra nights before the start of the tour, we will provide full instructions in advance for you to transfer to your hotel on your own.

Day 2

Shiraoi (Upopoy National Ainu Museum), Noboribetsu (Jigokudani Hell Valley / Oyunumagawa Natural Foot Bath), Lake Toya (Fireworks)

Begin the day in the town of Shiraoi, where we will visit the Upopoy National Ainu Museum. The Ainu are the indigenous people of Hokkaido, and this museum celebrates their distinct culture and history. Next, at Noboribetsu, we tour the "Hell Valley" Jigokudani, a primordial landscape where sulphurous steam seeps out of vents in the ground. Around the area are hot streams and ponds that have been enriched by the volcanic soil. The Oyanumagawa Natural Foot Bath is one such stream, where travelers hiking the walking trails around Noboribetsu can rest their weary ankles. After, we proceed to Lake Toya, which puts on special displays of exploding color and light during their Long-Run Fireworks Nights. The sight of the breathtaking firework show over clear, gorgeous Lake Toya is an unforgettable experience.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Toya Sun Palace or similar class

Day 3

Lake Toya (Mt. Usu Ropeway / Seasonal Fruit Picking / Lake Hill Farm - Ice Cream Making Experience ), Nanae (Road Station Nanairo-Nanae)

Our morning at Lake Toya begins with a trip up the Mount Usu Ropeway to enjoy a magnificent view of the lake area below. Then we enjoy a Seasonal Fruit Picking activity where you walk the fields of the local area and gather some of the fall fruit harvest. Then, at Lake Hill Farm, enjoy an Ice Cream-Making Experience, using the rich cream from Hokkaido - a region famous for excellent dairy products. After, we take a trip to Nanae, stopping at Road Station Nanairo-Nanae, which sells sweets and other souvenirs from Southern Hokkaido. Finally, we continue on to Hakodate for a relaxing evening at the hotel.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hakodate Kokusai Hotel or similar class

Day 4

Hakodate (Morning Market / Fort Goryokaku / Red Brick Warehouses / Motomachi / Mt Hakodate Ropeway)

Today, we will enjoy touring all the best sights of Hakodate, starting with the Morning Market. City residents gather each morning to find deals on the freshest seafood and produce in a daily routine that can offer visiting travelers a taste of the local culture. From there, we will go to the city's largest, most beautiful park - Fort Goryokaku. Once a Western-style fortress built in the waning years of the Edo era, Fort Goryokaku was slowly landscaped into a prominent public park with its moats now bordered by over a thousand cherry trees. Moving on to the port district, we will explore the old Red Brick Warehouses, built in the early 1900s to accommodate the sudden influx of international trade that occurred around that time. The old buildings were renovated into a commercial shopping complex with a broad variety of stores. Then, at Motomachi, we'll see a district popular among the foreign traders that first came to the city for international commerce, which includes many Western-style buildings. Finally, take the Mount Hakodate Ropeway up to the observation point, which offers stunning views of the city below.

Breakfast / Dinner

Hakodate Kokusai Hotel or similar class

Day 5

Onuma Park, Kuromatsunai (Taiko Lesson / Utasai Beech Forest Walking)

In the morning, we begin by visiting Onuma Quasi National Park, a gorgeous landscape of picturesque lakes and mountains, including the volcano Komagatake. Next, we head to Kuromatsunai for a fun and easy Taiko lesson learning easy rhythms under the guidance of a friendly instructor. After, we visit one of Japan's loveliest natural monuments - the Utasai Beech Forest. This primeval forest of beech trees is an expecially lovely virgin beech forest, wild and untouched, and enjoying a relaxing stroll under its dense canopy creates a feeling of wondrous enchantment. After, transfer to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Hilton Niseko Village or similar class

Day 6

Yoichi (Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery), Otaru (Sakaimachi Street - Kitaichi Garasukan & Music Box Museum / Otaru Canal / Otaru Sushi District)

Today we will drive to Yoichi to visit the Nikka Whisky Distillery. This distillery, opened by Masataka Taketsuru, produced and sold the first Japanese whisky. A tour of the facility provides visitors with insight into the whisky production process, as well as a tasting of the local Nikka label whisky. Next, we will travel to Otaru for a leisurely stroll through the port city's heritage district. As you walk up Sakaimachi Street, you can see Otaru's history in old Western-style fisheries, shops and houses. On the way, we'll explore Otaru's reputation for excellent glass craftsmanship at the Kitaichi Garasukan, where glassmakers transitioned from making simple glass fishing buoys to crafting fine glassware and artwork. At one end of Sakaimachi Street we'll discover the Music Box Museum, a cozy museum and shop selling a large collection of charming music boxes. After, we will take a walk along the Otaru Canal, which had once fallen into disrepair at the introduction of modern docking facilities, and has since been converted into a charming vintage promenade. Finally, we will make our way to the Otaru Sushi District, where you will be free to find your own sushi dinner from among the shops selling various kinds of sushi.

