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D103D0Tue 24 Dec
Christmas Eve at Changi
We left on Christmas Eve, on the night flight to Haneda, with a connection up to Sapporo first thing in the morning.
Hokkaido
24 Dec 2019 – 8 Jan 2020Self-drive in the snow
Year2019/20
Days16
Stops8
Stories35
- Flight
- Drive
- Train
- Out & about
Check in · The B Sapporo · 1 night
D1Wed 25 Dec
Christmas in Sapporo
Landed at New Chitose before noon, picked up the car and went straight to the Shiroi Koibito chocolate factory. Checked in at The B in Susukino and ended Christmas Day on ramen.
Check in · Niseko Negula · 3 nights
D2Thu 26 Dec
Over the pass to Niseko
Up at 6:30 to beat the melting snow: our first winter drive, over Nakayama Pass to Niseko. Snowmobiling in the afternoon, okonomiyaki at night.
Drive · 4h 20m with stops
- The B Sapporobefore sunrise
- Nakayama Pass835 m up
- Seicomartbreakfast
- Niseko Stationeki stamp
- Niseko Negula3 nights
D3Fri 27 Dec
First day on skis
A full day at Niseko Annupuri learning to stay upright, then dinner at the izakaya down the road.
D4Sat 28 Dec
Milk, ramen and more snow
Morning at Takahashi Farm for the milk and the view of Yōtei, back on the slopes until lunch, and a barbecue to close out Niseko.
Check in · Sapporo · 2 nights
D5Sun 29 Dec
Otaru by the canal
Checked out of Niseko and drove up the coast to Otaru for the canal, the music boxes and the herring mansions, then back to Sapporo for the lights at Odori Park.
Drive · a full day with stops
- Niseko Negulacheck out
- Yoichiquick stop
- Otaru Canalmusic boxes, lunch
- Shukutsuherring mansions
- SapporoOdori lights
D6Mon 30 Dec
Olympic day
Breakfast at the Jyogai market, Hokkaido Shrine, then up the Okurayama ski jump, where the view from the top is the scary part. Crab dinner at Ebi Kani Gassen.
Check in · Hakodate · 2 nights
D7Tue 31 Dec
Down to Hakodate
New Year's Eve: a 6am start and the long drive south past Shiraoi and Yakumo. Afternoon by the bay with the Mashu Maru, the red brick warehouses and a Lucky Pierrot burger.
Drive · about 4 hours with stops
- Sapporoin the dark
- Shiraoifirst stop
- Yakumorest stop
- Hakodate Bay2 nights
D8Wed 1 Jan
New Year's Day
Onuma Park frozen over in the morning, Goryokaku Tower at dusk and the night view from Mt Hakodate to end the first day of 2020.
Check in · Aomori · 1 night
D9Thu 2 Jan
Under the strait to Aomori
The Shinkansen to Aomori for the Nebuta museum and Horoka soba, then the Resort Shirakami train to Hirosaki, for the castle and its stamp.
Check in · Sendai · 1 night
D10Fri 3 Jan
Foxes and a castle
South to Sendai, then Zao Fox Village and Shiroishi Castle in the afternoon.
Check in · Matsushima · 1 night
D11Sat 4 Jan
Matsushima Bay
A slow day around Matsushima, with a boat tour among the bay's pine islands.
Check in · Tokyo · 3 nights
D12Sun 5 Jan
Back to Tokyo
The train to Shinjuku, an hour in Shimokitazawa, then the Christmas lights from Meguro to Yebisu Garden Place.
D13Mon 6 Jan
Tokyo Disneyland
In at 7:15am, out at 9pm.
D14Tue 7 Jan
Mario Kart through Akihabara
Go-karting from Akihabara past Asakusa and the Skytree, then a last night in Shinjuku.
D15Wed 8 Jan
Flying home
The flight home to Singapore.
Next flight
MelbourneComing soon · Australia