Departure date: 05 May, 2018 (Sat) Coach & Drive
Day 00 (Sat, 05 May)
Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for flight to Tokyo.
Day 01 (Sun, 06 May)
Singapore – Haneda – Chitose
Coach: (-/Lunch/Dinner) • Drive: (-/-/-)
Hotel: ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Chitose or similar
(Car pick-up from Toyota Chitose Poplar Branch)
A little orange shop sitting in a blueberry farm, Gelateria Mirtillo marries the taste of Hokkaido milk and cream with Italian gelato to offer a taste of both worlds. Organic blueberries from the farm are used to make four different kinds of blueberry flavoured gelatos that are the signatures of the shop.
On your drive, stop by at Hana Road Eniwa, a beautiful roadside rest area. Open spaces and a water garden next to the Izari river provide nice surroundings for you to stretch your legs while a large conservatory, a people friendly greenhouse, gives you a place to rest. What makes this road stop unique is the large variety of produce that is on sale. Many locals visit this rest stop just to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, so be sure to pick some up for yourself!
Shop to your heart’s content at Chitose Outlet Mall Rera. Home to over 400 brands ranging from fashion to toys to household products, Hokkaido’s first large scale outlet mall is the perfect place for a shopping spree!
Day 02 (Mon, 07 May)
Chitose – Niseko
Coach: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
Hotel: One Niseko Resort Towers (hot spring) or similar
Take a trip to Lake Shikotsu this morning to enjoy scenic views around the second deepest lake in Japan. This caldera lake’s crystal-clear waters often act as a mirror reflecting the mountains that surround it. Take a relaxing stroll along its shores, or paddle a canoe out into the lake, and surround yourself with the grandness of nature at this photogenic location.
Next, make a stop at Fukidashi Park and sample the sweet spring water that flows down from Mt. Yotei, Hokkaido’s Mt. Fuji. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Yotei, 80,000 tons of water filtered down from the mountain gushes out each day. Don’t forget to do as the locals do and bring an empty bottle to collect some of it!
If you prefer an alternative route, head down to Otaru and spend an afternoon wandering round its quaint streets. A former major herring centre and the terminal station for Hokkaido’s first railroad, the charming buildings that line the streets now house whimsical box museums, patisseries selling mouth-watering creations, and intricate glassware ornaments. Also worth checking out is Otaru’s sushi street, where only the freshest seafood makes it to the menu.
Day 03 (Tue, 08 May)
Niseko – Hakodate
Coach: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: Hakodate Danshaku Club Hotel & Resort or similar
Live out your equestrian dreams today with a horse riding experience at Paard Musee. Get a taste of life on a ranch as you visit the stables, learn to interact with the horses and try riding them against the backdrop of forests and Mt. Komagatake. You are also able to pat and feed the horses and other animals, including ponies, goats and rabbits.
Take a break at Tachikawa Café, a restaurant refurbished from an old warehouse. Built in 1901 by the Tachikawa family, the building, now an Important National Cultural Asset, was a former rice store and dwelling. The simple architecture is a mix of Japanese and western styles and showcases the characteristics of merchant residences of the Meiji era. Step into a piece of history and enjoy a leisurely meal consisting of seasonal local ingredients here.
Fans of Muji will want to check out Share Star Hakodate. Recently opened in April 2017, this multi-story complex houses a Muji megastore and café. However, what’s more notable is Share Star Kitchen, a Hakodate food market hall, in the building. Multiple shops selling delicious cuisine made with Hakodate ingredients are set in a food court style area, allowing you to try a variety of different foods.
In the evening, take in the Hakodate Ura Night View from a special viewing spot. Though the cityscape is more famously seen from Mt. Hakodate, you can now enjoy the view of the city and Mt. Hakodate from the ‘back side ’. The scenery is no less spectacular, and with the added benefit of being less crowded.
There is no shortage of good food in Hakodate, home of fresh seafood and produce. The bigger difficulty would be choosing what to eat from the multitude of restaurants available! You are free to explore your dining options, but for those who prefer, Follow Me Japan is happy to help you make reservations at some of the best restaurants in the area for either a Japanese Kaiseki dinner or tempura dinner for tonight.
Day 04 (Wed, 09 May)
Hakodate
Coach: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: Hakodate Danshaku Club Hotel & Resort or similar
Pay a visit to the some of the icons of Hakodate, the Red Brick Warehouses at Hakodate Bay. Dating back to 1909, these warehouses line the waterfront and stand as a testament of Hakodate’s former days as one of Japan’s first international ports. These days, the red brick warehouses are a symbol of Hakodate and home to a large variety of unique shops.
Next, head over to the Matsumae Castle, Japan’s northernmost castle and the only one in Hokkaido. Designated as a National Treasure in 1941, the castle is also ranked as one of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan as over 10,000 cherry trees of more than 250 different varieties stand in the castle grounds. A Sakura Festival is also held in conjunction with the blooms and food stalls are set up.
Once again, Follow Me Japan will extend an offer to make reservations for either a western style dinner or sukiyaki dinner at a popular restaurant.
Day 05 (Thu, 10 May)
Hakodate – Noboribetsu
Coach: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
Hotel: Boro Noguchi Noboribetsu (hot spring) or similar
Start your morning with a trip to the Hakodate Morning Market. Over 250 shops and restaurants offer fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, and souvenirs at this lively market. Have a seafood rice bowl – freshly caught seafood over steaming hot rice, for breakfast at one of the restaurants for the perfect start to the day.
