The Charms of Northern Japan

The must-see views of Hokkaido and Tohoku with spring cherry blossoms and blue-eyed blossoms at Hitachi Seaside Park.

Destinations

Sapporo/Shiraoi/Noboribetsu/Lago Toya/Hakodate/Aomori/Towada/Morioka/Hiraizumi/Matsushima/Nikko/Hitachi

Itinerary in brief

Day 1 Arrival in Sapporo
Day 2 Otaru – Sapporo
Day 3 Sapporo – Shiraoi – Noboribetsu
Day 4 Lake Toya – Hakodate
Day 5 Seikan Underwater Tunnel – Aomori – Towada
Day 6 Morioka – Hiraizumi
Day 7 Matsushima
Day 8 Nikko – Hitachi Seaside Park
Day 9 End of the trip

Trip description

Cherry blossoms in Hokkaido peak about a month after blossoms on Japan’s Honshu Island, between late April and early May. In the same period, the beautiful blue-eyed flowers also bloom on the hills of a park in Ibaraki. This tour is designed for people who want to see the blue-eyed flowers and cherry blossoms in May, and for tourists who want to discover parts of Japan that are rarely seen.

Northern Japan has longer winters compared to central and southern areas of Japan, so the cherry blossom season marks a new beginning and the arrival of spring. It is a symbol of special significance. This tour will focus on the best cherry blossom spots, world heritage sites, countryside, villages and historical cities of Japan.

Starting in Hokkaido, we will visit the must-see sites of Otaru, Sapporo, Shiraoi, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Onuma Park, and Hakodate. Then our group will proceed to Aomori crossing the Tsugaru channel between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, through the underwater train tunnel.

This itinerary includes attractions such as the Nebuta Warasse, a unique museum about the vibrant Nebuta Festival in Aomori. Travel to the third deepest lake in Japan, Lake Towada, and enjoy a scenic walk along the scenic Oirase Gorge stream. Head to Hiraizumi, a city of precious cultural values ​​and history, including the photogenic buildings of the Chusonji Temple. Continue your journey to Matsushima, a picturesque bay dotted with small islands, where we will explore ancient caves that were once frequented by meditating monks.

On the last day of the tour, discover the wonderfully ornate shrines of Nikko, which are also designated as a World Heritage Site. Then visit the nearly 100-meter-high Kegon Waterfall located on Lake Chuzenji, listed as one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. The last stop on the tour will feature the stunning blue-eyed flowers at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki. The hills are covered in baby blue eye flowers, creating a beautiful spring scene. Finally, head to Narita for an overnight stay before your flight back the next day.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1
Chitose airport

Welcome to Sapporo! An OOT representative will meet you at the arrival gate with a “Only One Travel” sign.
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose or similar class

NOTE 1: The meet and greet is ONLY available for flights arriving after 11:00 AM.

Day 2
Otaru (Otaru Canal / Sakaimachi Street – Kitaichi Garasukan – Otaru Music Box Museum), Sapporo (Clock Tower / Odori Park / Susukino)

In the morning we will travel to Otaru, famous for its picturesque city of canals and its glass blowing shops. During the first half of the 20th century, the Otaru Canal was a vital part of the city’s busy port. Today, it remains an integral part of the history and culture of the city. The area was even restored during the 1980s, and the old warehouses have been transformed into cafes, restaurants, museums, and shops. A short walk from the canal area is Sakaimachi Street, a pleasant shopping street that features some of the city’s main attractions. This includes Kitachi Garasukan, where we will have the opportunity to admire Otaru’s creative and elegant glass style. Then our group will go to the Otaru Music Box Museum, which consists of several buildings and a large music store. In the afternoon, we will travel to Sapporo to see the Sapporo Clock Tower, a landmark of the city. We will also visit Odori Park, a nice place for a walk that is located in the center of Sapporo. Today’s final attraction is Susukino, a lively entertainment district filled with bars, cafes, shops, and ramen restaurants.

Breakfast lunch
ANA Hotel Sapporo or similar class

Day 3
Sapporo (Nijo Market / Historic Village), Shiraoi (Ainu Village), Noboribetsu (Jigokudani)

This morning our Sapporo tour continues with a visit to Nijo Market, where you will see a variety of fresh produce and products related to local food. Next, visit the Hokkaido Historical Village, an open-air museum consisting of architecture dating from the Meiji and Taisho Periods (1868 – 1926). Then, head to Shiraoi, which is where the Ainu Village is located. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about the Ainu, the indigenous people of northern Japan. In the afternoon, we will stop at the most famous hot spring complex in Hokkaido, Noboribetsu Onsen. Our group will spend time in Jigokudani, or “Hell Valley”, the main source of hot spring water in the city. Visitors can experience the area’s hot steam vents, scenic walking trails, and a sulphurous pond known as Oyunuma. Tonight, we will stay at a traditional Japanese-style hotel in Noboribetsu, where you can relax in a relaxing hot spring bath (onsen).

