Twenty-one days from Hokkaido to Tokyo, with five places to stay and three nights or more in each.
Three weeks in the north. The volcano lakes and port towns of Hokkaido, the Oirase stream in the far north of Honshu, and a last week in Tokyo.
Day 1–4
Sapporo and Otaru: Arrival in Hokkaido
A private transfer from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo, about an hour. Nothing is planned on the day you land, and four nights give you time to settle in. The Nijo fish market, the old brick buildings of Sapporo Beer, and Otaru, about 35 minutes by train, along the stone warehouses of the canal. One day is left free. Hokkaido crab and sea urchin for dinner.
Day 5–7
Lake Toya and Noboribetsu: Volcano Country
Limited express south to Lake Toya, about two hours. A round caldera lake with an island at its centre and a young volcano still steaming beside it. One day by car to Jigokudani, the steaming valley above Noboribetsu, and another for the lake and the baths at your inn. Three nights at a hot spring ryokan by the water.
Day 8–10
Hakodate: The Port at the Southern Tip
Limited express to Hakodate, about two hours. The morning market, the star-shaped fort of Goryokaku, the old foreign quarter of Motomachi on the slopes above the harbour, and the night view from the top of Mount Hakodate. The last day is for walking by the red brick warehouses of the port and nothing more.
Day 11–13
Under the Sea to Honshu: Oirase Gorge
The Hakodate Liner to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, about twenty minutes, then the Hokkaido Shinkansen through the Seikan Tunnel to Shin-Aomori, about an hour. A car takes you over the Hakkoda mountains to Oirase. The next day is for the gorge: a walk past waterfalls under beech forest to the shore of Lake Towada. A local nature guide for the walk can usually be arranged. The last day is a quiet one by the lake.
Day 14–20
Tokyo: A Last Week in One Place
A car to Shichinohe-Towada and the shinkansen to Tokyo, a little over three hours. Seven nights in the same hotel. Meiji Jingu early in the morning, Asakusa with a local guide and a sushi counter. Day trips to Kamakura, about an hour by train, and to Nikko, about two hours by limited express. Two days are left free.
Day 21
Departure from Tokyo
Private transfer to the airport, timed to your flight.
Where you'll stay
The kind of place we look for at each stop. Which one depends on your dates and on what is free when we make the arrangements.
- SapporoA city hotel near the station, handy for the day in Otaru.
- Lake ToyaA hot spring ryokan on the shore, with rooms facing the lake and its island.
- HakodateA hotel by the harbour, a short walk from the morning market and the brick warehouses.
- OiraseA hot spring inn beside the stream, with outdoor baths in the beech forest.
- TokyoA hotel on the upper floors of a tower, with the city below. The same one for the whole week.
Highlights
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Lake Toya
A round caldera lake with an island at its centre, and hot spring inns along the shore.
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Hakodate
A port city at the southern tip of Hokkaido, with one of Japan's great night views.
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Oirase Gorge
A forest stream of waterfalls and mossy rocks, walked at your own pace.
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Nikko
Carved and painted shrines among old cedars, a day trip from Tokyo.
Signature covers trips of 7 to 14 days. Journeys longer than 14 days are planned as Bespoke, priced after our first talk.
This is a sample itinerary. Every STAYGO trip is written from scratch.
Signature is USD 3,500 for your group, for a journey of 7–14 days. Longer or more complex journeys are planned as Bespoke.
During the trip, you reach us through the STAYGO app and WhatsApp. We agree our response hours with you before you leave.
