No. If you want to experience very very thick snow. Yuzawa Town can experience it.
Just hop off at Echigo Yuzawa Station

Hahaha
I suggest you study the map of Japan first between Yuzawa and Nagano. If you don't mind spend 4 hrs of travelling then can go both.

Stay at Nagano if you want to see Snow monkey. Make sure you wear water resistant boot not sneaker.

Yuzawa had nothing to see or great to eat except ski. If you want to see very very thick snow wall, Yuzawa are one of spot you must see. Just step out from station west exit, instant thick snow wall and heavy snow falling.

From Tokyo to Yuzawa, don't take Shinkansen if you want witness the might incredible snow scenic view.

Nagano got more sightseeing. Snow monkey, kamikochi trail walk (Japan swiss Alps) and Tateyama Alpine Route (March to November)

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Oct 31 2022, 06:23 PM

Nothing you can do if the route is closed. Unless you rich enough for hire helicopter ride, and view the entire tateyama route from sky.

Alternate tourist destination near to Tateyama route was Kurobe Gorge. Riding the sightseeing little train and view are beautiful but not as Tateyama and Kamikochi

This depends which airlines you using. JAL are T2, ANA are T1. Low-Cost carrier are T3.

T3 are the fastest, avg 30- 60 min but need 10 min walk to T2 for the train station.
T1 & T2 avg 60-90 min

I just do double check.
Staring November 7 Air Asia X will resume back operation to Haneda every Mon , Wed & Fri only.
But arrival time will be 2330.

Current Haneda Airport just open 3 slot for Low Cost Airlines, AirAsia X are one of the lucky one together with HK Express & Vietjet.

Less than 1500 Yen in Tokyo only can go those Fast food chain such as Yoshinoya & Sukiya.
Ramen, can be done if you go for those non famous one. This will be like open blind box, taste can be super delicious or sushi king standard

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 6 2022, 09:48 PM

28 March 2023

You just choose the worst month to visit Hokkaido.

Flight will be delay kaw kaw due to blizzard storm.
70% JR Hokkaido Train will be cancel due to thick snow.
Self driving will be too dangerous. Have you got any snow driving experience.? Do you know how to put on chain to tyre and take it off?

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 9 2022, 06:32 PM

Abashiri on Feb confirm no public transport. Only way was fly to Memanbetsu Airport or self driving.
Train from Sapporo to Asahikawa 70% will be cancel due to thick snow. 30% depends your luck of that day.

Feb Condition
100% chances cancel part will be:
Asahikawa to Wakannai
Asahikawa to Abashiri
Sapporo to Obihiro + Kushiro
Kushiro to Abashiri via Senmo Main Line

60% chances getting cancel or reschedule.
Sapporo to Asahikawa
Otaru to Oshamambe via Hakodate Main Line

40% chances getting cancel or reschedule.
From Sapporo to Noboribetsu / Hakodate
Expecting Journey had to add 10-30 minute more on schedule time due to reduce traveling speed

Sapporo to Otaru part will be good but expecting late & delay on schedule time.


Hokkaido Feb Condition something like this: Only Orang Gila choose go Hokkaido on Feb


Driving will be something like this


This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 9 2022, 11:03 PM

You can't compare Japanese & Tourist. Mostly Japanese which going Hokkaido on Feb will be self driving + they had winter driving experience which most Malaysian don't have snow driving experience at all. You are heading south (towards Hakodate)...If you heading Asahikawa, Abashiri...that another story. Without chain on tyre, no way you can reach north side of Hokkaido.

I been Hokkaido more than anyone in this forum....I got 4 season experience & all Winter snow festivals experience. I been Wakkanai / Asahikawa / Abashiri / Kushiro / Biei & Furano on Jan / Feb / March before. That why anyone talking about Hokkaido on Winter, I first ask them got any Winter Driving experience

In this forum section so many years, So far I know only me & another guy (forgot his name) in this forum has been hiking Daizetsushan on Winter + Summer
But I go even more beyond, I got Sounkyo's Ice Festival experience + Sounkyo's Ice Waterfall climbing experience.

BTW, so far, I still only person in this forum been Abashiri Ice Breaker Cruise.

In short, My experience on Hokkaido bao everthing, any season any activities. As a this forum most experience guy. I need to be very responsible, I need make sure the guy which travel to Hokkaido during that season safety.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 10 2022, 03:16 PM

Winter just started on mid Dec, mild snow. Public transport won't be any problem. Emm, why going Asahikawa if you only got short period of time. Mostly people going Asahikawa because of Biei & Furano but since you going on Winter trip + you not going Furano direction. Just take out Asahikawa part. Unless you want to taste Asahikawa special which is Wild animale meat

Just focus on Sapporo & Otaru. Make it light & easy.

Got small children? Because Biei are open wide space, the wind are crazy wild. Biei are slope terrain area, road are very slippery.
If you going Biei and Furano, make sure you go Tomita Farm Winter edition. Very pretty.

If you never been Japan zoo before or see any penguin before. I strongly recommend Asahikawa Zoo. They have the best penguin in Japan.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 10 2022, 04:40 PM

2021 2022 Feb Sapporo to Asahikawa & Abashiri & Wakkanai are totally closed due to thick snow until Late March.
2023 chances are very very high too. Taking public transport just too risky.

Due to global warming, the north atmosphere cold stream are getting colder & colder each year.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 12 2022, 06:24 PM

Beer at Izakaya increase from 350/400 to 450/530 Yen.
At Japan after work must go Izakaya with collogue and have some drink before going back home. Slightly increase price result ending up big amount of money.

Chuhai sours are one of my favorite after meal in Izakaya.
First are beer before meal then Chuhai Sours as ending.
Refreshing

Japan are one of safest country to travel. Even you carried alot of cash also very safe.
Even you drop 100K yen on spot, you got 90% chances get it back from nearest police station.
Japan I can told you from paper very advance, in reality, Japan are like 90s. They still prefer cash & alot of shop not even had credit card machine or E pay system.

Good itinerary but you don't have backup plan for Feb 24 25 26. This year 2022 Feb, thick snow causing train suspension From Jomo-kogen station until Nagaoka station almost a week. 2023 winter high chances will be repeat again.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Nov 21 2022, 09:10 AM

Easy access doesn't mean you can reach it on heavy snow period. Road will be closed and train will be suspended. Travel during winter in Japan need alot backup plans.