10 Days GVBC Hokkaido 2019

Begin your journey to Japan as we fly from Los Angeles to Hokkaido!

Arrive in Japan at Tokyo's Narita International Airport before catching your connecting flight to Hokkaido. You will then check into the hotel.

Today will begin with an exciting visit to the Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum. This immersive museum features various exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays to teach guests about the lives the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido. The museum includes toys, clothing, hunting materials, literature, and videos of Ainu legends, folk dances, and a collection of 919 items related to the daily life of the Ainu on display at the museum that was designated as an Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property. There's also a show on Ainu culture to enjoy at the museum.
In the afternoon, it's off to the Furano Cheese Factory. The factory is designed to let visitors look through various parts of cheese making from start to finish. After our time at the Cheese Factory, we will reach Ningle Terrace for some shopping and to relax before checking into our hotel.

Today will be dedicated to exploring the beautiful nature spots of Hokkaido. We begin with the Tomita Farm, one of Hokkaido's premier flower farms. Enjoy the various flowers, including Poppies, French Marigolds, and more at this iconic flower field.
From there, we make our way over to Blue Pond in Biei, a man-made pond with water that shines a bright blue depending on the seasons. The pond's appearance slightly changes depending on the weather's affect on the water, but is always a charming stop for nature fans and photographers. After our time at the pond, we will then make our way to Ryusei & Ginga Waterfalls for photos and a light hike. Before the day ends, let's enjoy a scenic ride up Mt. Kurodake with a ride on the Kurodake Ropeway. We then proceed to the hotel.

Today will be dedicated to exploring the charms of Hokkaido's history with a visit to the Hokkaido Museum & Historical Village. The Historic Village of Hokkaido is an open-air museum in Sapporo with buildings from all over Hokkaido in the style of the Meiji to Showa Periods. The village is designed to show guests the expansion and growth of Hokkaido, as well as the everyday life Hokkaido's residents had. The Historic Village is only five minutes away from the Hokkaido Museum, which is dedicated to preserving and teaching the nature, history, and culture of Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Museum features artifacts from the Ainu (the indigenous people in Hokkaido), aerial photos, exhibits on Hokkaido's development, and miniature models of Hokkaido during various periods.
Before we end our day, we will head to Moerenuma Park to enjoy the popular Fountain show. The Fountain sits at the center of Moerenuma Park (designed by Isamu Noguchi) and puts on a stunning show with powerful, illuminated, water streams. We will then proceed to the hotel.

No trip to Hokkaido would be complete without exploring Sapporo. To make sure you see the best of Hokkaido's largest city, we've packed a day filled with can't miss Sapporo sights! We start off with a trip to the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building. This American-style building was used as the administrative base for Hokkaido and is well known for the distinct red bricks. Take some photos and enjoy the exhibitions inside that showcase Sapporo's history. There's also the popular Sapporo Clock Tower nearby, a must-see landmark in Sapporo.

From there, we will make our way to Odori Park. This massive park divides Sapporo and is a great spot to see Sapporo's massive TV Tower. After a bowl of Ramen for lunch, we head to Shiroi Koibito. Shiroi Koibito is home of Japan's most popular cookie sandwich, a treat we highly recommend! Before the day ends, we will visit a beer garden at Sapporo's Beer Museum and enjoy a Hokkaido favorite: Jingisukan Barbecue. We then return to the hotel.

Enjoy a relaxing day of sightseeing as we make our way to Lake Toya from Otaru. We kick things off with a visit to Otaru Canal. The canal features gaslights along the way with plenty of warehouses made of bricks or Sapporo freestone which have now been turned into restaurants, variety stores, and souvenir shops. Enjoy Otaru-style Soup Japanese curry for lunch at this charming port area.

After shopping in Otaru, we will take a scenic drive to Lake Toya through Jozankei and Mount Yotei. The colors of the foliage turn to wonderful shades of orange and red which make for breathtaking photos. Enjoy the nature during your ride before we make our way to Lake Toya. Check into the hotel and enjoy a fireworks show later in the night, or rest up for more sight seeing the next day!

Today we will enjoy sightseeing around the Lake Toya area. As we explore Lake Toya, we will see Mt. Showa. Mt. Showa is a 398-meter high volcano in Hokkaido designated as a special natural monument as a mountain of scientific value. After our time enjoying the mountain, we also have a special activity planned for your enjoyment today! We will then have a lunch cruise on Lake Toya to truly enjoy the lake's breathtaking scenery.
After our lunch, enjoy the Lake Toya Sculpture Park at your leisure before we return to the hotel. This park is filled with sculptures along the lake. Enjoy a dynamic balance of artwork and nature before we return to our hotel for dinner and a fireworks show.

We start our Hokkaido tour today with a stop to see the Yakumo Salmon swin up river. Enjoy the scenery and nature along the river before we continue our tour to Hakodate. After our time at the river, our group will visit the Onuma National Park. This scenic park is filled with hiking trails, scenic bridges, lakes, and Mt. Komagatake.
After our time in the park, we will head to our hotel in Hakodate before making our way to the Hakodate Ropeway. Enjoy this ride up Mt. Hakodate to see the wonderful city lights shine in the skyline before we return to our hotel for dinner.

For our last day of sightseeing in Hokkaido, we begin our morning at the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse area. Previously used only as warehouses, the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses now constitute a commercial facility of red brick buildings holding restaurants, shops, art museums, meeting halls, and much more.

From there, it's off to see Hokkaido's Goryokaku five-star shaped fort. While we won't visit the fort directly, the sight of the fort's shape is one to enjoy. The rest of the day is free at your leisure to explore Hokkaido!

Our wonderful journey through Hokkaido ends today. Be sure to buy any last minute souvenirs at the airport before your flight home!