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Northern Japan
  • Hen Tours

Northern Japan

A 16-day adventure by Hen Tours Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 11, 2025
  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Auckland to Singapore

    April 12 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After transferring from the domestic to international terminal we cleared immigration pretty quickly and got some breakfast before getting the 10 hour flight to Singapore. As it was a daytime flight we didn’t really get any sleep.Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Singapore to Tokyo

    April 12 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After a lengthy wait in Singapore (fortunately I had booked a lounge to pass the time in) we found our gate and boarded the flight to Tokyo. A night full after all the travel meant we slept pretty much the whole way, arriving in Haneda in time for breakfast.Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Tokyo to Morioka

    April 13 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    After a bit of a fuss to get Simon in to Japan, we caught the monorail to Tokyo station. We found a cafe and had toast and coffee and made a plan - we were running about an hour earlier than the earliest time I’d planned for.

    After finding somewhere familiar in Tokyo station we put our suitcases in a locker and caught the Yamenote line and a bus to Asakusa. Just as we got off the bus it started to rain and our rain coats were in our cases in the locker 😬.

    We stopped at a Lawson and got cash and then walked through the streets of Asakusa enjoying the last of the Sakura and looking at the stalls.

    We then caught a train back to Tokyo station and went in the Japan rail cafe and booked our Shinkansen ticket north.

    We collected our suitcases from the locker and the made the brave move of using the Suica to catch the Shinkansen. It worked! I managed to link the eticket to the Suica on our phones.

    We walked around the station, getting a bit lost and overwhelmed but managing to find a bento for the train.

    We got to the platform and after a short wait got on board and found our seats. We were on the Hayabusa, the fastest of all the Shinkansen, over 300kmh!

    The journey to Morioka took 2 hours and I had a beef tongue bento and Simon had a salad.

    Once in morioka we found our hotel and then set out to see the cherry blossom 🌸 in the split rock. We walked back through the town and bought a room picnic at the 7/11 for dinner as we were pretty tired by this time.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Morioka to Aomori

    April 14 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    After a good night’s sleep we got up and had the hotel breakfast which was a mixture of western and Japanese.

    We checked out and caught the Hayabusa another hour north to Aomori, starting to see snow along the way.

    In Aomori it was raining but we made it to the hotel and after a quick clothing change in the lobby, left the suitcases and headed out to see the giant lantern floats.

    At this point we noticed the cruise ship, which meant everything was going to be busy. About 5 minutes from the hotel we found the museum and went to look at the lantern floats. They were great.

    We then went on the beach and took pictures with the Aomori sign before going in the A factory and doing cider tasting.

    We then walked around the town and found a restaurant for lunch. We then went to the tourist craft building which is where all the cruise shippers were hanging out. As we decided to leave it started to pour with rain so we went to the hotel to see if we could get in the room.

    After a short wait they let us in and we dried off. Later we went back to the lantern museum as the ticket allowed multiple entries. It was a lot quieter and we timed it for the show - which turned out to be audience participation 😂

    We walked back through the town, picking up dinner and breakfast at Lawson before going into the warm dry hotel.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Aomori to Oirase Gorge

    April 15 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After room breakfast we packed up and headed to collect the hire car an hour early. After some multi language discussions we changed the rental hours and drop off location and somehow managed to make it cheaper. I think. Except I seem to have paid twice. I’ll sort it tomorrow!

    We left the rental office and drove 2 minutes to Lawson so we could sort the car without the audience. After getting supplies we set of to see the really tall giant lanterns. We drove for about an hour and eventually found the car park. We crossed to the museum but it was closed for renovation. Very disappointing.

    Instead we drove to

    Lawson and picked up lunch before heading off into the Japanese countryside. Once we left the expressway we headed up and up into the hills. The snow increased and road conditions decreased. We found a pull in and stopped for the view before continuing up. Next we stopped at a ski resort and then continued up through snow lined roads like you’ve never seen. The snow was 3 or 4 metres high along the road, making a kind of tunnel. Eventuality we reached the top of the pass and started to descend.

    After a while we came to the Oirase gorge and drove along to the lake. The plan had been to walk along the river through the gorge but the path was disappeared under the snow! Everyone was walking on the road and, while it had good views, it wasn’t the trail.