Breakfast / Lunch

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo or similar class

Note: Due to COVID regulations, Yoichi Nikka Whisky may be unavailable to visit. In this situation, we will tour Tanaka Shuzo, a historic brewery in Otaru. It includes a tour of the production facility and sake tasting.

Day 7

Sapporo (Historical Village of Hokkaido / Shiroi Koibito Park / Hokkaido Shrine / Asahi Beer Hokkaido Brewery / Hill of the Buddha)

After breakfast, visit the Historic Village of Hokkaido. The point of the village is to provide a realistic understanding of the pioneer time period in Hokkaido. Everything thing in the village is an exhibit and consists of around 60 or so buildings. Next, we take a trip to the Shiroi Koibito Park, which is a chocolate themed amusement park. Visually, its a interesting mix of Hokkaido and British culture, with stores that sell a variety of chocolates and other sweets. Then we visit Hokkaido Shrine - the chief Shinto shrine of Sapporo. This simply elegant shrine holds 4 Shino deities, including the soul of Emperor Meiji. After, we take a tour the Asahi Beer Hokkaido Brewery. Asahi is one of the chief brewers of beer in Japan, and offers 20-minute tours of their facility, including fresh-brewed samples of their quality product. Finally, we visit the incredible Hill of the Buddha, a magnificent Buddhist shrine designed by famous Japanese architect Tadano Ando. Then we return to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

Breakfast / Lunch

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo or similar class

Day 8

Sapporo (Sapporo Autumn Fest)

For your final day in Sapporo, experience the delightful Sapporo Autumn Fest, which is the biggest food festival in Hokkaido. Autumn Fest is still a fairly new festival, but it has quickly become one of Hokkaido's most popular seasonal festivals. Since autumn is Japan's harvest season, the Autumn Fest becomes an opportunity to try food and drink from all around Hokkaido. The festival is held throughout Odori Park, and from the moment you arrive, your eyes and nose will be delighted by the various foods made of seasonal ingredients in colorful stalls around the festival grounds. There is also a section devoted to Oktoberfest. Sapporo and Munich in Germany are sister cities, features craft beers from Germany and all over Hokkaido. After, return to your hotel for a last relaxing evening in Sapporo.

Breakfast

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo or similar class

Day 9

Sapporo New Chitose Airport - Osaka Kansai Airport

After breakfast, free for leisure until transfer to New Chitose Airport for your domestic flight to Osaka. Upon arrival in Osaka, you will be met at the arrival gate by an AJT representative holding an "All Japan Tours" sign.

Breakfast

Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport or similar class

Day 10

Nara (Todaiji Temple / Deer Park), Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine)

Today, we will travel to the ancient city of Nara, where we will visit one of Japan’s most famous temples and an icon of the city: Todaiji Temple, which is home to the Great Buddha of Nara – a massive, seated image of Rushana-butsu, known as the “Cosmic Buddha”. Outside the temple, spend some time with the friendly wild deer of Nara Deer Park. We go from there to Kyoto – onetime capital of Japan for over a thousand years, to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine – the chief shrine of the thousands throughout the country dedicated to Inari, the Shinto deity of economic prosperity, rice, and foxes. What sets this shrine apart is the sight of thousands of bright vermillion “torii” gates that form long pathways through the forest covering sacred Mount Inari.

Breakfast / Lunch

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Day 11

Kyoto (Nijo Castle / Golden Pavilion / Arashiyama - Tenryuji Temple & Zen Garden - Sagano Bamboo Forest / Green Tea Ceremony with Maiko Interaction / Gion Geisha District)