Breakfast lunch dinner
Noboribetsu Manseikaku or similar class

Day 4
Lake Toya (Usuzan Ropeway), Onuma Park, Hakodate (Fort Goryokaku / Mt Hakodate Ropeway)

After breakfast, we will head to Lake Toya and take the Usuzan cable car to the observation deck. Here, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Toya and neighboring Showa Shinzan Mountain. Next, visit Onuma Quasi National Park, a picturesque outdoor retreat that allows you to explore its lakes and peninsulas. Next, we will go to Hakodate to visit Fort Goryokaku, a western-style citadel built in 1868. This star-shaped fortress is one of the best cherry blossom patches in Hokkaido, and is the only structure of its kind in Japan. In the afternoon, we will take a cable car up to Mt. Hakodate, where we can see the twinkling lights below Hakodate Bay. The view from the mountain is even considered one of the top three night views in Japan.

Breakfast lunch
Four Points By Sheraton Hakodate or similar class

Day 5
Submarine train from Hakodate to Aomori (Nebuta Warasse), Towada (Lake Towada / Oirase Gorge)

Today, we will cross the Tsugaru Channel between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu by train through the underwater train tunnel, before arriving in Aomori. Our group will visit the Nebuta Warasse, a unique museum dedicated to the Nebuta Matsuri, which is a festival held annually in August. The museum displays various photos and past floats from the festival in an attempt to capture the history and vividness of the event. Then visit the largest volcanic crater lake on Honshu Island, Lake Towada. It is popular for its Oirase Stream, where visitors walk along its picturesque path along the Oirase Gorge. The area is particularly famous for its fall colors, but the vegetation is lush during the warmer months.
Breakfast lunch dinner
Towadako Lake View Hotel or similar class

Day 6
Morioka (Morioka Handi – Works Square), Hiraizumi (Chusonji Temple)

In the morning, we will head to Morioka for a visit to the Morioka Handi-Works Square, a facility that offers a hands-on learning experience with a variety of traditional crafts and products. The workshop area is its main highlight, where visitors can create or buy anything from pottery to rice cakes. Then, continue to Hiraizumi City, the former seat of the “northern branch” of the Fujiwara family. Hiraizumi is now listed as a World Heritage Site and features some of the most valuable historical and cultural properties in the Tohoku region. There, we will visit the Chusonji Temple, the most famous attraction in the city. The highlight of the temple is the Konjikido, a hall completely covered in gold, similar to the Kinkakuji in Kyoto. There are several other buildings along the temple paths, including a noh theater stage and a Treasury Hall.

Breakfast lunch dinner
Matsushima Taikanso or similar class

Day 7
Matsushima (Matsushima Cruise / Godaido / Zuiganji Temple)

Today you will visit Matsushima, a picturesque bay full of small pine-covered islands, where we will explore ancient caves that were once frequented by meditating monks. Matsushima is famous for being one of the three most picturesque sights in Japan, along with Miyajima and Amanohashidate. The bay is dotted with more than 200 small pine-covered islands. Experience the best view of the islands by enjoying a scenic cruise around Matsushima. Then we will visit Godaido and Zuiganji, the most famous temples in the Tohoku region, both built by Date Masamune. Tonight, we will stay at the Onsen Ryokan at Kinugawa Onsen, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters of a hot tub and enjoy a traditional Japanese Kaiseki banquet dinner.

Breakfast dinner
Kinugawa Onsen Hotel or similar class

Day 8
Nikko (Toshogu Shrine / Kegon Waterfall / Lake Chuzenji), Ibaraki (Baby Blue Eyed Flowers in Hitachi Marine Park)

After a Japanese breakfast at the Ryokan, we will start our tour of Nikko. Our first stop is the luxuriously decorated Toshogu Shrine, nestled in a lush forest of ancient Japanese cedars. It is the masoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was one of the most powerful men in Japan and the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Next, see yourself looking at the nearly 100-meter-high Kegon Waterfall, listed as one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. From there, head to Lake Chuzenji, a beautiful lake that sits in the mountains above the city. Afterwards, we will travel to Ibaraki to see the Baby Blue Eye flowers at Hitachi Seaside Park, where 4.5 million of them bloom in a stunning sea of ​​flowers. In the evening, we will move on to Narita for the night before your flight back the next day.

Breakfast lunch
Narita Excel Hotel Tokyu or similar class

Day 9
Tour ends

After breakfast, our tour officially ends. Check out time is at 11am. And you can get to Narita Airport by hotel shuttle service.
Breakfast

NOTE 2: If you want to stay longer in Japan, please contact us for optional hotel reservation accommodation. Please note that passengers who wish to stay at Tokyo hotels can receive transportation on the 9th at 8am. from Narita to designated hotel in Tokyo.