    We stopped at various points along the way back through the gorge and then pulled in to our ryokan for the night. Our bags were taken and we checked in. After settling in the room we went for welcome sake in the lounge.

    We then went to the onsen for a while before relaxing in the room.

    In the evening we went for the included buffet dinner. It was really delicious. I tried lots of different things including squid sashimi, grilled clams and octopus. The octopus in particular was very tasty.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Oirase Gorge to Hakodate

    April 16 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 4 °C

    Up early to heavy rain so decided not to go to the outdoor onsen. We went down for the buffet breakfast and tried another range of different foods but I didn’t pluck up the courage to try the salted squid guts.

    After breakfast we packed up and headed back in the direction of shin-Aomori. As we headed up the mountain pass we noticed cars coming the other way covered in snow ❄️- a hint of what was ahead.

    As we continued to climb we noticed that the road had been freshly ploughed and conditions started to deteriorate. It got foggy and windy and icy under the wheels. We continued on and made it through the summit and started to slowly descend.

    We continued to take things steadily and gradually conditions started to improve. Once we were down the mountain we dropped the car at shin Aomori and caught the Hayabusa to Hakodate.

    The Shinkansen runs through the world’s longest under sea tunnel and the whole journey took about an hour. Once in Hakodate we found our hotel and checked in.

    We immediately set out to the ropeway up mount Hakodate which has views across the city. After we came back down we walked along the old streets and looked at the Russian churches and visited the old town hall.

    We then walked back along the water front and picked up some dinner and breakfast from 7-11.

    Back at the hotel we had a relaxing evening watching some YouTube about the morning market and eating dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Hakodate to Lake Toya

    April 17 in Japan ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    We got up very early and walked around the morning market which sells different seafoods for breakfast. Simon wasn’t keen so we went back to the hotel for eggs and bread in our room.

    Around 7.30 we set off to collect the rental car and after collecting our luggage from the hotel we headed north. Much to our surprise we got a car that very much resembles a kei car but apparently the engine is too big to be classified as a kei car! Tell that to the mountain passes!

    After a few hours driving we reached Noborobetsu Onsen and walked around Hells valley. Unfortunately the walk I wanted to do was closed but we still got to see lots.

    We then found a soup curry restaurant for lunch, which was delicious.

    We leaped back in our toy car and decided to take the mountain road rather than the toll road. Thank goodness the weather was good. We made it over and saw a fox 🦊 along the way.

    We arrived at our lake Toya hotel bang on 3pm for check in. Apparently I booked a traditional Japanese room but I found extra futons so I doubled up.

    Once we dropped our bags in the room we drove to the Mount Usu ropeway and went up the volcano.

    We drove back to the hotel and went for a walk along the lake front where we found a public footbath.

    After soaking our feet we went to the convenience store and got supplies for our drive tomorrow.

    After watching the sunset over the lake, we went for dinner. It was like a ryokan dinner except in a big restaurant rather than in your room.

    After dinner we dashed across the road to the shop for pudding before bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Lake Toya to Lake Akan

    April 18 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Not a bad night’s sleep considering the futon situation. We got up early for the sunrise over the lake.

    We went down for breakfast which was really busy, full of tourists groups, but we managed to get a yummy breakfast before checking out and heading north.

    We decided to use the express way as we had a long way to go. It went through some pretty impressive tunnels.

    Once off the expressway we found petrol and then went to the red crowned crane reserve but there weren’t any so we didn’t stay. We continued driving north an saw 2 cranes in a field by the side of the road.

    After a while we reached our hotel at Lake Akan and parked the car and checked in. We then went out and walked around the town and found the Ainu village. We spent time looking around and then went back to the hotel along the lake front.

    I went in the Onsen and then in the evening we had the included buffet dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Lake Akan

    April 18 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    We got up and watched the sunrise over the lake and then had the buffet breakfast.

    After getting well wrapped up we went to visit the ecological centre and saw the Marimo, green moss balls found in the lake. We then went for a walk through the woods and saw a woodpecker and squirrels. We saw the volcanic mud pools and the ice breaker boat out on the lake clearing the ice ready for spring.

