Could it change in a month's time? Should be OK at Gala Yuzawa right? 

Normally there will be seats available especially if its not peak season and especially 11AM. Normally early morning train will be book as business people normally travel at that time.However if you are travelling in 5's suggest you book early and if not you might not be able to seat in the same rows.....Also do note, 11th is a Public Holiday here and I am one of those ppl clogging the shinkansen.

I would like to experience winter for the first time of my life. Plan to go Hokkaido early of Dec this year (First and second week of Dec).

Need to ask all the sifu here. Will there be heavy snow on that time? Plan to try ski and snowboarding. Hehehe....

You haven't seen this year's snowfall stats. As of end-Dec, cumulative snowfall this season is 103cm. Last season was 437cm.

Last 7 days only 6cm of snow

wah seriously? Mine cannot...paid airbnb dy

Your accommodation?

I can still adjust if it is 2 weeks earlier..can go to places with late booming cherry blossom...more than that, i hara kiri About 80% of my itinerary are focused on cherry blossom spots

You banyak bullsh!t.
At first was Kyushu then Kansai... end up Hokkaido.
   

so you are going there 2 times consecutively 2016 and 2017?

eh you bukan that day bought ticket dy during AA sale?

Just coming back from Park near by my house. Surprise today,there have sour plum tree already blossom..its 11th January 2016..its winter season now..temperature is 10 Celsius..expecting for Sakura or Cheery Blossom will blooming maybe early February or Mid of February 2016...i will keep update. 

do share your detailed itin when it is finalized ya..i wanna copy 

obihiro ade apa?
snow sculptures? niseko?

last time i went to asahikawa, nothing much there except the infamous zoo and ramen

sapporo and otaru, depend how u arrange the time
mayb u can squeeze it into 1day

i will choose Sounkyo instead of Obihiro
distance almost the same, as Asahikawa also at the way back, save time
some more Sounkyo got onsen + better view

BTW, go Obihiro will pass by Mt. tomamu, can visit unkai terrace (morning only)
my previous trip not able to see unkai, instead i'm inside the unkai (悪天候型雲海) 
Put more time for Otaru, really worth for it
when u visit music box museum (小樽オルゴール堂本館), pls spend 100 yen to listen the "Let it go" (Frozen) song (music box)

Yes, I really like the music box museum....I spend some money having them to custom make a few boxes for me, with my favourite songs and send it to me. One actually acme with scratches and they willingly replace it for me.

obihiro ade apa?
snow sculptures? niseko?

last time i went to asahikawa, nothing much there except the infamous zoo and ramen

sapporo and otaru, depend how u arrange the time
mayb u can squeeze it into 1day

michlove Virgin trip in Hokkaido?

Sapporo if you want to do window shopping or normal shopping got Pole Town (underground shopping area from odori to susukino station) and tanukikoji.

But most interesting shopping place for me in Sapporo is Mitsukoshi, the depachika two floors, super super nice. Dunno issit correct season or not but buy shine Muscat grape, super sweet plus juicy plus gotch some flowery aroma that other grape don't have.

If go pole town look for kinotoya bake, the cheese tart super gooding.