Planning for a trip to Hokkaido for snow.
Need comments from sifus here.

1) Timing - Jan or Feb?
2) Duration - optimal to explore enough places and not in rush

winter time has shorter daylight and most shop would close early. so how would you first define "optimal to explore enough places"? 1 attraction in a day? 2 places in a day?

Depending on the distance I guess. No specifically 1 or 2 in a day.
Just don't want to feel rush and check time whole trip.

I don't have much idea about Hokkaido, so feel free to throw me suggestions.

try this

http://bfy.tw/NLL9

Thanks. Seems like you can't ask for suggestions here.

you can

problem is your question is too general. what kind of suggestion do you want? food? ryokan? onsen? sightseeing? hotel? train pass? ski resort?

come out with a base first, then we can give suggestion

I myself planning a trip to Hokkaido as well ... my definition of DIY planning (as opposed to joining a tour) is searching/googling, reading blogs, going thru lists of Hokkaido popular itineraries, viewing YouTube videos, etc. .... then after a rough possible plan, might only write them out here if I need any comments or suggestions from sifus (if there's any clarification needed or if I need to confirm something from fellow Malaysian travellers who been there before).

He's looking for snow experience in Jan or Feb.
So, most probably ski resorts and their powder snows.
Unless not really about snow activities (skiing, snowboarding, etc.) in Rusutsu, Niseko, Furano, or the nearer Sapporo Teine Ski Resort; just wanna experience snowing / falling snows?

Ya, kinda too general.

But I guess, can suggest easy and relaxing itinerary that focused on snow experience during winter time in Hokkaido, if any here been through a nice plan before. Since they say, Hokkaido is good to visit for all four seasons; then maybe when Randomization is familiar with Hokkaido already, then next time can plan a more packed itinerary.

I dont know how my question can be very general.

1 - Jan or Feb (which month better)
2 - how long duration to explore enough places (not rush, meaning not too packed)

The reason I did not limit to what my preference is to get idea from those who went before to share their experience here.
I'm not even asking for a detailed itinerary.
If that is too much, then I'll try elsewhere.
Thanks anyway.

1- do check when is Sapporo Snow Festival. if u are interested.
2- no idea how much u wan to cover.

reason its hard to help u up coz u dun specify anything at all.

are u goin to rent a car there? public transport? tour guided bus?
renting car, u can cover alot of place, if u r ok with driving in winter snow.
public transport has it own challenge. few places hard to get there/require strict schedule.

note: i never been to Hokkaido, but did plan for this summer, draft out my itinerary but set aside since something came out n unable to proceed.

Jan are coldest month. can reach -10 to -15, most blizzard storm. Alot train line will shutdown due to blizzard storm. Even self driving also very challenging.
Accident once, almost bye bye to this world.

Hokkaido very big, If you want cover all cities, it will takes you one month.
Very General one such as Sapporo + Otaru + (Lake Toya + Noboribetsu) or (Asahikawa + Biei + Furano) will be 1 week.
Sapporo + Otaru + Lake Toya + Noboribetsu + Asahikawa + Biei + Furano + Hakodate will be 2 week
Sapporo + Otaru + Lake Toya + Noboribetsu + Asahikawa + Biei + Furano + Hakodate + Wakkanai + Obihiro + Kushiro + Abashiri will be 1 month

Of course, I'm not trying to be rude as if I'm owed for an answer.
I hardly come to this part of the forum and I'm not expecting /k type of answer (asking me to google).

The reason my question being so general is that I want to roughly gauge how long I'm going to be there before planning my itinerary.
Want to settle my flight tix first so that I can firm on my travel date (tight work schedule).
I've seen 7-8 days itinerary and 11-12 days itinerary, hence I wonder which is better (not overkill or too packed).

If my timing can go for festivals, sure. If not, I can't really do much about it.

I see, then Feb it is.
I'm not looking to explore all places, just good enough for first time going there (not coming back with questions why no go here/there).
Which will you recommend?

7 Days option will be the best.
Sapporo + Otaru + Lake Toya + Noboribetsu (Onsen) + Asahikawa (If you like wild food )
If you shy for naked infornt of people, you can take out Noboribetsu and slot in Hakodate.
Just get JR Hokkaido Rail Pass.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Apr 24 2019, 11:26 AM

See if you can time your trip for sapporo snow festival.

Hi bro... Once you have done your trip through the Tateyama Kurobe Route, could you update if you really need to wear proper winter wear for this day trip. End of April is almost summer and I don't think anybody would want to bring along their winter wear unless absolutely necessary.

i wore heat tech and a coat when i was there...no feel

Yeah.. That's why I couldn't imagine. Winter in summer. Don't know how it would feel. So meaning it was not really cold but with the snow?

yes...not really that cold...i went mid april, just few days after the route open

Anyone can share to me what are the famous mobile payment apps used in Osaka?

Alipay? Wechat pay? Line pay? Apple pay?

I understand Japan always practice CASH but I prefer cashless where I do not need to carry that much of CASH with me coming from security concern.

Thanks

I'd like to know also .... troublesome a bit to handle the 1,5,10,50,100,500yen coins.

The usual IC cards? Suica? Pasmo? (problem with these, lost the card, sayonara oo sayonara oo)
MasterCard mobile wallet, NETELLER, ? ... (advantage of mobile-tied e-wallet, tied to accounts; lost phone, still got security protections)

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/12/0...y/#.XMFzsqRx3Dc

Hopefully, LinePay can integrate with our WeChat Wallet in RM ... else, top up in RMB then use in Japan? Not sure worth it or not ... exchange rate vs convenience.
I still don't know how to enable AliPay without a China bankcard/phone number ... followed the googled instructions, still can't ... anybody managed to do that?


https://www.thepaypers.com/expert-opinion/p...in-japan/772040


This post has been edited by r2t2: Apr 26 2019, 10:56 AM

Its impossible for you to use wechat pay in Japan now. They only accepts china region wallet and even if you have china region wallet, you are required to do China IC Verfication in order to use it in overseas. Just use cash/cards. Want cashless, put a lot of money into IC Cards, IC cards nowadays is widely accepted by the stores.