Home
Back

Dear visitor, if you know the answer to this question, please post it. Thank you!

Note that this thread has not been updated in a long time, and its content might not be up-to-date anymore.

Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/1/12 01:42
Hi, I'm heading to Japan on Feb 9 for about 4 weeks, and I would love some advice. I've been reading this message board for some time now, and I have to say I'm very impressed with the wealth of knowledge here.

I'm coming from Canada, and my first destination is Niseko for snowboarding from Feb 12-20. First though my flight has me stopping in Tokyo for an overnight. I arrive in Tokyo (Narita) on Sunday Feb 10th at 2:30pm and my flight to Saporro leaves at 10:05am the next day. While this isnft ideal, it seems to be the cheapest option for me. This leads to some questions:

Does this give me enough time to comfortably do a trip into the city for the night?

What is a good destination for such a short visit?

Where should I stay? (My budget would be about 10000-20000 Yen. Ifm mostly looking for something convenient to the airport since Ifll have a large suitcase and a large snowboard bag.)

Once Ifm in Saporro, Ifm heading straight to Niseko where my accommodation arrangements have been made as Ifm with a group of people. Ill be snowboarding from Feb 12-20, probably everyday, though I may take a day off to relax, and my evenings should be free. I would love some suggestions for things to do in the evenings, and perhaps a day off.

Once the snowboarding is over my plan is to head to Tokyo, leaving Niseko on the 21st. My girlfriend arrives in Tokyo (Narita) to join me on Sat Feb 23 at 5:30pm, so I would like to be at the airport to greet her. That gives me about 2.5 days to make my way to Tokyo. I think Ifd like to do it by train, so I can see more of Japan, and make an interesting stop or two along the way. I'm interested just about anything from temples, hiking, big cities, onsen, even just a relaxing place with a nice view. This leads to my next questions:

How should I make my way down to Tokyo (Narita)? Should I buy a rail pass?

What stops would you recommend with the time frame I am working with?

Im going to have a large suit case and snowboards, is there a convenient way to deal with all that luggage? Carrying it all onto and off of trains going to be tough!

I think Ill leave it at that for now. Thank you for reading, and for any replies. :)
by Higgz  

... 2013/1/12 11:26
First though my flight has me stopping in Tokyo for an overnight. I arrive in Tokyo (Narita) on Sunday Feb 10th at 2:30pm and my flight to Saporro leaves at 10:05am the next day.

Sapporo Snow Festival is Feb 5-11
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5311.html

While this isnft ideal, it seems to be the cheapest option for me.

What price is your Tokyo - Sapporo flight?

Does this give me enough time to comfortably do a trip into the city for the night?

Yes, if you wish. I'd probably get the Suica + NEX return package but there are some cheaper options if you wish.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_suica_nex.html

What is a good destination for such a short visit?

Shinjuku?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3011.html

Where should I stay? (My budget would be about 10000-20000 Yen.

Shinjuku?

Hotels and areas in Tokyo:-
http://www.japan-guide.com/hotels/tokyo.html

Sunroute Plaza:-
http://www.hotelsunrouteplazashinjuku.jp/en/

Ifm mostly looking for something convenient to the airport since Ifll have a large suitcase and a large snowboard bag.)

I would leave them at the airport in luggage storage or coin lockers. I'm not sure on timing but it may make sense to use luggage delivery to ship your snowboard to Niseko
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

Once Ifm in Saporro, Ifm heading straight to Niseko where my accommodation arrangements have been made as Ifm with a group of people.

I wouldn't. I'd go and enjoy the Snow Festival.

Ill be snowboarding from Feb 12-20, probably everyday, though I may take a day off to relax, and my evenings should be free. I would love some suggestions for things to do in the evenings, and perhaps a day off.

Otaru Snow Light Path Festival Feb 8-17
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6706.html

That gives me about 2.5 days to make my way to Tokyo. I think Ifd like to do it by train, so I can see more of Japan, and make an interesting stop or two along the way.

Makes sense.

How should I make my way down to Tokyo (Narita)?

By taking the trains.

Should I buy a rail pass?

In general, yes. What is the rest of your itinerary with your girlfriend?

What stops would you recommend with the time frame I am working with?

Hakodate?
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5350.html

Pick some places in Tohoku?
http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1102.html

Places to look at include Hirosaki Castle, Zao Onsen, Nyuto Onsen.

I'd also consider exploring a but more of Hokkaido. We thoroughly enjoyed the ice breaking boats from Abashiri, although that may not be much of a novelty if you live in Canada!
http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1101.html

Im going to have a large suit case and snowboards, is there a convenient way to deal with all that luggage? Carrying it all onto and off of trains going to be tough!

Takuhaibin as linked above.

Enjoy your trip!
by GC3 rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/1/15 03:41
GC3, thank you for a great reply.

What price is your Tokyo - Sapporo flight?

It was all included in one price from home, and not separate flights. I actually haven't booked it yet, I've just been monitoring the price. Thanks to your reply, I think I am going to consider some flights that get me to Saporro the night before. I found one that's only a little more $ and gets me into Saporro at 7:30pm on Sunday Feb 10. That may give me some time to check out the festival before I can't a bus to meet up with my group in Niseko. I still have to get to Niseko on Feb 11 though.

This particular flight requires me to switch from Narita to Haneda. I would land at Narita at 2:30pm and leave from Haneda at 6:00pm. It looks as simple as catching one subway line. Is that enough time?..and of course I'll have a large bag and a large snowboard bag. Will that be a problem, or is this route more friendly to people with lots of luggage?

