Private Japan Tour (JPN041) Magical Hokkaido: An Extraordinary Journey (5 Days 4 Nights)

Hakodate Night View

Upon arrival at New Chitose Airport on Hokkaido Island, Japan, our team will be waiting to welcome you. We will then journey to Noboribetsu, renowned for Hokkaido's finest mineral water and natural hot springs widely celebrated as the best in Japan. The town is situated in southern Hokkaido, between Sapporo and Hakodate.

Next, continue to Jigokudani (Hell Valley). Here, you will experience the dramatic natural beauty of sulfur-rich hot springs that feed the baths of Noboribetsu. Following a walking path uphill for about 20–30 minutes, you will reach Oyunuma, a scenic hot spring pond with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius. Farther along are smaller pools with varying temperatures and natural mud ponds. The stream flowing from Oyunuma Pond forms the Oyunumagawa River, where you can enjoy a relaxing natural footbath amidst stunning scenery.

Stop for lunch

Afterward, travel to Hakodate, located in southern Hokkaido. A historically prosperous port city, Hakodate features charming architecture blending Japanese and Western styles, including European influences. The city is famous for its stunning night views and fresh seafood.

Take the ropeway up Mount Hakodate (334 meters high), situated in the forested southern part of the peninsula near downtown Hakodate. On clear days and evenings, you can enjoy the magnificent panoramic view, celebrated as one of the top three night views in Japan.

Evening: Enjoy dinner

Transfer to your hotel to check in and relax.

Showa Volcano (Cable Car) - Brown Bear Conservation Center - Noboribetsu - Onsen

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Afterwards, we will take you to Hakodate Morning Market, a vibrant market that attracts visitors looking to buy fresh local products from Hakodate. The market opens early in the morning at 05.00 (06.00 in winter) and closes around noon. Seafood, vegetables, fruits, and sweets are just some of the items available here. You can enjoy shopping around the market, and don't miss the fresh crabs and shellfish in large display tanks.

Next, we take you to Hakodate Port or the historic Motomachi District, one of the first ports opened to international trade in 1854 at the end of Japan's era of seclusion. Merchants from Russia, China, and Western countries once migrated and settled in Hakodate at the base of Mount Hakodate, giving the city a strong Western influence. Today, many foreign-style buildings still remain, beautifully reflecting the city's unique cultural heritage.

You will have free time to stroll around the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses along the waterfront, which have been renovated from red brick commercial warehouses dating back to the late Edo period. Located along Hakodate Bay, this complex is a hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment with a charming nostalgic atmosphere. In addition to souvenir shops, fashion boutiques, home decor stores, and sweet shops, there are also restaurants, beer halls, a wedding chapel, and sightseeing cruise services offering scenic views of Hakodate Bay.

Afterwards, we take you to the Church of the Virgin Mary to admire the beautiful sculptures and exquisite details of the church's interior paintings.

Enjoy lunch.

We then head up to Fort Goryokaku, also known as the five-pointed star fort. It was designed in a massive star shape to maximize space for cannon placements. Built in Western style during the final years of the Edo period to defend Hakodate against imperialist threats, it also served as a base during the civil war between the shogunate army and newly formed Meiji government forces. Since 1910, the fort has been converted into a public park.

Next, we continue our journey to Lake Toya to take the ropeway up Mount Usu, offering stunning panoramic views of Mt. Showa-shinzan, a volcanic dome formed by seismic activity that emerged relatively recently, about 50 years ago—a truly fascinating natural phenomenon. Nearby is also the Brown Bear Conservation Center (Bear Park), where you can observe rare bears typically found only in Hokkaido, Sakhalin Island, and the Kuril Islands.

At the appropriate time, we head to Noboribetsu.

Enjoy dinner.

Check in and relax at your hotel.

Otaru Music Box Museum - Sapporo - Duty Free - Susukino

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, we take you to Jozankei, renowned as one of the finest natural hot spring towns, nestled amidst scenic mountains.

We continue on to visit Jozankei Onsen, well known for having up to 56 hot spring sources that gush thermal water at temperatures between 60-80 ?C, with a flow rate of 8,600 liters per minute since 1866. The mineral water is colorless, clear, and pure. There are also many shops and restaurants around. Day visitors not staying overnight can also enjoy onsen bathing, with additional fees varying by hotel.

You can stop by Futami Suspension Bridge (Futami Tsuribashi), a famous scenic viewpoint during autumn when the surrounding trees transform into gorgeous shades of green, yellow, orange, and red.

Next, we continue our journey to Otaru. Otaru is a major port city near Sapporo, with parts of it nestled on the lower slopes of Mount Tengu, famous for winter sports.

Enjoy lunch.

Next, we explore Otaru Canal (Otaru Unga), spanning 1.5 kilometers as the iconic symbol of this city, lined with historic warehouses converted into charming restaurants.

The canal boasts a romantic atmosphere. Built in 1923 as a waterway for transporting cargo before being revitalized into a tourist destination, it features a paved red-brick promenade along the canal for pedestrians.

Afterwards, we take you to the Music Box Museum, one of the largest music box museums in Japan. The building features beautiful architecture and is a must-visit landmark in Otaru. In front of the museum stands an iconic Steam Clock—one of only two in the world, with the other located in Vancouver, Canada. The clock releases steam and chimes a melody every 15 minutes.

There are also numerous sweet shops and souvenir stores, such as LeTAO, serving delicious pastries and coffee for those looking to unwind, Rokkatei, famous for its buttery confections, and Kitakaro, renowned for its fresh baked treats, all available for you to browse and enjoy.

Next, we take you to Sapporo.

Enjoy free time shopping at the Duty Free shop, where you can pick up various items such as vitamins, perfumes, and authentic Japanese souvenirs.

We then head to Susukino, Sapporo's famous entertainment district. It is the largest entertainment quarter in northern Japan, bustling with shops, bars, restaurants, karaoke venues, and pachinko parlors.

Enjoy dinner.

Check in and relax at your hotel.

Tanukikoji Shopping Street

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel restaurant. Afterwards, we will take you to the Former Hokkaido Government Office, a red-brick building constructed in 1888 and considered one of the large surviving buildings from that era. The interior is elegantly decorated, and the front features a five-pointed star emblem along with a seven-pointed star flag and a pleasant garden adorned with cherry blossom and ginkgo trees. It once served as the local government headquarters during the development of Hokkaido, and today its various offices and historical archives library are open to the public.

Next, we will take you to visit the Sapporo Clock Tower, a historic wooden clock tower featuring a red roof and white walls. Designed and donated by the United States government in 1878, it stands as an important cultural and historical symbol of Sapporo. The clock mechanism was installed in 1881, and in 1970 the tower was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Lunch

Next, we will take you to Hokkaido Shrine, originally named Sapporo Shrine. In keeping with the importance of this island, this Shinto shrine is dedicated to protecting and preserving peace for the people of Hokkaido, despite not having a very long history. Afterwards, you will enjoy free time to stroll along Tanukikoji Shopping Street, Sapporo's classic shopping district spanning 7 blocks. Here you will find a wide variety of shops, including kimono stores, musical instrument shops, cinemas, and numerous restaurants. It is also a popular hangout for young locals thanks to its many game centers and pachinko parlors. In addition, there are popular stores such as Don Quijote and 100-yen shops. The arcade is decorated with a large tanuki figure on the roof, and because most sections are fully covered, you can enjoy shopping comfortably without worrying about rain or snow.

Dinner

Transfer to your accommodation.

Breakfast and hotel check-out

Afterwards, transfer to New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan, for your return flight to Thailand, filled with wonderful memories.