In the morning, we explore Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site from Japan’s feudal era, and former residence of the Tokugawa shogun. While you walk around the stately Edo-period buildings, listen for the chirping of the “nightingale” floors. The tour continues to Kinkakuji Temple (also called the Golden Pavilion), which is one of Kyoto’s most coveted sights. Shimmering walls wrapped in gold leaf are reflected in the Mirror Pond below; look carefully to see the dainty phoenix sitting on the roof. Next, we travel to the Arashiyama district to see Tenryuji Temple. Tenryuji is most famous for its Zen Garden, which has been carefully maintained for centuries using the technique of “borrowed scenery” to create a breathtaking landscape. We continue from there to the Sagano Bamboo Forest, where towering stalks of bamboo packed close together create an otherworldly feeling of mystery and awe as you walk the path through the center. Then experience a traditional Green Tea Ceremony – an elegant ritual of hospitality once accorded only to the social elite. The experience is made even more special as it is hosted by an elegant Maiko (an apprentice Geisha. We end our day in the Gion Geisha District, a heritage district where stone-paved streets are lined with exclusive ochaya (teahouses). While admiring the old-fashioned buildings, the fortunate visitor may spot Geisha or Maiko (Geisha apprentices) walking between these establishments.

Breakfast / Dinner

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel or similar class

Day 12

Kyoto (Kiyomizu Temple), Koka (Miho Museum), Shinkansen Bullet Train Ride

This morning we will visit the famous Kiyomizu Temple, best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. We will then continue to Miho Museum. The museum has stunning architecture that accentuates the surrounding nature while exhibiting a variety of items from different ancient civilizations. It was designed by the renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and is named after Koyama Mihoko, one of the richest women in Japan and the founder of the museum. This museum is also listed as one of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die". Next, our group will experience a Shinkansen bullet train ride, which can reach speeds of up to 300 km/hr. We will stay at the Onsen Hotel at Hamanako Kanzanji Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a spa bath and feast on a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Breakfast / Dinner

The Hamanako or similar class

Note: If Miho Museum is close, we will visit Kyoto National Museum or Sagawa Art Museum instead.

Day 13

Hakone (Hakone Ropeway / Owakudani), Mt Fuji, Tokyo (Shibuya - Shibuya Crossing - Hachiko Statue)

After enjoying Japanese breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Hakone and take a 20 minute ropeway from Togendai to Owakundani. Much of the area here is considered an active volcanic zone since its creation from the eruption of Mount Hakone some 3,000 years ago. There, you can experience hot springs and hot rivers, where sulfurous fumes still linger. Owakundani also has splendid views of Mount Fuji in good weather. From Hakone we will proceed to Mt. Fuji on our private coach. Along the way, enjoy the changing scenery, from thick vegetation to lowlands and rolling clouds. We will stop at Mt. Fuji 5th station (depending on weather) to admire the world famous peak. In the afternoon we will travel to Tokyo. Our last visit for this day is Shibuya. We will be able to see the famed Shibuya Crossing in action and cross the street with the crowd. We will then take photos with the Hachiko Statue at the crossing, which is a monument dedicated to a loyal dog that waited even after his master passed away.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class

Day 14

Tokyo (Tsukiji Outer Market / Drive by Imperial Palace / Sushi Making Experience / Asakusa Sensoji Temple / Tokyo Skytree)

Today, you will visit Tsukiji Outer Market – a bustling outdoor street market known for its fresh and delicious seafood, produce, and kitchenware. From there, we drive by the Imperial Palace, which offers splendid views of the meticulously maintained front lawn and garden areas, the moat, and the old stone walls. Next, enjoy a fun and simple Sushi-Making Experience, where you can enjoy creating your own sushi, and eating it afterwards! Then, we visit Tokyo’s oldest temple complex – Asakusa Sensoji Temple, featuring the Kaminarimon Gate, in which hangs an enormous red lantern. Leading up to the temple is Nakamise Street, which is lined with shops selling all manner of Japanese souvenirs. At the end of the day, we ascend Tokyo Skytree to the observation deck, which offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the Tokyo cityscape.
Note: For Sushi Making Experience, if you are vegetarian, on gluten-free diets, have seafood allergy, or don't eat raw fish, please contact us for other ingredient options.

Breakfast / Lunch

Hotel Mystays Premier Narita or similar class
Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro or similar class (NOTE 2 & 3)

NOTE 2: If you wish to stay in the center of Tokyo for the last night instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita, we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class). In this case, airport transfer is not included. We will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$65.00 per person per way.

NOTE 3: If you will be flying out from Haneda Airport (HND) instead of Narita Airport (NRT), we can arrange for you to stay at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro (or similar class) instead of Hotel Mystays Premier Narita. In this case, airport transfer is not include. We will provide full instructions for you to get to the airport in advance, or we can arrange shared shuttle service for you at US$60.00 per person per way.

Day 15

Tour Ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Checkout time is 11 am and Narita Airport can be reached by hotel shuttle bus.

Breakfast

NOTE 4: If you would like to stay longer in Japan, please contact us to book hotel accommodations.