    We then walked through town and watched the boat some more before continuing to the Ainu village.

    For lunch we went to the convenience store and ate it in the hotel.

    In the afternoon we went to an Ainu cultural performance about a red fox, which also had traditional dancing and music.

    In the evening we had the hotel dinner buffet.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Lake Akan to Wakkanai

    April 20 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 3 °C

    We got up early and had breakfast before checking out and heading north across Hokkaido. It was raining and the toy car wasn’t a great drive in the rain. Fortunately the roads weren’t too busy due to the remoteness of the destination.

    After several hours of driving we reached Cape Soya, the northern most point of Japan. We got out of the car for photos and it was freezing, even with all the warm clothes on.

    We bought some souvenirs and drove up the hill to look at some memorials before heading towards Wakkanai.

    In Wakkanai we found the hotel and checked in. I then went for a walk around town and bought some supplies for dinner and lunch as it was pretty quiet.

    After some lunch in the hotel room we went for a walk under the sea wall and saw the deer. It was cold 🥶.

    In the evening we sat and looked out across the ocean towards Russia and had dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Wakkanai to Sapporo

    April 21 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    We were up and out on the road really early. The weather was a little better so driving was a bit easier. We took the coastal road all the way and went through some very remote and abandoned places.

    By lunch time we arrived in Sapporo and dropped off the rental car and then caught the train to the hotel.

    We left the luggage as we couldn’t check in until 3pm and went to a ramen restaurant for lunch. I had the Hokkaido miso ramen and it was tasty.

    We then walked to Odori Park and along to the tv tower. We went up the tower and had some good views of Sapporo.

    We then walked back through the town and looked in the shops. Back at the hotel I went in the onsen and we relaxed a bit before going out for dinner.

    We went to Haney, a traditional izakaya and had some skewers and beer before bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Sapporo Day 1

    April 22 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    After a leisurely start we got up and went for the buffet breakfast. We then caught the train to Otaru and spent the morning walking around the town.

    We caught the train back to Sapporo and went to the Sapporo beer factory. After a brief museum tour we did a tasting and the went for lunch. I had the gengis khan lam bbq and Simon had a tofu salad.

    We then caught the bus back to the hotel and had a little snooze before going for an evening stroll and a convenience store dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Sapporo Day 2

    April 23 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    A day of Japanese frivolity (by my standard)! After breakfast we set out walking to BIC camera. We decided to see what was going on underground and found an extensive mall. One of the first shops we came to was full of ‘useful’ Japanese items, so now I have a fan, a hair towel and a lunch bag. I also saw a lady stealing stuff but was so surprised I didn’t see her face so couldn’t tell anyone.

    Eventually we continued to BIC camera where the excess continued. A stop at Starbucks was needed before returning to BIC camera.

    Eventually we made it out and managed to go through Mint Bell without spending any money.

    We stopped for a salad lunch at an American diner.

    Back at the hotel we realised some of the purchases weren’t what we expected and we were going to need a new suitcase!! A trip to Don Quito got a case and a few other extras.

    Back at the hotel we repacked everything and then went to Flair bar for some drinks.

    Later we went to an Italian family restaurant for dinner and then bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursNorthern JapanTraveler

    Sapporo to Tokyo

    April 24 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    An early start and a very expensive taxi ride to the airport for our early flight to Tokyo. We took off on time and had a 1 hour 20 minute flight arriving at Haneda.

    After collecting our bags and having an inter terminal faff we found our hotel and left the bags.

    We headed into Tokyo, starting with Meiji Jingu. It was really noticeable how busy it is in Tokyo. So many tourists and everyone speaking English to you, unlike Hokkaido where we just muddled by.

    After walking around the shower walked to Takeshita street and looked around the shops before catching a bus to Shibuya.

    Here we walked around looking at the sights, visiting BIC camera and Donki.

    We then went for cocktails in LOST and also indulged in the cheese plate which was yum.
    The cocktails I had were Go Fuck Yourself and Like a Magic.

    We then caught the train back to the airport hotel (at rush hour) and got our room. After sorting our stuff and showers we went to a teppenyaki place for noodles for dinner and then bed, ready for the journey home tomorrow.    Read more

  • Trip end
    April 26, 2025
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