Itinerary advice - hokkaido and northern honshu - including hiking
Replies: 3 - Last Post: Jun 27, 2012 12:16 PM Last Post By: machiruda
jump to
Itinerary advice - hokkaido and northern honshu - including hiking
Hi,So my friend and I have 12 days. We've been to Japan before, mainly to Tokyo/ Kyoto. We've always wanted to go back and do hiking in Hokkaido. Also we have a week in Osaka before we travel so I think by then we'll be looking for cooler climes. Below is a very rough itinerary. We plan on travelling by Japan rail. I've yet to really make sure our itinerary matches with train times etc or makes the most sense A-B.
15 Kanazawa
16 Kanazawa, arrive Alps
17-19 Alps walk
20 Matsushima
21 Naruko or Hakkoda-san Onsen or Tazawa-ko
22-23 Sapporro
24-25 Rishiri-ban
26-27 Tokyo
Apologies for any spelling mistakes as I am copying my bad handwriting. Places missed I might substitute in: Biei and Daisetsazan National Park.
People often ask what people are looking for. I guess We're looking for a bit of a mix between culture, onsen and outdoor activities. We'd like to see some impressive scenery.
Does anyone have any advice re hikes? I had wanted to do the Daisetsazan 5+day hike but not sure that we have that much time to spare so other hikes that look amazing are yakushi-dake and Mount Yari. I am a fairly experience walker, my friend less so but she is fit.
Thanks in advance for any comments. We are going next month.
1
I've lived in Sapporo for 7 years. To be honest, there really isn't all that much to see and do there. You'd be better off in Otaru for any city fun. You are not going to have time to see Biei and Daisetsuzan with the 4 days you have listed unless you cut out Sapporo, and even then it will be very tight because of the travel time needed. Hokkaido is big.Hokkaido doesn't really have that much in the way of exotic Japanese feeling to its culture, IMO, and hiking in the mountains won't give you any.
Check out www.outdoorjapan.com and see what they offer. There are also hiking in Japan books if you just Google for them.
July is usually pretty nice up here. However, it has been a very cold spring/early summer. We have only hit 20 degree plus (C) less than a handful of times so far, and it's been fairly rainy. Two years ago that flowed right through July. If you have good weather, be prepared for a lot of travelers that time of year.
2
I was in Hokkaidou 2 years ago and I was really getting depressed by the cool weather and frequent rain by the end of 3 weeks. I only had 4 sunny days (one of which included a drenching at the end of the day).I'd recommend a day on Rebun-tou and stay at Momoiwa-sou (youth hostel). It's a unique experience. One day on Rishiri-tou is adequate to rent a bike and ride around the island or hike up the volcano (but probably not both).
3
with Tazawa-ko you mean the Nyuto Onsen area or the actual lake? When coming from Matsushima Hakkoda-san will be a long travel day but have heard it's stunning. I would definitely recommend Tsuru-no-yu at Nyuto (from Sendai about 2,5/3 hours I think, with shinkansen, bus & shuttle bus) though the lake itself is not that impressive.