I'm going to look into your other suggestions and I'll add a rough itinerary of my plans with my girlfriend once we have done some more research.
by Higgz rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/1/15 04:20
You can book Jetstar and Airasia flight from NRT to Sapporo.
http://www.jetstar.com/jp/en/home

Or skymark if you have huge luggage.
http://www.skymark.co.jp/en/
by cc (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/1/16 03:41
So I've booked a flight that gets me to Sapporo for Feb 10 at 8:30pm, and it doesn't require me to switch to Haneda. That gives me some time to check out the last day of the Sapporo Snow Festival (it looks incredible!) in the morning, before I head out to Niseko.

To those familiar, I'm wondering how late into the evening the festival goes, and perhaps recommend a hotel that is close to the festivities.

Thanks again!
by Higgz rate this post as useful

... 2013/1/16 06:40
That gives me some time to check out the last day of the Sapporo Snow Festival (it looks incredible!)

It is very good. Don't forget to see the ice sculptures in Susukino (Sapporo) too.

To those familiar, I'm wondering how late into the evening the festival goes,

They are lit up until 10pm. On the last day they will start the destruction pretty much straight after that which can be pretty cool to watch too.

and perhaps recommend a hotel that is close to the festivities.

It is peak time in Sapporo, and you have left it very late, so to be honest take whatever you can find! If you can't find anything in Sapporo itself that fits your budget then try somewhere nearby, perhaps Otaru.

by GC3 rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/2/5 14:51
So the date is getting closer and I've made some more plans.

I thought that finding a hotel room would be tough, and booked as soon as I decided to stay the night in Saporro. It seems I've got lucky. When I used several travel websites it seemed everything was booked, but when I tried on Japanican and found a room at the JR Nikko! Stoked! Seems like a great location.

When the group of us is done our snowboarding trip, part two of mine begins. On Feb 21 I'm getting myself to the Kutchan station and making my way to Hakodate. Is that a good choice to spend an afternoon and a night? Any must see/do while recommendations for this time of year?

After I think I'm going to head to Kakunodate. I would really like to see the Samurai district, but I'm just reading now on this website that the Samurai houses are all closed this time of year. Is it still worth going? I'm still very open to other options, it just seems like most of the major attractions are closed in Tohoku.

After a night in Kakunodate I'm heading to Narita to meet up my girlfriend when she lands on Feb 23.

We then plan to spend about 4 nights in Tokyo, and then head out to Kyoto/Osaka for about three nights. I'd also consider a night in Hakone. Is it a good place to visit this time of year?

After Kyoto/Osaka/Hakone the plan is to come back to Tokyo for a couple nights before we leave on March 6 from Narita.

That still leaves us 4 nights, we can add to any of those destinations or Happily add another. Suggestions?

We like to travel with a fairly open schedule, even happy to wake up in the morning and discuss what we would like to do with our day over breakfast. So I haven't made a lot of explicit plans.

Should I get rail passes? Should we both?

Also, I have looked into the Takuhaibin, and it seems like it should be a great answer to reducing my luggage load for my trip south.

Thanks again.
by Higgz rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/2/6 07:38
Oh also, I would really like to know where I could get a pocket wifi device. Saporro I would guess would be my best bet. Can I keep it with me until I leave on March 6 from Narita?

by Higgz rate this post as useful

... 2013/2/6 09:40
On Feb 21 I'm getting myself to the Kutchan station and making my way to Hakodate. Is that a good choice to spend an afternoon and a night?

Yes, I like Hakodate.

Any must see/do while recommendations for this time of year?

Mt Hakodate and then morning markets. Hakodate Tourist Office located inside the station is very helpful, see them when you arrive.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5350.html

I'd also consider a night in Hakone. Is it a good place to visit this time of year?

Yes, days tend to be clearer in winter so this improves your chance of seeing Mt Fuji.

That still leaves us 4 nights, we can add to any of those destinations or Happily add another. Suggestions?

Hiroshima/Miyajima?
Kanazawa/Shirakawago/Takayama?

Should I get rail passes? Should we both?

Probably, but maybe do an itinerary day by day to work out which length suits you best. You probably only need one when you depart Kutchan.

I would really like to know where I could get a pocket wifi device.

Just rent from GlobalAdvanced or one of the others and have it delivered to your hotel so that it is there when you arrive.
http://globaladvancedcomm.com/pocketwifi.html
http://www.pupuru.com/en/service/emobile/index3.html
http://www.exseli.com/rental/cat/20/entry/1872
http://www.rentafonejapan.com/Mobile-Internet.html
http://www.econnectjapan.com/products-page.html#wtg

Can I keep it with me until I leave on March 6 from Narita?

Yes, assuming you rent it for long enough!
by GC3 rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/2/7 02:44
Thank you GC3, you've been very helpful! I've just rented a pocket wifi for my 25 days in Japan, and having it delivered to the Hotel Nikko in Saporro.

I may have more questions soon! ;)
by Higgz rate this post as useful

Re: Niseko/Tokyo travel advice 2013/2/7 08:51
Your info about Kakunodate is slightly wrong, but that's good news. Most of the samurai houses are shut in winter, but 2 are open all year round. Aoyagi is impressive and worth a look.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3602.html

I suggest you spend the night in Morioka, as it is more convenient for travelling back to Tokyo the next day. http://kumagairyokan.com This place is very hospitable and has a great dining bar which is open every night except Sunday. We had hours of thoroughly entertaining conversation with the staff there.
Also in Morioka is the Baeren Beer Pub. http://www.outdoorjapan.com/magazine/column_details/425
by Sal1980 rate this post as useful

reply to this thread