Aomori vs. Asahikawa

If you had to choose... would you rather spend 4 days visiting (in January)

Option 1: Asahikawa/Furano/Biei
Option 2: Aomori/Hirosaki/Hachimantai

Also, is it possible to see Furano/Biei as two separate day trips from Sapporo?

Thanks!

I would prefer Aomori/Hirosaki/Hachimantai (due to better onsen) :-)

For Hachimantai have you checked how to get there in the middle of winter? It�fs a region quite hard to reach even at peak touristic times. So must be much harder in winter.

Do you plan skiing in any of the destinations? Hachimantai? Furano?

Regarding doing abiding and Furano as two SEPARATE daytrips. Well doable yes, but why would you do something like that. Furano -Biei by train is about 40 min. Furano-Sapporo 2,5 hours. So I guess if you have free accommodation in Sapporo it can make financial sense. If not, ...

Enjoy your winter trip to Japan!

For Hachimantai have you checked how to get there in the middle of winter? It�fs a region quite hard to reach even at peak touristic times. So must be much harder in winter.

Do you plan skiing in any of the destinations? Hachimantai? Furano?

Regarding doing abiding and Furano as two SEPARATE daytrips. Well doable yes, but why would you do something like that. Furano -Biei by train is about 40 min. Furano-Sapporo 2,5 hours. So I guess if you have free accommodation in Sapporo it can make financial sense. If not, ...

Enjoy your winter trip to Japan!

I'd easily choose Aomori/Hirosaki/Hachimantai.
But honestly I'd rather not go to any of them in the winter.

I cannot speak for Aomori as I have never been there (but will go soon) but I visited Asahikawa and Biei regions twice in early January. It really depends on what you are looking for. I am very interested in landscape photography so Biei felt like a winter heaven to me. Vast snow lands with odd tree here and there, no one around, magnificent Blue Pond (illuminated in the winter even though that part gets crowded). I also enjoyed spending the night in Biei - small town with a cozy yakitori place open. The pure white snow makes everything more enjoyable. I wrote some about the experience here https://bizarrejourneys.com/a-different-japan/ and here https://bizarrejourneys.com/hokkaido-in-winter/ - I however did not enjoy Asahikawa as much but was a good hub as it is also served by airport and connected to Biei with a short train ride.