Drive up to the Kijihiki Mountain for a panoramic view of Mt. Hakodate, the Hakodate Bay, Mt. Komagatake and Lake Onuma. On clear days, you can even see as far as Mt. Yotei and Aomori prefecture!
Stopping by at the Noboribetsu Hell Valley, you can see the source of Noboribetsu’s hot spring waters which you will get to enjoy tonight. With patches of barren landscape, clouds of steam spouting from vents, flowing streams of hot spring water and the heavy smell ofsulphur permeating the air, it is not difficult to understand why this place is called “hell valley”.
Day 06 (Fri, 11 May)
Noboribetsu – Sapporo
Coach: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: Keio Plaza Hotel Sapporo or similar
If you like cheese, you should definitely head to Restaurant Miyamoto. Situated in the birthplace of cheese production in Japan, this restaurant started as a cheese factory that makes award-winning camembert, mozzarella and blue cheese. Its signature dishes are, of course, those containing cheese, but pork from pigs fed with cheese whey are also popular. Make sure to try their delicious camembert cheese soft serve and pick up some homemade cheeses on your way out.
Later in the day, ascend Mt. Moiwa to catch a panoramic view of Sapporo, IshikariBay and Shokanbetsu Peak. You can choose to drive, or take a ropeway halfway up the mountain, followed by a mini cable car to its summit. When the sun sets, the city below lights up to present you with a spectacular view, listed as one of the three best night views in Hokkaido and one of the three best night view cities of Japan.
Another notable spot for a beautiful night view is the nearby Asahiyama Memorial Park, built to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Sapporo City. An illuminated fountain at the park’s lookout, 137.5m above sea level, against the lights of the city below is nothing short of breath-taking.
Day 07 (Sat, 12 May)
Sapporo
Coach: (Breakfast/-/-) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: Keio Plaza Sapporo or similar
Today, a free and easy day in Sapporo awaits you! As Japan’s fifth largest city, Sapporo has developed rapidly into a bustling metropolis. Options for shopping are abundant, both above and underground, with multi-story department stores such as Daimaru and Esta lining the streets, and a network of stores offering apparel, footwear, cosmetics, electronics, and more underground. When you are satisfied with your shopping spree, stop by at the Ramen Republic for a steaming bowl of Hokkaido’s signature miso ramen to complete your Hokkaido experience.
(Car drop-off in Sapporo city)
Day 08 (Sun, 13 May)
Sapporo – Chitose – Haneda – Singapore
Coach: (Breakfast/-/-) • Drive: (Breakfast/-/-)
Flight back to Singapore.
COACH TOUR (GOLD)
Assemble date: 05 May, Sat (SO12410)
Flight schedule: (for suggestion only, not included in tour price)
05May SQ 636 Singapore - Haneda
2250 / 0645
06May NH 55 Haneda - Chitose
0900 / 1035
13May NH 62 Chitose - Haneda
1230 / 1405
13May SQ 633 Haneda - Singapore
1705 / 2305
Tour price per person (in SGD)
Group size: 15-19 pax
Adult twin share $5,180; Adult triple share $5,130
Group size: 20 pax & above
Adult twin share $4,880; triple share $4,830
Tour price includes:
Hotel accommodation as stipulated in itinerary
Tours and Meals as stipulated in itinerary
Comprehensive travel insurance
Tour price excludes:
Air ticket
Airport taxes & fuel charges (Estimated, subject to change)
Visa application fee (if any)
Remarks:
The prices are subject to change upon fluctuations of currency exchange rates. Flight schedule and the sequence of the itinerary are subject to change with or without prior notice to ensure the smooth running of the tour.
Minimum group size to confirm tour is 15 adults/children with bed.
Please refer to booking form for further terms and conditions.
DRIVE TOUR (GOLD) - Fully Booked
Assemble date: 05 May, Sat (SO12509)
Flight schedule: (for suggestion only, not included in tour price)
05May SQ 636 Singapore - Haneda
2250 / 0645
06May NH 55 Haneda - Chitose
0900 / 1035
13May NH 62 Chitose - Haneda
1230 / 1405
13May SQ 633 Haneda - Singapore
1705 / 2305
1st & 2nd passenger
Vitz : Adult twin share $3,480
Corolla/Corolla Fielder : Adult twin share $3,580
New Prius*/Isis : Adult twin share $3,680
Estima/Velfire : Adult twin share $3,880
3rd & 4th passenger
(sharing same car with 1st & 2nd passenger)
Adult twin share $3,180; Adult triple share $3,080
Child twin share $3,080; Child with bed $2,980
Child no bed (age 4 & below) $1,080
Tour price includes:
Hotel accommodation as stipulated in itinerary
Meals as stipulated in itinerary
FMJ driving guidebook (1 per car)
ETC card and Japan Handphone (1 per car)
Comprehensive travel insurance
Complimentary Wi-fi router (1 per room)
Tour price excludes:
Air ticket
Airport taxes & fuel charges (Estimated, subject to change)
Parking & Entrance fees to sightseeing spots
Petrol or Oil refilling
Beverage during meals (own payment)
Corkage charge (if any)
Application fee for IDP
Visa application fee (if any)
Any other charges not stated as included
Optional Add-on:
International Sectors Airfare Adult $850; Child $640
Domestic Sectors Airfare Adult $300; Child $300
Airport Taxes Adult $100; Child $90
Remarks:
The prices are subject to change upon fluctuations of currency exchange rates. Flight schedule and the sequence of the itinerary are subject to change with or without prior notice to ensure the smooth running of the tour.
Minimum group size to confirm tour is 10 adults/children with bed.
Child no bed will be served simple meals.
Please refer to booking form for further terms and conditions.