Hokkaido Adventure | June 5-14, 2013

While the rest of Japan goes through its rainy season, PacSet invites you to travel to the north – Hokkaido – where the weather is nice, the hot springs are fantastic, adventures abound – and there’s something for everyone. If you love the city life, you’ll feel right at home as we experience Sapporo’s lively Susukino area, tour a beer museum, and wander the history-filled streets of Hakodate, where you’ll also find Japan’s most famous hamburger (no joke). We’ll also head into Hokkaido’s countryside to see the famed Furano Flower Fields, explore Daisetsuzan National Park, and spend two relaxing nights at a mountainside hot spring resort. So pack your bags and point your compass north; PacSet is going to take you on the summer vacation of a lifetime!

Combine with Narrow Road Tour = $5,575
Or combine with Drawn to Manga = $5,050 (includes +5 hostel nights)

The tour includes:

• R/T airfare from Los Angeles
• 8 nights accommodations: 4 nights hotel in Sapporo, 2 nights Sounkyo, & 2 nights in Hakodate
• Stops in Sapporo, Otaru, Susukino, Daisetsuzan National Park, Furano, and Hakodate
• All transportation (train, ropeway, bus, shinkansen/bullet train) within Japan
• Professional bilingual guide services
• Custom tour guidebook
• Admission to all activities
• Much, much more!

Itinerary:
Day 1: Departure!
We depart for Japan from Los Angeles!

Day 2: To the North!
After landing in Tokyo, we’ll change planes and head north to Sapporo. Upon landing, take the evening off to sleep off jet lag or explore the city.

Day 3: Otaru and Susukino
We’ll spend the morning in the city of Otaru, where a picturesque canal lined with local eats and goods will give you a quick introduction to what Hokkaido is all about. After strolling through history, we’ll jump back to the present with an afternoon and evening in Sapporo’s entertainment district, Susukino! Check out local food stands, shop for obscure anime goods at Mandarake, or just grab a beer in the neighborhood pub.

Day 4: Dancing and Drinking
Sapporo is known for being a beer town, which is why we’ll start our day at the city’s beer museum to see the history of the city and have a drink (if you like). Then it’s off to the old Sapporo Factory, which has been converted to one of the best places for a quick lunch in the city. In the evening, we’ll join tens of thousands of revelers as dancers fill the streets for Sapporo’s annual Yosakoi Soran Festival!

Day 5: The Island Onsen
The morning is free time, so stroll around the city before we board a bus to cross Hokkaido to Sounkyo Onsen (hot spring) in the east. Once we get situated, you can choose to relax in the warm waters of the onsen or join your guide for a quick hike around the eastern edge of Daisetsuzan National Park.

Day 6: The Mountains of Hokkaido
Today is a free day to explore as you like. Join your guide for a ride into Daisetsuzan National Park on a ropeway, following that up with a hike. Or just relax at the onsen, letting the soothing waters of the baths help you unwind. Hiking is subject to weather conditions in the park; your guide will keep you updated with regards to local weather conditions.

Day 7: Flowers of Furano
After checking out of the onsen, we’ll make our way back to Sapporo via Furano, a famous flower field in central Hokkaido known worldwide for its breathtaking views of flowers in bloom. We’ll also stop by some local dairies to sample local products before returning to the city for an optional night of Karaoke.

Day 8: Historical Hakodate
We travel to the southwest today for the last stop on our journey: the city of Hakodate, located on a peninsula at the southern end of the island. After settling in, we’ll head to the Goryokaku Park and Tower, a massive Edo-era fortress with a star-shaped moat that has since been converted into one of the city’s finest parks. From there, it’s back to Hakodate City for a free evening to explore.

Day 9: Surreal and Scenic
Our last full day of the trip starts with a stop at Hakodate’s famous Asa-Ichi market, often called the “Tsukiji Fish Market of the North,” to sample the local catch of the day. Then it’s off to Hakodate’s old merchant quarter, where we’ll see the city’s unique architecture and houses that once housed traders from overseas. We’ll stop for an optional lunch at the most famous (and kitschy) hamburger place in all Japan, Lucky Pierrot, before taking a ropeway car up the end of the peninsula to check out one of the most famous views Japan has to offer.

Day 10: Departure
Head home and tell your friends how much fun you had!