Hello bosses, any comments/suggestions on wintertime Hokkaido itinerary for first timer with 1 elderly (70+) and 3 younger kids (5, 5, 2) (and 4 normal adults)?

11 Jan overnight flight to Hokkaido
12 Jan 7:30 arrive, Bus to Niseko
13 Jan Ski
14 Jan Ski
15 Jan Break / Otaru / Nikka whisky
16 Jan Ski
17 Jan Ski
18 Jan Morning Bus to Sapporo
19 Jan Rental car, Shiroi Koibito Park, etc
20 Jan Drive to Asahikawa
21 Jan Asahikawa / Zoo (penguins), Dog sledding, etc
22 Jan Drive to Noboribetsu
23 Jan Noboribetsu / Bear Park, Marine Park
24 Jan Noboribetsu / Jigokudani, onsen
25 Jan Drive to New Chitose airport (afternoon/evening)
- Overnight flight back home

The Niseko access are booked so those early few days cannot change, but everything else is just imagination.

No Hakodate cos ... considering elderly & kids & winter, don't really feel like driving that far.

Was considering Furano/Biei but hear say not worth the trip there in winter.

Was also considering cut one night in Noboribetsu and maybe go Lake Toya?

This post has been edited by deodorant: Apr 7 2024, 04:41 PM

Ooh thanks for this. Maybe on the day itself if not snowing then can somewhat maybe consider to risk it … but more likely we will expressway as much as possible ba. I got lots of winter driving experience BUT that was 15 years ago, and the other drivers have none 🥲

Stay in a more upper range hotel and get the concierge to book for you (note that increasing number of restaurants don’t take concierge bookings anymore).

Generally yes as long as you have return reservation.

marfccy if just want to dip toes experience winter activities for 1-2 days then just do daytrip or side trip from Tokyo ba. If want day trip then just go Gala Yuzawa (direct Shinkansen), if can spare 2-3 days can consider Nozawa Onsen, the onsen town itself is quite delightful, and can pair with the Snow Monkeys.

But yes the constraint on main island is that snow is more reliable only from Jan onwards.

Main island resorts still relatively reasonable*. I’ve been to nozawa onsen, akakura onsen (myoko kogen) and zao onsen - before I had kids I preferred onsen towns rather than ski resorts - zao onsen was the cheapest if you’re on a budget, can also pair with snow monsters, and somewhat zao fox village (different side of mountain though so transport time is surprisingly long).

* Compare with Niseko, which is easily 2x-3x more expensive, and frankly for beginners and intermediates not noticeably better.

Keep in mind the luggage you will have. My last trip I booked Prius for 3 ppl, niama the boot damn small can only fit 2 check in luggage then everything else have to put inside the car on the floor / on the seats.

Going there no, you have to pick up at int'l entry and re-check in. Coming back no need.

Why not consider buying cheap one in like decathlon? Rm129 can get entry lvl pair already. Personally for me as much as possible I would want to settle essential clothing shoes etc before heading to holiday so I don’t have the stress of trying to find the correct essential thing in a place that I’m not familiar in.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia...h-west-of-tokyo

Nowadays apparently you can't even pee in peace in Japan without needing to worry whether or not there's a bear nearby going to attack you.

"TOKYO – A man was attacked by a bear inside a public restroom near a train station in Gunma Prefecture, north-west of Tokyo, in the early hours on Nov 28.

The 69-year-old security guard told police he noticed the bear looking inside when he was about to exit the restroom building just outside JR Numata Station. He received minor abrasions on his right leg.

The man fell on his backside but fought back by kicking, causing the bear, measuring around 1m to 1.5m in length, to flee. He rushed to a nearby police box to report the incident at around 1.20am."

This post has been edited by deodorant: Yesterday, 03:31 PM